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You might have seen many CBD products proclaim their ability to create an "entourage effect" with their formulas. Before we dive into what exactly that means, we need to talk about the practice of herbalism. Traditionally, herbalists would use the entire plant or part of the plant (like the roots or the leaves) for medicines. They might take the root for one purpose, the leaves for another and the flowers for yet another. Dandelion root, for example, was used as a liver and digestive tonic, while the dandelion leaves were used as a kidney tonic. Dandelion flowers could be crushed and used to treat sore muscles and joints. Not bad for a weed!
<h2>Traditional Herbal Approaches</h2>
Herbalists would also talk about the “synergistic effects” of the whole plant and combinations of plants. Some of the best examples of these effects are the combinations of plant medicines used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and other systems such as Ayurvedic medicines, and Korean and Japanese medicines. 
These medical systems utilize combinations of two or more plants to produce beneficial or therapeutic effects. Replacing one of the herbs often has a significant effect on the end result.
Synergy can be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940614/">defined as</a> the interaction of two or more agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. In TCM and other systems, these synergistic effects were central to the medical practice, and formulations were actively designed to enhance the therapeutic value, bioavailability and promotion of elimination, and to reduce any potential toxicity. The knowledge for this process developed over hundreds of years and was passed down from teacher to student.
<h2>The Reductionistic Approach</h2>
In the West, however, a different perspective was adopted. Complex phenomena (like therapeutic synergy) were analyzed using reductionistic approaches. Reductionism is a method of paring away at a specific scientific issue by analyzing the simplest part of the process. 
To use an analogy, if you wanted to figure out how your hand is able to clutch a ball, you would look at muscle cells first to see how they are able to produce motion, and you’d file away that information. Then you might look at bones and how they interact, putting that information into a separate file. Then you might take a look at the nervous system and how it transmits a message from the brain to the muscles and back to the brain, and place that information in yet another file. 
This is a valid approach to looking at biological systems, and for a long time it was the only way to examine biological systems. However, the body acts as a complete unit, and eventually you have to merge those files.
<h2>Systems Biology</h2>
Merging those files is not an easy task, both because of the size of the files and because it requires a more holistic approach. It requires thinking about the “whole” rather than thinking about the “parts” that make up the whole.
Systems biology is in many ways the opposite of the reductionistic approach. The first major lab studying <a href="https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v19i6/systems-biology-as-defined-by-nih#:~:text=Systems%20biology%20is%20an%20approach,involves%20taking%20the%20pieces%20apart.">immunology</a> from a systems perspective was pushed by Dr. Anthony Fauci (yes, the same Dr. Fauci who is currently a government spokesperson on COVID-19) and formed in 2011 with a goal of better understanding the immune response to infectious diseases. 
Systems biology is joined at the hip with computational biology. And, given the amount of data the reductionistic method has placed into those files, computer modeling is one of the best ways to interpret that data mountain.
<h2>The Entourage Effect</h2>
The “entourage effect” was a phrase coined by those researching the biological effects of CBD to describe synergistic effects. That brings us full circle!
The entourage effect hypothesizes that the effects of full- or <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-oil">broad-spectrum CBD oils</a> are based on the interactions of the various cannabinoids, as well as the terpenes and other plant products found in the extract. 
<h3>Cannabinoids</h3>
So far, over 120 distinct cannabinoids have been described. Currently, scientists place these cannabinoids into six main classes. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cannabigerols (CBGs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cannabichromenes (CBCs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cannabidiols (CBDs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cannabinol (CBN) and cannabinodiol (CBDLs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Miscellaneous cannabinoids, such as cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE) and cannabitriol (CBT) </li>
</ul>
We are just starting to learn about how these cannabinoids may act in the body. Some bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, but also bind to a variety of other cell receptors, with different effects and different patterns of effects. In other words, it is complicated. 
Cannabigerols (CBGs) may be the “up and coming” cannabinoid—they are found in higher levels in some strains, and in younger plants—possibly because CBG is a precursor to many of the other cannabinoids produced in the older plants. <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/what-is-cbg">CBG</a> is reported to have many of the same properties as CBD, but appears to have more specific effects in certain tissues.
