When it comes to our fur babies, we want to provide a safe home and a long, healthy, happy life. You’ve probably read about the therapeutic use of CBD for some pets and wondered whether CBD is safe for pets. 

From grapes to chocolate, we try to avoid anything that might be toxic to our pets. In fact, you may have heard that THC can be toxic to animals and that has given you pause. If THC could be dangerous, is CBD safe for my dog or cat?

Today, we’ll discuss CBD pet safety, including how CBD works in our pets’ bodies, why people try CBD for their pets, and what products work well for dogs and cats.

Is CBD Safe for Your Dog or Cat?

We won’t make you wait any longer. Is CBD safe for pets?

Yes!

In 2017, the World Health Organization stated that CBD is safe for pets. In addition, professional organizations like the American Kennel Club show increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of CBD for animals.

It’s vital, however, to note the difference between CBD and THC, because THC can indeed be toxic to pets. We’ll discuss the difference in greater depth below, but keep this in mind when shopping for CBD pet products: the quality of the product you purchase is important.

In addition to avoiding THC, you want to avoid pesticides, heavy metals and toxins. This is important to remember, because the cannabis plant absorbs so much of what is in the soil where it grows that it’s actually used to remove toxins from the ground.

So, you want to make sure your CBD is raised, harvested and processed organically, without pesticides or GMOs, in the cleanest facilities with the highest quality processing. It’s always good to look for a report from a third-party lab.

Also, the FDA warns against making definitive claims about the therapeutic benefits of CBD for either humans or animals, because although there is extensive research and clinical study, it’s all ongoing.

How Does CBD Work for Pets?

Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids, or molecular compounds found in the cannabis plant.

However, there is a very big difference between THC and its many less famous cousins, such as CBD, CBG, and CBN. THC is psychoactive. That means it causes a high.

CBD and the other cannabinoids found in CBD products are not psychoactive. They do not cause a high. Instead, they work with receptors in systems throughout the body to impart therapeutic effects. While THC in large amounts can prove toxic to animals, CBD is safe and often very therapeutic.

CBD products—at least the ones not sold in a dispensary—are derived from the oil of the cannabis hemp plant. Unlike marijuana, hemp has almost no THC in it (less than 0.3%). So again, CBD pet products cannot get your dog or cat high and are not toxic to animals.

The Endocannabinoid System

Nearly all animals, from humans to dogs and cats to birds and reptiles, have something known as the endocannabinoid system. 

The endocannabinoid system is integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as systems that regulate sleep, mood, immune function, and digestion. Its receptors are also found in organs and tissues throughout the body.

When we or our pets ingest a cannabinoid, like CBD, it interacts with receptors in our endocannabinoid system and imparts their therapeutic effects.**

Choosing the Right CBD for Your Pet

Full Spectrum CBD or Broad Spectrum CBD?

To better understand how to choose the best CBD for your pet, we need first to understand the difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD.

Full spectrum CBD contains all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids within the hemp plant, including legally allowed trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%). Broad spectrum CBD filters out the THC, but keeps the other beneficial cannabinoids.

We recommend broad spectrum CBD products for your dogs and cats.

Shop for Purity to Keep CBD Safe for Pets (and Yourself!)

As we mentioned above, quality and purity are also key in choosing CBD products. CBDfx products are made with hemp that is organically grown and free of pesticides and GMOs. The Kentucky soil where we harvest is free of pesticides, heavy metals and solvents. 

Once our hemp is harvested, the cannabinoids are extracted using a CO2 extraction method that creates highly purified CBD.

Look for Third-Party Testing

Finally, all of our CBD products are tested by third-party labs to ensure purity and quality. You can access the lab reports for the products you purchase.

Make Sure All Ingredients Are Safe for Pets

Many CBD products are formulated with other ingredients, either for flavor or to enhance their effectiveness. When it comes to flavor, this is especially true in CBD products for pets.

While it’s fun and helpful to have a flavored CBD treat for a picky pet, it’s important to know what’s in that flavoring. Our CBD products for pets are flavored with natural ingredients, including sweet potatoes and an all-natural (and vegan!) bacon flavor that pets love.

Additional ingredients, like natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and soothing botanicals should also be pet safe. We use pet-friendly ingredients like chamomile, passion flower, blueberries, spinach and parsley.

CBD Pet Safety: Dosage

Our pets can’t tell us in words how well their CBD is working for them. So, how can we know how much CBD to give our pets? This is one of the most common concerns among pet owners. What’s the right dosage to keep CBD safe for pets?

There are two major factors that come into play when considering CBD dosage for pets: body size and CBD concentration. Your pet’s size and metabolism are important in understanding how long it may take for the CBD to take effect, as well as how long you can expect the effects to last. 

CBD concentration is important because different products have different concentrations of CBD per serving, and the amount of CBD in one serving of one company’s product may vary quite a lot from the concentration in one serving of another product.

Giving your pet too much CBD can result in sleepiness and an upset tummy, so it’s best to take it slow and start small.

We do our best to take the guesswork out of CBD pet dosage by creating products geared specifically toward pets within certain size ranges.

Our CBD Dog Tincture is available in formulas designed specifically for:

• Small breed dogs weighing less than 20lb.
• Medium breed dogs weighing 20–60lb.
• Large breed dogs weighing over 60lb.
• Extra large breed dogs weighing over 100lb.

Cat lovers, never fear. We also offer a special CBD Oil for Cats.

So, CBD Is Safe for Pets. But Why Give It to Them?

We pet owners look to CBD to help our furry friends with a number of issues, from separation anxiety and fireworks stress to dry skin to the aches and pains of aging.

Here are some of the reasons we look to CBD to help out our pets.

Stress

Just like us, our pets feel stress. Moving to a new home, handling separation and boredom, and dealing with fireworks or storms are just a few stressors on our pets. In addition to CBD Pet Tinctures, pet owners also love CBD Dog Treats: Calming Chews. 

Aches and Pains

Whether your pet is grappling with temporary muscle or joint soreness or suffering from a longer-term condition, CBD can offer relief.**

Our CBD Dog Treats: Hip & Joint Chews combine the soothing strength of CBD with natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, including turmeric, glucosamine and chondroitin. It’s also available in our mobility bundle.**

Skin and Coat Health

Dry skin and ragged coats can drag down your dog’s overall health. Keep your pupper’s skin in peak shape with CBD Dog Treats: Skin Health Chews with soothing CBD and natural skin-care supplements, including fish oil, biotin, and more!**

CBD, Your Pet, and You

Our relationships with our pets run deep, and we want to keep them healthy, happy, and safe. We hope we’ve addressed your concerns about CBD pet safety and given you some useful tips on how to shop for CBD for your pet.

Whether you’re considering CBD for a stressed out pup or an achy cat, it’s good to know that CBD is safe for pets, and that it can most likely help yours. Remember to take it slow and shop smart, and always consult with your vet and take cues from your pet.

Interested in taking the next step? Check out our full lineup of CBD products for pets!

But things never really do slow down.

How can we do all the things and still actually enjoy ourselves?

There are a million blogs and magazine articles with tips and techniques ranging from the Eisenhower Principle to productivity journaling. But did you know that CBD is actually an incredibly effective addition to your productivity toolbox?

We don’t just rely on the therapeutic effects of CBD to relax and de-stress. Many people find that CBD products actually help them focus and get more done in the day.**

How? It turns out a little planning and proactive self-care can transform a day from a stressful mess into a productive pleasure. 

How Does CBD Work?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the hemp plant. It doesn’t get you high, but rather interacts with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system to achieve a number of therapeutic effects.**

The endocannabinoid system is closely integrated with the central and peripheral nervous systems, the gastrointestinal tract, and the immune system. This means that CBD interacts with receptors throughout the body’s systems, including systems that regulate balance, appetite, coordination, and mood.

Another less well-known but valuable hemp compound is known as CBG. People who use CBG actually find its therapeutic effects to be energizing.** When combined with CBD, the two work together for what people describe as a focusing effect.**

Focus, energy, and health are keys not only to productivity, but to maintaining a sustainable and enjoyable routine. Here are some methods to incorporate CBD into your productive day, from morning to evening. 

Start Your Day With a Kick

Before reaching for that cup of coffee or tea, consider starting your day with energizing CBD Morning Capsules. With a combination of CBD, CBG and caffeine, our morning capsules are designed to start your day with a focused boost of energy.**

Formulated with extended release caffeine to avoid the both jitters and caffeine crash, these capsules make the most of the Entourage Effect achieved by pairing CBD and CBG.** With the Entourage Effect, combined cannabinoids work together synergistically, creating an overall effect that is far more effective than either would achieve on its own.**

Other great options for laser-focused energy are our CBD Gummies for Focus & Energy and our Focus Blend CBG Mushroom Tincture.

