Recently, I had the opportunity to pick the brain of Craig Henderson, CEO & Founder of Extract Labs. As a retired veteran, Craig saw the need for different treatment options for his fellow veterans. He suspected that cannabidiol (CBD) was the answer, so he got to work.
Extract Labs’ Story
Since the beginning, Craig’s company, Extract Labs, has used supercritical carbon dioxide for extraction. It has delivered a sense of control during the extraction process that Craig says is “unrivaled by common methods like hydrocarbon or alcohol.” He attributes a cleaner, more consistent oil to this chosen extraction method.
Extract Labs has been in business since 2016. When asked how the hemp industry has evolved since the Farm Bill’s passage in 2018, Craig recalled that the bill made hemp a less risky business choice “without the fear of federal repercussions.” Soon, the market was saturated with products from “fly-by-night operations that contained who-knows-what from who-knows-where.”
Thankfully, this led to more regulation, for which Extract Labs was prepared. Craig said, “The biggest evolution to the hemp industry has been the efforts to legitimize it.” As a result of the Farm Bill, CBD brands are held to the same standards as other wellness brands and supplement manufacturers.
“Hemp is genuinely changing people’s lives,” Craig added, “and the more we can do to make it viewed as a clean, honest industry, the more the average consumer will be willing to give it a shot.”
Helping is at the root of all Extract Labs does.
While Extract Labs’ customers come in many forms, the veterans that consume the products might receive the most significant benefits.
If you are or know a veteran, you might recognize the following cycle:
- The veteran is physically or mentally injured while serving their country.
- They visit the Veterans Administration to get the help they need.
- They wait weeks or even months for help.
- The medication runs out.
- A downward spiral begins, in which the veteran seeks help from alcohol or street drugs.
Now, veterans can avoid taking prescription medications that lead to addiction, withdrawal, and worse. Craig ensures there is a product for everybody, but having satisfied customers requires more than just lots of product options. “Many veterans will tell you that it is hard to find someone who will listen to their story and someone who cares,” Craig reported. “These days, we have vets who will call in just to check on us and see how things are going. TO make sure we’re alright just as we do for them.”
A favorite product of veterans is the Muscle Cream. Extract Labs uses a homeopathic anti-inflammatory called arnica and 1,500 mg of full-spectrum CBD per tin. The Muscle Cream provides welcome relief for those suffering from back pain caused by “years of muck marches, jumping out of planes, or bouncing around in Humvees.”
Cognitive Support is also a popular product. Those suffering from anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and paranoia can use the product safely and experience relief with cannabigerol (CBG), which Craig calls “the mental wellness piece of the cannabis puzzle.”
Extract Labs’ also produces CBD Shatter and Crumble. Craig identified CBD Shatter and Crumble’s consumers as those who wish to supplement high-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrates with other cannabinoids. Whether taking a break from THC or simply attempting to reduce their intake, Craig reported that his customers like CBD Shatter and Crumble for the ritual it provides without the THC high. Also, the cannabis-derived terpenes infused into Extract Labs’ concentrates make them ideal for baking or putting in smoothies.
Then, there are the new THC-O-acetate products. “Most customers report using THC-O during the day to keep them motivated and to elevate their mood,” says Craig.
Immunity
Now, Extract Labs is once again creating products with the hope of changing the way people think of wellness. Perhaps you have heard about a recent study in immunity research that evaluated the effects of the acidic versions of CBG and CBD on COVID-19. [1]
To identify small-molecule therapeutic agents to treat and prevent infections from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the variants that cause COVID-19, researchers used affinity selection-mass spectrometry to identify botanical ligands to SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein. Ultimately, hemp-derived cannabinoid acids, cannabigerolic acid (CBGa), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) prevented a pseudovirus that expressed the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from infecting human epithelial cells. Moreover, CBGa and CBDa prevented live SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells.
Craig reported that his customers have purchased Extract Labs’ Immune Support Tincture at the onset of COVID-19 symptoms as well as when there is no infection present, and are reporting the tincture’s efficacy in easing mood, anxiety, and physical pain.
What sets the Immune Support Tincture apart from other immune-enhancing products?
The Immune Support Tincture contains CBGa and CBDa. Many CBD brands offer products that look similar, but they lack the critical element responsible for this product’s success – the acidic versions of CBG and CBD.
Although Extract Labs touts their extraction method used for producing clean, high-quality products, they also seek to provide a community for their customers. Helping others be well safely is intrinsic in everything they do.
Reference:
[1] Van Breemen RB, Muchiri RN, Bates TA, et al. Cannabinoids block cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the emerging variants. J Nat Prod. 2022;85(1):176-184. [journal impact factor = 4.05; times cited = 0]
