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How CBD Topicals May Support Our Aging Bodies
If you’ve heard about CBD, it could be for potential benefits ranging from reducing stress to fostering deeper sleep. Here’s another possible use for those of us who are contending with the inevitable challenges of aging. From CBD for back pain to revelations about CBD for sleep, this plant-based powerhouse is rewriting the book on how we navigate life in an older body. In today’s post, we’ll share how a growing number of us are leveraging the power of CBD topicals to put a new spin on the aging process. What is CBD? Your Body’s All-Natural Partner in Wellness How does CBD support us as we age? Much of the answer comes down to one of the body’s little-known regulatory networks: The Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Though it wasn’t even identified until the 1990s, it’s now believed that the ECS helps modulate such critical functions as pain, memory, sleep, immune response, and others still. If the word “endocannabinoid” looks familiar, you’re on to something. That’s because CBD is a cannabinoid: A plant-based compound that “speaks the same language” as our body’s own regulatory system. When it’s incorporated into a CBD topical—such as our award-winning Releaf Balm—it works in partnership with the ECS system in our body. How might you use a CBD topical cream for aging? Let’s start with some real-life examples of CBD’s potential to relieve muscle soreness and discomfort. CBD for Back Pain: A Real-Life Example Before Papa & Barkley was California’s leading CBD topical brand, our founder Adam Grossman had a very personal mission: Helping his father manage debilitating back pain. That very first batch changed everything, giving Adam’s dad his quality of life back and changing the course of Adam’s life forever. Of course, creating a CBD topical wasn’t a shot in the dark. A number of clinical studies point to its effectiveness in both addressing pain and even improving overall quality of life. Other studies suggest that like its cousin cannabinoid THC, CBD may be a powerful anti-inflammatory, helping to potentially even modulate pain signals in the brain. How to Use CBD Topicals It can be difficult to know how much CBD topical to apply when you have a jar of balm or a bottle of oil in front of you. We suggest applying a dime-size amount of product directly to each specific sore or strained target area. An “area” could be a calf, a knee, a shoulder, etc. Wait an hour or so to assess the effects of your application on each target area. Affects are generally felt within 15 minutes, but all bodies are different, so it’s best to ensure you are needing more relief before applying more product. You can reapply as needed throughout the day to maintain the desired relief. Our family of CBD topical products includes balm and body oil. The focus of our topical products is penetration to provide relief, but we work hard to formulate our products so they work well with your skin and address your specific needs for relief. For example, people who are wanting coverage for a large area of the body—say, the whole upper back for example—may prefer body oil as their ideal application method. Do you have other questions about CBD skin care or CBD-based muscle recovery? Just ask! We’re always here to help!
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3 Therapeutic Benefits And Uses of CBD
CBD oil’s therapeutic potential has made it one of the most talked-about natural remedies around. From stress to sleep to aches, there are many potential uses for CBD oil. Here are three possible therapeutic benefits of CBD you should know about. CBD For Stress What’s all this chatter about using CBD for anxiety and depression? CBD’s anti-stress effects have been well documented and many people feel that it can help them to calm down and relax, especially when they’re super stressed. CBD for Better Sleep Sleep troubles can often be a side effect of an overstimulated mind. A racing mind that won’t quiet down can make it really difficult to fall asleep. Many people use CBD to calm their thoughts. Much anecdotal evidence indicates that sleep seems to come easier for many people who take CBD regularly. Research has begun to support this. CBD won’t directly sedate you or make you feel sleepy, but if you’re struggling to quiet your mind at bedtime, it may be able to help. Many describe the feeling they get from CBD as a sense of relaxation. Since CBD edibles produce longer-lasting effects, CBD pills for sleep may be a better option for those struggling to stay asleep throughout the night. CBD pills for sleep (capsules) are also a good alternative for those who don’t like the taste or texture of CBD oil. CBD Drops for Comfort and Mobility Cannabis has been used to promote better mobility for bodies for thousands of years. It is believed that CBD’s benefits come through its interactions with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a physiological network that keeps the body in balance by managing things such as sleep, appetite, stress, and even physical discomfort. Many people find that CBD drops for pain and other discomforts can help them better manage their symptoms of discomfort both immediately and consistently over time. This may be, at least in part, due to CBD’s joint health effects. CBD’s Possible Side Effects While CBD may be generally safe to use, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any factors to consider before digging in. Like with anything we put in or on our bodies, CBD oil can have some side effects. Though fairly uncommon, you may experience one or more minor side effects of CBD use, including dry mouth, headache, nausea, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, or fatigue. The higher your dosage, the more likely you are to experience some of the side effects of CBD oil. That’s why it’s important to start low and go slow when experimenting with dosages. If your body isn’t accustomed to a higher dose, it’s important to gradually increase the amount you ingest each time you take a dose as you’re figuring out what works best for your body. If you do begin to experience any of these side effects, it's a good idea to lower your dose. We hear stories of improved quality of life regularly, and we’d love to hear about your experience or make some recommendations based on your personal needs. Just drop us a line.