Stay Energized 

It can feel like we’re always tired, and our unhealthy sleep habits certainly don’t help. Good sleep, exercise, and nutrition are critical to having a healthy, energized day.

The best way to maintain productivity throughout the day is to keep your battery charged. Although people often associate CBD with seeking a good chill, it also carries a number of energizing benefits, especially when combined with other powerful ingredients.**

CBD Gummies with Turmeric and Spirulina are a perfect example of a CBD product that maximizes energy.** Both turmeric and spirulina are supplements that contribute to metabolism, managing stress and maintaining energy. Spirulina also enables the production of vitamin B6, which manages energy release.**

Our CBD Wellness Tincture combines CBD with CBG, which people typically find both energizing and focusing.** It also features curcumin (found in energizing turmeric) and coenzyme Q10. 

Keep Healthy

It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of too little sleep, too little rest and too much work. We eat unhealthy food on the go and push ourselves to burnout.

If we want to be optimally productive and also stay happy doing it, we need to take care of our bodies and minds.

In addition to the best CBD for sleep, exercise, and nutrition, supplements like multivitamins can ensure our body’s reserves are topped off with the fuel we need to keep all our systems running properly.

CBD Multivitamins are the best CBD gummies to streamline your CBD regimen by combining it with your daily vitamin routine.** This all-in-one option includes vitamins A, C, D3, E, B Complex, calcium, and zinc, as well as 50mg of broad spectrum CBD. These multivitamins come in formulas designed specifically for women and men.

Apple cider vinegar is another wildly popular health supplement. Although we’ve used apple cider vinegar for thousands of years to treat heart health, digestive issues and allergies, it has recently resurfaced as a gut health, detox, and weight loss supplement. CBD Gummies with Apple Cider Vinegar provide another supplementary one-two punch, delivering 1000mg of apple cider vinegar, 50mg of broad spectrum CBD, and vitamin B12 for an energy boost.**

Winding Down

Good rest is integral to an energetic, productive day. When it’s time to wind down after a long one, CBD is your optimal choice.

Alongside CBD, melatonin is one of the most popular choices for helping our bodies settle in for a deep, peaceful sleep. CBD Gummies for Sleep capitalize on the power of both CBD and melatonin for a natural sleep aid that won’t cause grogginess in the morning.** Other great sleep options include our CBD Sleep Tincture, CBD + CBN Night Capsules, Lemon Dream THC Gummies, and Sweet Dreams THC Drops!

Productivity is about more than just working harder or using efficiency techniques. It’s about a healthy mind and body. To work better and make the most of your day (and be able to enjoy yourself while you’re at it), safeguard your focus, energy and health with CBD!** 

From CBD wellness tinctures to CBD sleep tinctures, we have the CBD products to help you make the most of your day!

To best understand what CBN is, we’ll first need to drop a little CBD education on you. For starters, CBD and CBN are both phytocannabinoids synthesized by cannabis plants. But there’s more to it than that!

Today, we’ll take an in-depth look at CBD vs CBN, including an overview of cannabis, hemp, CBD and CBN oil, and more. We’ll look at what CBN is, its various effects and potential health benefits, and how this relative of CBD and THC is used in cutting-edge hemp products. 

CBD, CBN & Other Cannabis Compounds

Cannabinoids are molecular compounds produced by the cannabis plant. Cannabis creates these compounds to serve several purposes, including warding away insect predators and grazing animals, protecting the plant from harsh weather, and attracting pollinators. There are around 113 cannabinoids known in the cannabis plant, with the two most famous cannabinoids being cannabidiol, or CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. 

What Is CBD?

CBD comes from CBDA and is naturally produced by the cannabis plant, as is THC. In fact, CBD and THC are the two cannabinoids that appear in the greatest quantities in cannabis, which is why they are referred to as the “major cannabinoids.” 

Cannabis CBD is non-psychoactive (it doesn’t cause a high) and carries with it a number of health benefits (some of CBD’s benefits we’ll discuss in a moment). Delta-9 THC is psychoactive and does cause a high … hence all the laws and regulations surrounding this cannabis compound. Here at CBDfx, we use the low-THC form of cannabis, known as hemp, to create all of our legal CBD and THC products, including gummies, tinctures, and more. 

But there are other cannabinoids, as well, which occur in lesser quantities and are known as “minor cannabinoids.” These include CBG, CBC, and the star of this article, CBN (cannabinol). 

What Do Cannabinoids Like CBD & CBN Do?

Cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system, which is a series of chemical receptors closely integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as systems that regulate digestion, sleep, and more, helping them to maintain homeostasis (balance). Humans and all other animals have an endocannabinoid system, including dogs and cats. When a cannabinoid, like CBD or CBN, interacts with an endocannabinoid system receptor, it imparts specific therapeutic benefits, depending on what that specific receptor does and what that cannabinoid’s properties are.** 

CBD benefits the endocannabinoid system by interacting with the same receptors as the body’s own endocannabinoids, bolstering their performance and promoting wellness.** CBD also has calming effects, which are great for stress and sleep, as well as minor pain relief benefits.**

What Is CBN?

It’s interesting to note that, even though CBN is far less known than CBD, it’s actually the very first cannabinoid ever to have been isolated in the cannabis plant. CBN was first isolated in the late 1800s. By the 1930s, scientist R.S. Cahn was studying CBN in depth, and soon scientists were synthesizing this cannabinoid.

CBN is short for cannabinol. CBN is actually formed by the breakdown of THC over time, often because of oxidation or heat. In fact, CBN was probably first identified in the 1800s because of poor storage of cannabis during transportation.

But CBN is hardly a weaker version of THC, as one might think. While the powerful psychoactive features of THC are long gone by the time CBN comes onto the scene, there are a multitude of potential health benefits that take their place.

CBD vs CBN

One could say, CBD is more popular than CBN, which is logical given the widespread use of CBD as a wellness product and the fact that CBN is a lesser known compound. But CBN is gaining ground in popularity, especially for those seeking a great night of sleep.

CBN research, just like the research on CBD and other cannabis compounds, is ongoing. But we do know how people use CBN vs CBD, and how they take advantage of the natural effects of each cannabis compound. For a long time, people have depended on the potential calming effects of CBN to help them get a good night’s rest. CBN binds with receptors in the brain, and seems to promote calm and sleepiness.** In fact, many people buy CBN products strictly for their sedative effects. Often, CBN is combined with CBD and other calm-promoting ingredients, such as melatonin and certain terpenes, for products designed to enhance sleep, as well as promote calmness and ease stress.**

CBN works most powerfully in combination with other cannabinoid compounds to produce the Entourage Effect. This is the effect created when multiple cannabinoids (such as CBD and CBN) work synergistically, creating an overall effect stronger than what any single cannabinoid would produce on its own.

CBN-Infused CBD Products From CBDfx

If you’re using full spectrum CBD or broad spectrum CBD, you already have some experience with CBN. Full spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in the cannabis plant, including the legally allowed amount of less than 0.3% THC. Broad spectrum CBD filters out all detectable levels of THC and, in the process, a few of the other cannabinoids are filtered from the CBD oil, as well. Still, both full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum CBD products contain CBN. (CBD isolate, on the other hand, contains no cannabinol, nor any other cannabis hemp content beyond CBD.)

There are some CBD products, generally formulated for relaxation or rest, with bonus CBN added to the mix, so the user can feel the pronounced effects of cannabinol. Let’s look at a few of the best CBN-infused CBD products on the market today, made with pure, organic hemp. All of our products are medically reviewed and come with a Certificate of Analysis to verify their purity and potency.

CBD Sleep Tincture

Our CBD Sleep Tincture is formulated with CBN, CBD, a special blend of restful terpene compounds, and melatonin. By combining the Entourage Effect of broad spectrum CBD concentrate with the trusted effects of melatonin, this tincture is designed for the ultimate night’s rest.

Our regular strength CBD Sleep Tincture formula boasts 1000mg of CBD and 150mg of CBN. If you’re struggling with getting to sleep or sleeping through the night, check out our extra strength (2,000mg CBD/300mg CBN) and maximum strength (4,000mg CBD/600mg CBN) tincture offerings.

CBD + CBN Night Capsules

Our CBD + CBN Night Capsules combine CBN and CBD with terpenes and a natural sleep aid that has been valued for centuries: valerian. In addition to valerian, these capsules also include 30mg doses of CBD and CBN in every serving, plus GABA and magnesium for better sleep and better mood.**

CBD + CBN Calming Tincture

Our CBD + CBN Calming Tincture is a favorite around the CBDfx offices. This full spectrum CBD product delivers serious “chill” benefits, and is available in extra, maximum, maximum plus and ultra strength. These range from 1000mg of CBD and 150mg of CBN (extra) to 6000mg of CBD and 300mg of CBN (ultra).

