by HempingtonPost | Mar 9, 2017
The most important physiologic system involved with establishing & maintaining human health is the Endocannabinoid system
By Viola Brugnatelli
Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks, but the goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment.
Cannabinoids promote homeostasis at every level of biological life, from the sub-cellular, to the organism, and perhaps to the community and beyond.
Here’s one example: autophagy, a process in which a cell sequesters part of its contents to be self-digested and recycled, is mediated by the cannabinoid system.
While this process keeps normal cells alive, allowing them to maintain a balance between the synthesis, degradation, and subsequent recycling of cellular products, it has a deadly effect on malignant tumor cells, causing them to consume themselves in a programmed cellular suicide.
The death of cancer cells, of course, promotes homeostasis and survival at the level of the entire organism. Find out better how cannabinoids are effective anti-tumoral agents and what therapy could assist you to fight cancer. Endocannabinoids are also neuromodulators, allowing communication and coordination between different cell types.
At the site of an injury, for example, cannabinoids can be found decreasing the release of activators and sensitizers from the injured tissue, stabilizing the nerve cell to prevent excessive firing, calming nearby immune cells to prevent release of pro-inflammatory substances.
Three different mechanisms of action on three different cell types for a single purpose: minimize the pain and damage caused by the injury.
Check out why cannabinoids are the best option for chronic pain, neuropathic pain or inflammatory pain.
While it may seem we know a lot about cannabinoids, the estimated twenty thousand scientific articles have just begun to shed light on the subject.
What we know about Cannabinoids thus far…
(without getting over specific with terminology and mechanisms otherwise pedantic for general public)
Cannabinoid receptors are present throughout the body, embedded in cell membranes, and are believed to be more numerous than any other receptor system. When cannabinoid receptors are stimulated, a variety of physiologic processes ensue.
The Two Cannabinoid Receptors that have been identified
CB1, predominantly present in the nervous system, (is the most abundant G-protein coupled receptor of the CNS) connective tissues, gonads, glands, and organs;
CB2, predominantly found in the immune system and its associated structures.
There are many researchers speculating on a larger number of cannabinoid receptors, such as GPR55, that are also sensitive to lipid cannabinoids.
Life is not possible in those of us who do not have cannabinoid receptors:
In fact, depleting the gene encoding receptor sequence (in order to obtain a cannabinoid knockout KO -/-), prevents embryo development and survival to birth.
What’s An Endocannabinoid?
The two most well understood endocannabinoid molecules are called Anandamide (from Sanskrit, bliss) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2/AG).
They are synthesized on demand from cell membrane arachidonic acid derivatives, have a local effect and short half-life before being degraded by the enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL).
Chemically, endocannabinoids are eicosanoids (oxidised fatty acids) and for this reason during the International Cannabinoid Research Society symposium of 2014, it has been proposed to change the nomenclature of “endocannabinoids” to “eicosanoids” in order to prevent stigma for therapies that target the cannabinoid system, but clearly lack of the cannabis component. (this has never taken place yet)
Phytocannabinoids are plant substances that stimulate cannabinoid receptors.
Most phytocannabinoids have been isolated from Cannabis sativa, but other medical herbs, such as Echinacea purpurea have been found to contain non-psychoactive cannabinoids as well.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the most psychoactive and certainly the most famous of these substances, but other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) and cannabinoid acids, are gaining the interest of researchers due to a variety of healing properties (that are further discussed here).
INTERESTINGLY, THE CANNABIS PLANT ALSO USES CANNABINOIDS TO PROMOTE ITS OWN HEALTH AND PREVENT DISEASE.
Cannabinoids have antioxidant properties that protect the leaves and flowering structures from ultraviolet radiation ‐ cannabinoids neutralize the harmful free radicals generated by UV rays, protecting the cells.
In humans, free radicals cause aging, cancer, and impaired healing, which can lead to a variety of pathologies, from neurodegenerative too immune disorders.