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How to Add CBD to Your Daily Wellness Routine
Have you felt the benefits of CBD but wondered if taking it every day is a good idea? In the past few years, a wealth of clinical studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of daily CBD, from lending us support when we’re feeling stressed to helping us decrease the blues, and even helping us contend with cramps. As many of us are finding, when you take CBD daily, you reap long-term benefits. But as both our common sense (and recent studies) suggest, not all CBD is created equal. Where your CBD supplement comes from as well as how it’s grown, harvested, and processed all make a big difference in its effectiveness. Here at Papa & Barkley, we believe that for our products to be good for you, they have to be good for everyone: Our customers, our workers, and our neighbors. So with that in mind, we’d like to share some of the reasons why adding CBD to routine activities such as exercise, yoga, and your sleep hygiene routine can support lasting health and wellness. Benefits of Daily CBD: The Power of Regular Support If you’ve ever visited our CBD Blog, you probably know that CBD—like THC, the compound responsible for the cannabis plant’s psychoactive “high”—is a cannabinoid, or one of the major “active ingredients” of cannabis and its plant cousin, hemp. And as such, it interacts with our bodies through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a vital regulatory network that helps our bodies stay healthy, regulate memory and sleep, and maintain homeostasis, among other functions. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t make you feel “high.” Instead, most users report a very gentle cerebral “buzz” or no noticeable cerebral shifts—just an ability to feel more calm, grounded, and centered. Given what we know about the role of the endocannabinoid system, that shouldn’t come as a major surprise. After all, all the processes we named a moment ago—immune function, sleep, and memory, for a start—work best when we’re feeling balanced and well regulated. That’s a major reason why many people feel that using a CBD supplement on an ongoing basis is best for their wellbeing. To cite one example, a 2019 study found that taking CBD for at least a month had a significant effect on reducing social anxiety disorder (SAD) among a group of teens. Another study on the use of CBD daily for sleep disorders found significant improvements after long-term dosing. Of course, with any supplement it’s wise to consider potential long-term risks. That said, study after study suggests that CBD is a safe, non-toxic, and well-tolerated compound. When taken daily in CBD oil, CBD gummies, or CBD softgel or capsule formats, they can support our wellness on an ongoing basis with minimal side effects and at relatively low doses. Using a Daily CBD Supplement: Choosing a Format Unlike our original (and award-winning!) CBD Releaf Balm, ingestible CBD works on the principle that cannabinoids such as CBD are just as effective systemically inside our bodies. That said, there are differences between using CBD topicals and CBD ingestibles. Because the medicine in cannabis ingestibles is processed through the stomach and liver, the onset time—or delay until it begins working—can take up to 90 minutes, and effects are long-lasting; up to 8 hours. So for best results, when you use a CBD ingestible such as our CBD Releaf Capsules, we suggest you wait at least 90 minutes before taking another dose. For even more incremental dosing, you can take CBD in liquid form, as with our CBD Releaf Oil. Because it’s offered in an easy-to-dispense oil format, there are a couple of advantages. For one thing, they offer even more flexible control over a standard capsule dosing size. For another, you can use these drops to add the power of CBD to your favorite foods or beverages. Just dispense one to two dropperfuls (1-2 ml), mix, and enjoy! Do you have more questions about specific CBD formats? In this next section, we’ll respond to specific questions we frequently receive from customers. FAQ: Common Questions About Taking CBD Daily Q: How often can I take CBD? A: As numerous studies suggest, using a CBD supplement daily poses low risk of toxicity or adverse effects. Q: How often can I take CBD oil? A: Many of our customers use CBD daily. Because CBD has been shown to be safe and generally well-tolerated, we recommend you start with a 1ml dose, then increasing over time for desired relief from symptoms. Q: How often can I take CBD gummies?Q: What’s a good CBD daily dosage? A: We recommend you start by taking two CBD gummies once a day, then increasing the dosage as needed. We recommend a consistent, daily CBD routine as this helps increase the efficacy of the product and produces noticeable