If you’re already familiar with how CBD tinctures work for you, the CBD + CBN Calming Tincture is a great product to try out to learn how your body reacts to CBN.

Relax Blend CBD Mushroom Tincture

This unique tincture combines calming CBD and CBN, plus stress-busting adaptogenic mushrooms. Using reishi for stress, maitake for wellness, and turkey tail for immunity, our antioxidant-rich Relax Blend CBD Mushroom Tincture is as health-boosting as it is relaxing.**

Sweet Dreams THC Drops

Our Sweet Dreams THC Drops take blissful rest to the next level, combining full spectrum CBD, CBN, and D9 THC.** You can also find added CBN in our Purple Punch THC Vape Juice, for added “chill” in every puff.

Every CBD and CBN product we create at CBDfx is made with organic hemp, with oil extracted from the plant by means of clean CO2, and backed by a Certificate of Analysis that verifies its purity and potency. At CBDfx, your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities!

The Last Word on Cannabinol

We hope you have a better understanding now of what CBN is and the effects of this remarkable cannabis compound. The cannabinoid world can feel a little overwhelming sometimes, with so much terminology and regulation, but we like to hold to a very simple principle of creating pure, high-quality products that are carefully formulated and tested. 

If you’d like to learn more about cannabinoids (including CBN and CBD), terpenes, and the Entourage Effect, browse through our blogs. We have plenty of authoritative posts about what works and why. Whether you want to know more about the beneficial effects CBN and CBD, or you’re just looking for a CBD product that meets your needs, we have you covered.

Terminology and history aside, at the end of the day it’s about what works best for you. 

Want to give CBN a try? Check out our CBD + CBN Calming Tincture!

They love making biscuits, getting scritches, and the 3 a.m. zoomies. They’re not so crazy about sudden noises, surprises, or being able to see the bottom of the food bowl. Also, just like us, they can get stressed out, and they deal with the aches and pains of life and aging.

You may have considered trying CBD for your cat when they’re feeling stress or pain, and wondered whether it’s safe, how much you should give them, or whether it would even work on a pet. 

And, you may just be wondering whether they even make CBD for cats. And, if so, which one should you get?

We’re here to help, not only with product recommendations, but with the reasons behind why we recommend what we do. There’s a lot to know about what CBD is and how it works in our bodies and in the bodies of our cat friends.

Is CBD Safe for My Cat?

Yes! In 2017, the World Health Organization stated that CBD is safe for our pets, including cats and dogs.

The key to ensuring that your cat has a safe and enjoyable experience with CBD is in purchasing the right products, taking it slow, and getting the advice of your veterinarian. You always want to talk with your vet before introducing any new supplement into your cat’s diet, especially if your cat is on any prescription medication.

Did you know that we at CBDfx have a veterinarian medical advisor? He’s a practicing veterinarian with more than 20 years of experience practicing private small animal medicine. He reviews our pet products to make sure they’re safe and effective. 

CBD for Cats 101: What Is CBD?

We like to start with the basics, because the terms we use to describe the benefits of CBD for cats (and for us) can get confusing if you don’t start at the beginning.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a molecular compound found in the cannabis, or hemp, plant. CBD is one of many different cannabis compounds, known as cannabinoids.

Almost all cannabinoids, like CBD, are not psychoactive, which means they don’t cause a “high.” In other words, CBD won’t get you or your cat stoned.

It’s important to note that the cannabinoid that does cause a high, THC, can be toxic to pets and should be avoided. Don’t worry, it’s easy to avoid. We’ll show you how below.

What do cannabinoids like CBD do? They interact with a system in the body known as the endocannabinoid system. Okay, cool. What’s that?

The endocannabinoid system is a cell-signalling system that is integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as our brains and bodily systems that regulate sleep, mood, digestion, immune function, and more.

Receptors within the endocannabinoid system interact with the cannabinoids we ingest, delivering the therapeutic benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids to the systems and organs they’re associated with. 

Do cats have endocannabinoid systems? Indeed they do. In fact, all vertebrates (animals with spines), and pretty much all invertebrates do. So, we have an endocannabinoid system, and so do our dogs and cats and birds and turtles.

What Can CBD Do for My Cat?

CBD and other cannabinoids can have the beneficial effects on cats, including effects that CBD lovers describe as calming, focusing, soothing, and restful. Many use CBD products to help them with sore muscles, achy joints, and irritated skin. And of course, for overall wellness, CBD is a wonderful daily supplement.**

How to Buy CBD for Cats

There are so many CBD products for humans and pets on the market, it can be overwhelming even to know where to begin. We’ll walk you through some important basics.

High-Quality Ingredients for Cats

This is a lot like shopping for pet food. You want a CBD product that is made entirely out of the highest-quality ingredients, because you want what’s healthiest for your cat. 

Cats are highly sensitive to potential environmental toxins, including certain plants and essential oils, so you want to make sure that your CBD doesn’t include harmful additives.

The best place to start is with the hemp plant itself. Did you know that cannabis plants are so efficient at sucking up everything in the soil around them that they’re known as a bioremediator? That means cannabis can actually be used to remove toxins from the soil, effectively cleaning the earth.

This is why you want your hemp to be grown in a pesticide-free environment with clean soil and no toxins, heavy metals or GMOs.

High-Quality CBD Processing

Before a hemp plant can yield CBD, the CBD and other cannabinoids must be extracted.

CO2 extraction is one of the best methods for extracting cannabinoids. This extraction process uses CO2, pressure, and heat to extract cannabinoids, turning them into liquid. This avoids solvent residue that appears in less pure products, while also ensuring the most potent final CBD product.

Third-Party Labs and CBD Cat Products

Finally, you want CBD products for yourself and your pet that have been tested by an independent third-party lab. Your CBD for cats should have an accessible lab report (called a Certificate of Analysis) that tells you exactly what is in your CBD.

THC and Cats: Broad Spectrum vs. Full Spectrum CBD

The final major consideration when shopping for CBD for cats is THC. Earlier, we mentioned that THC can be toxic for cats and dogs alike. 

It’s easy to find a quality, potent CBD product for your cat while avoiding worries of trace amounts of THC.

There are two primary kinds of CBD oil: full spectrum and broad spectrum. (CBD isolate is a third form that mainly appears as a powder or crystal, but it doesn’t typically appear in CBD for cats).

Full spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids and terpenes within the cannabis plant, including legally allowed trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%).

Broad spectrum CBD filters out the remaining THC, as well as a small amount of other cannabinoids and terpenes.

We recommend buying CBD for cats made with broad spectrum CBD.

Healthy Additional Ingredients for Your CBD Cat Product

CBD for cats is often created for targeted needs, like stress, achy joints, or itchy skin. That means they’re often formulated with additional ingredients, like natural anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and calming botanicals. 

It’s important to make sure that the CBD for cats you purchase isn’t made with additional ingredients that may harm them. That’s where lab reports and veterinarian medical advisors come into play.

CBD for Cats: What to Get

We at CBDfx strive to remain one of the most respected CBD brands on the market, and we’re always looking for new ways to deliver high-quality CBD experience to our customers  … and their pets.

Our Bacon-Flavored CBD Oil for Cats is a broad spectrum CBD tincture formulated specifically for cats. It’s made with organic hemp and is non-GMO, solvent free, and cruelty free. Your tabby will also love our Chicken-Flavored CBD Cat Tincture, made with the same high-quality ingredients and a natural vegan chicken flavor your cat will love!

Both of these oils are ideal for all cats, whether they’re a bit stressed dealing with aches and pains, or just need a bit of chill time.

With 250mg of human-grade broad spectrum CBD, this product is designed to deliver a safe and effective dose of CBD for an animal that weighs less than 20 pounds (and should work just fine on kitty chunkers, too). 

This brings up a commonly asked question: how much CBD should you give your cat? Our cat tincture is designed to remove the guesswork. One dropper equals one serving.

All cats are different, and body weight and metabolism play a big role in how much CBD may be required, how long it takes to kick in, and how long it lasts. 

If this is your first time trying CBD for cats, we recommend starting with a low dose (i.e. half a dropper) and then observing your cat to see how they like it.

Worried about getting your cat to actually try it? Cats don’t necessarily love to take medicine. We have good news! Our CBD oil for cats is made with natural bacon flavor, making it a favorite with dogs and cats alike. 

