There has been a lot of innovation and health studies regarding tea over the past few decades. While most are familiar with the various health benefits of camellia sinensis, and the different herbs and spices found in herbal teas, another newcomer is Hemp and CBD tea.
Because CBD exploded in popularity over the previous few years, it has led to some exaggeration and misinformation as some are using it to make a quick buck. This has caused some harm to legitimate players and created a lot of customer confusion. But understanding Hemp and CBD is important before passing judgement on a particular product. As we shall see – not all CBD products are the same.
Hemp and CBD Explained
Hemp is another name for Cannabis Sativa, also known as industrial hemp and part of the cannabacea family and traditionally cultivated for fiber and edible seeds. Marijuana is also part of this family; and while both plants look similar, hemp contains only trace amounts of THC, the component that causes one to get ‘high.’
Hemp is a Source of CBD
CBD is a cannabinoid, and is extracted into an oil typically from hemp seeds. It is also found in flowers and can be smoked, and can be found in leaves that are processed a certain way (more on this later). It has been found to have a number of potential health benefits. These include:
- Pain Relief – Studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters.
- Reduce Anxiety and Depression – Many drugs used to treat these symptoms often have many side effects and can be addictive and lead to substance abuse. CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorders.
- Cancer Symptoms – Many people have found CBD helped with side effects of cancer treatment like nausea, vomiting, and pain. Some research has shown potential cancer-fighting properties.
- Skin Health – Because CBD is anti-inflammatory, it may have beneficial effects on acne.
- Neuroprotective Properties – From epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease – CBD has been found to have positive benefits. Much of the research is limited, but promising.
- Heart Health – Studies are still new, but early research shows that CBD can help lower blood pressure and reduce cell death associated with heart disease.
- Other areas showing promise are substance abuse treatment, anti-tumor, and diabetes prevention.
Many studies are preliminary and use careful dosage administration. Please consult a doctor if you intend on using CBD to treat any medical condition.
Before we continue, we should discuss some of the negatives surrounding CBD products.
1 – Outrageous health claims. The FDA has shut down a number of players for literally saying their products can cure cancer. There have been similar battles over tea, and the FDA did eventually rule that green tea may help prevent cancer, but you cannot say it will cure or definitively prevent it.
2 – Contaminated products. There have been cases of using less than desirable land to grow hemp and thus there have been some reports of contamination. Hemp, like tea, can be contaminated with poor soil or the use of pesticides.
3 – False or misleading labels that do not accurately display what is in the package. Some of this is to skirt labels and regulation, using terms like Hemp extracts and not even mentioned CBD levels. To be clear, any legit product should not leave this to guesswork.
4 – Using hyped terminology that isn’t regulated. Nanotechnology is probably the most abused.
To be concluded in Introduction to Hemp and CBD Tea – Part 2
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