Traveling is a beautiful thing. A favorite hobby of those with the time and the dime to tour their respective countries or even the world. With all the joys of traveling like trying new cuisines, relaxing in tranquil spas, and epic photo-ops, can also come a few obstacles.

Jet lag, being away from home, your pets, your loved ones, etc. Travel anxiety and a lack of proper rest while on vacay can put a damper on your travel plans, but fear not fellow globetrotter, for CBD is here to help.

CBD oil can be a fantastic travel companion. Maybe you’re worried you won’t be able to nap on that lengthy flight, or that the pillow in your hotel room, as plush as it may be, simply isn’t the one you’re used to sleeping with. Perhaps you’ve ventured to an adventurous but questionable part of the world, or maybe you just dislike flying or traveling in general but are forced to do so for work, visiting family, etc.

ABC News says, “According to some estimates, as many as 25 percent of all Americans suffer some nervousness about flying but the National Institute of Mental Health says this fear, usually called aviophobia, affects just 6.5 percent of the population.”

It isn’t just a fear of flying that CBD can help with, as it has plenty of other uses while traveling such as easing travel anxiety, help with falling or staying asleep, or maybe even with managing pain and discomfort while abroad.

There is one significant caveat, however, to bear in mind when traveling with CBD. Especially if your travel consists of visiting destinations outside of the United States.

For years, people have wondered about the legality of flying with CBD oil, fearing that getting caught at an airport security checkpoint with a bottle of hemp-extract oil might land them in some seriously hot water.

And there have been times in the past when exactly that has happened. The rules and regulations surrounding CBD and travel have always erred on the side of confusing, but there’s some good news to share regarding how flying with CBD oil is changing.

Recently, the TSA announced that it will permit travelers to fly with CBD. In an effort to keep up with CBD’s popularity, the TSA updates now permit travelers to fly with the hemp-derived drug Epidiolex, a common epilepsy treatment for children, as well as CBD products, as long as they are produced within the regulations defined by the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and products derived from hemp.

(But just to clarify, that doesn’t mean that THC is okay to fly with, so make sure to leave that California cookie or Colorado cupcake behind if you like to play it safe.)

Additionally, most full-spectrum CBD tinctures have trace amounts of THC in them (0.3% or less), so be sure to look into broad-spectrum CBD tinctures such as our Asé Pure Naturals Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extract or CBD Isolate products which are both free of THC and will allow you to travel with an even clearer conscience.

It’s also important to bear in mind that these traveling-with-CBD updates only apply to domestic travel, so if you’re traveling abroad and CBD is part of your daily routine, it might be worth your while to look into what the local rules and regulations are at your destination before deciding whether or not to travel with your CBD products.

We’ve just only begun to scratch the surface of ways CBD oil might be advantageous while vacationing. In addition to helping with travel anxiety or falling and staying asleep, a few other ways in which using CBD oil while traveling might be a good idea are:

-Helping to act as an anti-inflammatory agent when it comes to the consumption of out-of-the-ordinary foods and drinks.

-Helping with IBS symptoms associated with those foods and drinks.

-Helping to maintain a healthy weight by helping your body convert fat into energy and regulate insulin levels.

-Easing arthritis or chronic aches, so that you can spend more time enjoying your long-awaited vacation.

Your CBD oil can be taken either directly, or it can be added to your vacation’s meals and beverages. If your CBD is unflavored, taking it with food or drink, particularly dessert, will help mask its earthy flavor. If you have a flavored CBD, your tincture might be a tasty and beneficial addition to whatever it is you’re about to consume.

Regardless, much like the perfect hat, sunglasses, or sunblock, CBD can be a must-include addition to your getaway. Especially if your plans aren’t international, and your CBD is Broad-Spectrum or CBD Isolate.

Our CBD Blog at asepurenaturals.blog is an excellent resource for daily CBD users, people conducting research and considering using CBD for the first time, and everyone in between. Previous topics include CBD 101: An Introduction To CBD Oil, a CBD Shopping Guide to help you navigate the wide array of CBD products available on the market today, and even an article on The Endocannabinoid System.

If learning more about CBD is of interest to you, we highly recommend you bookmark our blog and check back often for updates and new content.

Lastly, we’re happy to say that just this week, our very first line of CBD Tinctures went live for sale! Our first Asé Pure Naturals CBD Tinctures are currently available in Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum variants. (Our CBD 101 article helps explain in further detail what the differences are between the two.)

If you’ve been considering taking CBD for a while now and just weren’t sure which one was a good buy or if it was right for you, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Our CBD tinctures were developed with no-compromises. They’re 3rd-party lab tested for purity and potency, and the test results are readily available on both our web site asepurenaturals.com, as well as by scanning the barcodes on our bottles.