Antioxidants found in plants have long been promoted as natural supplements to prevent free radical harm. (Here you will find many antioxidant-rich recipes to include in your diet)
SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
Cannabinoids have also been synthesized, and whilst some remain mainly in the research domain (Usually those with long codes-like letters and numbers), several synthetic analogs of THC or THC+CBD combination are both prescribed for oral or sublingual intake. (We have a guide on these kind of products)
CBD or Raw CBD (+CBDa) are available in many Countries as food supplements due lack of restrictive prescriptions on non-psychoactive compound.
(However, we recommend you to check certification of providers (as we outlined in this article: “The importance of Cannabinoid Analysis”, and if you are unsure get in touch with our team for consulting)
If you are interested to know which Countries approve medical use of these synthetic cannabinoids, and what pathologists have been authorized prescription, I suggest you to check here.
In order to understand whether whole plant or single compound may be better for you, please read here.
This introduction to the Endocannabinoid System has been written thanks to the brilliant yearly review of recent scientific literature of “Emerging clinical applications of cannabis and cannabinoids” by Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML (Check and support their work if you read from the States!), they have a gift for concise and educational summary and I felt it was the best approach (compared to the peer-reviewed publication model I often adopt), in order to introduce the basics of the EC.
All the information is indeed coming from an extensive work of review on the15,899 articles on PubMed related to cannabinoids NORML does yearly, as well as a very interesting speech by Dr William Courtney during the ICRS annual symposium (check out his and his wife’s pioneering work with edible raw cannabis here) and my own understanding from previous years of studies and work on the topic.
You can follow my ongoing project for Crowd-Funded Clinical Trial (www.therawstudy.eu)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z-OEpwgv6aM
by HempingtonPost | Mar 9, 2017
If you’re into healthy eating at all, you may already be aware of Hemp super food products. You may also be noticing a greater variety of Hemp food at your health food stores and even in your supermarkets.
By Darlene Mea
With demand there is supply. More and more folks are realizing the super health benefits of eating hemp as a superfood. Why are so many people are now adding this new/old superfood to their daily diet? A big reason, is our body actually loves it and it’s protein packed and high in chlorophyll.
In case your wondering, Hemp is legal and available at your favorite healthy markets; Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts all carry a wide variety of hemp eatables from Hemp Seeds, to Hemp Burgers, Milk, Coffee, Cereals, Sweet Treats, and even Hemp Wine. Who knew the Hemp plant could produce so many amazing super foods with superb benefits for our body.
Hemp eatables from Hemp Seeds, to Hemp Burgers, Milk, Coffee, Cereals, Sweet Treats, and even Hemp Wine. Who knew the Hemp plant could produce so many amazing super foods with superb benefits for our body.
“Seeds,” hemp is a tiny, cream-colored flat disk comparable to the size of a sesame seed. Its texture is soft and creamy, not hard and crunchy. In my opinion, the taste is akin to that of a peanut or sunflower seed, yet somewhat richer and more complex. I can taste the hint of chlorophyll that dots some of the seeds; it reminds me ever so slightly of the taste I perceive when chewing a mouthful of chlorella tablets. Hemp, however, melts in your mouth. This property lends itself extremely well to blending the seeds to create smooth and creamy sauces, shakes, and soups.
Things You’ll Want To Know
Essential fatty acids are very susceptible to the effects of light, heat, and oxygen (as most plant foods are). This means that any hemp products (or any EFA rich food) should be stored in the refrigerator, in sealed, light-impermeable containers and not heated in any way. Some products recommend refrigeration only after opening. And that is most likely fine, however, shelf life is generally increased when these products are kept cooler. EFAs and proteins change drastically when they are heated and can transform the fats and proteins from being extremely healthful to extremely harmful. Any temperature over the enzyme threshold temperature of 115F will initiate these harmful changes. Here is the lowdown on the most popular forms of hemp available and how to use them:
Popular high-quality brands include: Manitoba Harvest, Living Harvest, Nutiva, Hemp-Seed, and Ruth’s. Because I’m a big believer in consuming the most whole form of a food in order to benefit from the synergistic nutritional effect it has to offer, and to minimize nutritional losses and modifications caused by processing, this form is my favorite and comes most highly recommended.
How To Use Hemp Seed
The best form currently available to us is the hemp seed nut, in its most whole state. Sprinkle them on your salads, eat a handful alone, or blend them into a creamy sauce, smoothie, or soup.