long-term results. Q: What’s a good CBD daily dosage? A: Because everyone’s body is different, there’s no single recommended dosage. If you’re using a CBD oil, we recommend taking one to two dropperfuls, then repeating as needed throughout the day. For capsules, we recommend a single capsule at a time, also repeated as needed throughout the day. Taking CBD Daily: Why Pure, All-Natural Medicine Matters At Papa & Barkley, we’re committed to harnessing the full power of plants as simply and safely as possible. Our whole-plant infusions contain the full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids present in each and every plant we harvest. And we’re committed to solventless extraction, which minimizes the impact of production on our people (and our planet!). Do you have other questions about taking CBD daily? Just ask! We’re here to help.
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Cannabis for Parents: It's Time to Drop That Mom (or Dad) Guilt!
If you’re a mom who balances stress, the demands of childcare, and that little voice in your head telling you “cannabis is bad,” this post is for you. For far too long, cannabis has been stigmatized as a drug of abuse, and not something responsible parents would ever use. But times are changing, and millions of Americans are waking up to the fact that cannabis is not only safe and enjoyable, it’s an all-natural stress-reliever and a supporter of good health. And we can thank CBD for much of this research-backed change in popular perception. CBD, as you’re likely aware, is the “second cannabinoid”—after THC—in the cannabis plant. Though it’s typically been associated with powerful psychoactive effects, research shows that there’s plenty of reasons to use CBD for stress relief and to improve our sleep, among other goals. And perhaps most importantly, we believe there’s absolutely no reason to feel guilty about turning to CBD for stress management. For one thing, unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and is a natural product. Used mindfully, there’s no reason to feel shame about using it. Not only can CBD help you unwind, it’s medicinal properties may have a whole host of other benefits that the popular “wine down” lacks. What role might it play in supporting your health and wellbeing? Let’s count the ways! CBD and Stress: How CBD Works with Your Body Inside our bodies, CBD—like the other 100 or so cannabinoids, including THC—interfaces with a regulatory network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Though only identified in the 1990s, it’s now believed that the ECS is one of the body’s principal signalling systems. Its primary job is to promote homeostasis, or the stable and self-regulating maintenance of crucial functions, including: Appetite and metabolism Immune response Memory Communication between cells Proper sleep Interestingly, cannabinoids such as CBD are very similar to those produced by our own bodies. This makes them particularly effective because they’re in a sense “speaking the same language” as the chemical signals in the ECS. Some researchers believe that this is why CBD in particular can help us get deeper sleep and ease stress and nerves. That’s the perfect cue to explore this topic in greater detail. CBD for Stress: A Winning Combination Especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of interest in the use of cannabis to treat stress and frayed nerves. Stress, of course, can take many different forms. But so far, a wide variety of studies support the use of CBD to tackle it. For instance, a 2019 experiment designed to simulate the heightened stress response of public speaking demonstrated that moderate doses of CBD reduced stress. Can You Use CBD for Stress Headaches? One of the most common side effects of stress is headaches. And they’re much more than a nuisance: They cost patients, employers, and the economy as a whole a great deal each year. Again, cannabis may provide a solution. One study on the use of CBD oil for migraines found that an overwhelming number of sufferers experienced relief. How Do You Use CBD for Stress? We offer a range of CBD products, in both drop and capsule formats. Most of them are available in three strengths: Mild, regular, and double strength. Whichever one you choose, they’re the same in one essential regard: They’re all made from clean, all-natural CBD, sourced from whole hemp flowers grown organically and sustainably right here in the USA. Before closing, we’d like to remind you: Whether you prefer CBD on its own or in combination with THC, there’s never a reason to feel bad about it. Call us old-fashioned, but at Papa & Barkley, we believe taking good care of yourself and your family is nothing to feel guilty about. Do you have any other questions about the best CBD for stress? Just ask. We’re here to help!