<h3>Terpenes</h3>
Until recently, terpenes have been underappreciated. Terpenes give cannabis plants their distinctive aroma. They are aromatic oils, and different levels and patterns of terpenes are found in most plants. They are thought to be part of the reason the smell of a lemon invigorates, and why the odor of lavender tends to calm us down.
The primary terpenes have names like caryophyllene (peppery), limonene (if you guessed lemons and citrus, you’re right!), myrcenes (an earthy and woodsy aroma found also in thyme) and pinenes (yep—found in pine trees). Each strain of cannabis has its own unique pattern of terpenes, most of which are reported to have some biological effects. 
<h2>Back to the Entourage Effect</h2>
Each strain of hemp likely contains a specific pattern of cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant substances. In theory, this could mean that a specific strain of plant could be used for a specific purpose.
There is much speculation about this, but it is mostly anecdotal and usually picked up in a medical cannabis dispensary while talking to various customers and those behind the counter. We will have to wait for the scientific data to catch up. 
The good news is that if you had gone to Google Scholar a few years ago and searched for “entourage effect,” you wouldn’t have seen many scientific papers on synergistic effects of anything, much less cannabinoids and terpenes. Now you can find lots of papers—on cannabinoids, terpenes and many other topics. 
Dr. Ethan Russo was one of the scientific pioneers studying the effects of cannabis. He recently published a paper titled “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334252/">The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No ‘Strain,’ No Gain</a>.” He makes the argument that it is better to characterize different cannabis and hemp plants not as strains but as “chemovars” because of the distinct patterns of phytochemicals in each.
Russo also provides a review of the current scientific status of the entourage effect—and it is looking pretty good!
However, the entourage effect does not appear to utilize the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32269529/">CB1 and CB2</a> receptor systems. This is not a surprising result, because one could reasonably suspect that the terpenes would use a variety of receptors for action—and, after all, even the cannabinoids utilize other receptor systems for their action. 
More evidence for an entourage effect—beyond the cannabinoids and terpenes—comes from studies in TCM and other traditional systems, as well as by comparing the effects of whole extracts versus the purified “active” ingredients. This evidence is indirect, but supportive of the entourage effect.
<h2>Conclusions</h2>
We haven’t yet proven that the entourage effect is real, but it is realistic to say that both direct and indirect data are accumulating. 
The concept of the entourage effect is actually a traditional one used in herbalism and in traditional medical systems, and could open up a vast new world of approaches, melding the old and the new, the pharmacological with the herbal. So do all of the compounds of the hemp plant need to be present for the entourage effect? Not at all. Many report feeling the benefits of the entourage effect with broad-spectrum products, such as the oils, capsules, and creams available right here at the <a href="https://penguincbd.com/">Penguin CBD</a> website.

While looking at CBD products, you might have seen the "entourage effect" mentioned. In this guide, we explore what exactly that term means.

What Is the Entourage Effect?

With all the hype about CBD in recent years, many people wonder if it might be something they too should try. CBD became legal across the entire U.S. in late 2018 thanks to the Farm Bill. The substance is non-intoxicating, so it doesn’t get you “<a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/will-cbd-oil-make-you-feel-high">high</a>.” This makes it even more appealing to people, because they can use it at any time of day without it interfering with other work or activities. 
One of the most interesting things about CBD is that sometimes it appears to provide a relaxing experiencing and at other times users experience an energy boost. While nothing is certain, more studies on CBD help researchers understand how exactly CBD works on the human body.
With this information, as well as information from the many anecdotal reports from CBD users, it is getting easier for experts to give solid advice about how to use it. 
New CBD users often wonder when the best time is to take CBD. Should they take it first thing in the morning? Should they take it before bed? At what other times of day would it be beneficial to take it and why?
There are no universal answers to these questions, but with a little bit of background information, individuals can get a better idea of how to incorporate CBD into their routine. So here at <a href="https://penguincbd.com/">Penguin CBD</a> we have created a helpful little guide to help you out.
<h2>How to Determine the Best Time of Day to Take CBD</h2>
Many people use CBD for their general wellness. However, because each individual has a unique body chemistry, the way CBD works for different people can vary. Plus, sometimes the same CBD user can experience energy from it while at other times they experience a relaxed feeling. Additionally, how CBD is consumed can change how the body responds to it.
Because there are so many factors involved and CBD research is ongoing and inconclusive at this point, the first step in understanding when to take CBD is to pay close attention to how you feel when you take it. The FDA does not regulate CBD; therefore, users must figure out when to take it, how to take it and how much to take. 
