Investigating the Hemp Strains and Varieties
If you aren’t a botanist, plant varieties and strains may be new concepts for you. (If you are a botanist, this topic shouldn’t strain you.) The difference is in the propagation (breeding) process:
Variety: Plant varieties are created through sexual propagation, which means the plant specimen was bred naturally from its parent’s stock. Hemp specifically is created through the sexual propagation of hemp seeds.
Strain: Strains are an asexual propagation of the plant through cloning. The cloning process takes cuttings of what’s commonly known as a mother plant and develops the same genetic profile in a repeatable fashion.
Almost universally, hemp strains contain calming or relaxing properties. CBD lends itself to a feeling of physical relaxation. The combination of other plant chemicals, namely terpenes, in a particular strain is what causes the psychological effects you experience when you consume it. (Flip to the earlier section “Exploring terpenes and flavonoids” for more on terpenes.) Terpene profiles across strains can vary dramatically from calming to energizing.
I explore these categories more in the following sections. The key here is choosing a strain that’s high in CBD and low in THC, which is the defining characteristic of a CBD strain.
Checking out calming strains
Calming strains have higher concentrations of the following calming terpenes:
Linalool
Myrcene
Limonene
Look for these options in the terpene profiles of your CBD hemp flower or distillates.
Recognizing refreshing and revitalizing strains
Refreshing strains have uplifting and clarifying terpene profiles. In a sense, these profiles are similar to the calming terpenes in the preceding section but also include other terpenes like pinene and beta-caryophyllene. You can actually smell a more vibrant terpene profile in these types of strains.
Lifting and elevating some energizing strains
Many people used to look for a sativa strain (over an indica strain) for uplifting effects. But those cheerful, energetic feelings actually come from the terpene levels, and thus, the terms indica and sativa, while they are quite new sounding to those new to cannabis, are actually seeing their way out of the conversation. The most energizing strains have valencene, pinene, and beta-caryophyllene.
Finding CBD and Similar Chemicals in Other Plants
The cannabis plant isn’t the only source of CBD or its effects. An invasive pine tree also has CBD in its bark, and various plants contain a host of cannabimimetics, chemicals that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system and whose results mimic those of CBD. I explore the best known in this section.
Coming full circle with tree bark
Users report the same benefits from bark-derived CBD, though not much evidence or research exists as to its effectiveness. Its only reported usage I have uncovered was in the form of edibles from Grön, a confectionary out of Portland, Oregon. Grön was the first (and only, as of this writing) company documented to use a noncannabis-derived CBD at its inception. Currently they are using hemp.
Note: This form of CBD actually touches a bit of gray area as to whether it qualifies as naturally derived or synthesized. As it was historically indicated by the company, it’s naturally derived and synthesized. They were quoted as saying “Our CBD is created through a natural product assembly which involves combining the evergreen with citrus under heat and pressure.”
Focusing on the flowers
The phytocannabinoid chemicals found in cannabis are also produced by other plants and flowers; some plants produce cannabimimetics. You may already familiar with many of these plants as superfoods.
Sunflowers: Cannabinoid-like compounds that mimic cannabigerol (CBG) are present in a unique genus of sunflower called Helichrysum. This sunflower also contains amorfrutins, which reduce blood sugar and have anti-inflammatory effects much like CBD.
Echinacea: Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is full of cannabimimetics. Echinacea interacts with the brain receptor that regulates the immune function of inflammation, among other things. This plant is used in the treatment of conditions from arthritis to colds and migraines.
Electric daisy: The electric daisy is also known as the “toothache plant.” It contains a cannabimimetic (N-isobutylamides) that can block pain receptors at nerve endings and thus is powerful for treating toothaches.
Chinese rhododendron: Folic acids in this flower act like cannabinoids by helping with inflammatory and pain response. Cannabinoid-like derivatives help reduce muscle contractions.
Exploring other similar compounds
Beyond flowers, a host of other plant-based goodies have cannabimimetic compounds:
Cacao: Cacao is known as a joyful compound; no wonder people eat chocolate to boost a bad mood. Its active compound is anandamide, a cannabinoid native to the human body. Anandamide has a cool linguistic origin. The word actually comes from the Sanskrit word ananda, which literally translates to “bliss.”
Black truffles: Black truffles also contain anandamide. This “joy” molecule is supposedly what causes truffle pigs to hunt for the mushrooms so furiously.
Black peppercorn: Black pepper prevents endocannabinoid uptake and acts like a cannabinoid in the body. It has been known to have anti-inflammatory properties, much like other cannabinoid