More than CBD. Our Guide to Botanical Extracts
We take product formulating seriously at APOTHEM. We don’t believe in using anything but the very best quality, and that goes for the hemp we use to create our CBD as well as the botanicals we blend it with. It also means that we’re diligent about what we blend together. Our formulas have to do what they say they’re going to, and they have to do it well. Our CBD product range has been expertly formulated with aromatherapy and botanical experts which is why you’ll find that each of our products contains a blend of plant extracts that are designed to work with each other and with our bodies. We call this “Botanical Synergy”.
It goes without saying that we’re proud of our CBD (read all about our standards and processes) but we’re also a little bit obsessed with our roster of brilliant botanicals too. We source everything from reputable, trusted suppliers who source the best grade ingredients to ensure the best optimisation of the plant extracts.
But before we introduce some of these plant-based powerhouses and how to use botanicals in effective formulations, let’s start with some of the basics.
What Are Botanicals?
Botanical ingredients are nature’s pure goodness. They’re derived from plants and known for their therapeutic properties, flavour, or scent.
Botanicals harness the power of plants and throughout history they have been used preventatively as well as acutely for holistic health and wellness. The pharmaceutical industry was actually born from botanical medicine, but today, synthetic approaches to drug discovery have become more standard. Plants do an incredible job at protecting themselves from disease and predators so it’s not surprising that the compounds that have allowed them to survive can be beneficial to our health and wellbeing too.
Many plant-based botanicals that have centuries of proven results behind them are still household names today like Chamomile or Ginger, but there are literally thousands available and still new plant extracts being discovered all of the time. Bakuchiol is a relatively new addition (it was only first isolated in the 1960’s) and is now one of the plant-based powerhouses that you see in skincare as a natural alternative to Retinol (we’re super excited to harness this botanical in a new product coming soon – sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know).
How Are Botanical Extracts Made?
Botanicals can be extracted from many different parts of a plant, including the roots, flowers, bark, or leaves. The botanical extraction process separates the bioactive compounds from the rest of the plant structure - the method will depend on each individual plant but the ultimate goal is to harness the full spectrum of the plant botanicals. By extracting a phytochemical (active compounds within the plant) profile closer to that of the whole plant, we can ensure the best concentration and efficacy of the botanical active.
Once a botanical is extracted, the result is a potent oil or liquid solution that is abundant in the natural therapeutic properties of the plant in a concentrated form, so only a small percentage is needed to see the benefits.
What Are The Benefits Of Botanicals?
Botanical extract benefits are endless – we genuinely get quite giddy when we’re formulating products as there are so many opportunities to create products that work and make a real difference to people’s lives.
The benefits of the botanical extract are individual to each plant its extracted from. Many plant extracts have antioxidant benefits (as they were able to survive and thrive in direct sunlight), while others have anti-inflammatory properties, whether consumed via supplements, or applied to the body. For instance, when used topically on the skin, phospholipids in plant oils can help reduce inflammation and maintain homeostasis of the natural skin barrier.
Other botanical benefits range from antimicrobial and immune-boosting, to calming, energising, and balancing; plant botanicals can actually help our bodies maintain physiological equilibrium, keeping us healthy, balanced, and within the boundaries of homeostasis (homeostasis is defined as ‘the bodily situation of a healthy individual in whom his physiological activities are functioning in between the limits considered as normal’).
As only a small concentration of each botanical extract is required to experience health benefits, this gives us the capacity to include a combination of plant extracts and nutrients that work together to provide a wider a range benefits that support the whole body. Bringing us right back to what we call “Botanical Synergy”.
MEET SOME OF OUR BOTANICAL SUPERSTARS
We work with more than 40 different plant botanicals across our range, each chosen for a very specific purpose and benefit. Read on to discover a selection of some of the superheroes in our midst who really define the idea of plant power.
Shiitake Mushroom
What is it?
An edible mushroom native to East Asia
Why is it so good?
Not only are they delicious and healthy to eat as they have the potential to boost heart health, another healing benefit of these super shrooms is their ability to boost the immune system because they contain beneficial polysaccharides and terpenoids.
What else is it used for?