Taking note of the way CBD makes you feel is a gradual process that cannot be achieved in one dosage. There are several reasons for this. The first is that, as indicated above, substances can have different effects on different users.
The <a href="https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/40/1/2/282402">human endocannabinoid system</a> (ECS) plays an important role in modulating many of the body’s other processes, including the immune system, the autonomic nervous system and homeostasis.
However, exactly how it works is still not fully understood. When CBD enters the body, it interacts with the ECS and other bodily systems. Until more is known about both CBD and the ECS, the only way to know how you will respond to it is by trying it.
That being said, CBD has been shown in numerous studies to be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/">safe to use</a>. This is no doubt a contributing factor to why it has become so popular. The known side effects are not common or serious, and when they do occur, they are mild to moderate in severity. These include reduced appetite, drowsiness, dry mouth and diarrhea.
When introducing any substance to the body, it can take time to build up and have an effect. With regular CBD consumption, the ECS efficiency can increase, which is why it can take time before a comprehensive understanding of how it works on their body is reached.
Different methods of CBD consumption can also impact how it makes a person feel. CBD can be consumed orally, sublingually, by inhaling it (usually done through a vape) or used topically. Each method of consumption is unique in onset time as well as how long it lasts, and can alter from person to person.
Consuming CBD orally, as it must pass through the digestive tract before it enters the bloodstream, has the longest onset time, which is between one and two hours. Oral CBD consumption, such as by dropping <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-oil">CBD oil</a> into your beverage or taking a <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-gummies">CBD gummy</a> or <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-capsules">capsule</a>, also lasts the longest, up to 12 hours.
Sublingual CBD consumption, or dropping and holding it under the tongue, takes between 15 and 45 minutes for onset, and can last anywhere from four to six hours.
The onset of CBD when inhaled is usually within minutes, though the duration of the effects is the shortest. When CBD is applied topically, it never enters the bloodstream, and its effects are primarily local. Onset can take up to an hour as the CBD works its way into the body.
To understand the best time of day to take CBD, most people use trial and error. They start with a small dosage, typically between 4 and 22 mg, and slowly increase the dosage until they achieve the desired effect.
Experimenting with different methods of consumption can be helpful to individual users. This way, they can best understand not only how specific dosages affect them, but how the various ways of taking CBD make them feel.
CBD has been found to lead to different sensations at different dosages. For instance, one study found that higher dosages of CBD led participants to feel drowsy. This could be one reason some CBD users report feeling an energy boost from it while others find it relaxing.
The way an individual feels after taking CBD may change over time, even for regular CBD users. If you notice this is happening to you, reevaluate your dosage and consumption method to find something more suitable to your wellness goals.
Overall, it’s a process to find the best time of day to take CBD based on all of these factors, plus your individual body chemistry, metabolism and weight.
Other physiological and psychological factors may have an influence too. With no universal guide for figuring out your ideal time of day to take CBD, you will have to test it out yourself to find a schedule that works for you.
<h2>Reasons to Take CBD in the Morning</h2>
CBD research is still in its early stages, and scientists are gradually learning how it works on the body. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128007563000971">Studies</a> and personal stories from users have shown that CBD seems to make people feel their mood lifted or a boost of energy.
Many people choose to take CBD first thing in the morning to take advantage of this. It’s becoming quite common to add a few drops of CBD oil directly to a cup of coffee to start the day. 
Another reason people choose to take CBD in the morning is that it’s easier to remember to take it when it has been incorporated into their routine. This applies especially to those who decide to use CBD daily rather than sporadically. If you’re already taking daily vitamins, supplements or medications, adding something like a CBD capsule to that routine takes no effort at all. 
Many people who feel alert when taking CBD opt to take it orally, as the effects are longer-lasting. Taking something like a CBD gummy in the morning will keep that wakeful sensation around all day. 
<h2>Reasons to Take CBD at Night</h2>
CBD has also been known to make people feel calm, relaxed or drowsy. If this is the case for you, taking CBD at night might be the right move. Depending on your method of consumption, how long you take it before bedtime will vary. 