As CBD enthusiasts, we look very forward to creating even more premium CBD products for all to enjoy, and as part of our current launch promotion at the time of writing this article, you can use promo code LAUNCHPARTY15 to get 15% Off and Free Shipping on your entire order.

Cheers for now, and safe travels!
​
-APN

​We’ve been patiently waiting for the opportunity to announce our very own line of CBD products, but it is with much joy that we publish this post and say that our first Asé Pure Naturals CBD Oils have arrived!

The last several months have been both busy and exciting. We’ve been working internally as well as with our partners to perfect our formula and create a CBD Tincture that’s just right with no compromises.

The end result is our first two CBD products, a Full-Spectrum CBD Oil, as well as a Broad-Spectrum variant, available in 900mg tinctures.

There are so many variables that can contribute to a great or sub-par CBD tincture, but if you’ve been keeping up with our CBD blog at asepurenaturals.blog, you will have read plenty about what to look for when shopping for CBD products.
We’re proud to say that our CBD tinctures are produced with the highest standards in mind.

We’ve forged a close relationship with an organically grown farm in sunny Colorado. These U.S. farmers grow custom, proprietary strains from which all of their products are derived and handcrafted to the most exacting standards.

As a result, we’re able to ensure the purest and safest hemp-derived CBD products, free of pesticides, fungicides, or other harsh chemicals and contaminants. All of our ingredients are sourced with NO-compromises, sustainability, and a premium product in mind.

The CO2 Hemp Extraction process is regarded as the safest and most environmentally friendly method available today. CO2 Extraction involves the application of cold temperatures and pressure to extract CBD from the hemp plant material.

The result yields CBD oil stocked with all the essential cannabinoids and terpenes while eliminating unwanted chemicals and residual solvents. By using CO2 Extraction, we’re creating a high-quality CBD oil that is safe, clean, and nutrient rich.

To guarantee consistency, potency, and other key metrics, our products are batch tested in third-party testing labs. These quality control measures ensure that our CBD tinctures meet stringent specifications and result in a premium extract with consistent cannabinoid content free of pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, molds, residual solvents, and mycotoxins.

Asé Pure Naturals is fully committed to a rigorous, independent testing process. We want to provide our customers with the best possible hemp-derived CBD products. By engaging in such exacting standards, we can ensure our hemp extracts contain everything they should and nothing they shouldn’t. It also ensures what’s on the label is in the product.
 
Our CBD Tinctures are:
​
-100% Natural
-Gluten Free
-Third-Party Lab Tested
-Made Using Organically-Grown Hemp
-Cruelty Free
-Vegan
-Non-GMO
-Come From a GMP Certified Facility
-Bottles Contain a QR Code Which Links to Our Third-Party Test Results
-Made From Hemp Grown in the USA
-Use CO2 Extraction
 
Our Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD oil tinctures are just the first of what will hopefully be many more premium CBD products.

The main difference between Full-Spectrum CBD and Broad-Spectrum CBD is that Full-Spectrum CBD contains a full range of cannabinoids such as Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG), etc., and includes trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%) whereas Broad-Spectrum CBD contains all of these same cannabinoids except THC.

(For those that would like to take CBD oil on a regular basis without risking the chance of a false positive on a drug test, Broad-Spectrum CBD would make for a better choice.)

There are other pros and cons to these similar but slightly different CBD oils as well. For example, both Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD tinctures will provide you with the “entourage effect” which basically refers to the various cannabinoids working in conjunction with one another to maximize the impact of the hemp-extract oil that you’re taking, but typically, Full-Spectrum oil is more popular and available more frequently.

Therefore, by committing to taking Broad-Spectrum CBD oil only, you may have a slightly harder time being able to readily pick up a bottle at a local store or might have a smaller selection to choose from online.

That said, as CBD’s popularity continues to grow, more Broad-Spectrum and Cannabidiol Isolate oils will be produced and available to consumers.

THC and CBD are the two most researched cannabinoids, but as more research is conducted on other cannabinoids such as CBG, for example, we may even find ourselves shopping for a very different plethora of CBD oil types in the years to come.
Both of our tinctures contain CBG and our THC-free Broad-Spectrum tincture has a  30:1 CBD/CBG ratio, 30mg CBD + 1mg CBG per serving.

Cannabigerol (or CBG) is one of over 120 identified cannabinoids, and in the grand scheme of things, these cannabinoids remain relatively mysterious and are in need of much more in-depth research by science and medicine, but the prospects of these cannabinoids are quite exciting.

(You can read more about what to look for when shopping for CBD by visiting our CBD Buying Tips blog post.)

