By now, you’ve heard about CBD. You’ve probably heard friends or family members raving about how “amazing“ it is, how easy it is to use, and how quickly you can experience numerous benefits without any psychoactive side effects. On the surface, this sounds pretty great. But, why is it so great? What about this particular compound makes it different than other products out there? To get to the answer, look no further than the unbelievably interesting hemp plant.

The more you learn about hemp and it’s fascinating properties, the easier it will be to understand why CBD is referred to as the new wonder.  Further, as you get to know the nuances of high-quality CBD and how it’s made, you will be able to shop for your favorite products with increased confidence, as you will finally understand complex product descriptions without having to turn to an online search engine. You’ve probably heard the phrase “the more you know, the better”; when it comes to decisions about your health and wellness, it couldn’t be more true.

Hemp, Trichomes, & CBD – What You Need to Know

There are so many terms used on labels, websites, and product descriptions that it can sometimes seem like you need a dictionary to understand what you’re reading. If you don’t know any better, you may use some of these words interchangeably, and for most, you’ve probably never even heard of a trichome. That changes now, as we turn something that sounds complicated into something ridiculously simple to understand. Here is a dictionary-style breakdown to get us started:

hemp (noun): a tall, coarse plant from the cannabis family with palmate leaves and clusters of small green flowers.

trichome (noun): a small, sometimes microscopic hair or other outgrowth from the epidermis of a plant.

CBD (noun): acronym for cannabidiol;  a nonintoxicating cannabinoid found within the trichomes on cannabis and hemp plants.

Not too complicated, right? The hemp plant grows and produces microscopic growths called trichomes. Inside of those trichomes, you will find CBD and other cannabinoids. Easy as 1, 2, 3.

Now that we understand the terms, what makes trichomes so special? And how do they impact CBD quality?

Trichomes: Microscopic Superstars

As we’ve learned, trichomes are the growths on the exterior of some plants. The term is derived from the Greek word “trichoma,” meaning “hair.” These perfectly-named hairlike glands are small and sticky, and rely on photosynthesis to create CBD and other helpful cannabinoids. Trichomes are found on a variety of plants, but to better understand the role that they play in the production of CBD, we are going to focus primarily on the trichomes produced by the hemp plant.

First, there are three types of trichomes that can be found on the hemp plant. They are each a different size and composition, so we’ll start with the smallest and work our way to the largest:

1. Bulbous Trichomes: Despite their name, these are the absolute smallest trichomes on the hemp plant. They are so small that they cover the entire surface of the plant, but we can’t actually see them without the help of a microscope.
2. Capitate Sessile Trichomes: These medium-sized trichomes are a bit larger than the former, and they have a more distinct looking shape, as they are beginning to form a head-and-stalk structure.
3. Capitate-Stalked Trichomes: This fully developed stalk with a glandular head is the largest of the group, and they are responsible for producing the beneficial cannabinoids found in your favorite CBD products.

Trichomes are absolutely fascinating because they not only are responsible for producing all of the beneficial compounds being used in CBD products all over the health and wellness industry lately, but they also act as a defense mechanism for the hemp plant. They release distinct smells and flavors, called terpenes, which help protect the plant from foraging animals and pesky pests.

When the trichomes have reached their optimal stage of growth (when they contain the most concentrated amount of the numerous compounds, but before they fall off the hemp plant), they are harvested and processed. There are numerous extraction methods used to remove the concentrated CBD and other cannabinoids from the hemp plant, and this ingredient is then used to create the many products you’ll see in stores and online.

Choosing the Best Quality CBD Products

Now that you have expanded your knowledge base and are a highly informed CBD shopper, you may be wondering where you can find the best quality CBD products to experience these benefits for yourself. Since you’ve learned about the hemp plant and the vital importance of the trichomes carrying CBD and all of the other helpful cannabinoids, you can now truly appreciate the significance of finding a CBD brand that is dedicated to every step of the CBD production process. This includes a detailed, highly-scrutinized farming procedure to foster the very best hemp plants, and to harvest those plants at the perfect time to retain the quality of the helpful compounds inside.

A 100% natural, fully transparent farming process – following their products from seed to bottle – is just one of the many reasons Pharmstrong™ has become one of the most trusted names in the CBD industry. You can read all about this detailed process on Pharmstrong’s™ website, where you can also find some of the most cutting-edge CBD products on the market today. Leading the charge in innovation, Pharmstrong offers CBD experiences that competitors don’t, including professionally paired CBD Kits. These combine two or more of Pharmstrong’s™ Pure + Potent, fast-acting products in one convenient Kit, offering customers products that complement one another at a discounted price – plus free shipping!

Pharmstrong™ also gives customers utmost confidence when they shop by ensuring that their peerless CBD products are third-party lab tested for quality assurance, so you never have to guess if the ingredient list on the label matches what’s actually inside – you will know. Further, the customer service you will receive when you call, email, or stop into their Breckenridge, Colorado, shop to experience their one-of-a-kind sample bar will remind you that, when you shop at Pharmstrong™, you are treated like part of the family. The road toward increased wellness awaits!