For example, if you plan to put drops of CBD oil into your tea at night, consider that it can take up to two hours to kick in. On the other hand, if you plan on sleeping shortly after taking CBD, using a vape pen to inhale it will lead to the onset of effects within minutes.
Either way, the relaxation you feel from the CBD will coincide with when you would normally go to sleep. 
<h2>Why Some People Take CBD Before and After Exercising</h2>
Conclusive research specifically related to CBD and sports has not been completed yet. Still, many <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/as-more-pro-athletes-use-cannabis-for-aches-and-pain-the-more-they-run-afoul-of-rules/2019/12/06/7dbd82fc-00c7-11ea-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html">athletes</a> and other physically active people have found that CBD positively impacts their overall wellness in both their pre- and post-workout routines.
Using CBD before and after workouts or athletic training could have potential benefits because of how the ECS is involved in physiological functions such as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51555385_The_role_of_the_endocannabinoid_system_in_the_neuroendocrine_regulation_of_energy_balance">energy</a>, coordination, metabolism and sleep.
Athletes began to take an interest in CBD in 2018, when the World Anti-Doping Agency removed it from its list of prohibited substances. Because CBD does not enhance performance and has no psychoactive effects, it is believed to be safe and fair for professional athletes. 
The energizing sensation that can come from CBD is one reason it has become a part of many pre-workout routines. Having that extra burst of energy can help to maximize productivity while exercising.
Simultaneously, the relaxation people feel from CBD can make it desirable as an addition to post-workout supplements and stretching. Overall, many physically active people have found CBD to be a worthwhile addition to their training.
<h2>Microdosing CBD</h2>
Because the body may use CBD more efficiently after it builds up in the system, microdosing, or taking CBD in very low doses more frequently and regularly, is another common practice in the CBD community. It is a way to optimize the health and wellness benefits of CBD. People who microdose CBD take it several times a day. Microdosing typically happens using CBD oil, as it is easy to measure the exact dosage.
Here is an example of how microdosing works. Instead of taking 30 mg of CBD first thing in the morning, that 30 mg would be divided into smaller doses, such as five doses of six mg each spread out throughout the day. 
The way CBD interacts with the ECS is the primary reason for microdosing CBD. The ECS participates in regulating the overall endocannabinoid balance in the body, including mood, memory, temperature, heart rate and hormonal equilibrium. Theoretically, taking CBD in microdoses rather than a single larger dose will enable the body to maintain more consistent ECS levels throughout the day.
Not much research has been done on CBD microdosing yet, but the consensus is that it’s safe. Some athletes microdose CBD because there may be an internal body system that could lead to better physical performance when equilibrium is maintained. This is an indirect relationship that has not been evaluated. 
<h2>How Often to Take CBD Is a Personal Choice</h2>
A universal time of day that is best to take CBD does not exist. Ultimately, the choice is made by the individual based on their body makeup and chemistry, and their reasons for taking CBD. The best course of action is to be open to testing out different times of day, dosages and consumption methods.
It is important to consult with your doctor about CBD before taking it. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1684/epd.2019.1123">CBD may interact with other prescription medications</a>, so to avoid unnecessary complications, your doctor should know about your CBD usage. Additionally, your doctor may be able to answer your questions about CBD, as he or she will probably have access to the most up-to-date CBD research. 
On a final note, while CBD is generally considered safe to use, it is not regulated by the FDA, so CBD companies are in a free-for-all situation where they may choose not to be honest about where their CBD products are made or what is in them.
Because of this, it’s essential to do some research about a company before trying their CBD products. If they are transparent about their hemp origin and provide third-party lab tests to ensure they are the correct potency and purity, they are probably <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/people-are-talking">a safe bet</a>.

When Is the Best Time to Take CBD Oil?

You can buy almost anything on Amazon, but can you buy quality CBD? The truth is that you’re more likely to find sketchy, mislabeled “hemp-seed oil” on this online megastore than well-labeled, traceable high-quality products such as our <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-oil">flavored CBD oil</a> or <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-gummies">CBD gummy candies</a>.
CBD is experiencing a popularity boom thanks to cannabis decriminalization. More and more studies and huge amounts of anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD is connected to a host of wellness benefits, further driving the market’s explosive growth.  
So it may seem odd that quality CBD is hard to come by on one of the world’s most popular retailers. But there are actually very good reasons you shouldn’t try to buy CBD on Amazon. Let’s take a closer look. 
