Delta-8 Arrives to Wild Ginger Apothecary

What is Delta-8?

Delta-8 is found in cannabis and has a similar molecular structure to THC, with a much lower psychotropic potency.  You will feel a pleasant "buzz" but you won't feel “stoned.” Delta-8 does share some similarities with THC. Some report that it helps stimulate appetite, reduce nausea, help calm stress, and ease aches and pains. 

How does Delta-8 work?

Delta-8 is the hemp-derived CBD alternative that you can physically feel working in your body.

For many, it provides a total sense of well-being. Unlike CBD isolate that binds exclusively to the CB1 receptor, Delta-8 binds to both the CB1 and CB2 receptor, increasing its therapeutic efficacy.

How does Delta-8 compare to Delta-9 and CBD?

There are more than 100 cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. While we have some foundational knowledge about the primary cannabinoids, delta-9-THC and cannabidiol (CBD), we know less about the secondary, or minor, cannabinoids.

Delta-8-THC is a minor cannabinoid, occurring in the plant in very small concentrations. Delta-8-THC is also known to be a degraded form of THC, and is not directly produced by cannabinoid-synthesizing enzymes within the plant. When THC is stored for a period of time, it degrades into delta-8-THC.

From a chemical or structural perspective, delta-8-THC differs from delta-9-THC due to the location of a critical chemical bond. Both delta-8 and delta-9-THC contain double bonds in their molecular chain. Delta-8-THC contains that bond on the 8th carbon chain, while delta-9-THC contains the bond on the 9th carbon chain. Although it’s a subtle difference, it has noticeable effects on how the body’s endocannabinoid receptors bind and respond to the molecule. 

In addition, delta-9-THC is less stable than delta-8-THC. Delta-9 THC is easily oxidized to become cannabinol (CBN) or delta-8-THC. Delta-8-THC is stable, does not oxidize to become cannabinol, and boasts a prolonged shelf life. Such stability is desirable in a medicinal compound. Delta-8-THC is also about half as strong as delta-9. 

Mechanism of Action 

Delta-8-THC binds to the CB1 receptor like delta-9-THC, but its affinity for the receptor is different due to its slightly altered molecular structure. The CB1 receptor is responsible for mediating most of the psychotropic effects of THC. 

This differential binding may be responsible for the reported clearer high with reduced anxiety, and greater ability to concentrate often associated with delta-8-THC. It’s possible that its unique molecular structure also impacts the chemical’s effects on other receptors and neural pathways.

New Item: Qwin Cartridges

Just in: Qwin’s Delta-8 Vape Cartridges. At only $45 for 1g, these are a great value to feel better! Cartridge They contain only whole-plant hemp extract (Δ8 derived from Cannabis Sativa L. lab-tested >0.3% Δ9 THC) and botanical terpenes.

Qwin’s Flavor Profiles:
Orange Squeeze: A sweet citrus flavor with a creative, upbeat experience. (Sativa)
Fruity Gangster: An earthy, lemon flavor with a happy, uplifted experience. (Sativa-dominant Hybrid)
Lychee-Do: A sweet and earthy citrus and berry flavor with a relieving and uplifting experience.  (Indica-Dominant Hybrid)
Rainbow Kush: A spicy, sweet fruity flavor with a pleasant, creative experience. (Indica-Dominant Hybrid)
Moonies: Our custom strain that has a grape and blueberry flavor with a soothing experience.  (Indica-Dominant Hybrid)

New item: Pur Sensory Gummies

What to know about Pūr8: The efficacy and stability of delta-8  make it an extremely valuable hemp-derived chemical compound. Pur8’s benefits and effects serve consumers of all types, and it illustrates the power of individual chemical constituents within hemp. As science defines and refines the applications for hemp’s eclectic collection of cannabinoids, we will benefit.

Dozens of Delta 8 Products in-store now! Come see us!

Questions To Ask When Buying CBD

We’ve just welcomed Moon Mother Hemp to our Wild Ginger Apothecary CBD lineup! We love this tasty, affordable, women-owned, Certified Organic CBD company. Below is some of their advice for questions to ask when buying CBD. Stop in to try a sample of their oils next time you’re in!

What questions should you ask when buying CBD?

We know it can feel daunting to find CBD products you feel comfortable purchasing.

Here’s a quick list of questions to help you feel empowered when selecting quality CBD:

Are the products made with certified organic hemp?⠀

This is one of the most important  questions to ask when buying CBD. What is the quality of the hemp used? Because hemp is a bioaccumulator it takes up any toxins in the soil. Hemp that’s not grown in certified organic soil, can transfer toxins to the consumer. At Moon Mother, we sun grow our own certified organic hemp in Boulder, CO.

What extraction method is used?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Extraction is how raw hemp material turns into refined, easy to use products. Look for companies that avoid extraction with harsh solvents involving hydrocarbons. Seek brands that opt for CO2, alcohol or lipid infusion methods. Because we care to preserve the beneficial plant properties, energetics included, we opt for clean CO2 extraction in our full spectrum CBD.

Are third party testing reports readily available to review?

