Medically reviewed by Dr. Jen Palmer, ND -  Naturopathic Doctor

If you were to look up the technical definition of CBD, as you very well might have done already, you would find the following: CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a compound found primarily in the flowers of the hemp plant. Look further below to see the technical details.

As you're probably well aware by now, CBD is what everyone is talking about these days (and for good reason!). The industry itself is on the rise and there are new products and players entering the market almost every single day. In our eyes, it’s anything but a passing fad or would-be trend. Anyone who is even half paying attention has seen steady growth in recent years, and as popular of a category as CBD has already become, we all know it’s about to get a whole lot bigger.

We know this because we’ve been at the forefront of the CBD movement ever since the beginning. Even before then, actually. Our roots extend all the way back to 2012 when our founders first started working to develop proprietary hemp genetics that were high in CBD and low in THC (more on that comparison later). What began as a journey of seven brothers to help a little girl named Charlotte has since become a movement to support the health of many.

In the beginning, our extract was something we gave away to people who could benefit from it. As our mission grew, so did our family. Today, we’re no longer just seven brothers trying to change the world; we’re thousands of individuals, all with the same purpose: to make the power of botanicals available for everybody.

Our Original Formula hemp extract oil launched the CBD industry, and we’ve been pioneering the way forward ever since, by creating reliable, high-quality, trustworthy products. Today, Charlotte’s Web produces and distributes CBD in a variety of different forms: tinctures/oils, liquid-filled capsules, CBD gummies, and topicals such as balms and creams. We even have a pet line featuring CBD for dogs. Our passion for excellence translates into everything we do.

Even so, today there are still a lot of questions out there about CBD. What is it? Does it work? What is it for? Is it safe to use? Is it legal for me? The increased attention has brought a lot of newcomers into the industry. Everyone seems to keep asking, “What is the big deal with CBD?”

As pioneers of this industry, we’re happy to shed some light on these subjects for you here. First things first, let’s take a look at what CBD actually means.

Getting Technical with CBD

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound found primarily in the flowers of the hemp plant. It’s one of many powerful cannabinoids found in hemp and is known for supporting the body and mind in various ways.* But before we get into the specific benefits associated with CBD, let’s dive into this definition a little further.

CBD is a cannabinoid—one of many, as it turns out, that can be extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, is another well-known cannabinoid and is the psychoactive compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The level of THC present in Cannabis sativa is what ultimately determines whether or not the plant is classified as hemp or marijuana, as hemp, by definition, contains no more than 0.3% THC. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound (meaning you won’t feel the high sensation associated with marijuana when you take it) that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system or ECS.

The Endocannabinoid System

The Endocannabinoid System is a vast network of receptors in the human body, intersecting with all other systems of the body, such as the immune, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. The purpose of the ECS is to create balance and help us maintain good overall health, even when external factors and certain lifestyle choices diminish our general wellbeing. Our bodies naturally make endocannabinoids which activate the ECS. CBD and other cannabinoids also fit into the receptors of the ECS, thus supporting many of the body’s physical processes.

The Entourage Effect

As we mentioned, CBD is just one of many cannabinoids that can be extracted from hemp, along with naturally occurring flavonoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and many other beneficial compounds. Science has shown that these compounds help CBD have a better effect when they all work together, rather than alone. This is known as the Entourage Effect. Since research shows that using the entire plant maximizes benefits delivered throughout the body by supplying many of the beneficial components in the original plant, we try to incorporate as many of them into our full-spectrum hemp extracts as we can.

That’s the long and short of it in terms of the technical definition of CBD. We hope this gives you a better understanding of this chemical compound and how it operates with respect to the hemp plant and the human body. Now, let’s look at an expanded Charlotte’s Web definition of CBD.

What CBD Means to Us

In the technical sense, CBD is just a compound derived from hemp, but to us, this three-letter acronym stands for so much more.

We like to say that Charlotte's Web didn’t start as a company; it started as a mission to help others, beginning with one little girl. Our extract was something we gave away. First, to a few, and then to many. Today, our mission remains at the core of everything we do—improve lives, naturally.

We believe that natural shouldn’t be the alternative and that plants can revolutionize how we care for ourselves and one another. You trust the earth to give you better days... we do too. Our dedication to supporting the wellness of many is what drives us. It’s what has distinguished Charlotte’s Web as an industry leader in product quality, safety, and consistency.

To that end, every plant we harvest is nurtured under the watchful eye of those who care about its creation. We simply serve as nature’s stewards.

Our quality standards extend from field to final product: diligent soil testing, using Charlotte’s Web proprietary genetics, and cultivating plants on American family farms using sustainable organic practices. By the time customers receive our CBD, it’s been tested more than 20 times from cultivation through manufacturing.

These are the ideals we’re committed to upholding. They’re what make us The World’s Most Trusted Hemp Extract™...