The Last Word on Buying CBD for Cats

We may joke about our cats’ attitudes, but we love them and they love us. Making sure we purchase safe, pure, carefully formulated CBD for cats is one of the many ways we can show them we care … even if they refuse to show they’re thankful. 

Want a safe and smart tincture for your kitty? Try our CBD Oil for Cats today!

We talk a lot about habits and triggers that interfere with the quality of our sleep, like caffeine, blue light from screens, and stress. But what about the things that help us settle in for a long, healthy snooze? 

What sleep hacks tend to work for everyone — and how can we take advantage of them tonight?

1. Set the Stage

Your environment has an enormous impact on how well you sleep. Light, temperature, color, and sound are all integral to creating a space where your mind and body can truly rest. 

Keep it dark, but more than just turning off the lights and shutting out that glaring sliver of light from the hall. Creating an adequately dark bedroom also includes hiding the light from any digital clocks and devices, and also blocking outside light intrusion from headlights, signs, and street lights.

Keep it cool. Research shows a temperature between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal window for a peaceful sleep. Why is this so important? Our Circadian rhythm (our body’s sleep/wake cycle) is closely connected to temperature. The evening is the time when our bodies begin to cool down, reaching their coolest temperature around 5 a.m. Cooling your environment helps your body follow suit.

Keep it quiet. Sirens, partying neighbors, and car alarms are going to disrupt your rest. A quiet room with sound buffering materials, like thick rugs and curtains, can work wonders. Consider a soothing white noise machine or app. If you have a sleep partner who snores, good earplugs are a lifesaver.

Finally, keep your room calm. It’s best to use the bedroom only for sleep and sex — locating the exercise bike, TV, and workspace somewhere separate. Oh, and it also helps to choose colors you find calming.

2. Free Your Mind

When it’s 2 a.m. and you’re wide awake, staring at the ceiling and reliving the day’s stress or anticipating tomorrow’s challenges, it’s possible that your thoughts begin to feel like the enemy.

It’s important to have a calm mind to rest well. Consider visualization exercises, meditation or quiet music to steer your mind away from worries and toward calm.

Journaling is a great channel for jettisoning all those stressful thoughts. Getting worries on the page redirects the mind, while writing about hopes and goals lets your mind drift to soothing, positive topics.

Avoid the news and social media before bed. Not only does it give you a break from sleep-damaging blue light, it also gives your mind time to stop solving the world’s problems.

Stop worrying about getting to sleep. Stress about getting to sleep keeps you from getting to sleep, which then makes you stressed about getting to sleep. It’s a vicious cycle. 

If you really can’t sleep and your mind is racing, get out of bed and do something relaxing for half an hour or so. Lying in bed awake trains your brain and body to … lie in bed awake.

3. Prep Your Body

Our bodies are incredibly efficient and intelligent machines. We store trauma and stress in our nervous systems, our tissues and our muscles. How we treat our bodies before bed dictates how healthily they will rest.

Avoid caffeine and stimulants before bed. You probably know the latest possible time in the day you can have a cup of coffee without it keeping you up. Take note of these messages your body sends you, and honor them.

Don’t eat a heavy meal before bed. When your body rests, that means your digestive system rests. It can’t process protein and fat while you’re sleeping, and anything too spicy is likely to trigger acid reflux once you’re lying down.

Exercise is great for sleep … just not right before bed. A light-to-moderate workout will help your body rest and recharge, but it should be at least 90 minutes before bedtime. Any sooner and your body temperature and endorphin levels will make sleep difficult to achieve.

And if all else fails, find a calming supplement to ease your mind and put you in a more restful state. Our CBD + CBN Oil Calming Tincture combines CBD with the “ultimate relaxation cannabinoid,” CBN, to give you a calmness of mind and body, helping you to settle into your evening with a more “chill” vibe.** Or, enjoy an industry-leading 30mg of restful CBN per serving in our CBD + CBN Night Capsules.

4. Sound Advice

Earlier, we mentioned the importance of keeping your bedroom quiet to create a calm atmosphere. And, while it’s crucial to cut out jarring, intrusive noise, it can be incredibly beneficial to listen to something soothing.

We all know someone who sleeps best with a fan blowing on them, and it’s often as much for the sound as the moving air. White noise apps and machines offer a host of soothing, sleep-friendly background sounds from rain to static to the ocean. They’re especially handy when you’re sleeping in a new environment, like a hotel room or someone’s guest room.

A number of studies have shown that listening to calming music helps people drift into peaceful sleep. As we fall asleep, our heart rate slows. A fit person’s heart can slow to 50–60 beats per minute during sleep. Studies find that music playing at 60 beats per minute helps the mind and body get in sync.

Guided meditation is also effective for getting to sleep. Popular sleep apps boast a wealth of calming meditations, including body scans, mindfulness, and simple relaxation.

5. Supplement Your Routine

Finally, consider adding calming CBD products, like CBD gummies for sleep, to your bedtime regime.** Other calming options include teas to capsules to aromatherapy, there is a natural and time-tested approach that will fit your needs.

Bedtime teas, containing chamomile, valerian, passion flower, and other calming herbs, are incredibly popular, and the coziness of enjoying a hot cup of tea contributes to the relaxing experience.

Many troubled sleepers find CBD and melatonin to be very helpful natural remedies.** CBD interacts with receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems for a number of therapeutic effects. Melatonin is a compound our pineal glands produce to regulate our sleep cycles. 

CBD Oil Sleep Tincture and CBD Gummies with Melatonin both combine these two powerful compounds for maximum effect., which is why many consider them the best CBD for sleep.**

Aromatherapy is a bedtime routine addition that makes the most of the power of essential oils. Lavender, ylang ylang, chamomile, and sandalwood oils are just a few of the oils that sleepers find calming.

The pace and stress of modern life can make sleep elusive. Our minds whirl, our bodies are tense, our time is precious. Try just a few of these handy hacks and carve out a little space for healthy, healing, regenerative rest.**

Try adding some of our relaxing CBD for sleep supplements—including the best CBD gummies—to your bedtime routine.

]]> https://cbdfx.com/cbd-for-dogs-a-complete-buying-guide/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 17:25:31 +0000 https://cbdfx.com/?p=1863334 You might have a limping Labrador or a stressed Schitzu, or you could just want to chill with your Chihuahua. Whatever the case, you’re here because you’re curious about CBD for dogs. Is CBD safe? Does it work? How do you know which CBD dog products to buy and avoid getting ripped off?

From anxious Airedales to itchy Irish Setters, CBD can bring our furry best friends relief in a multitude of therapeutic ways. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know, from how CBD works with dogs to the best products for your pooch’s particular needs.

The best way to fully understand what CBD product works best for your dog, you need to know the fundamentals — what CBD is, how it works, and what to look for in a CBD product. That’s the foundation to a safe and enjoyable experience for you and your dog. 

CBD for Dogs 101: The Fundamentals

Our understanding of CBD for dogs begins with our understanding of CBD itself and how it interacts with our own bodies.

What CBD Is and How It Works

CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of many molecular compounds called cannabinoids that are found in the (you guessed it) cannabis plant. 

Unlike its infamous cousin THC, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it won’t cause a “high” for you or your dog. 

The cannabis hemp plant — from which our CBD products are derived — is packed with other beneficial and non-psychoactive cannabinoids, like CBC, CBG, and CBN, that all impart their own benefits as well as working together to achieve a greater synergistic effect, known as the Entourage Effect.

There are other powerful compounds in the cannabis plant that work on their own and in tandem with cannabinoids, too. These are terpenes, or the compounds that give plants their scent, and flavonoids, or compounds that give plants their color. Each of these compounds carries a cornucopia of healthful benefits.

So, how does CBD work with our bodies — and the bodies of our dogs, for that matter? What’s the step between the product and the effects we feel?

CBD and other cannabinoids interact with a cell-signaling system within our bodies called the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as systems that regulate sleep, digestion, mood, and more.

Cannabinoids, like CBD, interact with the endocannabinoid system by engaging with receptors throughout the system. These receptors pass on therapeutic benefits to the systems, organs, or tissues they’re connected with.**

CBD and Your Dog

Like you, your dog also has an endocannabinoid system. In fact, pretty much all vertebrates (animals with spines) have an endocannabinoid system. That includes dogs, cats, fish, turtles, snakes … you name it.

This means our dogs can benefit from the therapeutic effects of CBD just like we do. 

Just as humans find that CBD helps them with stress and aches, scientists and pet owners have found the same possibilities with animals. There’s a handful of scientific studies indicating CBD could help with a wide range of issues dogs may encounter.** 

Is CBD Safe for Dogs?

Yes! In a 2017 report, the World Health Organization stated that CBD is safe for animals.