Keep in mind that blending causes rapid nutrient destruction and oxidation, so you won’t get as much from them by blending them as you would eating them whole. You can also make your own hemp milk by blending the seeds with three times as much water as seeds and then straining it (optional). Most people prefer to slightly sweeten their hemp milk by adding a few drops of Stevia or other good sweeteners. Without any sweetener, this milk makes a delicious base for a creamy dressing or soup.
One more bonus of consuming hemp seeds is that they are relatively economical, costing roughly the same price per pound as other popular organic seeds. But also keep in mind that they pack more bang for the buck and in smaller quantities. Adding hemp to your diet is an investment in our health that is well worth making.
Hemp Seeds Contain Complete Protein
They are a highly digestible balance of all 20 known amino acids (both essential and non-essential) and in higher quantities than most other plant sources of protein. Hemp seeds are 33-35% protein. A mere 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds contain approximately 11g of protein!
Hemp seeds have a near perfect ratio of omega-3 (alpha- linolenic) to omega-6 (linoleic) essential fatty acids (EFAs). The ideal ratio is considered to be 4:1 (omega-6: o m e g a — 3); hemp seeds have a ratio of 3.38:1. These fatty acids are required by our body via our food; we cannot synthesize them our-selves, thus the term, “essential.” Most Americans consume far more omega-6 and not nearly enough omega-3; this imbalanced ratio seems to go hand in hand with the common degenerative diseases of today. EFAs have a critical role in growth and development, inflammation response, mood regulation, immune strength, cardiovascular and neurological health, cellular respiration and more. Hemp also contains the fatty acids gamma-linolenic acid (omega-9), stearidonic acid, and oleic acid.
Hemp seeds and oil contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is nearly identical in molecular structure to our blood and is thus extremely beneficial to building the blood, nourishing, and detoxifying the body. While the quantity is not nearly as high as the chlorophyll content of other blatantly green foods, like wheat grass or leafy greens, the more we can increase our intake of chlorophyll the better. Chlorophyll’s presence in the hemp nut is another testament to its amazingly balanced nature.
If you haven’t tried Hemp Products, it may be time to taste. Making healthy eating choices is always better for our overall lifestyle and now we have hemp super foods that will get us high on health.
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by HempingtonPost | Mar 9, 2017
Hemp eats radiation and cleans toxic metals from soil. In addition to a myriad of industrial products such as paper, construction material, clothing, food and fuel, hemp is also known to draw out toxic substances from the soil.
Not only does hemp provide humans with innumerable products, it also helps to clean the environment of the mistakes we have made in the past. It has already been discovered that hemp may be extremely useful in the removal of cadmium from the soil and other toxic metals, as well as radiation.
Hemp fights staph infections
A Colorado company is using hemp to fight the spread of staph infections in hospitals. The plan is to offer antibacterial hemp fabric as a replacement for traditional cotton and polyester fabrics, where bacteria are known to survive for up to months at a time.
Various chemicals found in both hemp and cannabis have been shown to possess antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. EnviroTextile’s hemp fabric is still in development but has already shown promise in early lab tests. (source: PRWeb).
by HempingtonPost | Mar 9, 2017
Considering that many consumers of CBD are fighting serious illnesses, it is morally incumbent that product manufacturers source the cleanest and most responsibly manufactured CBD available. It takes experience and knowledge to circumvent the hype and questionable business practices that exist around any industry that is growing as fast as today’s medical cannabinoid market.
The human endocannabinoid system produces cannabinoids naturally to stimulate the millions of cannabinoid receptors in the human body. CBD stimulates the release of these natural cannabinoids returning the body to homeostasis. In a balanced state, inflammation decreases, muscles relax, cerebral blood flow increases, over-stimulated nerves are calmed and the body is able to heal itself.
The importance of purity for consumers who may be struggling with a compromised immune system puts a deep level of responsibility on product manufacturers to follow safety standards that mirror the best practices of other high-compliance industries. This is especially important, particularly when operating in a space that has no regulatory board for the purpose of monitoring, validating and certifying the practices of hemp product manufacturers. This monitoring should extend to the quality, safety, and transparency of the ingredients these companies source to develop their products.
