Does CBD work without THC?

December 17, 2021By Botanika Farm

The recent surge of media interest in CBD, the scientific community, and the increasing amount of anecdotal evidence of CBD's health-promoting effects, has resulted in a surge of mainstream interest in hemp. As the popularity of hemp grows, there are still many questions and misunderstandings about the plant and its compounds, including whether CBD works without THC (the answer... yes, it does).

Here we will delve into this common question and look at whether THC is even needed for CBD to be effective.

CBD and THC-a brief reminder

CBD, short for "cannabidiol," is one of over 113 chemical compounds found in cannabis. THC is the most well-known cannabinoid for its intoxicating effects, but the second best-studied cannabinoid, CBD, offers many health benefits without the so-called "high." These compounds, along with other aromatic chemicals called terpenes, have many known medicinal benefits.

When CBD oil is extracted from hemp, it will contain mostly CBD, but will also have trace amounts of THC, as well as other cannabinoids and terpenes found in the plant. This is known as full spectrum CBD extract.

At Essenz, we also offer broad-spectrum CBD, which is made by selectively removing THC from a full-spectrum extract while retaining the rest of the spectrum of minor cannabinoids and terpenes.Essenz Broad Spectrum Premium oilsare standardized on the content of CBD, of course, but also CBG. They come in three versions:

1500 mg CBD + 300 mg CBG
3000 mg CBD + 600 mg CBG
4500 mg CBD + 900 mg CBG

Does CBD alone also work?

More and more studies on CBD are emerging that clearly show its effectiveness.

A clinical trial published in May 2017 tested the effects of CBD on the debilitating epileptic condition, Dravet syndrome. The study found that CBD alone cut seizures in half in 43% of patients who were given the drug

In June 2018. The FDA approved a CBD-only drug called Epidiolex, primarily for these seizure cases.

CBD oil without THC is also considered a natural, holistic treatment alternative for many other conditions such as pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, diabetes, neurological disorders, autoimmune deficiencies and addiction treatment.

Is combining cannabinoids better than isolating them?

Consuming different cannabinoids together promotes the so-called "entourage effect," a situation in which different cannabinoids and terpenes act synergistically, enhancing each other's properties and creating a 1 + 1 = 3 scenario.

When it comes to including THC as part of the extract, some studies have shown that THC and CBD work better together (along with other min or cannabinoids and terpenes). Keep in mind, however, that THC can be successfully replaced by other cannabinoids such as for example CBG.

With that in mind, many people respond well to CBD alone, so THC-free CBD products still have great benefits. It all depends on the person, their overall health, and the symptoms you are trying to treat. . When we talk about THC-free products, we mean broad-spectrum products, not isolate formulated products, because unlike isolate, broad-spectrum products retain most of the properties of full-spectrum products like high absorption, effectiveness at low doses, etc.

When is it a good idea to avoid THC?

There are benefits to using both THC and CBD. As we mentioned above, THC is not needed to activate CBD as some have suggested. However, keep in mind that the combination of THC and CBD may be more effective in treating some serious health issues

If you are someone who has had negative experiences with THC in the past and/or is prone to anxiety, paranoia, or other afflictions that can be exacerbated by psychoactive cannabinoids, broadspectrum products will be the best alternative for you.

If you are using CBD to treat conditions that THC can sometimes worsen in some people (such as anxiety or depression), you should choose a THC-free option to avoid the opposite effects.

Being a person who should as a rule avoid even trace amounts of THC (doctors, police officers, lawyers, professional athletes, etc.) you should also choose broad spectrum oils.

In conclusion, you don't need THC to enjoy the benefits of using CBD. CBD can work great on its own, and even better when combined with other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes.

A word about CBD isolate.

Izolat CBD zawiera wyłącznie czyste CBD. Zgodnie z przeprowadzonymi badaniami czyste CBD wykazuje znacznie niższą skuteczność niż w towarzystwie innych kanabinoidów oraz terpenów. Kolejnym minusem jest to jak ludzki organizm reaguje na czyste CBD-maksymalne korzyści uzyskuje się stosując ściśle określoną dawkę, która jest zmienna osobniczo, a więc niezwykle trudno jest ją ustalić. Krzywa reakcji organizmu na dawkę izolowanego CBD przyjmuje postać dzwona-oznacza to że zarówno przy użyciu zbyt niskiej jak i zbyt wysokiej dawki nie odczujemy efektu terapeutycznego. However, this is different in the case of full specrtum and broad spectrum products - here the effect increases with the size of the dose consumed.