OUR INGREDIENT PHILOSOPHY
Why We Use Hemp
We're a wellness company. And hemp happens to be one of the most effective ingredients we've found for helping people feel better — sleep more deeply, move more freely, and handle stress without losing the thread of their day.
So here's the real answer to the question we probably should have led with all along: why hemp?
The Hemp Plant Contains More Than 120 Active Compounds
Most wellness conversations about hemp stop at CBD. That's understandable — CBD is the most abundant and most researched cannabinoid in the hemp plant, and it deserves attention. But it's one compound among more than 120 naturally occurring cannabinoids that hemp produces, each with its own properties and potential benefits.
CBD (cannabidiol)
The most studied cannabinoid after THC. Non-intoxicating, broadly well-tolerated, and the primary active compound in most of our products.
CBN (cannabinol)
Forms naturally as THC breaks down. Non-intoxicating. Growing research interest for calming and sleep-supportive properties — why we include it in our sleep formulations.
CBG (cannabigerol)
Sometimes called the 'mother of all cannabinoids.' Many cannabinoids including CBD are biosynthetically derived from it. Early research suggests potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Delta 8 THC
A naturally occurring analog of Delta 9 THC. Present in small amounts in hemp. Produces a milder, more relaxed effect than Delta 9.
Delta 9 THC
Derived from hemp in federally legal concentrations (below 0.3% by dry weight). Used in formulations where a more perceptible relaxation or sleep effect is the goal.
Terpenes
Aromatic compounds with their own bioactive effects. Beta-caryophyllene interacts directly with CB2 receptors. Myrcene, linalool, and others each contribute to the full-plant profile.
How Hemp Works in the Body: The Endocannabinoid System
To understand why hemp is effective, you need to know something about a system in your body that most people have never heard of: the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. It's a network of receptors, enzymes, and signaling molecules distributed throughout your body, involved in regulating sleep, mood, stress response, pain perception, inflammation, immune function, and more.
Your body actually produces its own cannabinoids — called endocannabinoids — that work through this system. When something is out of balance, the ECS is often involved in either the problem or the attempted solution.
CB1 Receptors
Found primarily in the brain and central nervous system. Involved in mood, memory, pain, and the psychoactive effects of THC.
CB2 Receptors
Found primarily in immune tissue and the peripheral nervous system. Key role in regulating inflammatory responses — particularly relevant to recovery and physical wellbeing.
Hemp cannabinoids interact with this system — not as foreign substances hijacking a pathway, but as compounds that work alongside the receptors and molecules your body already produces. Hemp works because your body already has a system designed to work with it. That's not marketing language — it's physiology.
Why the Whole Plant Matters: The Entourage Effect
When we extract a single cannabinoid — CBD in pure isolation — and deliver it to the body, we get some of that cannabinoid's benefits. But when we use hemp in a form closer to how the plant actually grows — with the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds intact — something different happens. The compounds appear to work better together than any of them do alone.
The compounds appear to work better together than any of them do alone.
Researchers call this the entourage effect. Each compound enhances or modulates the effects of the others. Some terpenes appear to influence how readily cannabinoids cross the blood-brain barrier. The overall effect of a well-formulated full-plant extract is greater than the sum of its parts.
This is why, across our product line, we generally favor full-spectrum formulations — products that preserve the full range of naturally occurring hemp compounds, including trace amounts of THC below the federally legal 0.3% threshold. We also offer broad-spectrum options that remove the THC for people with drug testing concerns, and these still offer meaningful benefit over pure isolate.
Why Hemp, Specifically?
Hemp isn't the only option for supporting sleep, stress, or recovery. There's magnesium, ashwagandha, melatonin, valerian — we use some of them. But hemp brings something most ingredients don't: a direct, well-characterized interaction with one of the body's core regulatory systems.
