What Is Raw CBD?

September 23, 2017

Over the past several years, Americans have grown very enthusiastic about CBD. If you’re familiar with the health and wellness benefits of CBD, this trend won’t surprise you. Early research has shown that CBD may help with any number of conditions.

If you want to consume CBD in its purest form, as close to the whole plant as possible, raw CBD may intrigue you. It consists of CBD that hasn’t been heated, filtered, or cured. It contains an acidic form of CBD, CDBa, that may have anti-inflammatory and pain-binding properties of its own.

So what exactly is raw CBD, and why should you take it? Below, we outline what you need to know about raw CBD so that you can make an informed decision about what type of CBD is best for you.

What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound extracted directly from the cannabis plant. It is one of hundreds of naturally-occurring compounds, known as cannabinoids, in this plant. Along with THC – the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – CBD is one of the most popular and well-known cannabinoids.

In the United States, people most often extract CBD from hemp, a species of the cannabis plant. It is legal to grow hemp in the U.S. provided that the THC content is 0.3% or less (compared to approximately 30% for marijuana). For this reason, if you buy a CBD product made from industrial hemp grown in the United States, it will have only trace amounts of THC (or may even be THC-free).

While the research into CBD is still emerging, it has been linked to a number of health benefits, including reducing anxiety, alleviating acne, decreasing pain and inflammation, and helping with many other conditions. Scientists believe that CBD works by interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps to maintain homeostasis, or balance, in the body.

One of the most intriguing areas of research into CBD is the entourage effect. Cannabis plants contain more than 120 Phyto cannabinoids, plus other compounds like terpenes and amino acids. Scientific research has shown that taking these compounds together may produce additional therapeutic benefits, known as the entourage effect. Given this potential benefit, many people seek to consume CBD in its closest form to the whole plant, such as using raw CBD.

What Is Raw CBD (CBDa)?

Raw CBD is cannabidiol extracted from the cannabis plant without heating, filtering, or curing. This raw CBD oil contains cannabidiolic acid (CBDa), the acidic form of CBD. When you heat raw CBD oil, a process known as decarboxylation, the CBDa loses its acidic carboxyl group and is removed from the extract.

According to early research, CBDa may have powerful health and wellness benefits. A 2008 study found that the molecular structure of CDBa is similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and demonstrated the same behavior that allows NSAIDs to reduce inflammation. In 2013, researchers discovered that CBDa is 1,000 times more powerful than other cannabis compounds in reducing nausea and anxiety.

Unfortunately, CDBa is far more unstable than CBD, and degrades in the presence of heat. Scientists are currently investigating ways to make CBDa more readily available and easier to take.

How Does CBDa Form?

All cannabinoids are derived from cannabigerolic acid, or CBGa. This base compound forms all of the cannabinoids that are present in the cannabis plant. Plant enzymes break down CBGa into three cannabinoid precursor compounds. These are tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

Once these acidic compounds are formed, they can be converted into the cannabinoids that we are familiar with – CBD and THC – through the decarboxylation process. By applying heat, the molecular structure of the acidic cannabinoid changes. The resulting product is considered a decarb CBD oil.

Raw CBD vs Decarboxylated CBD

In contrast to decarboxylated CBD, raw CBD oil has a dark green or blackish color. It is also very thick. CBDa or raw CBD contains a full range of compounds, including chlorophyll and fatty acids, allowing individuals to get as close as possible to that plant growing from the ground.

Decarboxylated CBD is heated and filtered, which can enhance its effectiveness and absorption. Its color ranges from clear to golden or dark brown, depending on the extraction method and added ingredients.

The key difference is that decarboxylated CBD oil has been heated, while raw CBD has not. Both offer CBD’s benefits, but raw CBD may provide additional benefits from CBDa, whereas decarboxylated CBD oil might act faster.

Buying Raw CBDa

If you are interested in trying raw CBDa, you may be intimidated by all of the options available. First and foremost, know that since the FDA does not currently regulate CBD, you should only buy CBD products that have undergone independent testing. A reputable CBD company should make these lab results available for you to review online, where you can get more information about the CBD and THC levels in the product, as well as the presence of any contaminants.

Next, look for CBD that has been extracted from industrial hemp grown in the United States. This hemp contains no more than 0.3% THC, which won’t show up on standard drug tests. If you’re concerned about THC, you can opt for a CBD isolate, which has only CBD. In contrast, full-spectrum CBD includes all beneficial compounds from the cannabis plant, including THC. Broad-spectrum CBD has most of these compounds but excludes THC and some other cannabinoids.

If you want to take full advantage of the entourage effect, you may consider a raw, full spectrum CBD oil. That way, you will be getting CBDa, CBD, plus all of the other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids of the cannabis plant.

Green Wellness Life offers a range of CBD products, all of which are made from American-grown hemp and have been independently tested.

Ready to Get Started? We’re Here to Help.

CBD oil has a lot of potential benefits, particularly when it comes to relieving pain, inflammation, and anxiety. If you suffer from any of these conditions or simply want to give CBD a try.

While we aren’t doctors and can’t diagnose or treat you, we can offer you the latest research on CBD and CBD so that you can make a decision that is right for you. We can also answer your questions, and help you as you shop for a product that meets your needs. If you want to learn more, give us a call at (866) 244-4223 (M – F, 9 am to 4 pm), press the live chat button, or fill out our online contact form.

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