The term Nano-emulsified CBD, more commonly known as nano CBD or nanoCBD, sounds like a pretty scientific form of CBD, doesn’t it? I agree. The term nano-emulsified sounds like it came straight out of an SCI-FI movie – but it isn’t too complex of a word. Let’s take some time and go over nano CBD and what you need to know about it.
TL;DR – Nano CBD is another form of hemp derived products. Proponents of it claim that it works better, but this is not necessarily true. While nano emulsified CBD is a form of smaller particles of CBD isolate, there is no study showing that it works better than standard products. We have chalked this up to a marketing play more than anything.
The Science of CBD Molecules
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of molecule sizes and CBD, we need to understand the world of CBD and what it does when introduced into the human body.
Since being legalized in 2018, CBD, or cannabidiol, has taken the health and wellness industry by storm. This natural, plant chemical found in cannabis has been reported to offer numerous health benefits without getting people high.
Many people are familiar with THC, which is another plant chemical found in cannabis. While THC might have certain benefits, the main drawback is that it gets people high. While some people enjoy this, a lot of people do not.
Imagine being able to reap the rewards of medical marijuana, without getting high. This is the world of CBD.
What Does CBD Stand For?
CBD stands for cannabidiol is one of the main ingredients in products such as CBD oil, gummies, and vapes. CBD is one of many cannabinoids (or molecules) that comes from cannabis plants.
Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the marijuana plant, CBD does not contain psychoactive properties. CBD typically comes from hemp, not marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD products are legal in the US.
It is not possible for CBD (or nano CBD) to get you high, as discussed earlier.
The Nano-emulsification Process
Don’t let this word scare you. You can thank cosmetic organizations for developing nanotechnology, and it is also found in the pharmaceutical industries to help compress certain pharmaceutical compounds.
Nano-emulsification means that a particular particle or compound (in this example, CBD) has been transformed into a much smaller version of itself (basically). The term nano means “very small or minute.”
When you emulsify something, you mix two ingredients that don’t typically mix easily. For instance, water and oil do not mix – at all. So there you have it. Nano-emulsified means “tiny and mixed.”
Now let’s talk about what nano-emulsified CBD, or more commonly known as nano CBD, is.
Nano CBD: What’s the Difference?
To understand the difference, we first have to identify what a traditional CBD product is, exactly. CBD oil is an extract traditionally taken from the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and mixed with a carrier oil.
This carrier oil can be a bunch of different oils, but some of the most familiar carrier oils are MCT oil, hemp seed oil, grape seed oil, or olive oil. Earlier, we talked about how emulsification is mixing two compounds that are not easily combined.
Since hemp extract is oil taken out of the plant, it is easy to mix it with another oil. Oil blends well with oil, but what does this mean for regular CBD vs. nano CBD?
How Does CBD Nanotechnology Work?
This form of CBD works because it is so tiny it can move into your bloodstream faster than regular CBD (allegedly). The CBD-coated lipid nanoparticles, also known as liposomes, are effective and reach their destination to give you the results you need. It is widely known that water and oil don’t mix. So how does nano-enhanced hemp oil work in our very watery body?
If you have ever whipped up salad dressings, you’ll notice that many recipes will use mustard or honey or even egg yolks. These ingredients give more to the salad dressing than simply a great taste! They act as stabilizers for the oil and the water to mix as an emulsifier between the water and oil so that they can bind together, making it a water-soluble product.
Size Matters When it Comes To Nano
This is done by making tiny droplets (hence the name nano) of hemp extract. The droplet size after nano-emulsions is about 20–200 nm(nanometers). To put it into perspective, one nm is about 10^(-9)meters or 0.000000001 meters. One nm is also roughly ten times smaller than the total width of a strand of your DNA.
That’s tiny!
The tiny size makes it ideal for making things like CBD gummies because you can fit a stronger dose in a smaller product size.
Nano-emulsification is usually more prevalent in lipophilic compounds (meaning compounds that dissolve into fats or oils quickly). Since CBD molecules are in an oil, it is also lipophilic.
A journal by the name of Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry tells us, “Lipophilicity (fat-liking) is the single most important physical property affecting potency, distribution, and elimination of a drug in the body.”
More on Cannabinoids…
Whether it is the hemp plant, or the marijuana plant, they all produce cannabinoids – CBD and THC being the most popular ones. As these cannabinoids enter our system, our endocannabinoid system has special cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) that serve many different functions.
These receptors’ primary function is to interact with endocannabinoids made by the human body.
In recent years, there has been an advancement in the production and consumption methods of CBD. Concentrated products such as CBD tinctures and gummies have made it easier for them to work with better and increased absorption through the digestive system or topically through the skin.
With these new technological breakthroughs on CBD and all of the products associated with it, those products have become more consistent and identifiable with their doses to patients and new CBD users.
Remember: As always, please get a doctor’s advice before taking CBD as a new supplemental dietary product or as a method intended to diagnose, treat and aid a severe medical condition instead of prescription medications.
Some other evidence suggests that CBD has pain relief properties and can aid in helping the symptoms of different conditions, like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
The CBD molecule is looking for some answers for treatment for anxiety, epilepsy, aches, inflammation, and pain. However, more studies need to be conducted to determine if the nano-sized CBD can deliver on these claims.
All About Nano CBD Oils
Most CBD oils come in tinctures filled with a carrier oil mixed with hemp extract, which is a perfectly normal and very efficient form of CBD-rich hemp extract. Nano-emulsified CBD products, on the other hand, typically uses water as the carrier fluid. Hemp extract is an oil that doesn’t mix with water, but it will mix in nano-emulsified forms.
Water is much cheaper than all carrier oils, regardless of the type you choose. While there may be an increased efficacy of nano CBD technology, a massive benefit to producers is that they can cut the cost of using carrier oils by mixing their CBD with water, and this is a HUGE saving in money.
