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Common Industry Terms

The Aloe vera plant originates from the Arabian Peninsula, and it is grown in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide.  It has been used for thousands of years due to a variety of healing benefits.

People are probably most familiar with the gel form, which they have likely used as a topical treatment to soothe and cool skin conditions such as cuts and burns.  However, the Aloe leaf and its inner gel can also be dried and ground into a powder form.

When taken orally, this powder provides many health benefits:

  • Heals skin and improves skin elasticity
  • Boosts immune system
  • Soothes irritation in the digestive tract
  • Reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics
  • Has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties
  • Contains essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants

Aloe vera powder is a safe, natural ingredient found in many products, including Phrenze Bump and Phrenze Chill.

Aloe Vera Powder

Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) is a choline-containing compound produced naturally by the body and used in dietary supplements and natural products.  It helps deliver choline directly to the brain in order to increase the brain chemical acetylcholine, which aids in memory and learning.

Some studies have found Alpha-GPC to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.  It may also:

  • Boost memory and cognitive function
  • Improve blood flow to the brain
  • Improve thinking and learning skills
  • Increase athletic endurance and growth hormone secretion

Due to this ability to increase cognitive function and mental performance, Alpha-GPC is considered a nootropic, and it is found in the product Tianaa White.

Alpha-GPC

According to definitions from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

Batch means a specific quantity of a dietary supplement that is uniform, that is intended to meet specifications for identity, purity, strength, and composition, and that is produced during a specified time period according to a single manufacturing record during the same cycle of manufacture.

Batch number, lot number, or control number means any distinctive group of letters, numbers, or symbols, or any combination of them, from which the complete history of the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and/or holding of a batch or lot of dietary supplements can be determined.

As a GMP manufacturer, MT Brands is incredibly rigorous in maintaining the highest standards of quality assurance.  A lot number is included on every product package or bottle, which can be used by the consumer to easily find the specific Certificate of Analysis for that product.

Batch or Lot Number

If you are one of the 90% of adults worldwide who consume caffeine daily, then you are well aware of the stimulating effects it produces.  In fact, you most likely rely on it to jump start your morning or to pick you up in the afternoon.  Whether in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, pills, supplements, or other products, caffeine has become one of the essential ingredients of the human race.

Caffeine is a natural chemical that stimulates the central nervous system, heart, and muscles, and it can also have an effect on blood pressure.  It enhances cognitive performance by reducing fatigue and drowsiness, and it may also improve concentration and motor coordination.  Also, caffeine can aid physical performance, increasing athletic endurance, muscle strength, and power.

Caffeine also has been found to be effective in treating headaches, migraines, and acute pain when used along with pain relievers.  It can help with memory and obesity, and it may possibly even help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Of course, as familiar as 90% of us are with the mental alertness and other positive benefits of caffeine, we also know all about the adverse effects:  insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, and increased heart rate, just to name a few.  Also, since the stimulating effects usually last for about three to four hours, a crash can occur once they wear off.  This can also lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, headache, and fatigue.

Due to its energizing nature, caffeine is used as an ingredient in the uplifting natural product Phrenze Bump.

Caffeine

The cannabis plant contains over 100 known compounds called cannabinoids.  The two most prevalent and popular of these cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) within the human body via cannabinoid receptors.  The ECS is believed to help regulate a wide range of functions and processes, including mood, sleep, reproduction and fertility, appetite, memory, learning, motor control, pain sensation, immune system responses, and more.

While much is still to be learned about the ECS, experts do believe that its primary role is to help the body’s internal environment maintain homeostasis, or a stable balance among all systems.

Cannabinoids are also found in other plants besides cannabis, as well as being produced naturally by the body (endocannabinoids).

Cannabinoids THC and CBD

The terms cannabis, hemp, and marijuana are often used interchangeably.  While this is understandable, it isn’t quite that simple, and there are distinctions that should be made.