However, it’s crucial to note that THC can be toxic to dogs. So, you want to avoid products that contain it, and this includes full spectrum CBD, which does contain legally allowed trace amounts of THC.

When shopping for a CBD product for your dog, always look for broad spectrum CBD, which has the THC filtered out. This is just one of our tips for selecting CBD for dogs, but it’s the most important. 

CBD for Dogs: Dosage

This can get confusing for two reasons:

1. Your dog can’t tell you the dosage that works best for them because they don’t … talk.
2. Dosage amounts are dictated not only by the size, metabolism and tolerance of your dog, but also by the concentration of CBD in the product you’re using. 

You’ll see a wide range of serving amounts for dogs recommended online, and this can be overwhelming when we consider how many CBD products there are on the market. 

How do you decide? First, consult with your veterinarian. Second, follow the instructions on your CBD dog product. And start small.

By far, the easiest way to ensure you’re giving your dog the right amount is to choose a product specifically formulated for your dog’s size.

By the way, your veterinarian isn’t allowed to prescribe CBD for animals, due to professional regulations. But, the American Kennel Club has some great recommendations on how to talk to your vet about CBD. Check it out.

Why Do People Use CBD for Dogs?

If you personally use CBD, then you already know that the beneficial effects it passes along are many. The same is true for our puppers. 

What we’re doing today is looking at the primary areas where people who use CBD for themselves and their pets find soothing, therapeutic benefits.

There are four primary reasons why people use CBD for dogs:

1. Stress. Just as we look to CBD when we need to chill, the same can work for our dogs.** 
2. Achy joints and muscles. Treats with CBD and other natural ingredients that address soreness are popular with dog lovers.**
3. Dry and irritated skin. From noses to paw pads and everywhere in between, CBD can be a soothing ingredient in skin and coat products.**
4. General wellness. Because CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system on such a broad scale, engaging receptors in multiple systems and organs, it is considered by many to be a great all-around wellness supplement.**

Now that we know how CBD works and how it can benefit our dogs, how do we know what to buy?

CBD for Dogs: How to Find the Best CBD for Your Dog

Quality is key to both the safety and efficacy of CBD. How do you know you’re purchasing the highest quality product?

1. Always purchase products made with organically grown CBD. Cannabis is such an incredibly absorbent plant that it’s sometimes used specifically to clean soil of its toxins and heavy metals. Hemp soaks up everything in the soil where it grows. So you want your CBD to come from pesticide-free, non-GMO farms.
2. Make sure your CBD comes with a lab report from a third-party analysis. Not only will a lab report give you peace of mind in knowing your product is toxin-free, it will also tell you exactly what the concentration of CBD in the product is.
3. Only purchase broad spectrum CBD for your dog. This ensures the product is THC-free, while still containing the valuable cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that combine to create the Entourage Effect, giving your pooch the best results.
4. Look for products geared toward your needs. Treats for dogs suffering from joint and muscle discomfort will include additional ingredients for joint health and antioxidant properties. Similarly, products for stress will include calming ingredients, like GABA and valerian. Balms will also include shea butter, salmon oil, and other soothing ingredients.

CBD Dog Product Recommendations

Pet tinctures are the go-to for many CBD aficionados, and for good reason. These take effect more quickly than edibles, which basically have to be digested before being metabolized.

However, tinctures can also be mysterious when it comes to dosage amounts. That’s why our CBD dog tinctures are designed for dogs of specific size ranges, making dosage a no-brainer. In addition, we use human-grade CBD, free of additives and made from purified, organic hemp oil.

To make tinctures more Fido-friendly, we formulate ours in two tail-wagging flavors: Bacon-Flavored CBD Dog Tincture and Chicken-Flavored CBD Dog Tincture.

You know you can’t go wrong with a good treat. We make three formulas designed for common dog needs.

CBD Dog Treats: Calming Chews are made with broad spectrum CBD, chamomile, passion flower, and other natural ingredients. Like all CBDfx dog treats, these chews are available in hard and soft chew options, perfect for settling your dog’s stress or helping them wind down for the evening.

CBD Dog Treats: Hip & Joint Chews also contain a potent blend of broad spectrum CBD and natural ingredients that promote joint and muscle health, including turmeric, glucosamine, chondroitin, and vitamin C. These treats are also available in a cost-saving Mobility Bundle, along with a tasty CBD dog tincture.

CBD Dog Treats: Skin Health Chews are formulated with all-natural ingredients to nourish and protect your dog’s skin and coat. As with all CBDfx products, these tasty chews are made with organic hemp and are non-GMO.

The Final Word on CBD for Dogs

We love learning more about how CBD can help our furry friends, and we have a number of articles that can help you navigate the wild and woolly world of CBD for dogs. Check out our articles on helping dogs with joint issues, fear of fireworks and noise, and the longer-term benefits of regular CBD use for dogs.

You love your pup and want what’s best for them. We hope this guide helps you feel more confident about how CBD works for dogs, and what the best CBD products for your doggo might be. 

Shop all our CBD products for dogs and let us know what works best for you!

Enzymes? Am I in biology class all over again? What’s with all the science?

The endocannabinoid system is one of the biggest mouthfuls in the entire bowl of CBD alphabet soup. What exactly is it, and why should we care?

The truth is, the more we know about cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system, the better we understand what exactly CBD products are, and how the CBD molecule works in our bodies.

Good news: this is all very easy to break down and understand, despite the scientific terminology. Let’s begin with the broad strokes and then narrow our focus.

What Is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system is what’s known as a cell signaling, or cell communication, system. In a cell signalling system, a signal molecule called a ligand breaks off from one cell and binds with a protein called a receptor. This is how messages are carried from one cell to another. 

Imagine your phone being a cell that sends a message — a ligand — to your friend’s phone, the receptor.

When the receptor passes the message along to a new cell, a reaction occurs. 

Within the endocannabinoid system, messages are passed from molecular compounds called endocannabinoids (ones naturally produced by our bodies) or cannabinoids (ingested compounds from the cannabis plant) to receptors, and certain therapeutic effects are passed along.**

The endocannabinoid system is found within the bodies of all mammals, from rats to dogs and cats to humans. 

The endocannabinoid system is integrated with multiple major systems in our bodies, including the central and peripheral nervous systems, and systems that regulate sleep, immune response, digestion, pain, energy, and mood.

When any cannabinoid interacts with a receptor in the endocannabinoid system, it produces a result in whatever system that receptor is integrated with.

Endocannabinoids

Now that we have the broad strokes on the endocannabinoid system, let’s look at the major players within it. Let’s start by answering the question, “What is an endocannabinoid?”

An endocannabinoid, or endogenous cannabinoid, is a naturally occurring ligand within our bodies. The two main endocannabinoids are Anandamide and 2-ArachidonoylGlycerol (2-AG).

Anandamide gets its name from the Sanskrit word (and name of the Buddha’s close friend), Ananda. Ananda means “joy,” and you can probably imagine why scientists gave Anandamide its name. 

This endocannabinoid, while not psychoactive within itself, binds with the same receptors that the psychoactive cannabinoid THC works with. It naturally occurs in most animals, some plants, and … chocolate.

The second major endocannabinoid, 2-AG, is naturally present in our central nervous system in high amounts. 

These naturally occurring ligands work therapeutically throughout our bodies.

Cannabinoids in Cannabis

Cannabinoids are similar, except that we ingest them from a source outside our bodies  — the cannabis plant.

There are around 113 identified cannabinoids within the cannabis plant. While the most famous and controversial cannabinoid is the psychoactive compound THC that causes a “high,” there is a multitude of non-psychoactive cannabinoids that impart a wealth of therapeutic benefits that do not cause a “high.”

CBD, or cannabidiol, is the most well known (and prevalent) non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It’s the reason you’re reading this, and the reason CBDfx is here in the first place. The CBD wellness movement has sparked countless devotees to this unassuming but powerful cannabinoid.

There are some other, less well-known cannabinoids that also have a powerful effect on the endocannabinoid system. Cannabigerol, or CBG, and cannabinol, or CBN, are two that we work with a lot here at CBDfx. 

CBG (cannabigerol) is also sometimes called the “mother cannabinoid” because it’s the first cannabinoid that takes form, and it appears early in the development cycle of the hemp plant. It interacts with our endocannabinoid system in a slightly different way than CBD. When combined with CBD to achieve the Entourage Effect, many people find that CBG provides energizing effects.**

CBN (cannabinol) is actually formed by the aging and breakdown of THC. Unlike THC, it isn’t psychoactive. But, CBN imparts what people describe as tranquil effects — especially when working synergistically with CBD.**

In short, there are many cannabinoids that don’t cause a “high,” but do interact with our endocannabinoid system in therapeutic ways.**

Receptors

Cannabinoids interact with receptors in our endocannabinoid system to impart their effects. We have two known cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. They’re referred to as CB1 and CB2 receptors. What are they, and what do they do?

