Tag: Science

A healthy woman overlooking the sea with her arms stretched out
07 Sep

ElleVance Glossary: Understanding the Science

Here at ElleVance, we’ve been fortunate enough to be at the forefront of the science surrounding our products. We understand what benefits they can provide in areas such as sleep, anxiety, stress and muscle recovery. Over the years, many people have contacted us, looking for a reliable source of information before deciding what products are right for them.

There’s a lot of science that goes into everything that we do, and this can sometimes become overwhelming. You’re likely to hear a lot of new terms when it comes to our products, so to lift the lid on what these mean, here’s a glossary that explains everything you’re likely to hear.

Anxiety

Anxiety can refer to any feelings of unease, such as worry, fear, nervousness and more. Many people experience anxiety in their lives, and our products can help people overcome these sensations.

However, for some people, anxiety can be a consistent problem that makes it hard to live their lives. If this applies to you, we would recommend seeking professional help first.

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are naturally-derived chemicals that interact with the cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. There are hundreds of different cannabinoids, but the most common are CBD, THC (both plant-derived cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids), and endocannabinoids (which are the cannabinoids that our body produces naturally).

CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid that can be extracted from the hemp plant. CBD is what interacts with your endocannabinoid system, producing the positive effects of our CBD oils and other products.

CBDA

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is an early stage of CBD found in the hemp plant. Like CBD, CBDA has its distinctive beneficial effects on our body.

CBD Isolates

A CBD isolate is, in essence, the purest form of CBD, produced by removing all other elements from the natural hemp extract. However, this isn’t the best way to experience hemp’s comprehensive benefits, as CBD isolates do not contain terpenes and don’t interact with your complete endocannabinoid system like a full-spectrum alternative.

Cultivars

Short for ‘cultivated variety’, it refers to any plant that has been selectively bred and cultivated for its unique characteristics. All of our products come from our proprietary cultivar grown in Colorado, USA, widely regarded as one of the best locations for hemp cultivation.

Dosage

How much of a product you should take at any one time. The dosage for our products can vary depending on your body, needs and previous experiences with similar products. For more information, check our FAQs page.

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are the cannabinoids produced in the body. Our endocannabinoid system regulates a range of emotional and bodily responses to various situations, which can contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, pain and tiredness. Our products engage your natural endocannabinoid system, helping it to regulate these feelings better.

Entourage Effect

The entourage effect is a scientific term designed to explain how a broad spectrum of hemp-derived compounds can help to produce a range of positive effects in the body. There is still a lot of research to be done as to the breath of benefits found in hemp products, but CBD and terpenes are at the heart of these positive impacts, which is why we use them in our products.

Extraction

Extraction is the process by which the chemical compounds are extracted from the hemp plant material. We use an advanced extraction process in our laboratory environments to ensure the maximum potential of our Colorado-grown plants is realised in all of our products.

Hemp

The plant from which CBD and hemp products have been derived. The term hemp usually relates to a variety of the plant that is industrially cultivated for a range of uses.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the biological process by which the body maintains balance, both physically and mentally. CBD products support the endocannabinoid system in this process.

Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep and achieve restorative sleep. Some cases of insomnia can be resolved with the support of products like ours, along with changes in sleeping habits and other remedies. Sometimes, insomnia can be more severe and may require the help of a professional.

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Mgs (per ml)

In our and similar products, mg per ml refers to how many milligrams of cannabinoids are in each millilitre of the product. This figure will often indicate how potent a product is (aka the strength of the product), although other factors can also influence their performance. It’s crucial to differentiate this from the overall content of cannabinoids in a package/bottle. ElleVance products clearly state on the label the product’s strength (e.g. 70 mg/mL) and its cannabinoids content (e.g. 4200mg in a 60mL COMPLETE Relief bottle).

Not only are all of our products a high concentration, but their broad-spectrum composition and rigorous testing ensure you’re getting a great, effective product every time.

Muscle Recovery

The process by which your muscle fibres rebuild after rigorous activity, such as exercise. Our products support the body in its natural muscle recovery processes.

Organic

Organic is a term that can mean various things in the modern world. When it comes to hemp products, organic refers to farming processes that don’t use pesticides and humanmade fertilisers.

Not all CBD products are organic by default. Here at ElleVance, though, all of our products are organic and vegan.

Phytocannabinoids

Phytocannabinoids are the cannabinoids that occur naturally in the hemp plant. There are over 100 phytocannabinoids, the most well known of which are CBD and THC.

Sleep

A vital part of our lives, sleep is responsible for restoring various bodily systems and plays a massive role in our wellbeing. Our products have been shown to help people achieve better sleep, contributing to an improvement in overall wellness.

Spectrum (Full or Broad)

When referring to CBD products, full or broad spectrum refers to those which include a combination of CBD and terpenes, as opposed to CBD isolates.

Some people utilise the term “full-spectrum” to describe products that contain THC, and “broad-spectrum” to identify CBD-isolates with added terpenes and/or traces of other cannabinoids. There is, however, no international convention for the use of these terms and hence their use can be misleading.

For example, a ‘full-spectrum’ product in the USA may not be the same as a full-spectrum product in Europe or the UK – furthermore, a USA ‘full-spectrum’ product may even not be legal in the UK or the EU!