<h2>CBD and Amazon: A Quality-Control Disaster?</h2>
It’s hard to buy CBD on Amazon in part because Amazon made it that way: Their terms of use explicitly prohibit listing any products containing cannabidiol. In a world where CBD is popping up everywhere from bakeries to beauty salons, why is Amazon explicitly banning this huge market? 
A lot of it has to do with Amazon’s sheer size. With CBD manufacturing largely unregulated, shoppers may expect Amazon itself to control the quality of the products available on their site.  
However, Amazon isn’t just a single retailer. Its seller marketplace currently hosts about 2.5 million active accounts. And Amazon’s track record when it comes to enforcing meaningful quality control among those 2.5 million merchants isn’t great. 
In 2019, Amazon had to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/07/22/amazon-warns-consumers-some-align-probiotic-supplements-sold-were-fake/1793750001/">warn</a> many shoppers that the Align Probiotic supplements they purchased on the site were likely counterfeit, while in 2017 many sellers were <a href="https://www.mic.com/articles/175691/amazon-vendors-are-selling-expired-emergency-contraception">caught</a> removing best-by dates from expired over-the-counter medicines. 
Quality control in the world of CBD is especially important because mislabeled ingredients can change a product’s efficacy, its immediate and long-term effects, its legal status and its safety for consumers. Poorly manufactured CBD products can contain contaminants such as lead and pesticides. 
A 2017 study of 84 CBD products <a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2017/november/penn-study-shows-nearly-70-percent-of-cannabidiol-extracts-sold-online-are-mislabeled">found</a> that a significant portion contained more CBD or less CBD than advertised, and even undisclosed and intoxicating levels of THC. CBD products that contain more than the 0.3% THC content allowed by the 2018 Farm Bill are considered controlled substances, and their manufacturers and distributors risk law-enforcement consequences.  
Mislabeled products and unproven health claims have gotten CBD manufacturers embroiled in class-action lawsuits, FDA warning letters and even government raids. 
CBD manufacturing is a diverse and largely unregulated field, which means quality can vary enormously among the hundreds of small companies jockeying for sales dollars. Counterfeit products on third-party marketplaces outside of Amazon have already caused headaches for companies like Lazarus Naturals, who advise their customers to avoid fake Lazarus products on Groupon. 
With over $10 billion in annual net income from their existing operations, Amazon may have decided that entering this legally and medically complicated industry is simply more trouble than it’s worth.
Amazon has banned products containing CBD -- but that doesn’t mean you can’t obtain them shopping there. A Washington Post investigation <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/12/19/amazon-prohibits-cbd-sales-its-still-easy-buy-site/">found</a> that 11 out of 13 products bought on the site contained CBD. Some of those products came from CBD manufacturers that simply redesigned their Amazon-focused packaging to heavily imply, rather than flatly state, that CBD was in the product. 
It’s technically a loophole, but it’s one that creates an even bigger regulation vacuum than simply allowing CBD sales, leaving Amazon shoppers vulnerable to counterfeiters, unclear dosages, mislabeled products and other quality and safety issues. 
<h2>
“Hemp-Seed Oil” and CBD Are Related, but They’re Not the Same 
</h2>
CBD is formally banned from Amazon, but a search for “CBD” on the site still returns pages and pages of products. Many aspects of those listings may remind you of CBD available from other retailers, from repeated references to cannabis and hemp to familiar dosage methods such as gummies and dropper bottles.  
Some of these sellers may be offering CBD products without saying it explicitly. But many are just offering the “hemp oil” or “hemp-seed oil” described in their listing, and some of those sellers may even be intentionally exploiting widespread confusion about terms for cannabis-derived products. 
Cannabis is a genus of plants containing different strains with both male and female specimens. THC, CBD and other cannabinoids are only present in significant quantities in the buds of female and hermaphrodite plants.  
Humans treasure female buds for their cannabinoids, but they’ve found uses for the rest of the cannabis plant for millennia, from making durable hemp fiber to pressing oil out of the seeds. While hemp-seed oil has many genuine uses and benefits to offer, it’s derived from cannabinoid-scarce components of the cannabis plant. If you’re using hemp-seed oil, you’re not experiencing CBD. 