Very soon, we’ll be adding our first CBD products to our website asepurenaturals.com and making them available for purchase, so make sure to stay tuned for more announcements to come regarding the availability of our first Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD oil tinctures, available in delicious peppermint!

Also, make sure to sign up for our newsletter so you’ll be the first to know about new products and special offers.
We hope these blog posts have shown how passionate we are about CBD products. We don’t consider ourselves just a CBD company, but rather, CBD ambassadors that are passionate about learning about CBD and sharing that knowledge with the world.

By supporting Asé Pure Naturals, you’ll be supporting CBD enthusiasts with a genuine desire to create the best possible CBD products for all to enjoy.

In the near-future, we’ll be adding “shop our Instagram” functionality to our web site, which will allow you to browse our Instagram wall posts, and shop directly from various product-related posts.

(Our CBD blog posts can be accessed on both asepurenaturals.blog as well as by visiting asepurenaturals.com and clicking on Blog.)

Thanks for sticking with us as we come closer and closer to making our no-compromises premium CBD products a reality ready for purchase. Much more big news, coming very soon.
​
-APN

As CBD Oil’s popularity continues to increase, more people are gaining an interest in consuming CBD-infused foods and beverages.

​Cooking with CBD oil or dropping CBD into your favorite drinks is a great way to explore CBD with your food and drink because you have complete control over the quality and quantity of CBD used. Also, more ready-to-go CBD-infused foods and beverages are popping up in convenience stores, grocery stores, and CBD shops.

Maybe you prefer the latter or love the idea of both. Either way, today we’re going to bring you some useful information about CBD as it relates to food and drink, as well as a few ideas for ways to maximize the taste and efficacy of your CBD-infused meal or beverage.
 
A Few Tips to Consider

Firstly, all of the same CBD concepts that apply to taking CBD without food or drink are still applicable. That includes making sure your CBD is a high-quality CBD oil in the first place, has an appropriate potency, etc.

If you’d love to read more about how to pick the right, high-quality CBD that’s right for you, feel free to browse our previous blog posts, as they contain a wealth of information about how to select the right CBD, how to compare CBD products, what to look for in a CBD product, and much, much more.

Once you have a high-quality premium CBD tincture at your disposal, you’re ready to start exploring with CBD-infused foods and beverages. Here are a couple of additional things to consider when pairing CBD oil with meals.
 
1. Fat Content

Some studies have suggested that taking CBD oil with fatty foods as opposed to lean foods or on an empty stomach can actually help your body absorb more of CBD’s beneficial properties, so to ensure you’re maximizing the benefits of CBD with food and drink while minimizing waste, it’s good to pair CBD oil with fat.

That said, that doesn’t mean you should hit your local drive-thru with CBD in hand. Pair your CBD oil with healthy fats like the ones that come from olive oil, avocados, nuts, and other sources of healthy fats to ensure you’re maximizing your CBD absorption without ingesting too much saturated fat or other forms of unhealthy fats.
 
2. Heat

You may want to avoid high-temp cooking with CBD oil to avoid potency loss or losing CBD to evaporation. A good way to avoid this is by using CBD oil as a dressing or garnish, rather than introducing it during the actual cooking process.
Mixing it into already oily foods like dressings and pesto is a great way to go.
 
3. Flavor

An unflavored CBD oil will help ensure you’re not adding unwanted flavors to your meal. Perhaps you don’t want lemon cake flavoring in your caprese salad, and we wouldn’t blame you.

Conversely, the flavor of your CBD oil might even help enhance the flavor of your food or drink. Think mint, for example. That might go great in a CBD tea, cocktail, or baked good.

Experimenting with unflavored and flavored CBD oils is the best way to discover what dishes, drinks, and CBD flavors jive with your own, unique palette.
 
4. Sweets

CBD oil, especially in unflavored variants, tends to have a bitter, earthy flavor. One approach people take when pairing CBD with foods is to incorporate it into their desserts.

This way, the power of the dessert’s sweetness overtakes the earthy flavor of the CBD, making the taste of it less noticeable.

​This earthy bitterness is especially apparent is lower-quality CBD, which is another reason why using the best CBD you can get from the get-go is ideal.
 
5. Don’t Over Do It

Being strategic with your CBD quantity, frequency, and potency, doesn’t go away just because you’re using it with food instead of taking it directly. Make sure to keep track of how much CBD you’re taking and how often so that you can gauge its efficacy and be able to increase quantity or potency if need be, just as if you were taking a CBD tincture.
 
Pro Tip: Store your CBD in a cool, dry place to help preserve its freshness.
 
Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas for incorporating CBD into your meals:

-CBD and herbal tea are a match made in heaven.

