What is CBD Tea
When looking for answers to explain what CBD tea is, there is A LOT of information out there. It is easy to get lost in the sea of complex explanations and scientific mumbo jumbo. So, to make it easier for those who want the facts IN ONE PLACE, below you’ll find the answers to the top 10 questions keeping you up at night about CBD and CBD tea.
In order to understand what CBD tea is really, one has to start at the beginning with CBD.
What Is CBD?
1. Where does CBD come from?
Cannabis sativa is a flowering plant species that includes both marijuana and hemp varieties. Both of these varieties contain between 80-100 different cannabinoids, which are naturally occurring chemicals found in the plant.1 Of these cannabinoids, the 2 most studied by scientists are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)2
2. What is CBD and CBD Oil?
CBD is short for cannabidiol (the chemical compound we just discussed). CBD oil is a form of this compound extracted from the leaves of the cannabis sativa plant. There are three main forms of CBD3 described below. Don't let all its names intimidate you. Think of it as a funnel with Full-spectrum at the top and CBD isolate at the bottom. As you filter through, you are getting closer to CBD in its purest form.
- Full-spectrum CBD contains a small amount of every part of the cannabis plant. This will usually have trace amounts of THC
- Broad-Spectrum CBD also contains other components of the plant, but no THC
- CBD isolate is pure CBD where the sole compound from the plant is CBD
3. What is the difference between THC and CBD?
To give it to you straight, THC makes you feel stoned and CBD does not. Where THC is famous for being psychoactive (mind altering), CBD can be thought of as an antidote to these effects, often reducing negative ones like anxiousness1.
"CBD from hemp will not bring a high”
4. Is CBD Marijuana?
No. Remember how cannabis has two varieties, hemp and marijuana? Well these varieties come from the same family so it makes sense that they share some properties. However, just because mangos and bananas are both fruits does not mean they are built the same. The CBD found in marijuana is different from the CBD in hemp because each variety has different levels of THC (the psychoactive property). Marijuana has THC levels around 15-20%, so CBD from it will bring an intoxicating high, whereas hemp has THC levels less than 0.3%, so CBD from hemp will not bring a “high”4.
Safety and Legality
5. Is CBD safe?
When it comes to its safety, according to this study by the World Health Organization, there is no potential for dependence (withdrawal and tolerance) or abuse of CBD in humans. Furthermore, you cannot overdose as there is no known toxicity5. It is important to note that while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges the potential benefits of CBD, they also communicate that CBD may interfere with how other drugs you are taking work6. That is why Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program in Rochester, Minnesota recommends people consult their doctor or physician before taking any CBD product7 . One should be mindful of their interactions with CBD products, as with any new product, in order to make the best decisions for their health and wellbeing.
6. Is CBD Legal?
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp as an illegal substance under federal law. This means that if one is looking to buy CBD products, like CBD oil or CBD tea, they need to look at which variety of the cannabis plant the product in question comes from. If the CBD products come from the hemp variety it is federally legal to purchase. If it comes from the marijuana variety it is federally illegal8.
Consuming CBD Products
From now on when discussing CBD products, it will be in reference to CBD from hemp- aka CBD oil or tea that is federally legal across all 50 states, contains less than 0.3% THC, and will not get you high. In order to provide the best overview of CBD and its impact on the body, it is important to cover the various ways to take CBD. The 2 most common ways to take it are:
- Ingestion (food or drink)
- Sublingually (under the tongue)
CBD oil is unique in that it fits in both categories. You can apply it under the tongue, or add it to a food or beverage and use it that way.
Sublingual vs Ingestion Methods
The benefits of sublingual dosage are that it takes less time to kick in and its ease of use. When you eat or drink CBD, it takes longer to be absorbed by the digestive system, meaning it takes longer to notice the effects. Some experts say that using the sublingual method may result in CBD's effects lasting longer9. Additional research shows that ingesting CBD with a fatty acid, like tea, may actually aid in digestion and cause the benefits to last longer10. Either way, it is safe to say that both are good options. Testing products from both categories is a smart way to help determine the best CBD consumption method for yourself.