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Top 5 Ways CBD Relieved My Work Stress
Even before COVID arrived to disrupt our professional lives, work-related stress was a major factor in many people’s lives. According to the American Institute of Stress, some 40% of workers report their job is “very or extremely stressful.” It’s a serious and growing problem, and one that doesn’t receive the attention it should. Fortunately, there’s a potential solution in the form of a gentle, all-natural plant product: CBD. Found in both the cannabis and hemp plants, it’s a compound that exerts some truly astonishing effects on our bodies and our minds. Whether taken in the form of CBD oil, as an ingestible, or used as a topical, it’s currently being researched for a wealth of potential benefits. Does CBD work for stress? We believe it does, and new research is mounting to support this claim. In today’s article, we’ll share ways we, at Papa & Barkley, leverage the power of CBD for stress in our lives. CBD for Stress: Sleep Support Good sleep quality is one of the central pillars of our lives, both on and off the job. Unfortunately, all too many of us suffer from insomnia, a family of sleep disorders that can sap our strength and make a normal workday feel like a grind. According to a recent study, CBD can offer support by improving our sleep and by reducing stress while we’re awake. CBD for Stress: Taming Discomfort Because work-related stress can present as chronic pain or inflammation, it’s important to keep on top of this nagging and often distracting symptom. Because of CBD’s demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, many of us trust it to help get a handle on chronic aches and strains. CBD for Stress: Better Mood, Better You Unlike its cousin THC—the cannabinoid responsible for the cannabis plant’s characteristic “high”—CBD imparts at most a very gentle psychoactivity, sometimes described as a mild cerebral “buzz.” This helps make it a powerful, all-natural, allday and everyday mood supporter—as evidenced by several clinical studies. Because it’s gentle and non-distracting, CBD can help support a positive mood and outlook without distracting psychoactivity. CBD for Stress: Winding Down After the workday is done, CBD can help revitalize and rejuvenate tired joints and muscles. Whether used as a powerful topical or as a fragrant addition to a bath, using CBD oil is an all-natural way to restore balance, recover from the workday, and ease your way into restful and restorative sleep. CBD Dosage for Stress: Best Practices Because everyone’s a little bit different, there’s no “standard dosage” of CBD. While it’s believed to be impossible to “overdose” on CBD, we generally advise our customers to consult the product packaging for guidelines, taking into account their weight and physical condition. Keep in mind that, as several studies have demonstrated, many of us experience greater symptomatic relief by using the minimum amount of cannabis needed to provide the relief we’re seeking. As we always say: Start low and go slow with dosing. Because each of us is different, the optimal dosage and form of cannabis varies depending on each person’s needs, goals, and individual physiologies. Whichever of our best-in-class CBD products you try, you can feel good knowing that our plants are sourced from growers invested in their environment and their communities. And we feel so passionately about our products and our processes that we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed policy. If any of the products you purchase through our website don’t live up to your expectations, simply return them for a full refund. Do you have any other questions about leveraging the power of CBD for work-related stress or other symptoms? Just ask! We’re here to help.