-Combining CBD with your salad dressings is a great way to pepper some CBD into your diet, and also take advantage of the already existent fat in your dressing to help absorb even more of your CBD’s beneficial properties. (Avocado is great, too!)

-CBD and baked goods can be a great combo, especially if you’re not a huge fan of unflavored CBD. The sweetness of your cookie, brownie, or cake, can help overtake the flavor of the CBD. (Although, there are plenty of flavored and quite tasty CBD tinctures available on the market today.)

-Try placing your CBD in blended shakes or pressed juices.

-CBD in cocktails seems to be a growing trend as well.
 
The opportunities for combining CBD oil with your food and drink are endless. Feel free to use some of these suggestions as a starting point or combine CBD with the foods and drinks you already know, love, and enjoy.

If you’re newer to CBD or would like to read more about taking CBD without food, feel free to visit our blog post on Mindful Consumption. For advice to help you navigate the plethora of CBD products available on the market today, our CBD Buying Tips post can definitely help with that. And if you’d prefer to read up on the basics of CBD like what it is and what it’s for, we have a CBD 101 post for that, too.

Thanks for stopping by our CBD Blog today and stay tuned because we’re getting closer and closer to launching our very own line of premium CBD tinctures. We’ve strived for months perfecting our product in an attempt to bring you a CBD Oil with no compromises. We hope you’ll love them, and if you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll be the first to know when they’re available for purchase and will even receive exclusive offers for being a subscriber.
 
Until next time,

-APN

​Over the course of the last few years, CBD’s popularity has exploded. With more and more consumers joining the CBD movement with each passing month, product options also seem to be at an all-time high.

CBD is now available in dozens of form-factors, with what seems like an endless array of brands selling hemp-extract oils, all promising to deliver the next best thing as far as cannabidiol is concerned.

But how can a consumer tell the difference between the good, the bad, and the ugly? With so many brands and products available nowadays, this may seem like an impossible task. However, an informed CBD consumer can actually gain a huge leg-up as far as knowledgeable CBD shopping is concerned.

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for CBD. Some CBD products traits are matters of fact, and other points to consider boil down to nothing more than preference. But these next 6 Things To Look For When Shopping For CBD Oil can help a consumer ensure they’re buying real CBD products, and using their hard-earned money wisely.

This isn’t a complete list, but it does contain some of the most important things to consider. Without further ado, here’s our CBD buying checklist:

 
Honorable Mention: Price

CBD products come in a wide range of price points, and as with anything else, it’s very important to take cost into consideration when shopping for CBD, but it’s absolutely not the type of thing you want to buy based on price alone.

Imposters looking to make a quick buck or trying to “cash in on a craze” will try to sell low-grade CBD or tinctures that aren’t even CBD at all.

These “CBD products” can be loaded with fillers, preservatives, artificial ingredients, and synthetic compounds, and not only can they be a waste of your money, but they can even make you sick.

Use the guide below as a starting point for your CBD product research. If the CBD you’re considering purchasing passes the below checklist, there’s a pretty good chance it’s a high-quality CBD product that’s deserving of your dollar.

 
#5: Potency

Just as important as cost is quantity of product, right? CBD products also come in a wide range of potencies. You can learn a little bit more about the most common potency levels in one of our previous blog posts titled, “Mindful Consumption: Tips On How To Enjoy CBD To The Fullest”.

But the same concept from the honorable mention applies here as well, in that you probably shouldn’t choose CBD products solely based on their MG count relative to their price, because there’s a whole lot more that goes into a CBD Tincture or other CBD product, and those with inferior products know they can dupe some consumers by simply offering a “high concentration” of CBD at a relatively low price-point.

And although that’s a good thing to look for, it only makes sense if your CBD product in question passes all or at least most of these other tests, so make sure to look into some of these others factors as well, when weighing the pros and cons of a CBD product’s potency vs its price-point.

 
#4: Reputation

Quality products and services tend to be highly rated and for good reason. Many consumers use rating platforms when considering which businesses to patronize or which products to purchase. The opinions of hundreds or thousands of other like-minded consumers goes a long way, and often times, these reviews help us avoid low-quality products and services.

But since CBD products in general are a relatively new industry with a lot of variables, there’s even more you can do to ensure your CBD purchase is a wise one. If you’re factoring in price, potency, and product or company reviews, you’re off to a great start, but read on to learn even more ways to get the highest quality CBD possible for your money.

 
#3: Manufacturing Process

A CBD product’s or company’s manufacturing process can contain a ton of information about the product’s quality, as well as the CBD company’s commitment to producing a truly high-quality product vs. making a quick buck.