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants containing the three species Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.  There has been a history of scientific debate regarding the correct number of species, with some arguing for a single species, Cannabis sativa, with the others being considered subspecies.  However, due to distinct morphological differences, the three species theory is widely recognized and accepted today.

Cannabis plants also have different varieties which are cultivated for different purposes, which is part of what causes some of the terminology confusion.  Some varieties are useful for fiber and seed production, while others are for drug production.

Of the more than 100 cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant, the two in greatest abundance are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).  The plant is classified by the overall amount of THC produced and by the ratio of THC to CBD.  THC is the only one that is psychoactive.

Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC.  By U.S. law, hemp must have below 0.3% THC in order to be legally cultivated for industrial use.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is actually a slang term, generally used to refer to a cannabis plant with high levels of THC.

So while hemp and marijuana are both types of cannabis plants, they are not the same as one another, as they describe different varieties with different properties.

Cannabis Leaves

Cannabidiol (CBD) products are everywhere these days, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.  Lotions, creams, oils, capsules, gummies, coffee, smoothies, even dog treats—if you can name it, then it’s probably been infused with CBD.

Along with THC, CBD is one of the two most prevalent cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.  When derived from hemp containing less than 0.3% THC, CBD products are legal at the federal level in the U.S.

Unlike THC, it does not provide an intoxicating “high,” but it does offer many other benefits, which accounts for its surge in popularity.

CBD is effective in treating a variety of health issues, including:

  • Epilepsy
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Chronic Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Insomnia
  • PTSD
  • Addiction
Cannabidiol (CBD)

CDP-Choline is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain.  It is a nootropic that has been shown to improve learning and memory performance.  It is effective for preventing or treating memory impairments related to aging, and it has also been used as a memory enhancer in the young.

It has been used for years to treat cerebrovascular disorders, which are those that affect blood in the brain.  While it is known to help treat vascular dementia, it also may be a neuroprotectant, which aims to prevent progression of the disease.

CDP-Choline is available as a supplement in over 70 countries, and it is also an ingredient in the product Tianaa White.

CDP-choline

As part of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements, a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is used to document that the purity and quality of a specific batch (lot) are within the specified range.  This provides a high level of accountability and quality assurance.

The COA certifies that the raw materials have been inspected and tested in an accredited laboratory and have met all specifications.

For total transparency, MT Brands provides the ability to search for the COA of any product by looking up its lot number.

Laboratory Testing

Also known as Sakae Naa, Combretum quadrangulare is an evergreen tree commonly found in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.  The leaves, stems, and seeds have been used in traditional medicine for centuries in Asia for mild ailments.  Locals also simply pull the leaves directly off the trees to use as a natural stimulant.

The effects have been compared to those of kratom, and even to coffee, providing energy as well as relaxation.

The leaf is used as an ingredient in the products Tianaa White and Tianaa Green.

Combretum Quadrangulare

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.  While it does have some similarities to delta-9 THC, such as its chemical structure and ability to produce psychoactive effects, it is much less potent than delta-9.  Also, unlike delta-9, which is extremely prevalent in the cannabis plant, delta-8 is detectable only in trace amounts.

Delta-8 is currently legal in the U.S. due to the 2018 Farm Bill.  Manufacturers have figured out a way to extract it from CBD found in hemp plants.  Therefore, although it is technically THC, delta-8 can legally be considered hemp.

Since THC is specifically defined as delta-9 THC, this allowed a legal market for delta-8 products to take off in the U.S.

Delta-8 THC

When people refer to THC, they are most likely talking about delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC).

Delta-9 THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, and the source for the “high” that users experience.  It is also the reason why cannabis would be deemed illegal at the federal level, as only cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% THC are federally legal.  These low-THC plants are considered hemp, while the higher-THC plants are often known as marijuana.  Most marijuana contains around 15%-25% THC.

People use marijuana recreationally for its euphoric and relaxing effects.  Some states have even legalized it for recreational use, going against the federal ban, while even more states have legalized it for its many medicinal benefits, including to help treat chronic pain, alleviate anxiety, control nausea, and increase appetite.