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CBD and Exercise: How to Leverage the Power of CBD Pre-Workout
If you follow Papa & Barkley’s CBD Wellness Blog, you probably already know how CBD can help us reduce stress and foster deeper relaxation. But in addition to all these calming and nourishing benefits, there’s one you might not be aware of: The mutually supportive links between CBD and better exercise recovery. As a growing number of professional and amateur athletes are learning, a dose of CBD pre-workout can help ease the natural inflammation that often follows exertion. And thanks to the chefs at the P&B Kitchen, we’ve got a whole new (and uniquely delicious) way to access CBD on the go. Introducing CBD Releaf Gummies, which we humbly believe are the best CBD gummies on the market today. If you’re looking to boost your wellness and support muscle recovery the natural way, today’s post is one you won’t want to miss! CBD and Working Out: The Source of Post-Workout Inflammation We’ve known that using CBD pre-workout may have benefits for quite some time now. As early as 2009, researchers were investigating the cannabinoid’s potential to impact our natural inflammatory response and support immune system functioning. Still, it’s only with the advent of expertly made, consistent and sustainable offerings such as our original and award-winning Releaf Balm or our potent and effective CBD Ingestibles that larger numbers of us are tuning in to the potential for CBD to support their fitness. How does CBD work? It all comes down to chemistry, and how our bodies leverage the power of this truly game-changing compound. CBD is the second most common cannabinoid—or “major active ingredient”—in cannabis and its cousin, the hemp plant. And it’s designed to partner with our bodies, literally. As we’ve written previously, the endocannabinoid system (or ECS) allows cannabinoids to “speak the body’s language.” In the ECS, cannabinoids such as CBD interact with specialized receptor cells to elicit a surprisingly wide range of effects. A large and growing body of evidence suggests CBD can support the reduction of normal inflammation and partners with the immune system to help modulate our experience of pain, sensory perception, and other crucial bodily functions. What’s more, it appears that exercise stimulates the endocannabinoid system. This in turn may boost levels of our own natural cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, to support pain-relief and anti-inflammatory responses in the body. Speaking of inflammation, why do we tend to feel sore after a workout in the first place? In the majority of cases, it’s caused by what’s known as "delayed onset muscle soreness," or “DOMs.” In the past, many athletes turned to so-called “heat rubs” such as Bengay or Ebanel, despite the fact that many fitness experts believe there’s little evidence they really work. Using CBD pre-workout, by comparison, gives our muscles a concentrated dose of this powerful and natural anti-inflammatory. And whether you access it through topicals or ingestibles, the place it all comes together is in the endocannabinoid system. Now that you know the science behind using CBD pre-workout, what about actually using it? That’s the perfect opportunity for us to talk about CBD dosage. CBD Pre-Workout: Finding Your Best Dosage You might be wondering just how much CBD is needed to relax muscles. Because everyone’s body is different, there’s no single recommended dosage. If you’re using an ingestible such as our CBD Releaf Oil, we recommend taking one to two dropperfuls, then repeating as needed throughout the day. For our CBD Releaf Capsules, we recommend a single capsule at a time, also repeated as needed throughout the day. If you’re using them pre-workout, we recommend you take them at least 30 minutes before exercising. Then there are CBD topicals, including our Releaf Balm and Releaf Body Oil. Crafted from pure CBD mixed with such ingredients such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender, these products deliver the healing power of CBD right to the source. We recommend you gently massage them into sore spots for 15 seconds or more. Again, waiting a short time before working out will give these products a chance to get to work, but it isn’t strictly necessary to pause. And now there’s an all-new way to access Papa & Barkley CBD for exercise: Introducing our CBD gummies! Our Best CBD Gummies: Targeted, Effective Relief from Symptoms If you can’t tell, we’re thrilled to announce a whole new way to combine CBD and exercise: Our CBD Releaf Gummies. Handcrafted in small batches, these gummies are vegan and free of gluten and soy. Relying on our own premium solventless CBD, they deliver effective, sustainable support to help your muscles get ready to workout (and recover more quickly afterwards). As with all ourCBD ingestibles, our CBD gummies deliver precise doses of cannabinoids for consistent and predictable outcomes. Each gummy contains 15mg of pure CBD. Start by taking two gummies once per day, then increase the dosage as needed. We recommend a consistent, daily CBD routine as this helps increase the efficacy of the product and produces noticeable long-term results. CBD Gummies for Exercise and More: Specific Applications What can products such as our CBD gummies address? Here’s a brief list of some top concerns, and how CBD can help support your overall health and wellness. Discomfort: In addition to helping manage the body’s normal inflammation levels, CBD works to modulate pain signals in the brain and studies suggest it may improve overall quality of life for those