Where does the hemp come from? Sourcing is hugely important in determining the quality of CBD. How was the CBD extracted and what type of facility was used? (We use a CGMP Facility, for example.)

A reputable CBD company will gladly provide its customers with this type of information in documentation or on their web site. They should have a close relationship with the farm that grows the source hemp.

Reading reviews about a company and its products will go a long way, but an additional step you can take is to thoroughly read and review a company’s literature and web site to see what kind of information they are willing to divulge about their products will help as well.

 
#2: 3rd Party Lab Testing

Which leads us to our next talking point, third-party laboratory testing. The best way to know exactly what’s in a bottle of CBD product is to have its contents analyzed by a reputable, third-party laboratory.

These labs will then publish a report which lists exactly what a CBD product is comprised of, and your CBD brand of choice should make this information readily available on their web site or by request.

Seeking out this type of information about your potential CBD products will ensure your CBD is of high-quality, and actually contains the substances that are advertised. Many hemp-derived CBD products are mislabeled. A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that 69% of 85 products surveyed had an incorrect amount of CBD and/or THC on the product label.

Do the numbers match up with what’s advertised?  If, for example, the product claims to contain 1200mg of CBD, the lab-tested figure listed on the Certificate of Analysis should match.

As you evaluate CBD products, examine the label to determine the potency of the product (that is, how much CBD is actually in there!).

A report is only worthwhile if it is from an approved lab. Ideally, you’re looking for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) logo, which is the standard governing body for analyzing CBD products.

 
#1: QR Code Data

Honest, reputable CBD brands will place QR codes on their product labels which you can then scan to access third-party laboratory testing results immediately. This way, you can very quickly and accurately see exactly what a CBD product contains, verify its quality and potency, and make a wise, informed decision.

Another problem: Some overly processed hemp-derived CBD products are tainted with toxic solvent residues, corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and other contaminants.

Contaminants. As part of analyzing the product, the lab will check for heavy metal and microbial contaminants. This information is usually found toward the end of the report. If the product received a “pass” classification, it is within the limits of acceptable contamination limits; if it received a “fail”, that particular batch of product contains harmful levels of contaminants.

(The publishing date of the report is important, too.  The more recent the report, the more reliable and relevant it is.)

 
A Couple of Important Takeaways

Read the Ingredients:

Always read the ingredients list when comparing different CBD products.

On one end of the spectrum, you’ll find products with additional ingredients that provide their own potential benefits, like melatonin or MCT oils. But on the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find CBD products that contain potentially harmful ingredients. Some CBD edibles might also contain artificial coloring and flavors, which likely won’t be too harmful, but also won’t help your health.

Work Within Your Budget:

Price is one of the most important aspects of any buying decision. If you’ve found a CBD product that you like, take a few minutes to compare it to products with comparable potencies, taking into account shipping and any applicable discounts. If the other products are vastly different in price, find out why. Are you paying more for trendy packaging? Or, after checking the Certificates of Analysis, maybe that bargain price really is too good to be true.

 
In short, we hope this CBD product checklist has provided you with some CBD shopping insight. If the CBD products you use or are considering using pass these several simple tests, you can most likely rest assured your CBD product is a wise way to spend your money, and more importantly, is safe to use and can potentially contribute positively to your health as opposed to jeopardizing it.

Happy CBD shopping friends, and make sure to stay tuned for more news and information about our very own upcoming line of premium CBD tinctures by visiting our blog often, as well as our online store at asepurenaturals.com.

Cheers,

-APN

The Endocannabinoid System is a cell-signaling system discovered relatively recently by scientists in the 1990’s and is present in all vertebrates. For us, it seems the main function of the endocannabinoid system is to help the body maintain homeostasis; the stability, balance, or equilibrium within a cell or the body, or biological harmony in response to changes in the environment.

It’s interesting to know that the endocannabinoid system was discovered by researchers exploring THC, a well-known cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis. The ECS exists and is active in your body even if you don’t use cannabis.

When scientists discovered endocannabinoids, or the natural cannabis-like molecules produced by the human body, they began to realize cannabis exerted its effects, in part, by mimicking our own endocannabinoids.
 
Early research showed endocannabinoid receptors were only present in the brain and nerves, but scientists later discovered that the receptors are present throughout the body, including our skin, immune cells, bone, fat tissue, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, heart, blood vessels, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract.

A fun fact about the endocannabinoid system is that this system is very old, having evolved over 500 million years ago.
Although there is still much to be learned about this complex system, what we do know is that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in a variety of physiological processes, including pain, memory, mood, appetite, stress, sleep, metabolism, immune function, and reproductive function. Endocannabinoids can be considered one of the most widespread and versatile signaling molecules known to modern day medicine.