<h2>
Alternatives to Amazon 
</h2>
Amazon makes billions of dollars per year in profit for a reason -- they’ve become a one-stop online shopping destination for everything from groceries to clothes to movies. As CBD is going mainstream, many people are looking to their favorite online marketplace, only to find that getting accurately labeled, trustworthy CBD products there is essentially impossible. Where can a CBD shopper look other than Amazon’s online mega-bazaar?
Buying directly from a manufacturer (such as <a href="https://penguincbd.com/">Penguin CBD</a>) can offer shoppers real quality and security. Like other responsible CBD manufacturers, Penguin offers third-party lab results to verify that our products contain exactly the CBD we advertise, with no undisclosed THC or contaminants.
Because we’re not trying to get around a CBD ban, each product page on our website contains the CBD dosing information customers need to get the right experience for them. Whether you’re buying discrete and easy CBD capsules or a flavored tincture to absorb sublingually, we provide the information you need directly rather than hinting at it. 
Buying directly from Penguin not only protects shoppers from counterfeit products; it also helps us spend our resources on formulating great products and offering them at fair prices rather than paying marketplace fees to Amazon. 
Our products use a <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/full-broad-spectrum-isolate">broad-spectrum CBD</a> that incorporates beneficial terpenes and other components of the cannabis plant without including intoxicating THC.  
We take care to create a pleasant and effective CBD experience for our customers, whether that means using an effective MCT carrier oil to maximize our tinctures’ bioavailability or formulating our skin-care balm with other beneficial ingredients such as shea butter and aloe. 
You can’t buy quality CBD on Amazon. But the alternative -- buying CBD directly from reputable manufacturers -- offers so many advantages that you likely wouldn’t want to go through Amazon even if you could. Log off of Amazon and check out some of Penguin’s great CBD products.

Why Can’t You Buy Good CBD on Amazon?

While you have likely seen many CBD products being advertised by a cornucopia of manufacturers, not all CBD products are of the same quality. Of particular importance, when purchasing a CBD product, is finding out the manufacturer's extraction method to produce the end product sold to consumers. 
The different kinds of extraction methods each have their pros and cons, but CO2 extraction is, hands down, the best method. To find out why this extraction process is superior as well as learn other aspects about purchasing a high-quality CBD product such as <a href="https://penguincbd.com/products/cbd-oil">Penguin’s CBD oil</a>, keep reading-  you'll be glad you did!
<h2>What Is CBD?</h2>
If you happen to be searching up the different methods of extracting CBD, you likely know the <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/what-is-cbd">basics of CBD</a>, but just in case you're new to CBD, it's worth briefly explaining. With the recent explosion in the number of manufacturers making CBD products, you've probably at least heard of CBD either from a friend, neighbor, or doctor. CBD is a complex subject, but we will not bore you with the unnecessary details; we'll just give you the essential information necessary to understand CBD!
Cannabidiol, or CBD, as it's abbreviated, is a chemical extracted from the hemp plant. This is not the only chemical found in hemp as more than 100 cannabinoids are known to researchers and others responsible for figuring these things out. Cannabinoids are a broad, generalized way of talking about chemicals that come from hemp; actually, phytocannabinoids is a more accurate name as the cannabinoids come from a plant and “phyto” means plant. 
There are also cannabinoids made by the human body, often referred to as endocannabinoids. “Endo” means something created within the body. The endocannabinoids, along with the receptors in the body in which they interact, comprise the body's endocannabinoid system. With me so far? 
There are currently a lot of research studies that are being conducted to study phytocannabinoids and their potential therapeutic effects. Currently, nothing can be said for sure regarding cannabinoids and what they can or cannot do, although many people are claiming they help with various concerns. That being said, there is a pharmaceutical in the United States that is pure CBD called Epidiolex, used by physicians for the treatment of certain childhood epilepsy disorders. 
Let's take a moment to point out that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one type of cannabinoid, although it is distinct from cannabidiol. Knowing this helps us make sense of the current legal statuses of various CBD products.
<h2>Not All CBD Is the Same</h2>
Since there is minimal regulation for CBD products, except for the prescription medication Epidiolex, not all CBD products are manufactured the same or even contain the amounts of cannabinoids advertised to consumers. CBD products have many variations, which consumers have to be savvy in order to get the product they truly desire. 
We'll start by explaining the difference between different broad categories of CBD before moving on to the kinds of CBD products you can purchase. 