If you haven’t already, try cooking with shiitake mushrooms. They’re absolutely delicious with a strong umami flavour and you can find them fresh and dried in any good supermarket. Shiitake mushrooms are also sold as a food supplement, which is usually made from an extract and turned into tablet or capsule form.
Where and why have we chosen it?
While most people assume that they’re merely a tasty addition to a stir fry or risotto, we knew better. We believe their immune-boosting potential is so great that we were sure our super boosting DEFENCE CBD oil drops would be incomplete without them.
5-HTP
What is it?
5-HTP is an amino acid that our bodies naturally produce. It’s the precursor to serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter that carries messages between nerves and it plays a role in sleep, appetite, and pain sensation. It’s also found in an African plant called Griffonia simplicifolia, which is how we incorporate 5-HTP into our formulas.
Why is it so good?
There are many conditions that are thought to be influenced by low levels of serotonin, such as depression, sleep disorders, anxiety and weight gain. 5-HTP helps our bodies produce serotonin, so it has the potential to reduce the symptoms.
Where and why have we chosen it?
5-HTP is the first in a vital chain of chemicals that our body needs to function well. 5-HTP is converted into serotonin and then serotonin is converted into melatonin, a hormone that controls our sleep-wake cycle. No sleep-inducing blend would be complete without 5-HTP which is why it takes pride of place in our LIGHTS OUT CBD oil sleep drops
Moringa Oil
What is it?
An oil produced from the seeds of the drumstick tree which is native to South Asia and is well-known for its hardiness and proliferative abilities.
Why is it so good?
Moringa is bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and it’s been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. The goodness doesn’t stop there either, it also has the ability to retain skin moisture and speed up healing, which is why it’s been used across the world for thousands of years.
What else is it used for?
The oil in its raw state is unsuitable for human consumption but it can be found in powder or capsule form in many health stores.
Where and why have we chosen it?
Moringa oil is an essential component of any quality skincare product that boasts invigorating, anti-ageing and moisturising abilities. Seeing as that’s what our incredible CBD body oil SCULPT is all about, we had to include it.
Arnica
What is it?
A herb that grows in temperate climates, mainly in Siberia, central Europe and North America. Its beneficial properties are found in the flowers.
Why is it so good?
It’s known to treat aches, pains, bruises and improve circulation, and as Arnica contains lots of terpenoids and flavonoids, humans have instinctually been using it in traditional tonics and tinctures for hundreds of years.
Where and why have we chosen it?
Arnica is an ancient skin elixir, well-known for its restorative properties. Knowing that our UNPLUG CBD bath salts had to focus on soothing tension and banishing aches, we knew it was a necessary addition.
Eucalyptus
What is it?
A tree that’s native to Australia but that can be grown across the world. The leaves are where you find its medicinal properties.
Why is it so good?
Eucalyptus is high in antioxidants, is a decongestant, has anti-inflammatory properties and has a significant ceramide content. Ceramide is a type of fatty acid in our skin that’s essential to maintaining and retaining moisture. Eucalyptus is also thought to have analgesic and stress-reducing properties as well.
What else is it used for?
Dried eucalyptus leaves can be made into a tea, but fresh ones can’t because our bodies aren’t able to break them down.
Where and why have we chosen it?
The purpose of our luxurious CBD skin cream RECHARGE is to target tension and provide muscles with soothing relief, so we knew cooling, calming eucalyptus had to feature.
Gotu Kola
What is it?
A herb used in traditional Chinese, Indonesian and Ayurvedic medicines.
Why is it so good?
Gotu Kola has a wealth of skin-focused benefits. Not only is it anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and contains antioxidants, it can improve circulation, reduce varicose veins, reduce swelling, reduce and prevent stretch marks, promote wound healing by increasing collagen production, prevent scarring and relieve joint pain (phew).
What else is it used for?
It can also be taken as a dietary supplement to improve brain function and reduce stress.
Where and why have we chosen it?
Our CBD skin balm MULTI is a suits-all skin salve for dry, irritated, sensitive skin, so we needed a powerhouse plant that could tackle all of those skin conditions and restore skin back to its healthy, supple best. Including gotu kola was a no-brainer.
We are in awe of Mother Nature and always inspired about how to include more plant-based products into our daily routine to support whole body wellness.