Who’s protecting the consumer? How do patients know what safety and transparency practices are in place to ensure the CBD company is doing what they say and the ability to prove it!
So how does a company go about finding a reliable and safe supplier of high-quality CBD that is consistent and standardized? Many would say it’s pretty easy, likely, without lending much thought into what they are buying and where it really comes from. The true differentiating question becomes…do they care?
Time has proven that rock bottom pricing is priority #1 for most companies who are willing to overlook a product’s lack of documentation in order to save on costs. Costs that sometimes vary by just 1/10th of a cent per/mg. $0.001 may be the difference of thousands of dollars when purchasing multiple Kg of activated CBD, however, very few companies are truly operating at this production level.
If so few companies are operating at a scale that would make fractions of cents per/mg a major issue, what’s really going on? Why is price still the primary buying driver?
The answer is that CBD is typically bought and resold several times over before it ever gets into the hands of actual product manufacturers. The price needs to start low when multiple resellers are marking it up a few points between every exchange.
Upon an initial search, there appear to be numerous wholesalers of CBD in the marketplace. In reality, the majority of these businesses are reselling another distributor’s product. They initially request special reduced bulk pricing to bring their cost down.They then sell in smaller size increments at higher prices, but just under the cost of the manufacturer’s own pricing for the same quantity. This allows them to fund their own CBD needs while making a margin on the remaining over-purchased product. An unfortunate result of this behavior is that that it creates a false perception that there are more manufacturers than really exist. It additionally provides inaccurate numbers to investors who are interested in the CBD market as they are not looking at revenue models built on consumer buying trends, but those of wholesalers.
Retailers end up believing they have multiple product supply options available to choose from. When in fact, they are typically speaking to different companies who are selling the exact same product that has been split and re-sold several times over. However, this also makes it possible for an inferior product to easily be slipped into the mix.
In a matter of 18 months, the industry has watched the price of CBD plummet roughly 500% from $0.10/mg to $0.025/mg. Again, this is not driven by buying behaviors of consumers, as retail prices remain around a 1,000% markup floating around $0.25/mg in competitive products.
When the wholesale market is then supplied by products with very different levels of quality and documentation, and forced to sell at the same drop out prices, we end up in a situation where business are pressured to make buying decisions that weigh economic vs. ethical risks and rewards.This is a poor environment for medicine that is in high demand from patients with serious illness and compromised immune systems.
I hold the belief that there are some things in life one should never buy the cheapest versions of, particularly at the expense of quality; underwear, toilet paper, running shoes, parachutes and rock climbing gear. Perhaps we should add to this list, medicine, and healthcare.
So now what? How does one navigate the space to source CBD responsibly and economically?
Know the players
US CBD inventories are primarily supplied by two geographies; Europe and China. A very small contribution is made by US domestic farms. US domestic supplies currently suffer from two other challenges. The first is a lack of adequate inventory to meet demand forcing them to often backfill orders with foreign product. The second and more important issue is that US supplies often contain amounts of regulated THC above the legal limits of 0.3% by weight, rendering the product entirely illegal. Any company found to be involved with this product is just a sitting duck, buying time before the DEA raids their facilities. This is gamble high-compliance businesses can’t afford to take. Be sure you are testing each batch you buy.
An issue with Chinese product is that China has no environmental laws. Their CBD oils are notorious for containing pesticides, heavy metals, microbial and residual solvents upon importation. Some product has even tested hot for small amounts of radioactivity.
There is one Chinese company that has gone as far as to incorporate a satellite office in Europe prior to exporting to the United States in order to mask its true origin.
Choose a strategic partnership based on more than price.
Work with companies who bring value-add services to your business and not someone who just “knows a CBD guy”. There are several companies who do compounding and formulation services that deserve modest markups on ingredients for the value and convenience they bring to their customers.
Develop strong relationships that value shared beliefs of safety, quality and transparency.
Ask questions and request documentation!
How the CBD you’re buying was grown, extracted and processed all requires close scrutiny. Insistence on soil-up transparency documentation of the entire chain of custody process,and third party lab testing, are the best ways to ensure that you are sourcing truly pure CBD. Purity protects the consumer, enables trust in your brand and grows your market share.