CB1 receptors are found in every animal with a spinal cord. They’re primarily found in the brain and central nervous system. In the brain, the endocannabinoid system acts as what is called a neuromodulatory system, playing a role in nervous system development, synapse health, and the body’s response to endocannabinoids.

CB2 receptors are found throughout the peripheral nervous system, immune system, and multiple organs and metabolic tissues.

As far as the hard science on what exactly happens when endocannabinoid system receptors interface with cannabinoids, the FDA is cautious about claims. There’s an immense amount of ongoing research on CBD, cannabinoids, and their potential therapeutic impact on the endocannabinoid system, but that research is all ongoing.

Enzymes

Now, we come to the final term in our guide to the endocannabinoid system — enzymes. You’re likely already familiar at least with the word, whether it’s as a vague memory from science class or from use in wellness marketing, from skin care to supplements.

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts, controlling the speed of chemical reactions. In the case of the endocannabinoid system, enzymes play a part in how cannabinoids are broken down. 

There are two enzymes closely associated with the endocannabinoid system. They are monoacylglycerol acid lipase and fatty acid amide hydrolase. 

Remember the endocannabinoids we discussed earlier? Anandamide and 2-AG? Monoacylglycerol acid lipase interacts mainly with 2-AG, while fatty acid amide hydrolase breaks down anandamide.

Don’t worry, there won’t be a test on this.

The History of the Endocannabinoid System

The history of the endocannabinoid system is essentially the history of life on earth. That’s a little too long for this article. The history of hemp is nearly as long. 

However, the history of scientific study of the endocannabinoid system is surprisingly short. Believe it or not, the first endocannabinoid receptor was discovered in 1988 — in a rat.

Soon after, both CB1 and CB2 receptors were found in humans. In 1992, Dr. Lumir Hanus and Dr. William Devane found anandamide and 2-AG, making the link between naturally occurring endocannabinoids and the receptors within the endocannabinoid system. 

In the mid-90s, scientists observed how the body produces endocannabinoids in reaction to stress on the body, like head injury or stroke. They saw that 2-AG plays a big role in immune system regulation. 

In 1998, the term “Entourage Effect” was coined by scientists who identified that cannabinoids work together synergistically, creating a sum effect greater than its parts. In other words, CBD and CBG work great on their own, but they’re far more powerful when they work together. 

In recent years, scientists have studied the effects of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system in humans and animals, studying its potential to help a host of health issues. This research is ongoing.

Your Own Endocannabinoid System

While we can’t provide medical advice on how cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system provide the results that people depend on them for, we can look to anecdotal evidence and our own physical responses.

Trying CBD products for yourself is the best way to understand how they can work for you. Products like the CBD + CBN Oil Calming Tincture, CBD Oil Sleep Tincture, and the CBD + CBG Oil Wellness Tincture combine cannabinoids for the Entourage Effect and also add trusted natural supplements, including melatonin, curcumin, and more.

Products from CBD gummy multivitamins to muscle and joint CBD creams provide a useful variety of ways to work the healthful benefits of CBD into your own daily regimen.

To learn more, be sure to check out some of our other articles on the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBN, and other important cannabinoids, as well as terpenes.

Whether you’re looking for the “chill” CBD is known for or seeking targeted relief for sore muscles, or even just a relaxing bath to wind down from a long day, there is a CBDfx product that can help you see just how much CBD might do for you.**

Not sure where to begin? Try our popular CBD Gummies for a tasty CBD treat!

When you start learning the ins and outs of CBD, you quickly run across something called the endocannabinoid system. This crucial system is the reason CBD interacts so profoundly with our bodies.

It’s hard to believe the endocannabinoid system was only discovered a short while ago. Still, from what we know so far, it’s the relationship between cannabinoids, receptors, and the endocannabinoid system that provides the CBD experience you count on each time. 

There’s a lot of information to cover, so let’s get started.

Discovering the Endocannabinoid System 

In 1988, the first endocannabinoid receptor was discovered in a rat. This discovery allowed researchers to find the same receptor in humans –– actually two receptors –– the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors notably influenced different processes within our bodies, such as mood, sleep, memory, cognitive function, and pain, to name a few. 

Scientists were amazed, because the endocannabinoid system naturally interacts with the cannabinoid compounds that the cannabis plant supplies. Over the years, with more research, we’ve learned even more about this unique system, with so much more left to uncover.

Let’s dive a little deeper into the functions of this system.

A Closer Look at the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is responsible for much more than you realize. It controls essential functions of the human body, including (but not limited to) pain, sleep, mood, energy, and metabolism. 

Let’s break down the word, endocannabinoid. The prefix “endo,” means within, and “cannabinoid” refers to the body’s internal nervous system and how it interacts with the substance known as cannabis. But it’s also important to note the primary goal of this system is to maintain homeostasis or balance within all of the systems. 

When you take CBD, your body soaks up the cannabinoid content of the product. Another interesting fact is the human body creates endocannabinoids on its own. Naturally, some people have higher levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids, and some lower. 

Those with lower levels of endocannabinoids have to work a little harder to gain the therapeutic benefits of CBD — taking it every day to build up cannabinoids and sometimes taking it with a high-fat meal to enhance absorption and effectiveness. **

Regardless of your “levels,” it’s helpful to know and understand that all mammals have an endocannabinoid system. This system works through the central and peripheral nervous systems, in collaboration with a few other necessary elements — cannabinoid receptors and enzymes. 

Let’s look at the role of each component to understand how the endocannabinoid system works.

Endocannabinoids 

There are many different types of messengers in the human body, sending and receiving signals. Endocannabinoids are lipid-based neurotransmitters that function as the messengers of the endocannabinoid system. 

The two main endocannabinoids are Anandamide and 2-ArachidonoylGlycerol (2-AG). These compounds are lipid or fat-based, so this is why you need fatty components like MCT oil or olive oil to serve as the vehicle for absorption. 

Researchers and experts believe there are other endocannabinoids in the body, but more research is needed to uncover other notable compounds. 

Cannabinoid Receptors 

It’s pretty cool how all of these different compounds work together to fuel the endocannabinoid system. We’ve already discussed how the endocannabinoids are the messengers, but who or what do they carry the message to? 

They communicate with the cannabinoid receptors: specifically, the CB1 and CB2 receptors. When the endocannabinoids arrive with a “message,” they bind to these cannabinoid receptors. 

Each of these receptors controls different regions of the body. The CB1 receptor influences the central nervous system for the most part, and the CB2 receptors are intertwined with the peripheral nervous system. 

Enzymes 

Now, you’re probably wondering what happens to the endocannabinoids once they deliver the intended message? This is where the enzymes enter the party. Enzymes are responsible for creating endocannabinoids and breaking them down after they’ve done their job. 

The Entourage Effect

The endocannabinoid system plays a critical role in a phenomenon known as the Entourage Effect. The Entourage Effect occurs when multiple cannabinoids, such as CBD and CBN or CBG, are consumed together and not only work in parallel, but even enhance and bolster one another. You’ll notice this profound effect in full spectrum CBD products.** 

You can still get some of the Entourage Effect with broad spectrum products, like our CBD + CBG Morning Capsules, which bring together two powerful cannabinoids, plus supporting terpenes. Without the endocannabinoid system, the cannabinoid content of your product wouldn’t be able to travel and deliver the necessary message to receptors. 

Main Takeaway 

Now, you understand how CBD moves and functions in your body. Furthermore, you know that some people have lower levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids. So, if you’re not feeling your CBD the way you think it should be, then make sure you pair your daily serving with a fatty meal like salmon, tuna, or avocado. 

So, there we have it, folks. This is the secret weapon behind your CBD experience. We know some CBD topics are hard to understand, full of clunky, scientific words, but hopefully, we broke this information down and made it easier to grasp!

Try our CBD Soft Gel Capsules, formulated with MCT oil for greater absorption and effectiveness!

While many of us think of multivitamins as a product for kids or our parents (er, grandparents), the truth is that a daily dose of necessary vitamins and minerals helps people of all ages fill the gaps in their diets and keep their bodies healthy.

With the ever-increasing popularity of CBD as a therapeutic supplement, it’s only natural that CBD multivitamins have entered the market as a healthful and convenient way to combine the benefits of CBD with those of necessary vitamins.

But is a CBD multivitamin, or any multivitamin, right for you? Let’s take a look at what’s in a multivitamin, who they can benefit, and why you would want to combine one with CBD.