How Does The Endocannabinoid System Work?

The ECS involves three core components: endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes.

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids, also called endogenous cannabinoids, are molecules made by your body. They’re similar to cannabinoids, but they’re produced by your body.

Experts have identified two key endocannabinoids so far:

• anandamide (AEA)
• 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG)

These help keep your body’s internal functions running smoothly. Your body produces them as needed, making it difficult to know what typical levels are for each person.

Endocannabinoid Receptors

These receptors are found throughout your body. Endocannabinoids bind to them in order to signal that the ECS needs to act.
There are two main endocannabinoid receptors:

• CB1 receptors, which are mostly found in the central nervous system
• CB2 receptors, which are mostly found in your peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells

Endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor. The effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds to.

For example, endocannabinoids might target CB1 receptors in a spinal nerve to relieve pain. Others might bind to a CB2 receptor in your immune cells to signal that your body’s experiencing inflammation, a common sign of autoimmune disorders.

Enzymes

Once the endocannabinoids have carried out their intended functions, they’re broken down by enzymes.
There are two main enzymes that contribute to this:

• fatty acid amide hydrolase, which breaks down AEA
• monoacylglycerol acid lipase, which typically breaks down 2-AG

What Are The Endocannabinoid System’s Functions?
 
The ECS is complicated, and experts haven’t yet determined exactly how it works or all of its potential functions.
Some scientific and medical studies have linked the endocannabinoid system to the following bodily systems:

• appetite and digestion
• metabolism
• chronic pain
• inflammation and other immune system responses
• mood
• learning and memory
• motor control
• sleep
• cardiovascular system function
• muscle formation
• bone remodeling and growth
• liver function
• reproductive system function
• stress
• skin and nerve function

These functions all contribute to homeostasis, which refers to stability of your internal biological environment. For example, if an issue arising within your body, such as pain from an injury or a fever, throws off your body’s homeostasis, the endocannabinoid system takes action to help your body return to its ideal state of operation.

Based on what we currently know about the ECS, many medical scientists believe the primary function of the endocannabinoid system is to promote homeostasis.


CBD’s Relationship With The Endocannabinoid System

The other major cannabinoid found in cannabis is cannabidiol (CBD). Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have a psychoactive affect.
Experts aren’t completely sure how CBD interacts with the ECS. But they do know that it doesn’t bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors the way THC does.

There may be a correlation between CBD and preventing endocannabinoids from being broken down, which might allow them to have a greater effect on your body. Some believe that CBD binds to a receptor that hasn’t been discovered yet.
Either way, there’s still much to be learned about the endocannabinoid system, and how it interacts to stimulation from various cannabinoids.

More so, science and medicine are quite interested in learning more about what kind of benefits these compounds may have on the body’s physiological processes.


What If Your Endocannabinoid System Doesn’t Work Right?

Some experts believe in a theory known as clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD). While only a theory, this concept suggests that low endocannabinoid levels in your body or ECS dysfunction can contribute to the development of certain conditions.

Researchers are racing to learn more about whether or not issues with the endocannabinoid system might be responsible for some difficult-to-diagnose conditions that don’t have a clear underlying cause and can be resistant to treatment, such as migraines or fibromyalgia, to name a few.

If CECD does play a role in these conditions, targeting the ECS or endocannabinoid production could be the missing key to treatment, but more research is needed on the subject to know for sure.
​

The ECS Wrap-up
​
As we’re beginning to learn more about The Endocannabinoid System, we seem to be discovering that it plays a big role in keeping our internal processes stable. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about it. As experts develop a better understanding of the ECS, it could eventually hold a key to treating several conditions and maintaining a healthier, happier life.

And don't forget to check out some of our other blog posts, like our introductory blog post, CBD 101: An Introduction To CBD Oil, or our post on Mindful Consumption: Tips On How To Enjoy CBD To The Fullest.

​-APN

​In our last blog post we discussed CBD 101: An Introduction To CBD Oil. Today, we’ll go into further detail on the different ways you can consume CBD, the pros and cons to each form of CBD, and how to consume your CBD in a healthy, balanced manner.

When you first begin to use a CBD product, whether it be a CBD tincture, gummy, cream, etc., the packaging will usually contain some sort of recommended dosing instructions. You’ll most likely want to start there or begin using CBD by taking even less than what the container suggests and monitoring your own results before reevaluating your intake amounts. The same concept applies if you’ll be giving CBD to your pet.