Most wellness ingredients work upstream — they provide raw materials or stimulate particular pathways. Hemp works differently. It interacts with the ECS in ways that may help that system do its own job better. And because the ECS is involved in regulating sleep, stress, pain, inflammation, and mood, a well-formulated hemp product can offer meaningful support across more than one area of wellbeing simultaneously.
There's also the research base. Hemp-derived cannabinoids are among the most actively studied natural compounds in wellness science right now. The research is still developing — most honest brands will tell you that — but the direction is consistently encouraging, and the safety profile is strong.
120+
Naturally Occurring Cannabinoids
1992
Year the Endocannabinoid System Was Discovered
What We Believe About Sourcing and Quality
Not all hemp products are the same. The hemp plant is a bioaccumulator — it absorbs compounds from the soil readily, for better and for worse. Where hemp is grown, how it's processed, and how it's verified matters enormously.
We source our hemp from American farms. Our extraction process is designed to preserve the full-plant profile — retaining the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that make the entourage effect possible — without introducing contaminants.
Every Naternal product is third-party tested by an independent laboratory. The Certificate of Analysis — which verifies cannabinoid content and confirms the absence of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and other contaminants — is published on our website for every product, every batch.
American-Grown Hemp
Sourced from trusted US farms
Third-Party Tested
Verified by independent labs
COA Published Every Batch
Full transparency on all products
How Hemp Fits Into a Wellness Routine
Hemp works best as one part of a broader approach to feeling well. The people who get the most out of hemp-based products tend to treat it as a consistent daily practice — not a one-time experiment or an emergency tool. The right starting point depends on what you're trying to support.
RELAX
Everyday calm. Stress that doesn't run you.
For people managing everyday stress and the constant hum of a busy life. Daytime use, daily consistency.
Explore Relax →
SLEEP
Fall asleep. Stay asleep. Wake up restored.
For people who struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up actually rested. CBD and CBN together.
Explore Sleep →
FLOW
Move. Recover. Keep going.
For active people managing training load, soreness, and physical recovery. Hemp for people in motion.
Explore Flow →
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we actually get asked.
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Is hemp the same as CBD?
+No. CBD is one of more than 120 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. When you use a full-spectrum hemp product, you're getting CBD alongside CBN, CBG, terpenes, and other compounds that work together. 'CBD' has become industry shorthand, but it understates what well-formulated hemp products actually contain.
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Will hemp make me high?
+Federally legal hemp products contain 0.3% THC or less — not enough to produce intoxication. Full-spectrum hemp products contain trace amounts of THC as part of the natural plant profile, but these amounts are below the threshold for psychoactive effect. If you want to avoid THC entirely, we offer broad-spectrum options.
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Is hemp legal?
+Yes. The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized hemp and hemp-derived products in the United States, provided the hemp contains 0.3% THC or less. State laws vary in some cases — it's worth checking local regulations if you're in an area with stricter rules.
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Will hemp products show up on a drug test?
+Full-spectrum products contain trace amounts of THC, which could potentially appear on a sensitive drug test. If you're subject to drug testing, our broad-spectrum products — which have THC removed — are the safer choice. No hemp product can guarantee a negative drug test result.
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Why does Naternal prefer full-spectrum hemp over CBD isolate?
+Because the whole plant works better than any single part of it. Full-spectrum hemp preserves the natural range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds that work together — what researchers call the entourage effect. Isolate delivers one molecule. Full-spectrum delivers the whole system. That difference shows up in how the products actually feel.
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How do I know your products are safe and accurately labeled?
+Every Naternal product is tested by an independent third-party laboratory. We publish the Certificate of Analysis for every product, every batch — not just periodic spot checks. You can look up any product's results at any time at naternal.com/pages/coas
Start Where It Makes Sense for You
If you're new to hemp-based wellness products, the best approach is to start with one product, use it consistently, and pay attention to how you feel over a few weeks. Hemp works best as a practice, not a one-time experiment.
Shop All Naternal ProductsThese statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.