Times Observer photo by Katie Miktuk The owner and vice president of imbue botanicals spoke at The Crossing in Warren on the benefits of full spectrum CBD products.

Here in Warren County, we can all walk into a gas station, or maybe even drive by a video store, and see the words “CBD Products Sold Here.” But what are the benefits associated with this up and coming supplement?

Chris Jurist, the owner and vice president of imbue botanicals, came and spoke at The Crossing in Warren on the benefits of full spectrum CBD products on Wednesday, May 29.

The first thing that is important to understand about CBD is that it is not marijuana.

When it comes to cannabis, there is an umbrella, and under that umbrella are two plants – the marijuana plant and the hemp plant.

The marijuana plant is very high in THC and low in other cannabinoid profiles.

Hemp, which is where CBD is derived from, is higher in the other cannabinoid profiles and lower in THC, making it a non-psychoactive supplement.

“It’s important to know that, because I think a lot of times when people start talking about CBD and hemp, there’s confusion,” stated Jurist. “They merge those two worlds and it always falls back into, oh well it must be marijuana and it must get you high.”

The hemp and CBD industry is a high level scientific approach to healthy alternatives to pharmaceutical medication.

“There are real facts and science behind (CBD), it’s not some hippy voodoo stuff,” stated Jurist.

There are real clinical trials and real companies and businesses that are getting involved to truly understand the benefits of hemp and CBD. The hemp plant has been around for 100’s of years and has profound effects on an individual’s health that date back to the 1800’s when it was available on all drug store shelves.

Another important aspect to understand about the upcoming CBD industry are the different extraction processes..

One of these processes has been dubbed as the number one extraction process which produces full spectrum CBD. This process is used by imbue botanicals.

It begins by cold pressing a hemp plant and soaking it in ethanol, usually grain alcohol. This method was created by Rick Simpson, hence named the Rick Simpson Method (ROS).

Heat, pressure, and solvents used during the extraction process can cause damage to the cannabinoids and terpene profiles. This method uses none of those elements, allowing for the highest quality of oils producing the most benefit in order to make a full connection to your endocannabinoid system.

The ROS method allows for all 113 active ingredients found in hemp plants to be extracted. This is a key factor in creating what is known as the entourage effect within the body; all of the receptors in your body are working to achieve the balance in your body.

“The way we’re doing that at imbue is the cleanest, purest, most efficacious way to have that oil for our next process, which is creating our formulations,” Jurist said.

Other methods present in the industry use a CO2 extraction process. These processes expose the hemp plant to heat, pressure and solvents, lowering the effectiveness of the oils.

Most methods involving the CO2 extraction remove the trace amount of THC that is present in hemp. While these oils and products still allow for most of the benefits that CBD has to offer, THC plays a key roll in unlocking the targeted CB1 and CB2 receptors within the brain.

There are three key profiles in unlocking these receptors. THC is at the top unlocking the CB1 receptor, CBD is the connector in the middle, and CBN then completely unlocks the CB2 receptor.

The CB1 is tied to your nervous system and brain activity within your body. CB2 is tied more to the functions of your organs and immune system. The connection in the middle is CBD.

“We all have something we deal with, something that’s imbalanced, and it means something different to all of us,” stated Jurist.

So how can one product help all of us? It’s by having an approach at a level that effects everything so that we may achieve the balance that we desire.

The only other supplement that has a similar all-receptor approach is naloxone, seen in present day as LDN, or low dose naloxone. It works with your body’s receptors to create a connection of balance in your system, just as a full spectrum CBD product works to achieve.

“What they all tie back into, is how your body works, how your organs are working, and what gives them that optimal performance when you’re feeling healthy and when you’re doing well,” Jurist said. “That’s what full spectrum CBD is trying to and working hard to achieve for you. It is working hard to shift your receptors back to homeostasis.”

Imbue botanicals grows their own hemp, specifically at 7,600 feet, in order to attract the most UVA and UVB light. The sun is the most important part of growing hemp. The same results cannot be achieved by using a light bulb or growing in a valley.

The higher the plant grows and the more sunlight it receives, the more CBD levels are driven higher in the plant and the more terpene profiles become present.

Imbue is 100% organic, non GMO, vegan, gluten free, cruelty free, has no additives, no fillers, no by-products and no solvents.

“That’s a lot of stuff that’ not in our products, but is important when talking about efficacy,” Jurist said.

The more additives you put into a CBD product, the less efficacy.

You will see companies adding items such as ginger and turmeric to their products. Both ginger and turmeric have health benefits on their own, but they bring down the quality of a CBD product when added to it.

A lot of companies in the industry also use ETC or coconut oils as their method of delivery for their CBD. Both of those oils take the longer to break down within the body.

Imbue uses an all natural vegetable glycerin which is derived from a pigmy palm fruit which bears it’s own natural sugar content. Sugar is one of the fastest to break down within the body.

Imbue offers tinctures in up to 500mg, capsules in up to 25mg and plans to come out with a gummy line as soon as next week. The gummy line will be all natural as well.

The company also offers lotions, salves, beauty creams, lip balms and even carries products for your cat or dog.

Topicals are made with all natural botanicals as well. They include natural grape seed and coconut oils allowing for fast absorption into the skin. They also contain arnica which is a natural pain reliever.

Topicals are also good for management of pain, excema, psoriasis, arthritus, rheumatoid arthritis, knee pain, joint pain and back pain.

Ingested CBD begins healing from the inside and works its way out. It reduces internal inflammation and pain and has an overall calming effect on the mind and body.

It is recommended to take both ingested and topical forms as pain begins from within and then manifests itself in a physical manner.

Imbue products and other CBD products can be found at Gaughn’s Drug Store on Pennsylvania Ave West in Warren.

Scott Newton, owner and pharmacist at Gaughn’s, along with his pharmaceutical team, are always happy to help with any questions regarding CBD and your health.