Maybe you’ve heard of cannabidiol (CBD)…
…but it could be that you don’t know much about it?
Or perhaps you have no idea what I’m talking about.
Either way, CBD is beginning to create a real buzz in the world of natural health — especially as more and more people turn to nature searching for the answers to what ails them.
The Science Behind Cannabis + CBD
Although much of what is being learned about cannabis is in a renegade + resurgence phase. So much of the research has been focused on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)…two of the most common cannabinoids (medicinal compounds) — out of the more than 100 cannabinoids — present in the chemical make up of the cannabis plant.
To put it simply, CBD is defined by Michael Backes in his book Cannabis Pharmacy as a “non-psychoactive cannabinoid with broad medical applications; the second most common cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant.”
Here’s the best answer to the question “What is CBD?” that I’ve found ::
Cannabidiol — CBD— is a cannabis compound that has significant medical benefits, but does not make people feel “stoned” and can actually counteract the psychoactivity of THC. The fact that CBD-rich cannabis doesn’t get one high makes it an appealing treatment option for patients seeking anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, and/or anti-spasm effects without troubling lethargy or dysphoria.
Scientific and clinical studies underscore CBD’s potential as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, alcoholism, MS, chronic pain, schizophrenia, PTSD, antibiotic-resistant infections, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. CBD has demonstrated neuroprotective and neurogenic effects, and its anti-cancer properties are currently being investigated at several academic research centers in the United States and elsewhere.
Extensive preclinical research – much of it sponsored by the U.S. government – indicates that CBD has potent anti-tumoral, antioxidant, anti-spasmodic, anti-psychotic, anti-convulsive, and neuroprotective properties. CBD directly activates serotonin receptors, causing an anti-depressant effect, as well.
A preclinical study by Dr. Sean McAllister and his colleagues at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco reports on how CBD kills breast cancer by down-regulating a gene called ID-1, which is implicated in several types of aggressive cancer. Silencing the ID-1 gene is thus is an excellent strategy for a cancer treatment.
And clinical studies conducted outside the United States have shown that CBD is an effective painkiller – particularly for peripheral neuropathy associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, arthritis, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
–What is CBD? by www.projectcbd.org
I mean wow!!!
What an amazing blessing from nature!
It never ceases to amaze me that all of our needs have the ability to be met within all that has been provided for us by the Earth. Likewise, it never ceases to amaze me humanity’s ability to control + regulate + withhold these gifts from us…all in the name of greed.
Nevertheless, the tide is turning.
And I’m super thankful, because there is some question among researchers as to the efficacy of isolated CBD. You see, the issue is, CBD seems to work best (in synergy) with THC and all of the other cannabinoids of the cannabis plant — imagine that…just as nature designed it! Yet, it’s all so early in the discovery phase and there’s so much to learn and there’s still so much that is misunderstood.
Thankfully for those of us who live in states with medicinal marijuana laws in place, there is greater freedom.
Freedom to explore, test, and discover.
For the population at large…there are more and more ways developing to utilize the medicinal benefits of hemp + CBD without the need for marijuana.
Isolated CBD is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. And the best way that I have found to harness the medicinal power of CBD-rich plant material is through topical use.
In addition to sourcing newer CBD-rich cannabis strains, I have been able to source organic hemp CBD buds, leaves, and seeds from a reputable company online (click here to purchase). This product is a great universal legal choice and it’s THC-free.
And today I want to share with you my process for making CBD-rich herbal oil.
I use this oil topically in a variety of handcrafted recipes for salves, body butters, and creams — those that relieve pain, reduce inflammation + muscle spasms, and function as a sleep aid.
The results have been nothing short of incredible! In the coming days I will share my recipes for the CBD-rich topicals I am enjoying…but for now, let’s start with the oil.
Homemade CBD-Rich Herbal Oil
Ingredients
*It is important to choose as many organic ingredients as possible. I have linked to the products I use personally for this recipe.
- 1 cup organic, high-quality oil (I like to use a 50-50 blend of this AMAZING organic olive oil + this AMAZING organic coconut oil)
- 7-14 grams Organic Hemp CBD Buds, Leaves
Method
- Crumble, cut up, or grind the buds, leaves, and stems of the plant material.
- Put the herb into a small (8 oz.) glass canning jar + cover with the oil of your choosing + screw on the lid.
- Using a pot, made with some sort of non-reactive material, make a water bath by placing a small piece of cheescloth or a piece of scrap cloth on the bottom of the pan, then place the glass jar full of herb + oil on top. Fill the pot with 2-3 inches of water. Note :: Do not cover the jar with water.
- Slowly + gently bring the water in the pot to just below boiling. Note :: 98 degrees Celsius or just below 212 degree Fahrenheit is perfect.
- Allow the jar to bathe in this water temperature for 2-3 hours. Be sure to shake the jar periodically throughout the process.
- Turn off the heat, cover with a cloth, and let it all sit for 1-3 hours. Then repeat the warming process. Let it all sit, covered, overnight.
