Shop Subscription Boxes
Shop Subscription Boxes
I'm a title. Click here to edit me.
I'm a title. Click here to edit me.
EARN ASTRAÈA LOYALTY POINTS & MEMBERSHIP REWARDS!
FAQ's
Conscious Luxury
Frequently asked questions on cannabis and what it has to offer. Please feel free to contact us with any further questions.
Astraèa & Co’s cannabinoid-infused products are third-party tested. This means that an independent lab has verified the contents of our products.
Unfortunately, many companies that produce CBD products either overstate or understate the amount of CBD in the product. To demonstrate that we don’t mislabel our products, we make our lab reports — also known as certificates of analysis or COAs — accessible to our customers.
We also go the extra mile and have our products tested for pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis/hemp plant. The human body naturally produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids.
So far, over 100 cannabinoids have been isolated from cannabis. One of the most widely known cannabinoids is cannabidiol, also known as CBD.
CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, meaning that it won’t make you feel high. The intoxicating feeling of cannabis is produced by another cannabinoid, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Hemp is a kind of Cannabis sativa plant that is often cultivated for industrial or medical uses. Scientifically speaking, hemp is the same species as the plant we call cannabis — but the law defines hemp as containing 0.3 percent THC or less while cannabis contains over 0.3 percent THC.
Because of the THC content in hemp, the flower of the hemp plant cannot make you feel intoxicated.
Cannabidiol, known as CBD, is one of the most well-known cannabinoids. You’ll find CBD in a wide variety of forms, from gummies and tinctures to vapes and topical treatments.
CBD is often used for:
Sleep issues
Pain and inflammation
Anxiety and depression
Skin conditions
Seizure conditions
Not all of these uses have been confirmed by scientific research. However, there are plenty of promising studies that suggest CBD has a wide range of potential uses.
Because it’s not intoxicating or habit-forming, many people use CBD on a daily basis.
A phytocannabinoid is a cannabinoid found naturally in the cannabis plant. CBD and THC are examples of phytocannabinoids.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a collection of cell receptors within our bodies. The ECS helps support homeostasis, keeping our body in a state of healthy balance.
The ECS affects various parts of your body, influencing various organs and biological systems, including:
the cardiovascular system
the digestive system
the nervous system
skin
brain function
reproductive organs
Although your body produces its own endocannabinoids, additional cannabinoids — that is, those found in cannabis and hemp plants — can also affect the ECS. This is why cannabis and hemp affects us the way it does.
Hemp extracts are essentially any derivatives of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, including all concentrates, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, that maintain <0.3 % THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) concentration on a dry weight basis.
You’ll notice that there are three main kinds of CBD extract. They are:
Full-spectrum CBD, which contains all the cannabinoids and terpenes that were originally extracted from the plant
Broad-spectrum CBD, which is like full-spectrum CBD except that THC is removed
CBD isolate, which is CBD on its own with all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed
CBD oil is an oil that contains cannabidiol molecules. These are extracted from the flower of the hemp plant.
Note that there is a difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil. Hemp seed oil, while rich in nutrients, does not contain CBD because CBD doesn’t naturally occur in hemp seeds.
You’ll notice that there are three main kinds of CBD extract. They are:
Full-spectrum CBD, which contains all the cannabinoids and terpenes that were originally extracted from the plant
Broad-spectrum CBD, which is like full-spectrum CBD except that THC is removed
CBD isolate, which is CBD on its own with all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed
Full-spectrum hemp oil, or full-spectrum hemp extract, is much like full-spectrum CBD. However, depending on the strain of the hemp it was extracted from, it might contain a higher proportion of other cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBN, or THC.
The entourage effect is the idea that different cannabis compounds can magnify or enhance one another. In other words, it’s the theory that cannabinoids are more effective when you use them together, as opposed to one cannabinoid on its own.
Because of the entourage effect, many people prefer to use full-spectrum CBD.
In short, yes. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, made hemp legal on a federal level in the United States.
The Farm Bill defined hemp as the Cannabis sativa L. plant with no more than 0.3% THC concentration on a dry weight basis.
This bill essentially made it legal to cultivate, sell, and use hemp and hemp extracts. This includes CBD extracts.
Individual states also have their own laws on hemp and cannabis. However, on a federal level, hemp remains legal.
Each CBD product has its own instructions. When using a cannabinoid oil or tincture, squeeze the appropriate amount under your tongue and hold it there for at least 60 seconds. This gives the cannabinoids time to pass into your bloodstream through the capillaries in your mouth. After 60 seconds, swallow.
The main thing to remember is to start low and go slow. Start off with a small amount (5 mg or 10 mg) and gradually increase it until you feel a difference. Note: those are milligrams, not milliliters. The number of milligrams in one milliliter will differ depending on how strong the tincture is.
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a type of cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. It's often called the “mother cannabinoid” because all other cannabinoids are synthesized from CBG. In other words, cannabinoids like THC and CBD come from CBG.
CBG is said to have a number of uses, and many people use CBG products to support their overall health and wellness. So far, studies on CBG have indicated that it could be anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. It can potentially help with:
Inflammation
Huntington disease
Parkinson’s disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Multiple sclerosis
Like CBD, CBG is not intoxicating.
Cannabinol (CBN) is another non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. The benefits of CBN are still being researched, but many people use CBN products to support their health.
CBN is most commonly used for sleep, although the research on its potential is still being gathered. Stay tuned, as Astraèa and Company make progress through early stages on our studies and clinical trials!
CBGa and CBDa are acidic forms of CBG and CBD. As the plant ages, CBGa and CBDa become CBG and CBD.
You might have heard of CBGa and CBDa because they were recently the subject of a well-publicized study. The study concluded that the cannabinoids have the potential to prevent and treat COVID-19. However, this needs to be studied in greater detail before we know for sure.
Although we still need more research before we fully understand the potential benefits of CBGa and CBDa, pioneers in the industry have found a way to create products that contain these cannabinoids.
There are many different kinds of CBD products out there, from tinctures and oils to topical treatments, edibles, and vapes.
The kind of CBD product you should choose depends on your needs. For example, a CBD face cream is ideal for skincare while a topical treatment is ideal for localized injuries.
Something you ingest orally, like a tincture or edible, will affect the whole body, not just a localized region. Ditto for anything you vape or smoke, although vaping and smoking has the added benefit of getting into your bloodstream faster.
No. Hemp seed oil is rich in nutrients like omega fatty acids, but it doesn’t contain CBD. This is because hemp seeds don’t contain CBD.
Don’t make the error of opting for hemp seed oil when you actually need CBD oil. If it doesn’t say that it contains CBD (or cannabinoids), it probably doesn’t.
Terpenes are naturally occurring chemicals that are found in plants, fruits, and insects. Terpenes give pine trees, lavender, and neroli their iconic scents.
Terpenes are also found in cannabis and hemp plants. They have a range of effects on the body, and they give different strains their own unique aromas. That’s why different strains will smell different: they each have their own unique terpene profiles.
Overall, CBD is considered safe for human consumption. It is not intoxicating and not habit-forming. However, as with any supplement or product, CBD can have some side effects.
These side effects can include:
Fatigue
Changes in weight or appetite
Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
Side effects usually pass within a few hours.
We recommend talking to your doctor before trying a new supplement of any kind. This is important if you’re currently on medication, as CBD can interact with certain medications — especially those that carry a “grapefruit warning.”
Yes. Dogs, cats, horses, and other mammals have endocannabinoid systems too. Research suggests that CBD can benefit pets. However, you should always speak to a vet before giving your pet a supplement of any kind. Check out our pet-friendly CBD wellness products!