At ElleVance, we manufacture primarily products that contain all the useful chemical compounds in our proprietary cultivar. However, we also have a range of products (e.g. ElleVance SPORTS Performance) that contain only CBD & CBDA.

Stress

Stress is the body’s natural response to threat and can result in many uncomfortable sensations, including tightness, lack of focus and irritability. Stress can be essential for us to understand moments of danger, but it can also cause significant discomfort if experienced daily.

Our products have been shown to help the body better regulate feelings of stress, allowing people to feel more relaxed.

Terpenes

Terpenes are a diverse range of compounds found in nature. Terpenes like limonene, pinene, and linalool are responsible for the perfume of lemons, pine, and lavender, respectively. There are many terpenes in our products, all of which come from our proprietary hemp cultivar and contribute to the wellbeing benefits associated with ElleVance products. Terpenes also play a significant role in the entourage effect, working to support the benefits of CBD and CBDA.

THC

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. It is also the psychoactive compound associated with cannabis but is separate from CBD and other compounds found in hemp products.

To be sold legally, all hemp and CBD products must contain non-detectable levels of THC. All our products are tested in third-party laboratories, so you can enjoy our products with confidence, knowing that there is no chance of you experiencing the effects of THC.

If you have any questions about our products, feel free to contact our UK customer services team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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graphic of a cbd molecule
24 Jan

What’s the Difference Between CBD and THC?

CBD is a buzzword taking the internet by storm at the moment, and for good reason. But, with so many terms being brought into the light, it might be hard to keep up with what exactly they all mean. CBD and THC may be used in the same sentence, and while they are structurally similar, they are worlds apart as compounds and can have polar opposite effects on the body.

Interestingly, it has been said that scientists have actually identified over 200 different cannabinoids within the cannabis plant family, though the cannabinoids you will most commonly hear about are CBD and THC.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the difference is between CBD and THC.

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a compound found in the hemp plant. The hemp plant is part of the cannabis family. CBD can be extracted from many cannabis plants, but hemp itself contains higher concentrations of CBD, whereas other plants are higher in different compounds. When extracted from the plant, CBD is typically made into a universal oil. This oil can then be sold in a variety of different food supplements such as bottled oil, capsules, bites and plenty more options.

graphic of a CBD molecule
Image attribution: Benjah-bmm27

What is THC?

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical compound that is found in marijuana plants, relatives to hemp plants. Unlike the CBD compound, the THC compound creates a psychoactive effect on the brain, which is what causes the “high” sensation. It is because of this, there is also a chance of negative side effects.

THC is currently illegal in Britain, with the one exception of a prescription allowance from a specialist, when in dire cases, other medical treatment may not have worked.

graphic of a THC molecule
Image attribution: Benjah-bmm27

CBD vs THC: Chemical Structure

Despite both compounds creating drastically different effects, interestingly, CBD and THC both are very similar molecules. However, THC’s molecule structure is fairly planar whereas CBD’s molecule has a bent arrangement. It is only a slight deviation in the arrangement of atoms that create such vastly different effects on the body.

Both CBD and THC belong to a group of molecules called cannabinoids, more precisely, as these molecules are produced by plants, they are called “phytocannabinoids” (“Phyto” means “of a plant”). These and other phytocannabinoids interact with your endocannabinoid system.

The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is a natural system in your body which plays an important role in various parts of functions and processes such as mood, memory, appetite and sleep. The interaction with cannabinoids also impacts the nervous system, by engaging with neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying messages between the neurons (that is, the cells of the nervous system). Cannabinoids also help to modulate other vital functions such as the immune response, stress and sleep.

Our Bodies Naturally Produce Cannabinoids

Did you know our body produces our own cannabinoids? These molecules are called “endocannabinoids” (“Endo” meaning “internal”).
Fascinatingly, different compounds bind to different receptors and different receptors dictate what effects the compounds will have on the body.

CBD vs THC: Supporting the Body

Both CBD and THC compounds do work together, however, they both support the body in varying ways and can also be used completely separately to one another, though CBD by itself holds up much better than THC in terms of benefits.

brown capsules with cbd oil

The Difference in Medicine

THC is derived from the marijuana plant, and is used with a focus neurological conditions such as epilepsy, spasms, addictions, neurological pain and have been used to manage certain side effects of chemotherapy (such as vomit and nausea) and loss of appetite and weight loss in patients with HIV infection. THC can only be used when prescribed by a physician and it is rarely used.

CBD is Common

CBD derived from the hemp plant is now used as a food supplement across the world. Even in rather small amounts, CBD (cannabidiol) can support various functions of the body such as joints, and cellular health. It can also be beneficial to wellbeing and supports an active lifestyle.

CBD vs THC: Conclusion

While these compounds share almost an identical atom structure, they also offer very distinct differences on the body, and both come from different types of cannabis plants.
It’s important to know that CBD is non-psychoactive and completely legal to use as a food supplement in the UK.

CBD is growing in popularity, and as research is pushed to the forefront of mainstream news, there is a growing number of the variety of products that are available, such as CBD oil or CBD capsules, which means there is something to suit everyone’s needs and lifestyle. For more information on our products, take a look at our website.