• Consistent Hemp Genetics: Every drop of Charlotte’s Web is a descendant of the original seed that helped a little girl named Charlotte. Expertly developed to have a rich phytochemical profile, we test our plants frequently throughout the flowering cycle so they’re harvested when each meets our standards.

• Unwavering Quality Testing: To ensure our products don’t contain unhealthy levels of anything we wouldn’t consumer ourselves—like heavy metals, pesticides, harmful microbes, or mold—we test our soil, water sources, harvested hemp, and extracts more than 20 times from farm to final bottling.

• Full-Spectrum Hemp Extracts: Our extracts are More Than Just CBD™. Since hemp contains dozens of naturally occurring phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, our extraction methods were created to capture that goodness for you.

• Non-GMO, Now and Forever: Our natural, healthy plants are grown in sustainable and environmentally friendly ways. They’re bred with love and care because we refuse to accept anything less than the restorative health-giving benefits mother earth intended.

Our commitment to quality, safety, and consistency is what sets us apart in this industry. From our seeds to our 100% American-grown sustainable farming methods, we maintain stringent quality controls throughout our whole process. This begins with diligent testing of the soils before a field is ever even commissioned. We are dedicated to nourishing both the earth and the farming communities who rely on it.

With that in mind, now let’s look at why you might want to start taking CBD.

What Are the Benefits of Taking CBD?

As we’ve mentioned above, CBD and other cannabinoids fit into the receptors of the body’s ECS. This helps keep you in good health by supporting your body’s different physical processes.*

The primary objective of the ECS is to maintain homeostasis, which means providing a state of internal stability necessary for survival, despite fluctuations in our external environment. The ECS is also involved in many physiological processes like appetite, sleep, digestion, mood, memory, metabolism, neuroprotection, hormones, and heart function.

CBD is generally well tolerated and considered safe, but as with any dietary supplement, consult your physician before using. Among the benefits of CBD that our users experience, some of the main ones are:

• A sense of calm for focus*
• Relief from everyday stresses*
• Help in recovery from exercise-induced inflammation*

Wellness isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and each persons’ body has different needs. It's best to identify the serving size and CBD concentration that works best for you by starting low and slowly increasing. Take notice of any effects (or lack thereof), and adjust accordingly by increasing the amount of CBD you’re consuming.

Tips for Best Results

To get the most out of your CBD experience, it helps to understand the many different forms of CBD. Capsules and gummies are great for easy, on-the-go wellness, while oils and their adjustable serving size are designed for more versatility. Topicals provide botanicals crafted to deliver nature’s best to your skin. They tend to be soothing to the local area and can be applied with ease. Many people choose to combine gummies as needed with an oil taken consistently (every day!), for instance.

While everyone is different, here are a few factors that play into reaching your desired results when taking CBD:

Find the Right Concentration: Some people start out with our 17mg CBD/1mL hemp extract oil but need to bump it up to the Original Formula (50mg CBD/1mL) to achieve their personal wellness goals. In any event, we suggest taking the recommended serving as indicated for at least 4 to 6 weeks to experience the full benefits.

Keeping a journal can be a great way to keep track of your experience, helping you observe how you feel each week, or you can download our tracker. If after the 4 to 6 weeks you’re still not where you want to be, we suggest upgrading to the next concentration.

Be Consistent: For any dietary supplement to work properly, it must be taken regularly. Daily is recommended. Missing days or servings can affect how it’s helping to support your body, so consistency is key.

Listen to Your Body: Taking supplements is really all about investing in your future self. Paying attention to your body today will help you gauge where you’ll stand tomorrow, helping you better understand if you need to adjust the strength you’re taking.

We’ve found that response times are just as unique as the individuals taking them. We all have different genetic and biochemical makeup, as well as a different lifestyle which plays a role in our individual health journey. The bottom line is you have to be patient, consistent and know that dietary supplements like Charlotte’s Web are crafted to work with your body naturally. The results come by way of steady improvement, making your health more sustainable each step of the way.

To us, CBD is much more than a simple acronym; it is very much a movement—one in which we are committed to leading the way. Our purpose is simple: To better the earth and the people living upon it. We endeavor upon this quest to pioneer a better future by harnessing the power of botanicals for those seeking peace... in mind, body, and soul.

We pioneered the CBD industry by creating reliable, high-quality, and trustworthy CBD products. From tinctures to topicals, and capsules to gummies, our passion for excellence translates into everything we do. It doesn’t make our work easier, but it makes our extracts better.

The goal is lofty but worthwhile, and to accomplish it we practice sustainable agriculture, focus on understanding the science and technology of the cannabis plant, and invest in the people and communities of which we serve.

At the end of the day, Charlotte’s Web is more than a name; it’s a promise. We live and breathe quality to ensure our hemp extracts are the best they can possibly be. We will consistently produce high-quality and reliable CBD extracts. From cultivation to the final formulation, our passion impacts everything we work to achieve.

This is our pledge to our customers and our community.