What’s in a Multivitamin?

Every multivitamin is different, and each manufacturer has some kind of claim about why their supplement is different or better. But we know there are certain ingredients you should look for in any multivitamin. 

You want a multivitamin that covers all the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs — especially ones that your body doesn’t naturally produce or that your diet may be low in.

The best multivitamins will always include the following:

1. 100% daily value of most ingredients — note that some ingredients, like magnesium and potassium, are actually kept low on purpose to avoid interactions with drugs.
2. Not too much — Some vitamins (A, D, E, K) build up in our bodies and could become toxic. You need them, just not more than 100% daily serving.
3. A formula for you — age and sex play a large role in what our bodies require.
4. Vitamins — including A, B12, C, D3
5. Minerals — including calcium, zinc

Do Multivitamins Work?

There are a lot of mixed messages about the actual benefits of multivitamins. The science and the advertising don’t always line up.

Doctors are even in some disagreement about whether multivitamins are necessary, and that largely comes down to why people take them. What does that mean? There are three main reasons why people take multivitamins.

People take multivitamins and dietary supplements because:

1. Overall health and diet supplementation. This is the main reason most of us take multivitamins — to fill in gaps in our diets, and make sure our bodies are operating with everything they need to stay healthy and fit. 
2. Doctors recommend them for some people. Pregnant women and women who plan to have children are often encouraged to take prenatal vitamins and supplements to increase folic acid to prevent neurological problems in their children, and are also discouraged from taking too much vitamin A. As people age, some doctors recommend dietary supplements to ensure they get enough of crucial vitamins D, B12 and more.
3. Prevention of illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and degenerative brain illnesses. There is very little, if any, proof that taking a multivitamin can help prevent future diseases or chronic illnesses.

The verdict: Multivitamins can be helpful to maintain your daily intake of necessary nutrients, and to supplement a healthy diet. They can help us stay fit, happy, and healthy. Doctors often recommend them for us at certain times in our lives or to supplement our diets. But, we can’t expect them to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia.

Do I Really Need a Multivitamin?

That’s the question, right? When we’re young, active and healthy, supplements like multivitamins seem a little irrelevant.

But, after a year of on-and-off lockdowns and huge amounts of extra stress and anxiety, how many of us are operating at our full health potential?

Binge-watching, binge-eating, and doomscrolling have been high on our daily activity lists for the past year-and-a-half. Many of us have been eating our feelings, and our feelings taste like pizza, chips, ice cream, and chocolate.

Multivitamins can help us fill in the gaps left in our “self care” diets, while also providing the nutrients we need to get fitter and stronger as we return to exercise.

If you’ve kept fit and maintained your healthy diet, there are still benefits multivitamins can provide. Multivitamins provide important acids necessary for nutrient absorption. Also, weightlifters often rely on multivitamins to provide vitamin D, iron and calcium. Conditions like fatigue, brittle nails and hair, muscle pain, and headaches can be signs of a vitamin deficiency.

Why Do We Need These Vitamins?

Vitamin A

Vitamin A supports vision and our immune systems. It helps our bodies’ natural defenses against outside threats, and speeds up recovery time when we’re sick.

Vitamin B12

B12 supports a host of bodily functions, but we can’t produce it naturally. When absorbed from fruits, veggies and multivitamins, it can boost energy levels, support bone health, and enhance overall mood.

Vitamin C

We’ve been told about the importance of vitamin C since we were kids. It’s known to boost immunity, maintain and increase collagen production, prevent iron deficiency, and enhance brain function.

Vitamin D3

This is the “sunshine” vitamin. It helps the body absorb calcium and vitamin D, and also functions to boost immunity and enhance overall mood.

No multivitamin is a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. However, it’s absolutely worth your time to consult with your doctor on whether a multivitamin might be right for you.

CBD Multivitamins

This is why you’re here. What are CBD multivitamins, what’s in them, and why would you consider adding a CBD multivitamin to your daily regime?

What’s in a CBD Multivitamin?

CBDfx CBD Multivitamins combine a daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals with 50mg of broad spectrum CBD per serving.

All of our CBD multivitamins are made with vitamins A, C, D3, E, and B Complex, as well as zinc, folic acid and biotin. In addition, our CBD multivitamins come in special formulations with additional nurtients for women and men. 

Our CBD Multivitamins for Women also contain calcium and additional biotin for hair and nail strength and more.

Our CBD Multivitamins for Men contain pantothenic acid to fight cholesterol and burn fat, and choline to support metabolism.  

The star of our CBD multivitamin is 50mg of organic broad spectrum CBD per serving. Broad spectrum CBD contains all the valuable cannabinoids present in the hemp plant with any trace amounts of THC filtered out. This is the ideal multi-purpose CBD for people who want to avoid detectable traces of THC.

The CBD we use comes from organically grown, pesticide-free, non-GMO crops. This is hugely important, because hemp plants are bioremediators — they soak up everything in the soil where they grow, including pesticides, solvents and heavy metals.

Our CBD products are tested by third-party labs to ensure purity and quality. 

Why combine CBD with vitamins? 

People look to CBD to feel calmer, to rest better, to better handle their commutes and workdays, and to approach life with a relaxed mind. What better practice to work into your daily health routine? Combining CBD multivitamins with a good diet and sustainable exercise plan might just help you tackle each day with calm and confidence.

Also, a CBD multivitamin is an easy way to get both your daily CBD and vitamin intake in one simple dose, saving you the money you’d spend on buying both separately. 

We’re all on the go all the time. Even when we’re working from home, it feels like there’s not enough time to take care of everything, from work, exercise, meals, and rest to added responsibilities like family, roommates, pets, the laundry, the dishes … 

What falls through the cracks when we’re pressed for time? Health and wellness. If this one simple step makes it easier to get your vitamins and a helpful dose of CBD, then it’s valuable.

Want a healthy boost to your day? Try our CBD Multivitamins!

Wellness is a holistic concept. It’s about the health of the whole person  — physical health, mental health, and emotional health. The Global Wellness Institute adds spiritual, environmental, and social health to their definition of wellness.

The World Health Organization even expands this holistic definition beyond the individual, stating that wellness is “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups.”

When we think about trying CBD for wellness, we have to think along these lines. How can CBD help our physical, mental, and emotional health?

Let’s dig into what CBD is, how it works, and how we can use CBD for wellness of the body and mind.

What Is Wellness?

It’s important for us to appreciate the breadth and depth of what wellness means, because wellness isn’t a passive state. It’s an active one.

The World Health Organization points out that wellness is “complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In other words, there’s a world of difference between thriving and simply not being sick.

Wellness is a state achieved through active participation on our parts. Diet, exercise, self-care, healthy habits and lifestyle all come into play in building overall wellness. It requires balance. If we run five miles a day, but have poor work/life boundaries, our wellness is off balance.

To achieve healthy and sustainable wellness, we have to pay attention to our bodies, minds, diets, relationships, and feelings.

Why CBD for Wellness?

Sometimes, we can’t do it all on our own — especially in this hectic modern world.

We often need assistance, whether that takes the form of a therapist, personal trainer, dietician, or supplements and doctor-prescribed medication.

If we’re willing to take a multivitamin to supplement our diet, and a sleep aid to help us get better rest, shouldn’t we consider the multiple benefits of CBD for our physical and mental health?

By learning more about what CBD is and how it works, we can better evaluate if CBD for wellness is a viable option.

What Is CBD?

Let’s start with the foundation. CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a molecular compound that occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. 

CBD, and its sister compounds like CBG and CBN, are known as cannabinoids. CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t cause a “high.” Instead, it interacts with receptors in our bodies to impart other therapeutic benefits.**

Cannabinoids interact with a system in our bodies known as the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is closely integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as systems that regulate sleep, mood, digestion, immune function, and more.**

Humans aren’t the only animals with endocannabinoid systems. Nearly all animals, including our dogs, cats, turtles, and birds have them.

When a cannabinoid interacts with a receptor in the endocannabinoid system, it imparts an effect in relation to where that receptor is and what its function is. You can learn more about the ECS and how it works in our guide to the endocannabinoid system.

How Can CBD Help With Wellness?

When we think about how to use CBD for wellness, we should keep in mind the many different systems and organs with which the endocannabinoid system interacts. These systems and organs affect functions as diverse as sleep, pain, stress, appetite, memory, and much more. CBD helps to maintain homeostasis in these areas, promoting better overall wellness throughout the mind and body.**

Nutrition and CBD Supplements

You may already take a multivitamin or other supplements to make sure your healthy diet is supported by all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay in prime shape. 