Here’s a checklist of the documentation you should be asking your supplier for each time you purchase:
- Certificate of Origin (COO) – shows where the product is exported from.
- Farming Certification – shows where the product is grown (Organic farms are much harder to find but do exist).
If the product has a COO, but no farm certificates, it is possible the product was grown in one region and shipped to another prior to importing to the United States (this is the current modality for all product derived from China).
- Certificates of Analysis (COAs) – testing for Potency, Pesticides, Heavy Metals and Residual Solvents.
- Some companies may go even further and provide an MSDS sheet or cGMP standard facility certifications.
When looking for organic farms, consider nuances of marketing. For example, Organic Practices do not mean a farm is actually Certified Organic. An EU organic certification reflects a far more stringent set of guidelines than that of the US. The US and the EU do have what is called the US-EU organic Equivalency Arrangement, which was established to standardize organic definitions and certification requirements. However, the agreement falls short in its actual enforcement, where EU regulatory agencies are managed by consumer protection boards and the US is largely made up of agricultural and pharmaceutical special interest conglomerates.
Quality – Know Your Oils
CBD product ranges in form from dark and pasty first phase extraction hemp tars, to beautifully cleaned and refined amber colored oil that is fluid and translucent. Dark tar is the lowest quality product in the market. Further refining cleans out the chlorophyll and biomass, waxy lipids and other unwanted constituents. Even further refined product can be made into a final 99% pure crystal isolate powder, though trace amounts of dangerous solvents can be found in these when tested. Organic CBD powder tends to have a slight amber hue and the smell of hemp to it. Some synthetics have a chemical odor.
Up and coming in popularity is water soluble CBD powder and oils. CBD can be rendered water soluble through several processes including dry-spray micro-encapsulation, emulsification agents, lipid profile augmentation and nanoparticle liposomes agents.Water solubility increases the bio-availability of CBD in the human body by up to 40-50%. This means that products such as medicine and edibles require 40-50% less CBD for any given dose to have the same physiological effect.
We hope this article is helpful in assisting your company to make both economical and responsible buying decisions. You are in a pioneering space and the future of your business may depend on it.
By Scott Holden, CEO of CBD Global. With hemp farms in the Czech Republic and the strictest purity standards in the industry, CBD Global is committed to consumer safety. CBD Global manufactures cGMP and EU certified organic CBD in oil, isolate and water soluble forms. For more information, contact [email protected]
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by HempingtonPost | Mar 9, 2017
This article is reprinted from the State of Hemp market report with permission from Hemp Biz Journal. –
A green wave of opportunity is sweeping America
and it shows no sign of stopping. Hemp Biz Journal estimates that the U.S. hemp industry reached $593 million in sales in 2015 and project it to reach $1.8 billion by 2020. Hemp industry insiders say they’ve seen this coming for the better part of a decade. With hemp growing legally in 26 countries, the U.S. has lagged the global hemp market, embroiled in a prohibition dating back to the 1930s. Spurred by legislative changes and a more tolerant political climate for cannabis, states like Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina are starting to see their memories of hemp prohibition fade away. Now the young U.S. hemp market is experiencing a new set of problems: growing pains.
With these growing pains comes the opportunity for entrepreneurship, investment and innovation for hemp cultivation, hemp manufacturers andthe US economy at large. Driven by a competitive American culture, a good old-fashioned work ethic, and a strong agricultural backbone, the U.S. hemp industry is poised to deliver on a century of promises to become a billion-dollar industry.
This means more jobs and opportunities across the entire hemp value chain. With full federal legal commercial cultivation and processing all but imminent for the U.S. hemp industry, the dialogue among hemp CEOs and thought leaders has shifted from how we legalize hemp to how we nurture this young industry and use it as a stabilizing force for the U.S. economy.
The Economic Data of the Hemp Industry
Hemp Biz Journal research showed consumer sales of hemp products rose to $400 million in 2014, up 33 percent over a year earlier. The market continued at a similar pace for 2015 and is poised for tremendous growth in several consumer categories in the not too distant future.