managing chronic discomfort Healthy Aging: A growing body of evidence suggests that the ECS plays a large role in maintaining healthy skin tone Joint Stiffness: A number of clinical studies suggest CBD may prevent nerve damage and joint pain Recovery: As we referenced earlier, CBD may exert reduction in normal inflammation and support post-workout recovery Wellness: Though it has many connotations, one important aspect of “wellness” is “good sleep.” And a number of studies point to CBD’s ability to foster deeper sleep. What’s more,another study found that those who used CBD experienced a reduction in anxiety and depression, decreased pain, and an overall improvement in their sense of wellness CBD and Exercise: Wrapping Up We’re incredibly proud to be California’s #1 cannabis topicals brand! It’s an honor we take seriously, and it drives us to be as transparent as possible about our ingredients and our processes. That’s a major reason we share Our Process and our Certificates of Analysis. We make them available because we consider ourselves beholden to some very important people: The tens of thousands of people who rely on our products every single day. At Papa & Barkley, we’re committed to harnessing the power of plants as simply and safely as possible so that our whole-plant infusions contain the full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids present in each and every plant we harvest. Our solventless extraction techniques produce a pure oil that’s as naturally rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. We believe that for our products to be good for you, they have to be good for everyone: Our customers, our workers, our neighbors and the planet. Do you have other questions about CBD and exercise (or any other CBD or cannabis-related topics)? Just ask! We’re here to help.
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Benefits of Cannabis: Booze Alternatives That Can Still Take the Edge Off
If you’re thinking about ways to shed stress that don’t involve alcohol, you’re in good company! With the growing awareness that there are alcohol alternatives that won’t leave you feeling fuzzy the next morning, many people are investigating the benefits of cannabis, meditation, and other sustainable lifestyle choices. And what they’re finding is that products such as CBD oil promote gentle, sustainable, and all-natural relief from muscle strain, stress, and other common complaints. Ready to try something new? Here are five ways to take off the edge, sans alcohol. Try CBD for Muscular Discomfort To an extent, we’re still learning just what all CBD is capable of. But thus far, much of the research around CBD has to do with its ability to relieve aches and strains. And one of the simplest and most effective ways to use it is by applying it directly to the source. After all, Papa & Barkley made our name with our best-in-class Releaf Balm, a handcrafted topical salve that uses the natural anti-inflammatory power of CBD to deliver gentle, soothing, sustainable relief. Try CBD Oil for Stress As it turns out, CBD works as well from the inside as it does from the outside. And as a growing crop of studies suggests, CBD oil taken orally exhibits powerful stress-reducing effects. One such study found evidence that “strongly supports the potential for CBD as a treatment for anxiety disorders,” suggesting it may have a role to play in helping us unwind the all-natural way. If you’re interested in trying out a CBD oil to try, we’d like to recommend our popular Releaf Oils. Relying on nothing more than the power of pure, organic, USA-grown hemp flowers, oils can support your emotional wellbeing with nothing more than the power of an all-natural plant medicine. Meditation as an All-Natural Stress Reducer We’ve talked about meditation before, how this ancient practice for calming and centering ourselves delivers real-life benefits. Believe it or not, meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety levels over 60% of the time it’s employed. Now that’s a free, easy-to-access anti-anxiety practice we can all get behind! Alcohol Alternatives: A Book Club! Especially with winter settling in, there’s no better time to start a book club with friends. Meeting in-person or virtually, reading a book with friends and then gathering to discuss it is a great way to rekindle our childhood love of reading and engage in an inspiring discussion. If you’re searching for a theme, might we suggest: Grass Roots, by Emily Dufton This engaging and highly readable tale traces the rise, fall, and rebirth of cannabis in the United States. Available from Amazon or your local bookseller. High on Design: The New Cannabis Culture, by gestalten This beautiful coffee table book is a sure sign that cannabis culture has moved way past Grateful Dead t-shirts and homemade brownies. Available from Amazon or your local bookseller. The Ultimate Guide to CBD, by Jamie Evans With interest in CBD sky-high, it’s perfect timing to dive into the science and the lore of this fascinating compound. Available from Amazon or your local bookseller. Alternatives to Alcohol: Virtual Game Night While Covid put a crimp on the age-old pursuit of getting together for laughs, we’re grateful to the programming whizzes who create online team events to help us unwind. Gather a pack of your friends together, log on and get cracking on an online murder mystery, a pub-style trivia night, or even an online version of the ever-popular Catan series of games! Do you have other questions about using CBD or other non-alcohol related activities to unwind and improve the quality of your life? Just ask! We’re here to help.