Did you know you can combine your multivitamin regimen with CBD? Our Multivitamin CBD Gummies come in formulas created specifically for women and men. In addition to 50mg of broad spectrum CBD and vitamins A, C, D3, E, and B complex, they’re also packed with other important minerals and nutrients women and men need to stay at their best.

In addition, CBD Gummies with Turmeric and Spirulina make the most of these nutrient-rich ingredients and natural antioxidants.

If you’re an apple cider vinegar fan for its many healthy properties, be sure to try our CBD Gummies with Apple Cider Vinegar, featuring 1000mg of apple cider vinegar per serving, as well as 50mg of CBD, plenty of vitamin B12, and pomegranate, another natural antioxidant. 

Exercise & CBD Recovery Products

When it comes to physical fitness, athletes casual and pro alike look to CBD to help soothe sore muscles and speed their recovery.

We offer a potent and invigorating CBD Muscle and Joint Cream made with broad spectrum CBD, menthol, white willow bark, and caffeine. It cools and relieves aches and pains.** 

Our balm sticks are also designed to help with sore muscles, stiffness, and irritation.** Our Muscle and Joint Balm is a cooling formula made with CBD, camphor oil, peppermint and wintergreen for a bracing, muscle-relaxing rubdown.

CBD Products for Rest

A good night’s sleep is the key to muscle recovery, as well as to keeping every single system in our bodies in prime operating condition. Good sleep is key to memory, brain health, mood, and much more.

Rest is the cornerstone of wellness, and CBD is the cornerstone of restful supplements. CBD can help us rest deeply, unwind from a long day, and get the sleep we need.**

Our CBD + CBN Calming Tincture combines CBD with the beneficial cannabinoid CBN, which is known to promote calm. This product comes in five strengths, ranging from regular strength to ultra strength, allowing you to dial in exactly the dose you need.

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, CBD is the supplement of your dreams. Available in tinctures, gummies, capsules, and just about any form you may desire, CBD sleep products are bountiful.

Our CBD Sleep Tincture combines CBD and CBN as in the calming tincture above, and then adds 5mg of melatonin per serving, as well as a proprietary blend of sleep-promoting terpenes.

If you prefer a tasty gummy, our CBD Sleep Gummies With Melatonin also make the most of melatonin, CBD and terpenes to send you off to dreamland.** Additionally, our CBD + CBN Night Capsules boast a CBD/CBN blend along with a special terpene formula and plenty of valerian and GABA to help your mood, your rest, and your tomorrow morning.**

Speaking of mornings, CBD products aren’t only for chilling you out. Our Morning Capsules made with CBD and CBG are just the ticket to start your day with focus and calm.** CBG is a cannabinoid many find to have a focusing effect, especially in combination with CBD. The morning capsules also have a moderate dose of time-released caffeine sure to perk you up without causing the jitters.

Self-Care and CBD

Just like rest, self-care is vital to our overall wellness. We have to know when to stop, step back, and take care of ourselves, whether that’s through a restful break or through re-evaluating boundaries and relationships.

When it’s time to take an indulgent self-care break, we have CBD Bath Bombs and CBD Massage Oil to help you bring a little CBD calm to your me time.

CBD Oil and Overall Wellness

We have one product so specifically designed for overall wellness that we call it our CBD Wellness Tincture.**

This tincture is made with a 2:1 ratio of CBD to CBG, as well as the natural antioxidant powerhouses curcumin and coenzyme Q10. Finally, its special terpene blend promotes absorption and efficacy of the tincture. This is the ideal CBD wellness product, designed for calm, focus, and physical health.**

Finding that balance of physical, mental, and emotional wellness takes time, effort, and balance. In addition to moderate exercise and a healthy diet, we have to take care of our mental and emotional wellbeing, and get plenty of rest.

Through proactively achieving and maintaining our wellness, we improve our quality of life exponentially, feeling better in every aspect of our lives. It also improves our relationships. When we feel better, the people around us feel better, too.

We hope you try CBD for wellness, and we feel confident that you’ll find adding CBD to your daily routine will make it easier for you to tackle the challenges of life, big and small.

Want to try CBD for wellness, but not sure where to start? Give our CBD + CBG Wellness Tincture a try!

First Things First: What Is CBG?

CBG is a type of cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. One reason we don’t hear about it as much is because CBG (cannabigerol) is much rarer and appears in smaller concentrations than CBD. Only 1% appears in most strains of hemp, compared to 20–25% of CBD.

If CBG occurs naturally in such small amounts and we haven’t heard much about it, can it really offer many health benefits? Let’s take a look.

Cannabinoids & Cannabinoid Receptors

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that occur naturally in hemp and marijuana plants. CBG, like CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning it does not get you “high.” Rather, these compounds interact with cannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid system. This system is closely interlinked with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as systems that control balance, digestion, immune response, and other important functions.

CBG and CBD interact with different receptors in different ways, meaning they offer different, but complementary therapeutic benefits that grow stronger when they work in concert. That bolstering of one another’s effects is what we call the Entourage Effect.

CBG vs. CBD

So, what is CBG and how does it differ from CBD? The acidic form of cannabigerol, called CBGA, is a precursor for CBD and many other cannabinoids. That means that certain enzymes within the hemp plant interact with CBGA to create CBD, CBN, and other cannabinoids. CBG is the non-acidic version, created when heat is applied to CBGA.

As with CBD, the scientific studies of CBG are ongoing and results are still coming in. We do know that CBG imitates endocannabinoids, which are similar to the cannabinoids produced by hemp, but created by our own bodies. Our bodies produce two endocannabinoids: AEA (anandamide) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol). Endocannabinoids and cannabinoids interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our bodies.** CBG bonds with CB1 receptors in our brain, vascular system, lungs, and more. It also bonds with CB2 receptors found in the immune system, bones and reproductive system.**

As we noted earlier, in much the same way we combine CBD with other cannabinoids to create more complex therapeutic effects, CBG is often combined with CBD. When combined with CBD, the effects of both cannabinoids are increased, due to something called the Entourage Effect. This is a synergistic reaction between cannabinoids where each compound maximizes the other. When CBG and CBD are combined with terpenes, the compounds that cause aroma and taste, the Entourage Effect is enhanced even more.

Here’s a quick breakdown of CBG effects versus those of CBD and THC.

Is the Cannabinoid Cannabigerol Right for You?

Cannabigerol provides a wide range of potential wellness benefits, and is particularly effective in energy and focus products, as well as some pain creams. Also, as we’ve noted above, CBG supercharges CBD products with bonus benefits thanks to the Entourage Effect!** So, CBG can be a great addition to your daily wellness routine!

How to Find the Best CBG

As with any supplement, you want to be sure the CBG and CBD you ingest is high quality. Cleanly cultivated hemp is the most important place to start. Hemp is a bioaccumulator; that means it cleans the soil, air, and water around it by sucking up toxins. Those toxins end up in the plant. You want hemp that comes from pesticide-free farms with soil free of heavy metals and other pollutants.

Also, choose products with a third-party lab report (or Certificate of Analysis). This tells you exactly how much CBG or CBD you’re getting in your product, along with everything else that could potentially appear in it, from pesticides to mercury.

What Are the Best CBG Products?

While CBG appears in small percentages in all broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD products, we have a select group of products that contain bonus levels of this potent cannabinoid.

Our CBD + CBG Wellness Tincture is formulated with a 2:1 ratio of CBD to CBG, as well as a potent terpene complex and natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients, like curcumin and coenzyme Q10.**

Our CBD + CBG Morning Capsules contain a terpene-enhanced blend of CBD, CBG, and slow-release caffeine for people seeking the balance of energy and focus needed for a productive day.**

Our Focus Blend CBG Mushroom Tincture combines CBD and CBG with brain-boosting nootropic and stress-busting adaptogenic mushrooms—perfect for adding laser-focused energy to your day!**

Our CBG Muscle & Joint Cream: Heating Formula delivers soothing relief for minor aches and pains, thanks to its proprietary blend of CBD, CBG, muscle-warming camphor, and a variety of natural pain relievers.**

CBG’s Place in Your Wellness Collection

While CBD is a fantastic tool for overall wellness, CBG is another cannabinoid present in the cannabis plant that can provide a wonderful boost to your overall health. Humans have used cannabis plants for industrial and medicinal purposes throughout the history of civilization. As medical research continues to expand the frontiers of science, we’re able to better understand exactly how cannabinoids benefit our bodies. From headline-grabbing CBD to the darkhorse CBG, we’re only beginning to tap the enormous therapeutic potential of hemp.

Ready to incorporate CBG into your daily regimen? Try our health-boosting CBD + CBG Morning Capsules!