<h3>Full-spectrum vs. Broad-spectrum vs. CBD Isolate</h3>
Full-spectrum, Broad-spectrum, Isolate...Oh my! For those new to CBD, the distinction between these industry specific terms is imperative for those purchasing CBD for the first time. The terms will make sense after giving the rationale for why they're called what they are and will make it much easier to remember for when you need it. 
The full in <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/full-broad-spectrum-isolate">full-spectrum CBD</a> is used in reference to the cannabinoid content. The full-spectrum CBD product is full of all the cannabinoids that can be legally extracted from the hemp plant. This means that the product has 0.3% THC, cannabidiol, and all the other cannabinoids and terpenes found in the plant. 
Why do some CBD experts and many consumers prefer full-spectrum CBD products to either broad-spectrum or CBD isolate products? It's due to what is called the "entourage effect," which basically states that the therapeutic effect of CBD is enhanced, and sometimes new properties emerge when all the cannabinoids are used together. In other words, cannabinoids are considered to have a synergistic effect! 
Broad-spectrum CBD products have all the cannabinoids that full-spectrum products have minus the THC. Individuals admittedly opposed to THC or who worry about showing up positive on a urinary drug screen (UDS) may be a better fit for a broad-spectrum product. Proponents of the "entourage effect" often state that THC has a therapeutic effect in CBD products that are absent in broad-spectrum products and isolates, but if you're job’s on the line, it may be an easy choice for you. 
CBD isolate products are your bare-bones model of CBD. These products only contain the CBD cannabinoid, no THC, terpenes, flavonoids, or other cannabinoids. These products are more ideal for those that work in public safety jobs, such as doctors or airline pilots, who are frequently drug tested and for which a positive test could cost them their job and career. 
So what exactly is THC? Let’s explore.
<h3>What is THC?</h3>
The controversy about <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/how-much-thc-is-in-cbd-oil">THC</a> comes down to its legal status and the effects we know it produces in the human body. If you don't know already, THC is the chemical in the hemp plants that produces the "high" feeling if you've ever used Marijuana. It is the cannabinoid with the most potent psychoactive properties and is also the chemical frequently tested for in urinary drug screens (UDS). 
Currently, THC is classified as a Schedule I substance, which means that there is uncertainty about its beneficial use in medical conditions and the safety surrounding its use. It's a little confusing given there is a pharmaceutical in the US available called Dronabinol, which is used to increase appetite in certain populations and for the treatment of certain kinds of nausea and vomiting. 
You may be asking - So wait? Is CBD even legal? Let’s talk about CBD’s legal status.
<h2>Legal Status of CBD</h2>
Where does the current <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/is-cbd-legal">legal status</a> stand for CBD products? Well, that depends on the amount of THC in the products being sold. The Farm Bill, which was passed in 2018, makes the manufacturing and selling of industrial hemp products federally legally. Industrial hemp is a type of hemp plant but is specifically cultivated to have minimal THC amounts, especially compared to illicit Marijuana plants. According to the Farm Bill, Industrial hemp must contain 0.3% THC or less to be considered legal to sell in all 50 states. 
This can be a confusing aspect of CBD as some states have legalized medical and recreational Cannabis use, and in these states, it may be possible to find CBD oil with much higher THC concentrations than 0.3%. Purchasing CBD products off the internet or within a state that does not allow for recreational or medical Cannabis may help safeguard, but not guarantee you from buying high THC containing CBD oil. 
Ok, now that we have put down a foundation of understanding CBD, let’s talk about the extraction methods.
<h2>Steam Distillation Extraction</h2>
One of the oldest methods known and cheapest for extracting chemicals from plant material is steam distillation. The steam distillation process dates back hundreds of years, so it's a tried and tested method for getting reliable extractions. The downside to using this method is that the process is notoriously inefficient, requiring large amounts of plant material, and its precise extraction of cannabinoids is hard to regulate. 
Steam distillation extraction happens like the name suggests, using heat and steam. This is how it works! A container with water is heated, causing the formation of vapor, which flows through to another camber that holds the raw hemp plant material. The vapors help pull out the essential oils of the plant, which include the phytocannabinoids. 
