A Little Clarity on Cannabinoids

There is a lot of hype around CBD oil, and for good reason. I have friends that share testimonies that make me curious. As a nurse, I just cannot right now get on board - much because of the way it is marketed. I have seen many social media posts and recieved many messages - asking my opintion and making claims of treatment and cure. Here is my problem - many of the posts and promotions cite articles that use the title to make grandiose claims but actually do not support the claims, but hypothesis that it may support our health in these ways.. There is a big difference to those who are looking for hope. I have a lot of opinions about science vs stories and marketing vs education.. I think there is a balance that is in compliance with FDA regulations, and is fair to those who are looking for hope for their health. Maybe one day, this will be something I can get totally get on board with it. Right now, while I just have to admit my bias toward science and essential oils first.

That said, many people who use CBD - over time, with consistency, do get amazing results. Some, do not. When it comes to natural solutions, there are options and not everyone is the same in response to any of them.

Here is the thing that we all agree on, cannabinoids are very good for us.

If you are set on the CBD oil, I would be happy to help you find a reliable source. Be a good consumer - know what %THC (some have such a micro amount that it may not ever matter - some have more). Know where it is sourced and processed, know how it is tested. I have been careful to align myself with resources who work closely with the FDA, even though this is a completely unregulated industry. This is one of the reasons I trust doTERRA.

Cannabinoids are potent and have wide ranging impacts on our health. We tend to associate cannabinoids only with cannabis. Not so.

Here is an article from John Leavitt, PhD. - full disclosure, he is a PhD scientist who is taking a break from biotech research to focus on the next big thing in healthcare, essential oils. and he is a doTERRA Wellness Advocate.

Here are my top five reasons to get excited about doTERRA’s new Copaiba essential oil and the phyto-cannabinoid beta-carophyllene!

You might not have known this, but many over the counter medications rely on the cannabinoid receptors to relieve your aches and pains. For example, when Tylenol is chewed up and metabolized by your body, it turns into the “active metabolite” which enhances the normal activation of your body’s endocannabinoid receptors. These receptors govern many of our body’s key systems and have wide ranging impacts on our health.

1. Healing our body without the complications
Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown significant impacts on human health but doesn’t bind CB1 or CB2 receptors. There is a growing body of work figuring out all of the molecular mechanisms are, but for now its relationship status to the receptors is “complicated”. Contrast that with beta-carophyllene (BCP), it has many of the same health benefits as other cannabinoids but without binding to the CB1 receptorsin the brain like the THC in marijuana.

2. We know how BCP’s work, and they work well!
The CB2 receptors are found throughout the body and have wide impacts on health. BCPs bind to these receptors and have a mountain of evidence to backup their: support against temporary inflammation, easing tension and discomfort, providing protective effects on kidney and liver systems, provide protection against auto-immune disruptions, easing anxious and depressive feelings and even helping to abstain from unhealthy habits such as alcohol dependance!
CB2 activation is correlated with the concentration of BCP’s and CBD oil is 35% BCP while Copaiba is 55%. This means that even if you are using high quality cannabis oil, it may be the BCP’s that are doing all the work in easing your health issues and you could switch to Copaiba and get even more relief.
There is no THC in Copaiba which means that it won’t give you a false positive on a drug test. In fact, BCP’s are in plenty of other foods and even other essential oils but nowhere near these concentrations or purity.
To get the amazing benefits of BCP from the Copaiba essential oil, you can use it aromatically by diffusing, applying it topically to affected areas or internally. My favorite use is to apply it under the tongue to calm down before sleeping.

3. Purity and potency.
With doTERRA’s extensive 3rd party and open source testing, you know that the product won’t contain any pesticides or heavy metals and that you will get reproducible results. The CBD oil produced from hemp might not actually have much CBD while those derived from marijuana might contain THC or heavy metals, depending on the soil it was grown in and extraction techniques employed.

4. Cost
If you want access to the health benefits of cannabinoids, a 15ml bottle of Copaiba only costs $35 with a wholesale membership (~60 cents per dosage). That is a huge discount compared to a 15ml bottle CBD oil from reputable brands which cost $120 or more!

5. Legal and available right now!
The best part is that you can buy it right now from doTERRA, 100% legal in all 50 states. Contact me if you want to talk more about this option!

There is a lot of great research out there on Copaiba and BCP’s, but I need to give a big science shoutout to the Gertsch Group at The University of Bern in Switzerland for figuring out how BCP’s affect our health. If you want to dig into the clinical evidence you can read more on their lab website.

Things may change in the the field of CBD oil, I’m happy to help you with a good source if you need it, but for now I am looking forward to supporting my health with cannabinoids by using a drop or two of Copaiba every day.

I am getting great testimonies back on Copaiba users... people are breaking free of health problems they have had for a long time- getting their lives back! That’s something to get excited about!

As always, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the products mentioned are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.