- Each day, repeat the gentle warming, shaking, and steeping — ideally for 3 days, but if you’re in a hurry you can make this oil in one day, however it only gets better the longer and gently it is prepared. Note :: My process includes a 9 day journey. On this journey, the herb + oil + I experience three 3-day cycles. After the first and second cycle, the herb is strained and new plant material is replaced. I find this process produces the most magical + potent herbal oil EVER. Use whatever method makes sense to you, your time, and your budget.
- Strain off the herb with the help of a strainer + cheesecloth. Now squeeze hard…extracting all of the goodness of the plant!
- Be sure to return the plant material to the Earth (or save it for use in other recipes).
- Bottle the oil.
Note :: I know some people (historically myself included) use a crockpot to make herb-infused oils. I no longer recommend this method of extraction. The more I learn about the toxins produced by slow cookers…I’m doing my best to stay away. I prefer not to infuse electricity into my food and especially not into my medicine…if and when I have a choice. With that said, it is an option you may choose if you wish.
Note :: Yuppers…this is the same method I use to create my cannabis-infused oil.
The science behind using heat to create cannabis + CBD-rich medicinal oil.
Why I use the above method for extraction.
(below is an excerpt from a research study produced by the Department of Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy…read the complete study here)“Preheating of cannabis samples has been recommended as a way to potentiate the final extract, i.e. to decarboxylate the acidic cannabinoids naturally present in cannabis plant material, such as THCA and CBDA, and turn them into their more potent counterparts such as THC and CBD. Therefore, we tested two decarboxylation methods by heating cannabis plant material”…read more.
To Use
I have used this oil to create the most amazingly effective topical remedies! They’re honestly nothing like anything I’ve created before. They are powerfully treating symptoms associated with:
- muscle soreness after physical activity
- fibromyalgia
- insomnia
- arthritis
- peripheral neuropathy
- muscle spasms
- chronic back pain
- ezcema + psoriasis
- burns from radiation
…and this is all just the beginning! So much more is yet to come!
Women’s Health :: Herbal Tinctures for Stress, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks + How to Make Them At Home
Very interesting.. I’d love to experiment with this as well but Im definitely going to have to wait.. I wonder if/how this shows up on a random drug test.. if it reads as cannibis. I dont want to find out.. Im the lead for a wire harness group for the military.. Random drug testing is often..
Hi Kim! Yes, if drug testing is an issue I’d definitely hold off on using cannabis topically. Cannabinoids are absorbed transdermally (through the skin) and almost always will find their way into the blood stream when applied topically. By no means enough for the person to notice any psychoactive/head effects from the THC, but there’s always a chance that they could be picked up by drug screening. HOWEVER, that is another one of the wonderful benefits of using this organic hemp CBD-rich plant material. It’s legal in all 50 states and it doesn’t contain THC.
If you don’t use heat, it’s not a problem. Put the plant material in the oil in a glass jar and let it seep for about 3 months, turning every week or so. Strain it out and you have the medical components without the psychoactive THC, so it doesn’t show up in any testing. I know this because that’s the way I make it and have users who work at Post Office and other places that test. Also, I have medical patients who use it and are tested because they’ve signed contracts. It never shows up on their tests, either. It’s the heat that makes it show up on the tests, because that’s what changes it to psychoactive state.
There are so many examples (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cannabis-extracts-can-dramatically-slow-growth-of-brain-cancer-tumours-9863097.html) that show how beneficial cannabis and cannabis extracts can be when used medicinally. It really does amaze me how a naturally-growing medicinal herb can be legally kept from someone who is suffering from one of the conditions you listed. But things are changing very quickly on this issue as more and more people learn about how helpful it can be as medicine.
Awesome recipe! My dad has had skin CANCER that he was unable to get rid of
And bought this oil online from ananda and his cancer was gone in a few short weeks!!!
Can this be used to made into a slave?
It absolutely can! That’s my favorite way to use this medicinal oil! Stay tuned…next week I will be sharing my recipes for CBD salve and cream:)
Thank you!! I look forward to it! 🙂
Very interesting. We have 2 in our family with MS and my husband has been learning about CBDs. We want to help our family members but didn’t realize CBDs were legal in all 50 states. Now we can absolutely make a lotion to help with the muscle fatigue. Thank you for this post. We greatly appreciate it
You’re welcome Jessica! I truly hope this is a blessing to them!
Thanks for sharing this. I ordered some to try this. I was wondering, could you make a tincture with this plant material? What do you think about making tea with it?
Hi Tamara! Tea…yes. Tincture…yes. To make a tincture use the same method for extraction as I have given for the oil…except in place of the oil use vegetable glycerin. It’s a powerhouse!
Excellent excellent write up on a herb that many shy from due to the ‘Dope’ era. Kudos girl! So sharing, posting and pinning! I’m getting this out there. I’ve advocated medicinal marijuana for years. This is an excellent way of doing it and decarbonization is important. Look into vegetable vegan glycerin infusion for the flower or leaf. Does wonder for pain!
Thank you again for being strong enough in yourself to post this.