What is Full Spectrum Nano-Emulsified CBD Oil?
The term full-spectrum means that it contains all cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients that naturally occur in the cannabis plant. In the full-spectrum CBD production process, the flowers of the plant are used.
A full-spectrum product will always contain THC and other psychoactive cannabinoids. However, legal CBD items cannot have more than.03% THC. This means that the full-spectrum CBD product you are purchasing will not give you that “high feeling” even though it contains THC.
While some CBD companies pass off the term “full-spectrum” inaccurately, already adding to the confusion that exists in the CBD industry, New Phase Blends is about transparency and clarity.
Each product has a QR code on the label that will take you straight through to a third-party lab certification, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
This certificate of analysis is vital; always ask the CBD company for it before purchasing.
Health Benefits of CBD in Nano Form
Here are some of the health benefits CBD users may get from taking CBD products in nano form:
- Increased bioactivity
- Superior bioavailability of the substance at the rate and degree at which it enters the absorptive tissue of the stomach and into the bloodstream to produce the active effect.
- Absorbs quickly when taken orally and topically.
- It is a water-soluble CBD and can be dissolved and taken with water or other beverages.
- The product stability is long-lasting
- They have better tasting natural flavors
Another benefit to nano CBD is its use in transdermal CBD patches, which allows the CBD to be absorbed into the skin through a patch.
Is Nano CBD Considered Full Spectrum or Isolate?
The short answer is CBD isolate.
Nano forms are a CBD isolate technology. This means that you’re getting CBD molecules (the small particles) isolated by themselves instead of having other cannabis compounds present. Since the CBD is not operating with those other cannabinoids, maximum effectiveness won’t be achieved.
When all the compounds and the THC works together, it is known as the “entourage effect.” This effect kickstarts the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to perform at maximum levels.
THC-free products are CBD isolate and broad-spectrum, and Broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate do not possess the same effect as a full-spectrum CBD oil product.
Broad-spectrum CBD is one of three primary forms of cannabidiol (CBD) found in the hemp plant. Interestingly enough, broad-spectrum CBD contains a range of naturally occurring compounds derived from the plant.
However, there is near 0.0% tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) in broad-spectrum CBD.
Make CBD Drinks Through Nano Emulsification
Nano CBD tech (nano-emulsion to be exact) is what allows the CBD isolate to become water-soluble. Products like CBD energy drinks depends on nanotech via a water-soluble CBD molecule coated and readily absorbed in the digestive tract.
Most CBD water products are sold in amber-colored bottles and not clear CBD water bottles. One of the main reasons companies tend to stay away from clear bottles and use amber bottles is to protect the CBD content from harsh UV lights.
While this all sounds cool, sticking to New Phase Blends and their line of some of the best hemp-derived products are your best bet for quality CBD content.
Does NanoCBD Give the Same Benefits As Normal CBD?
Since NanoCBD is no different from normal CBD (except for its’ size), the benefits are theoretically the same. The only issue with a nano product is it is normally considered a CBD isolate, meaning there are no other cannabinoids within the nanoCBD mixture.
This is fine, but, you will definitely miss out on all of the other benefits of CBD products that come in a broad or full spectrum form. These spectrums also contain other beneficial cannabinoids like:
- Cannabichromene (CBC)
- Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDa)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- and others…
Should I Take CBD Nano-Oil or CBD Oil for My Symptoms?
Since nano forms of CBD are not natural, many people prefer taking traditional CBD oil to get the full entourage effect provided by CBD oil derived from hemp plants. Nano CBD is just very small particles isolated from hemp.
Taking pure CBD provides the best outcomes. This would be the equivalent of eating an orange to get the vitamin C versus taking a supplement for vitamin C.
Whether you decide to take CBD products free from any nanotech processing or a more naked CBD product that has gone through the extraction process to provide a more pure CBD form, both work with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
Nano CBD Products vs. Regular CBD Products
The entire point behind creating the nano CBD process is to make it more easily delivered and processed by our body’s enzymes.
This must mean that nano products pass as a better product, right? Not necessarily.
All delivery systems have their advantages and disadvantages. For those interested in digging into the science behind nano-emulsification, check out a book titled Nanopharmaceuticals: Volume 1: Expectations and Realities of Multifunctional Drug Delivery Systems.
So, is NanoCBD better?
Not really. Sorry!
For people looking to swallow their CBD oil or eat gummies, it will increase the bio-availability some, but only a negligible amount. New Phase Blends is huge on placing our CBD droplets under the tongue so people can take advantage of the sublingual vein delivery route.
This route of administration offers the highest bio-availability out of any of the other popular forms of taking CBD.
Nano CBD, when taken sublingually, may not offer that much of an increase in bio-availability, though. CBD oils are already absorbed extremely efficiently when taken as drops under your tongue. For more information on how you should take your CBD, check out our article on CBD delivery methods.
Summary – Choosing Nano CBD Products
The takeaway here is, if you are using your drops under the tongue, nano CBD will not offer a noticeable difference. If you are going to eat gummies or swallow different forms of CBD products, nano CBD will make a negligible difference – at best. You won’t likely notice a difference, despite paying more money for it.
I hope this article helped you learn at least a little bit more about nano CBD, how it works, and if it is better than traditional CBD oils or products. It was hard to pack such a science-rich topic into a short blog, but I think it came out ok.
References
A Pharmacology Primer: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/sublingual-administration
Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry: Lipophilicity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/lipophilicity
Nanoemulsion, an advanced mode of drug delivery system: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4362737/
Peshkovsky, Alexey, PhD: http://blog.sonomechanics.com/blog/ultrasonic-production-of-nano-cannabinoids