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Clean Cannabis Extraction: Why We Choose Solventless Extraction
Whether you’re enjoying an edible, an oil, a capsule, or a dab, you are actually consuming a cannabis extract. The ability to infuse cannabis extracts into many kinds of other products makes them super convenient to work with, and a common ingredient in many products, including ours. Depending on the kind of extract you are trying to produce, there are likely several different ways to make it. Some methods use chemicals or solvents, and others are solvent-free. Why does the process used matter? Because a solvent-based process can affect the quality of the final product when it comes to purity, cleanliness, and safety. As part of our mission to help people through all-natural healing, we want to empower our customers to make the best choices possible when it comes to the wellness products they use. That’s why we’d like to take a few minutes to talk to you about cannabis extraction and how it can impact the quality of your products. Solvent-based Extraction vs Solventless Extraction All cannabis extraction methods can basically be broken down into two groups: solvent-based extraction techniques and solventless extraction techniques. Solvent-based extraction techniques use solvents such as butane to strip the good stuff from cannabis plant material. A solvent chemically strips trichomes and valuable cannabinoids and terpenes from the bud into a single mixture. Afterward, a heating process purges the solvent chemicals from the mixture, leaving behind chemical-free cannabis extracts. By comparison, solventless extraction techniques result in a similar final product, but without the use of any chemicals or solvents. We can look at rosin for one example of a solventless process. Made by placing cannabis buds or hashish into a rosin press (a machine similar to a hydraulic press), the press uses only pressure and heat to literally squeeze the extract out of the plant material. Because solventless extraction techniques do not use any solvents or chemicals, the final products are chemical-free cannabis extracts. Why Does it Matter How Cannabis is Extracted? Why does any of this matter? Because for us safety is a paramount consideration when it comes to cannabis use. We want to arm our customers with the knowledge necessary to make the best choices they can when it comes to the products each person chooses to put in their body. For people who care about the cleanliness and purity of their cannabis, chemical-free cannabis extracts made through solventless oil extraction processes are clearly a better choice than products that may contain trace amounts of potentially harmful chemicals. In theory, the purging process used in solvent-based extraction methods should produce a chemical-free final product. However, in reality, the purging process presents another opportunity for human error. Traces of solvents can still remain if a solvent-based extract is not purged correctly or for a long enough period of time. As a result, many people prefer extracts made through solventless extraction methods since no extraction chemicals will be present. Due to the federal status of cannabis, very little cannabis research exists on this topic. Thus, no clear consensus exists on the safety of ingesting even trace amounts of solvents. To bring you the best products possible, we prefer to err on the side of caution and avoid these additives altogether. Lab Results At the end of the day, whether you use a solvent-based or a solventless extraction process, cleanliness and purity are the goal. Regardless of the cannabis oil extraction process, the best way to ensure that an extract is clean and safe for ingestion is through lab testing. At Papa & Barkley, we stand behind the quality of our products. That’s why we’re always willing to provide our customers with a copy of our lab testing results. Find our analysis on any of our products via our certificate of analysis page. If, by chance, you don’t see the certificate you’re looking for listed, just send a message to our customer service department and we’ll be sure to help you out. Clean Cannabis Extracts At P&B, we make all products using our proprietary whole-plant solventless infusion process. We avoid the need for solvent-based extraction by simply soaking our sun-grown cannabis flowers in an oil base. This allows us to skip the use of harsh extraction processes and provide our customers with some of the cleanest plant-based medicine possible. Even better, the extracts that we make are full-spectrum—meaning that you get the full plant profile, and not just a fraction of it (like with some other types of extracts). Clean extracts mean clean products. If you’re looking to get your hands on clean cannabis products with verified purity, check out our shop right now for a wide selection of premium CBD products including capsules, oils/tinctures, topicals, and more. Have a question about our process or about or products? Don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re always happy to chat with our customers!