Thank you for your encouragement! It’s definitely time we shed the crazy stigmas surrounding hemp/cannabis and unleash it’s medicinal magic!
Why can you not take this internally? My husband has Lyme disease and I want him to take internally. Can you point me in the right direction for internal use?
Hi Rebekah…you can use this hemp/CBD plant material internally. In fact, this same company (and a few others on Amazon) sells a CBD-rich hemp tea. The only issue with making the tea is absorption. There’s some question as to the efficacy of CBD (and THC for that matter) when consume in this manner. Therefore, the BEST route of administration — in order to bypass the digestive tract — is sublingual (under the tongue). To accomplish this I like to make a vegetable glycerin tincture and then take a few drops under my tongue.
Thanks! I will look into tincturing it!
I am awaiting a double order of this right now. I have many health challenges and 4 autoimmune diseases and I am very interested in taking this orally under the tongue like you said.
Do you do the glycerin the same way as the oil? How many drops are a few drops? Does this need to be kept in the fridge? How long will either last?
Do you think if I took this as a tea it would heal my gut faster or would the under the tongue method?
I know you can’t answer everything you’re asked but at this point, anything would help.
The link to order seems broken. Can you email it to me please
How do you think it would go with using Hemp oil and coconut oil or ( Caproyl oil ) make sense as the Hemp plant would have healing benefits as well ?
Very exciting, just wish, once again, that I could purchase it pre-made, but I understand how expensive that might be, as the preparation is so time consuming.
I’ve got one thing to add, though it may not be applicable, since you use such low heat. As we know, a fat/oil is needed to extract goodness from cannabis. It turns out — as far as THC is concerned, anyhow — that more is extracted using oils with higher smoking points. If this is also true of other parts of cannabis, than it would make sense to use only coconut oil, as it has a very high smoking point, whereas olive oil’s is very low. Just a thought…..
Where do you get the plant material? We are in Colorado (lucky me!!) but I do not have a medical card.
Lisa, there is a link towards the top of the post on this page. I ordered mine today. 🙂
Lisa — you do not need a medical card here in Colorado. We went to a dispensary yesterday with our out of state license and were able to buy THC cannabinoids (regular marijuana) and also the pre-made lotion without a prescription of any sort. I am going to try the lotion tonight to see if it helps with pain, and if it does, I will start making my own oil, and probably a combination of magnesium and cannabis lotion for muscle spasms.
Hi Andrea
What a fab website you have I really enjoy reading all the great information that you so freely give to us all. At this very moment I am making CBD oil to make the salve for pain relief, you also say” yuppers I make cannabis-infused oil this way”, do you mean using glycerine instead of olive oil in the same way and can I use the hemp CBD buds and leaves you recommend from Amazon, do they work the same. Sorry to ask ?’s but I am a new oldy to this very interesting natural healing. Sadly I live in the UK and used to buy the Mountain Rose Herbs but they stopped shipping abroad due to regulations.
hi i have type one diabetes , and fibroma tumors on feet , and frozen shoulder. i want to make mown but can’t find a website that sells it. i looked on amazon but they said it wasn’t available yet. also i live in idaho. are you sure its legal to use . my kids are also on some strong meds and want something more natural
Try on Amazon, again. Type in cbd oil and lots congress up.
Off topic: what is this about “toxic” crockpots?? Can you tell me more? I’ve never heard of that and I can’t figure out what’s toxic (since they’re stone and glass). Thank you!
The link for the buds to Amazon doesn’t work anymore, and when I search Amazon they don’t have it. You may want to update your links.
Have you made a lotion using the cbd paste? If so, how much paste would you add to the lotion base? I want to make a lotion for pain.
The links don’t work for amazon. I did a search for it and can’t find it. 🙁
Hi everybody
I am suffering from burning feet ( idiopathic peripheral neuropathy ), it bothers me mostly at nights and keeps me awake till morning sometimes. I take 300 mg Pregabaline every night but it sure does not relief the pain at all, so I was thinking of using CBD Cream, oil or/and CBD capsules.
I live overseas and can’t buy CBD buds to make CBD oil, but I can ask my friend in Denver CO to get me some CBD stuff, now my question is ” what do you suggest to fit my case the best ?
How about Best natural CBD Cream ( https://naturesbestcbd.com/product/cbd-pain-cream/ ) ?
I couldn’t find any clinical reviews on it yet ?
Thanks for your help
That cream sounds interesting, but how surprising that they go on and on and on but never offer an ingredient list (unless I’m being blind)?
Yes, they do. Go to the link, and in very small printl on the bottom left you will see what looks like a text box. Click on that, that is the ingredient list; which will increase it enough to be read clearly. 100% cannabis oil plus “other ingredients”.
Geranium essential oil has been shown to help nerve pain – not sure if it would help in your case but it may be worth a try. Normally dilutions are not recommended over 5-10%, but in this case 25% and over were recommended. You could try a small amount at that percentage and see if it works for you. I would recommend a small allergy test at that dilution on your arm before trying your feet to make sure you wouldn’t react adversely. Naturesgift.com has very reputable oils that you could order from internationally.