The good news is that CBD comes in a wide variety of potencies. The most common CBD tinctures, for example, range from 100mg to 7,000mg bottles, with 500mg-1800mg bottles being the most popular or commonly carried strengths. This is beneficial because there will be a CBD strength out there for everyone, based on an individual’s needs due to variations in size, weight, etc. It’s okay to steadily increase your CBD strength as long as that increase is gradual, consistent, and done with reason and purpose in mind.

For example, let’s say you take two doses of 900mg CBD tincture (for a 30ml bottle size). This would give you a 15mg single serving of CBD per 1/2 ml, which would give you 60 servings per bottle. So you would be taking a 30mg dose a day. One 15mg dose in the morning and one in the evening, for one month. You feel a slight alleviation in discomfort or stress-levels but feel you might have an even better response to increasing the dosage to 30mg twice a day. This makes much more sense, than taking CBD for a day or two and concluding it doesn’t work the way you expected it to or taking vastly varying dosages of CBD each day.

As long as your CBD consumption is consistent and disciplined, you’ll avoid some of the pitfalls mentioned above, and will have a better experience with your CBD.

We often times hear new CBD users say, “they didn’t really feel anything”. So, here’s a quick, friendly reminder that CBD is very different from a psychoactive drug or prescription-only pain killer. Be aware that based on research it could take 7-14 days for the cannabinoids to activate in the brain and central nervous system. Also, we recommend doing research before purchasing CBD to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product that has been third-party tested.


That Said, Let’s Take a Moment to Review the Pros and Cons of a Few of the Most Popular Forms of CBD.

The most popular form of CBD consumption is via tincture because it’s so quick and convenient. This form of CBD has a moderate wait-time until it sets in, with quicker onset than ingestion, for example.

The upside to ingesting CBD, although it may take longer to take effect, is that its results will be more prolonged, because when you ingest something, its release into your blood stream is much slower and steadier. For this reason, ingesting CBD is a good idea when you have the time to plan ahead.

Let’s say for example you plan on going to bed at 11 P.M. Taking a CBD capsule 45-60 minutes before sleep will ensure its effects will begin to activate as you’re about to go to sleep, making for a well-timed release. In other scenarios, a stressful situation might arise that calls for a much quicker need. Say, you’re about to enter a last-minute boardroom meeting or public speaking situation which makes you uncomfortable. When every second matters, taking CBD via an inhalable means such as a disposable CBD vape pen will likely result in the quickest effect, taking effect in just a few minutes.

The CBD tincture falls into the middle, with slower effect that inhaling, and quicker effect than ingesting, which is another one of the many reasons this form of CBD tends to be most popular amongst CBD users.

Personal preference is another huge factor to take into consideration. Some people have a really hard time swallowing pills. Some people don’t feel comfortable inhaling something. Or, you may have had dental work or dental concerns which makes chewable CBD gummies an issue.

It’s for these reasons that CBD comes in so many forms. This helps ensure there’s a method of CBD consumption out there for everybody, that will match each unique individuals’ preferences and lifestyle.

A major concern for some when it comes to supplements or pharmaceuticals relates to dependence, tolerance, and addiction. CBD’s cousin, THC, for example, is well-known to cause your body to build up a tolerance toward it, causing you to need more and more of it over time with consistent use to get the same result. This can quickly become quite expensive depending on the degree and consistency of use.

But on a more positive note, early research seems to be suggest that CBD use does not cause your body to build up a tolerance toward it and might even have reverse-tolerance effects.

This is because of the way CB1 cells don’t resist negative allosteric modulation in the same way they resist direct intense stimulation. A THC user might even benefit their tolerance toward THC by incorporating CBD into their cannabinoid diet.

So, although CBD isn’t habit-forming and doesn’t cause your body to build up a tolerance toward it, it’s important to know what forms of CBD are available, what the pros and cons are to each form, and how to leverage each form of CBD for maximum effectiveness based on your own unique needs, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
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Our first products here at Asé Pure Naturals will be Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD tinctures. If you’re curious about what the differences are between full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate, you can find more information on this subject and more by clicking here to visit our previous blog post.

Thank you for stopping by our CBD blog today, and please feel free to bookmark this site and check back often for more news and information about CBD, and our own premium CBD products which will be launching soon. You can also check out our online store directly for updates by visiting asepurenaturals.com.

-APN

​What Is CBD & Why Does It Matter?
 
CBD, also known by its formal name as Cannabidiol, is a chemical compound that’s naturally found in cannabis plants. Lately, you might feel like CBD is popping up all over the place, and for good reason. The health and wellness industry is learning more and more lately about the positive impacts this hemp plant derivative can have on mood and stress, and overall health.

Since CBD is extracted from cannabis, many people new to CBD have questions about its impact, its legality, or if its use will affect their ability to pass a drug test. We’re here to clear the air, share some basic facts, as well as what we know about CBD so far and its benefits.
 