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What Are CBD Softgels? A User’s Guide for Stress Relief
If you only know Papa & Barkley through our award-winning CBD topicals, we've got some exciting news for you! CBD works just as well inside our bodies as it does outside them. And if you’re looking to reduce the impact of everyday stress in your life, products like our potent CBD softgels can be a powerful ally, bringing you long-lasting relief. In today’s post, we’ll share a little about the science of CBD, how to take softgels, and other questions about these potentially game-changing supplements. Are CBD Softgels Effective? What the Science Says If you’re interested in the world of CBD, you probably know it’s a cannabinoid, a plant-based compound that interacts with the endocannabinoid system, one of our body’s crucial regulatory networks. We’ve written about cannabinoids before, and how these natural chemicals elicit useful effects on our bodies and minds. When it comes to the efficacy of CBD, a growing number of clinical studies support that it may help relieve a number of common symptoms, including: Reducing inflammation and associated discomfort Helping us find better sleep by fostering deeper rest without sedation Soothing stress by helping us stay grounded and relaxed without intoxication Let’s stay on the topic of stress for a moment. Data from one case study suggests that CBD can help us stave off the blues and generally support emotional equilibrium. In one large-scale study on CBD, anxiety, and sleep, a large majority of the participants experienced improvement in both stress levels and sleep hygiene. What’s more, it appears that we don’t require a great deal of CBD to make a meaningful difference in our well-being. That may be because cannabinoids are biphasic, which means that their effects are highly dependent on dosage. Research indicates that the majority of us derive greater benefit from lower and consistent doses of it. So if you’re looking to reduce the impact of stress in your life with products such as our CBD Releaf Softgels, we recommend you start with a small to moderate dosage. After you’ve assessed their effects on your specific symptoms and conditions, you can decide to take more or less moving forward. Can you take too much CBD? Research suggests it’s extremely unlikely you could ingest a lethal dose of CBD, but doses that are higher than you need can produce side effects like nausea and diarrhea. We advise our customers to consult product packaging carefully before using it, taking into account their age, weight, and physical condition. If you’re on other medications, speak to your doctor since CBD can impact the metabolization of several different drugs. CBD as Supplement: How to Take Softgels One of the advantages of taking CBD in this format is that it’s so familiar. Softgels are potent, shelf-stable, and easy to take: Simply swallow with water or the beverage of your choice. It’s important to note that because it’s processed through the stomach and liver, the CBD can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours to take effect. But once it’s in your system, you can expect the benefits to last between 2 and 6 hours (or longer, depending on your unique physiology). Be sure to give the body plenty of time to digest softgels, or any edible product, before assessing its effects and taking more. CBD Softgels: Wrapping Up As we hope today’s post makes clear, CBD is just as effective inside our bodies as it is on the outside. Our CBD Releaf softgels are designed to help support better mood and sleep, along with relieving discomfort and other common complaints, naturally. You can find them in Regular and Double-Strength varieties, and you can count on them to be made with only the solventless infusion methods used for everything we create. It’s our pledge to you and a very important part of our process. Want to learn more about CBD softgel capsules, how to take softgels, or other questions relating to our award-winning CBD products? Don’t hesitate to ask; we’re always here to help.
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