Drinking CBD Tea
7. What is CBD tea?
CBD tea is tea leaves that have been infused with CBD derived from hemp. It can come in CBD loose leaf or CBD tea bags. And just like a traditional tea blend, you steep CBD tea in hot water to extract the flavor and beneficial health properties. CBD-infused tea comes in both black and green tea varieties. Drinking tea with CBD is one of the healthiest and most natural ways to take CBD. You can also choose to make your own by adding CBD oil to tea. Just note, that CBD is hydrophobic, which means it does not blend easily with water10. Since CBD oil is not water soluble, it is good practice to add an additional fat like milk to the tea to help your body digest it.
8. How does CBD tea work?
CBD and tea make a great match. CBD has been shown to have a significant amount of therapeutic attributes, addressing struggles like chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia11. And tea is known to be full of antioxidants and other substances that lower the risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes for its drinkers12. Together, CBD tea combines the benefits of CBD and the benefits of tea to create a natural, therapeutic, and functional beverage.
Determining dosage (how much CBD tea to have) varies from person to person. It is recommended that people start small and work their way up. As a consumer, it is easy to regulate amounts when using a CBD tea bag product. If you are using loose leaf CBD teas, such as Zest’s CBD Loose Leaf Tea, you have to pay attention to the serving size. For this product, a typical tea serving is between 2g and 2.5g. This serving size contains about 15mg of CBD per serving. A key benefit of a loose leaf product, is that you have more flexibility in your CBD dosage per cup of tea. Depending on your needs, it is easy to adjust the amount of CBD you’d like to take.
9. What is CBD tea used for?
CBD tea can be enjoyed for flavor and wellness. Historically, regulations against CBD have prevented its health benefits from being studied. However, recent changes in legislation have resulted in more research being conducted. An while these studies are still limited in number, there is promising evidence that CBD oil, and by extension CBD tea, may help with the following conditions:
- Reduces Anxiety13
- Anti-Seizure14
- Neuroprotective5
- Eases chronic pain11
- Regulates nausea15
- Soothes insomnia16
CBD tea has become an every day routine for lots of people who may need some help in any of the above areas. Whether it's as a replacement to a cup of coffee in the morning, a midday pick-me-up, or something to help you sleep before bed, the effects of quality CBD tea are not going unnoticed.
10. Is CBD tea effective?
Yes. Consuming CBD does work. Its effectiveness depends on the issue being treated, whether the product is high-quality, and the person ingesting it. According to a Harvard Health study in 2019, “there is no evidence that CBD cures cancer. There is moderate evidence that CBD can improve sleep disorders, fibromyalgia pain, muscle spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, and anxiety17.”
So, while CBD tea should not be intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease, it does not mean that CBD teas can't offer other health benefits. The doctor interviewed in the study, Dr. Donald Levy, advises consumers to record which CBD products they use in a journal. Writing down brands, quantities, and responses will help track the effectiveness of the experience. This way consumers can figure out what works best and what doesn’t for their given condition.
So there you have it, the top 10 questions about CBD and CBD Tea answered. Now you are ready to take on the market of CBD infused products as an informed buyer or correctly explain what CBD is and its health benefits to that one know-it-all friend who never seems to know anything at all. Either way, you can finally rest your curious mind tonight with the answers you’ve been looking for.
Glossary
- Broad-Spectrum CBD also contains other components of the plant, but no THC
- Cannabis sativa is a flowering plant species that includes both marijuana and hemp varieties.
- CBD is a chemical compound extracted from the leaves of the cannabis sativa plant.
- CBD isolate is pure CBD where the sole compound from the plant is CBD
- CBD tea is tea leaves that have been infused with CBD derived from hemp.
- Full-spectrum CBD contains a small amount of every part of the cannabis plant. This will usually have trace amounts of THC
- Sublingual Method is ingesting CBD by placing oil under the tongue
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) a cannabinoid with psychoactive properties