CBD is not currently regulated by the FDA. Therefore, tests performed on end products by third party sites are an indicator of transparency and help to ensure that what you’re buying is in the bottle.

A Certificate of Analysis report shows product purity, presence of heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, as well as potency! You’ll find them under the ‘About’ tab of their website.

Above all, we encourage you to take your time, do your research and reach out to our team if you have questions about incorporating CBD into your lifestyle!

CBD for Pets

What Dog Health Problems Can CBD Oil Treat?

CBD has shown it can be a powerful natural healing compound for pets. Our CBD options at Wild Ginger Apothecary can help numerous issues such as pain, inflammation, epilepsy, glaucoma, osteoporosis, cancer and obesity.

What is CBD Oil? Is CBD Oil Safe for Pets?

CBD oil is nontoxic, non-habit forming and non-psychoactive. Most of our CBD offerings for pets use a dropper style sublingual tincture to administer CBD to their furry friends.

Like humans, the medical cannabis success for animal patients depends on the proper dosage, with the weight of your pet and the severity of their condition in the determination. It’s important to emphasize that every pet is different, which is why you should begin with a low dose and gradually increase over time.

Once you begin dosing your pet with CBD, you’ll want to keep a daily journal to help find the ‘sweet spot’ for their success. Over time, pay attention to changes in your pet’s behavior, activity level and general quality of life. Consistency is key!

Finding CBD for Pets

Stop by to see us for help on selecting the perfect product for your pet - and you! Our store dog, Berkley, takes his CBD every day!

Wild Ginger Apothecary's CBD Education Video Series

We are excited to announce Wild Ginger Apothecary's CBD Education Series. In these videos, we will explore the benefits and use of CBD for health. At WGA, we are a community for health + wellness. We carry only organic, hemp-derived CBD products, with 3rd party lab testing for purity and strength. We pride ourselves on offering the area's best CBD product selection, with complimentary one-on-one consultation in selecting the best option for you.

Thanks to our CBD Educator, Steve, for sharing his knowledge with the WGA community. You can meet him weekly at CBD Coffee Hour - every Friday from 10am-12pm, as well as at our monthly CBD 101 class.

Enjoy!

PRESS: Style Magazine Health & Wellness

As seen in Sarasota Herald Tribune's Style Magazine: HEALTH & WELLNESS: Nicole Leffler, owner of Wild Ginger Apothecary

Wild Ginger Apothecary offers a vast array of alternative and natural beauty and health products. After almost 15 years in the industry, owner Nicole Leffler makes sure to offer cannabidiol (CBD) in many of them. Though it is a derivative of cannabis plants, CBD is not psychoactive, and, in fact, is legal in all 50 states and does not require a prescription. 6557 Superior Ave., Sarasota; 941-312-5630; wildgingerapothecary.com.

What are cannabinoids and what are the benefits to humans?
Cannabis plants contain over 100 naturally active compounds called cannabinoids. The human body has a central regulatory system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that contributes to a variety of biological processes, establishing the body’s natural state of balance for the central regulatory system.

Why would one supplement with them?
Endocannabinoids interact with the body’s central regulatory system. They’re the cannabinoids our bodies can produce as needed. If we have a deficiency or imbalance, our system recognizes and responds to cannabinoids from external sources (phytocannabinoids) that can promote healing.

How do endocannabinoids accomplish this?
Basically, they bind to cannabinoid receptors in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. This is also true for “phytocannabinoids,” the naturally occurring compounds that include CBD.

What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
Both are cannabinoids; THC, however, is psychoactive and requires a medical marijuana license for use in Florida. CBD is the most abundant naturally occurring non-psychoactive cannabinoid, totally legal in all 50 states.

What are some of the health benefits of CBD?
Research shows CBD has helped people with a host of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. This compound supports feelings of relaxation, and can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and sleep and increase mental clarity.

Do you also recommend CBD for pets?
Yes, and for the same reasons. It’s effective for pain relief in animals and reduces anxiety, which is especially helpful during thunderstorms! Older dogs can really benefit from a daily CBD dosage.

What’s a short list of your CBD products?
CBD offerings include everything from tinctures, capsules, edibles (chocolates, gummies, honey, tea, etc.), vape options, topicals (balms, oils, face care, lotions, etc.), and more. We offer more than 100 options of CBD products.

How can our readers learn more?
CBD educators are always available in the store. They offer free, one-on-one CBD consultations, with a focus on individual health needs.

Review: CBD + Mood

I began my CBD journey with a bottle of CBD Oil. I used the 1000mg at first, experimenting with different dosages throughout the initial trial, and am happy to report my experience was a very positive one.

The first time using CBD Oil was in the evening right before bed, and when I woke up the next morning I could tell something was different. The last few years I have struggled with depression that seemed to be most intense in the mornings. It was like a huge dark cloud was waiting for me as I woke up.