As you've seen with steam, vapors will rise carrying the essential oils, which will go into a water condensing tube that cools the vapor, causing the steam to convert to a water and an essential oil liquid. The water and essential oil liquid combination undergo a process by which these two substances are separated, ultimately leaving the cannabinoids. 
Manufacturers utilizing this method also have to worry about overheating the plant material. Overheating plant material can alter the chemical profile of the cannabinoids, which is not what we want when extracting CBD oil. If this happens, the structure, integrity, and quality of CBD may be compromised.
<h2>Solvent Extraction</h2>
An arguably less healthy, but more economical option than steam distillation method for extracting cannabinoids from hemp plant material utilizes solvents. These solvents can take the form of hydrocarbons such as naphtha, petroleum, butane, and propane or more natural solvents such as alcohol or olive oil. 
Solvent extraction takes the form of a similar process as steam distillation with a few important differences. Instead of water being heated in the first step of steam distillation, a solvent is heated, whether that be a hydrocarbon compound or a natural solvent. Once the solvent has combined with the cannabinoids, the mixture is condensed, separating the hydrocarbon and hydrocarbon byproducts from the final cannabinoid product. 
The benefit of using hydrocarbon solvents is that hydrocarbons are more easily separated from the cannabinoids than when using a natural solvent. The downside to hydrocarbons is that they are not natural to our bodies and can cause harmful effects if the hydrocarbon is not entirely separated from the final CBD product, which has been <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297707359_Cannabis_oil_Chemical_evaluation_of_an_upcoming_cannabis-_based_medicine">known to happen</a>. 
With the risks associated with using hydrocarbons, you may ask yourself why manufacturers don't just use natural solvents. Two problems arise with natural solvents: sometimes, the natural solvents extract more than just cannabinoids from the hemp plant that can leave your CBD product with an unpleasant taste. Secondly, natural solvents are inefficient in pulling out cannabinoids, which can leave a CBD end product with a cannabinoid content less than expected and advertised by the manufacturer. 
<h2>CO2 Extraction</h2>
Now to the holy grail of CBD extraction and the section you've been waiting to read since starting this article! By far, the best way, but the most expensive way to extract cannabinoids from the Cannabis plant, is to utilize a supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) method. “Supercritical” describes a property inherent to CO2. Basically, it’s the combination of super-low temperatures combined with pressure which causes the CO2 gas to change into a liquid.  
Here is how the process works. A tank of carbon dioxide is connected to a supercooled chamber. A pump moves the cooled CO2 liquid into an extraction cell containing the Cannabis plant material. The combination of pressure and temperature of the CO2 affects its solvency, which allows for the effective diffusion and extraction of cannabinoids from raw plant material.
CO2 extraction is very efficient at extracting cannabinoids from the hemp plant; this process also allows manufacturers to control the concentration of cannabinoids that are extracted from the plant by adjusting either the pressure or the temperature of the CO2. This method also leaves behind a pure product of cannabinoids as the CO2 in the cannabinoid-CO2 solution found at the end of the process ends up evaporating as the temperature increases. 
With a pure cannabinoid end product, efficient extraction, and the ability to regulate the concentration of cannabinoids, you may be asking yourself why all manufacturers don't use this extraction method. It's because the equipment to perform CO2 extraction is costly, and if you're a savvy, experienced consumer, you know that these costs will ultimately be passed on to the consumer. This is why you may find that CO2 extracted CBD products may cost you a little more, but we can say with confidence that the little extra investment is worth it!
<h2>The 10,000 Foot Perspective</h2>
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many phytocannabinoids derived from the industrial hemp plant. There is a lot of time and money currently being spent researching CBD's potential benefits to humans, although not a lot can be currently stated as a fact. There are three broad categories of CBD products: full-spectrum products, broad-spectrum products, and CBD isolates, which progressively have less variety of cannabinoids. 
It would help if you kept in mind there are various ways to extract cannabinoids from the industrial hemp plant, including steam distillation extraction, solvent extraction, and CO2 extraction. All methods have their pluses and minuses, but ultimately CO2 extraction is superior to other methods because of the purity of the CBD end product and the ability to control the concentration of cannabinoids more accurately. That's why we use it for every <a href="https://penguincbd.com/">Penguin CBD</a> product.
If you want to learn more information about how CBD oil is made, check out this <a href="https://penguincbd.com/blog/how-is-cbd-oil-made">article</a>!

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