Wait, What’s The Difference Between Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana?
 
The cannabis plant consists of two major species; hemp and marijuana. Marijuana has a much higher concentration of THC (5-20+%), whereas hemp has almost no THC in it (0.3% or less), but a whole lot more CBD, making the hemp variety of cannabis the ideal contender for CBD extraction.
 
Hemp is widely regarded as a diverse plant with plenty of applicable usage, as it’s used to make eco-friendly and sustainable forms of flooring and carpet, building materials, fabrics and clothing, paper and cardboard, and even food and fuel! CBD hemp extract is just another new, awesome way to use this beneficial plant.
 

Will I Get High If I Use CBD?
 
For starters, CBD use doesn’t get you “high”. The chemical compound responsible for the psychoactive impacts of marijuana is called THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Depending on what kind of CBD product you choose to use, the THC is either completely removed or only exists in trace amounts. (0.3% or less.)
 
If you suffer from anxiety, CBD might have a very positive impact on your day-to-day and overall quality of life.
(Some products actually combine CBD and THC for a greater effect, so make sure to read labels and know what you’re purchasing.)
 

How Do I Use CBD?
 
The most popular form of CBD consumption is using tinctures. These tinctures vary in their potency, flavor, and additives. Some CBD tinctures are minimalists and tend to have an earthy flavor and aroma associated with them, while other types can be infused with flavors like mint, fruits, berries, and can even be enhanced with green tea extract, herbs, and essential oils.

CBD comes in a slough of other forms including pills, chewable gummies, topical creams, and disposable vape pens, to name a few. Tinctures seem to be the most popular form of CBD because they can be ingested quickly, easily, conveniently, and can even be added to meals or beverages.

Regardless of which form of CBD you decide to use, most CBD users agree that its benefits are most noticeable when it’s taken on a regular basis. The exact amount you should take can vary depending on factors like height, weight, sensitivity, diet, and the severity of the ailment you’re attempting to combat in the first place.
 

What’s The Difference Between Full-Spectrum CBD, Broad-Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate?
 
This one’s pretty easy. Full-spectrum CBD means that an oil or product contains all the cannabinoids that are naturally present in the hemp plant (a lot of chemistry and acronyms here like CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), etc., rather than just CBD (Cannabidiol).

One thing to note here is that people that are concerned about employment-related drug-testing will opt for the isolated form of CBD or broad-spectrum CBD so that even the trace amounts of THC that can be found in full-spectrum CBD won’t be of concern. Full-spectrum CBD has a very small amount of THC in it (0.3% or less) which usually isn’t enough to register on a drug test, but it’s not guaranteed.

Broad-spectrum CBD contains a broader spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes than CBD Isolate does, which gives more of the entourage effect similar to full-spectrum CBD minus the THC. Our first CBD products [coming soon!] will be tinctures available in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum formats, and our broad-spectrum CBD will be THC-free.
 

I Heard CBD Is Good For Dogs?
 
Many of the reported benefits of regular CBD use are also applicable to man’s best friend, so consider giving your little buddy CBD as well.
 
Pro-Tip: Wanna up your Pet CBD game? Consider giving them a tincture that’s specially formulated for pets. Not only do they come in awesome flavors like chicken that your dog will love, but they’re also free of those special additives or essential oils that might not be as good for little buddy as they are for us.
​
 
How Do I Know The CBD I’m Buying Is Real?
 
As with anything else, some research on the CBD product you’re considering purchasing will go a long way. Most reputable CBD manufacturers will provide information on their web sites or labels that can attest to their product’s quality.

Information about the farm where the source hemp is derived from, the processes the manufacturer uses to extract the CBD, and even third-party testing reports from laboratories can help consumers approach their CBD purchase with confidence.
 

​Where’s The Proof CBD Works?
 
There isn’t a whole lot of formal evidence available right now about CBD usage and its effects. Part of the reason why is because CBD use to treat the aforementioned ailments is a relatively new concept that lacks long-term study. Another part of the reason why could be because of the role big pharma plays in economics and their pharmaceutical preferences, we’ll call it.
 
Either way, millions of CBD users swear by its positive impact on their health and well-being. We hope that with time, more money and energy will be invested in long-term studies monitoring the strengths and benefits of regular CBD use.
 
In the meanwhile, please feel free to bookmark our new blog and web site, asepurenaturals.com, and stay tuned for additional blog posts and updates about our upcoming premium, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD tinctures.
 
We hope this blog post has answered some of your questions about CBD. Cheers, and we hope our upcoming line of CBD products will give you the power to make things happen.
 
-APN