According to the Hemp Industries Association, the industrial product sector was led by automotive composites with nearly $100 million in sales. Hemp Biz Journal estimates that by 2020, industrial products including automotive, green building, oil well liners, and non woven or technical fibers will storm the market and contribute 32% of overall hemp consumer sales, up from 20% in 2015. The U.S. hemp industry will grow from a niche industry filled with activists and startups to a nationally recognized market expected to reach $1.8 billion in sales in 2020. In all, the U.S. hemp market will be a catalyst for innovation and spur growth across the broader global market. Truly, these are exciting times filled with potential and opportunity. Now that the seeds are planted, it’s on all of us to grow the industry we’ve imagined.
HBJ showed sales of hemp based products like automotive parts, oil well linings, insulation, fiberglass, biofuels, bio-plastics and animal bedding and feed accounted for about $116 million in sales in 2015, and is projected to skyrocket to approximately $575 million by 2020. This growth will be highly dependent upon increased domestic hemp production and the addition of the appropriate processing facilities located stateside.
By the numbers: the U.S. Hemp Industry Today
While the global hemp industry races ahead, the emerging U.S. hemp industry is reaching a tipping point. The federal government now allows farmers to partner with state agriculture departments and institutions of higher learning to plant “pilot project” test crops on U.S. soil. Over the last decade, a small hemp market has developed in the U.S. that has relied on imported hemp —both finished goods and raw materials.
These hemp-based goods have largely consisted of personal care products, foods and textiles, which currently account for almost two-thirds of the U.S. hemp industry’s total sales, or $340 million in consumer sales in 2015. HBJ estimates that hemp-based food product sales accounted for 15 percent of hemp consumer sales in the U.S. in 2015. Sales reached $90M in 2015, with hemp seeds and hemp milk being among the most popular categories. While the hemp food market has grown tremendously over the last few years, nearly doubling since 2012, it is still a small segment of the natural foods industry. According to Nutrition Business Journal, total sales of natural and organic foods in the U.S. reached $70 billion in 2015, which equates to a nascent penetration of about one-tenth of a percent for hemp foods. This penetration is highest in the snack food category, where the popularity of hemp seeds has allowed close to a 1 percent penetration.
The natural and specialty retail channel, including chains such as Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market as well as thousands of small health food stores, is currently the most popular place to purchase hemp food products, with HBJ estimating that this channel contributed approximately 70 percent of sales this year. Because food is one of the more established segments in the hemp market, HBJ projects average annual growth of hemp foods to be 16 percent for 2015-2020, which is slower than many of the emerging hemp industry segments but slightly above the natural and organic food market as a whole.
s currently very small compared to the overall supplement market, which according to Nutrition Business Journal will reach $38.6 billion in 2015 on 5 percent growth. Other consumer products that contain hemp include pet food and supplements, household cleaners, cigarette paper, traditional paper products and jewelry and craft items such as twine. These other products contributed between $10 million and $15 million to
the hemp industry in 2015 and remain the smallest product niches. HBJ predicts sales of hemp based industrial, composites and CBD products will post the strongest growth over the next five years.
Interest in CBD extracted from hemp is on the rise, thanks in large part to the fast paced growth of the legalized adult use cannabis industry. Hemp experts see the market for industrial hemp as potentially greater than that for consumer adult use cannabis sales driven by the DEA rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule II. This rescheduling will have an enormous impact on the hemp industry, and healthcare industry at large.
The Hemp Biz Journal estimates the size of the Hemp CBD market alone to have risen from a market that didn’t exist a few short years ago to an $85 million market in 2015. We expect growth in sales of these products will be one of the primary drivers of the broader hemp industry, with a compound annual growth rate of 33 percent forecast for 2015-2020.
The U.S Hemp industry is poised for tremendous growth that will fuel a green, sustainable revolution for the U.S. agriculture and healthcare industries. We look forward to helping hemp stabilize the U.S. economy for decades to come.
About Hemp Biz Journal:
Hemp Biz Journal is the premiere source of hemp industry market data and intelligence. The company published the State of Hemp and CBD Report, the definitive reports on the Hemp Industry and the emerging CBD segment. Learn more at http://HempBizJournal.com
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