After using CBD Oil, I woke up and the cloud was gone. I was in a bit of disbelief at first - but as the day continued I really felt different.  I felt lighter, my thoughts were clearer and it was much easier to focus. As I have continued to use CBD Oil, the biggest thing that I am observing is that not only is the dark cloud gone, but emotionally I feel much stronger on a day to day basis. Where I used to feel stressed, weak or overwhelmed, I now have a renewed sense of peace and resilience.

After having such a remarkable experience with CBD Oil, I wanted to get a better idea of why I was feeling this shift, so I jumped in to the research. What I started to understand was that CBD supports the body by regulating the nervous system, and helps balance the different neurotransmitters that play a role in almost every system in the body. What I was experiencing started to make more sense. CBD is referred to a “smart” supplement because it seems to know how to bring balance where things are out of balance. 

Because I was having such positive results I asked my 15 year old son to try it and after a couple of days he reported that the anxiety that he was living with (and just thought was normal) had disappeared.

After these experiences I am wishing that I would have opened my mind to CBD much earlier. In the short time that I have been working with CBD Oil, my quality of life has definitely improved.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone whose looking for “smart” way to support their nervous system and bring more balance to their life.

Guest post by Wild Ginger Apothecary customer.

Full-Spectrum CBD Oil and other hemp-derived CBD products are in-stock now at Wild Ginger Apothecary. Visit us at 6557 Superior Avenue in the Gulf Gate Shopping Village. Feel free to email or call anytime at 941.312.5630.  

CBD Coffee: The Perfect Pair

3 Reasons Why CBD-Infused Coffee Is Amazing

Coffee and cannabis go together better than peanut butter and jelly. Recent research has found that caffeine and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic compound in the cannabis plant, may have some synergistic effects.

The study was conducted in zebrafish and found that long-term caffeine consumption protects against memory loss associated with extremely high doses of CBD (the benefits of isolated CBD seem to diminish the further you exceed your therapeutic dose range). 

While humans and zebrafish are two entirely different creatures, this perhaps suggests that caffeine might be a useful additive to consider in CBD therapies due their synergistic effect. And vice versa, you may benefit by splashing a little CBD into your daily caffeine dose.

Although research in humans is needed, the authors do mention that zebrafish have responses to CBD that are similar to other animal models.

So, what else can we say about this relationship between CBD and coffee?

1. CBD eases anxiety

Tired of having the jitters? CBD may be helpful for balancing out the sometimes overly stimulating effects of caffeine.

It is fairly well documented in preclinical literature that CBD is a potent anxiolytic.

Caffeine, on the other hand, can trigger anxiety attacks. Caffeine is a stressor that can trigger the release of the hormone adrenaline in the body.  Adrenaline is what triggers the fight or flight response, promoting stress and anxiety.  

CBD, however, may counteract some of these effects. CBD-infused coffee is stimulating without the edge.

CBD and caffeine both interact with adenosine in the body. Adenosine is a calming neurotransmitter that helps the body determine when it's time to stay awake and when you need more sleep. 

However, CBD and caffeine have opposite effects on this time clock chemical. Caffeine blocks the body from being able to feel the sedative effects of adenosine. With CBD, however, early research suggests that CBD may improve the body's response to adenosine. It seemingly does this by increasing the amount of calming adenosine available for the body to use.

This is why a little CBD can ease caffeine-induced nervousness. 

The anti-anxiety effects of CBD are quite powerful. In humans, British researchers have found that CBD is antipsychotic. In a phase 2 study of 88 patients with schizophrenia found that CBD successfully improved cognition and symptoms of the condition. In this case, CBD was used as an adjunctive therapy in treatment-resistant patients.

2. CBD is energizing and boosts mood

Early research has shown that low-dose CBD seems to have an energizing effect. This means that you can feel stimulated and awake with less overall caffeine. No need to order a second espresso or upsize your latte.

CBD also inspires an overall sense of positive well-being. Animal research suggests that the cannabinoid can boost mood, which can make waking up a little easier. 2016 rodent study found that CBD treatment caused a rapid increase in serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter that is often regulated with antidepressants.

Cranky in the morning? A cup of joe can help. Coffee also has some mood-lifting properties. A  2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who drank 3 cups of caffeinated coffee each day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression.

Combining the two? Seems like a great way to start the day. Not to mention, CBD is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, which can be helpful for those with morning time tension in the muscles and joints.

3. CBD and caffeine are both potent antioxidants

Both coffee and CBD are superfoods. Several compounds in coffee, including caffeine, are powerful antioxidants. Coffee is considered the biggest source of antioxidants in the Western Diet. Antioxidants protect cells and DNA from damage, which supports healing and offers protection against aging.

CBD is also a powerful antioxidant. In fact, the U.S. Government owns a patent (US6630507 B1) on “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants.” Cannabinoids like CBD are expected to be particularly helpful for recovery from major brain events like trauma or stroke.

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We're thrilled to announce that our neighbors at The Clever Cup Coffee Shop now offer our Siesta Key Sea Bee Dee CBD tincture as an add-on option to their delicious coffee beverages!  Ask for it next time you place an order!  Or pick up your own bottle at Wild Ginger Apothecary next time you're in, to make your own CBD Coffee right at home!