Delta-9 THC

The original farm bills were enacted in 1933 as part of FDR’s New Deal legislation to address the agricultural crisis during this time of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.  The intent was to provide financial assistance to farmers and to ensure an adequate food supply.  A more permanent farm bill was enacted in 1938, with a requirement to update it every five years, which the U.S. has done ever since.

These days, when people refer to the Farm Bill, they are most likely talking about the 2014 and/or 2018 versions, and they are probably interested in them due to their legislative impact on the cannabis industry.

The 2014 Farm Bill was the first time any allowances were made for hemp, and the 2018 Farm Bill went even further, removing certain cannabis products (including hemp, hemp seeds, and hemp-derived cannabinoids) from the Controlled Substances Act.

This ushered in a new era of legal hemp and CBD products.  Hemp cultivation was now allowed, with no restrictions on the sale, transport, or possession of hemp-derived products as long as their production followed the law’s guidelines.

The main stipulation is that hemp cannot contain more than 0.3% THC.  Any cannabis plant exceeding this limit would be considered non-hemp cannabis, or marijuana, and would not be covered under this legislation.

Although more bills are still to come, the 2018 Farm Bill certainly has paved the way for a bright future for hemp farming in America.

Hemp Farming

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is an internationally recognized standard for food safety to be applied during the manufacturing of food, ingredients, and beverages.

HACCP follows seven key principles:

  1. Conduct Hazard Analysis of biological, chemical or physical food hazards
  2. Determine critical control points
  3. Establish critical control limits
  4. Establish a system to monitor control of critical control points
  5. Establish corrective actions
  6. Establish procedure for verification to confirm that the HACCP system is working effectively
  7. Establish documentation and record keeping

MT Brands is proud to be a HACCP certified facility.

HACCP Certification logo

Current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP or cGMP) are established by the FDA, and they are designed to ensure the utmost safety and control in all aspects of the operation.

An overview of what GMP covers is as follows, while a more detailed look can be found at FDA Regulatory Information Page and ECFR title 21 websites.

  • General Provisions
    • Written procedures
    • Documentation requirements
  • Personnel
    • Hygienic practices
    • Employee and supervisor qualifications
  • Physical Plant and Grounds
    • Contamination protection
    • Cleaning and sanitation
    • Design and construction
    • Water supply requirements
  • Equipment and Utensils
    • Calibrating, inspecting, and checking
    • Maintaining, cleaning, and sanitizing
  • Production and Process Control System
    • Quality control
    • Received product control
    • Master manufacturing records
    • Batch production records
    • Laboratory operations
    • Manufacturing operations
    • Packaging and labeling operations
  • Holding and Distributing
    • Temperature, humidity, and light requirements
    • Prevention of mix-up, contamination, and deterioration
    • Container-closure system
    • Reserve sample requirements
  • Returned Dietary Supplements
    • Identification and quarantine of returned items
    • Material review and disposition decision
    • Disposal or salvage considerations
  • Product Complaints
    • Review and investigation
    • Follow-up action
  • Records and Recordkeeping
    • Record formats
    • Retention periods

MT Brands is GMP certified through an independent body, Society General Surveillance (SGS), the global leader in testing, inspection, and certification.

GMP

Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC.  By U.S. law, hemp must have below 0.3% THC in order to be legally cultivated for industrial use.

And these uses certainly are many.  In fact, the plant is known to have up to 50,000 uses, so it can essentially do anything and everything – except get you high.

Hemp truly is an amazingly versatile gift of nature.  Each part of the plant can be processed into something useful.  The stalks can make fiber, the seeds can make fuel, and the leaves, flowers, and roots can make medicine.

Just a few examples of the many products derived from hemp include:

  • Biofuel
  • Body care products
  • Clothing
  • Dietary supplements
  • Food
  • Insulation
  • Paper
  • Plastics
  • Rope
  • Textiles
Many Uses of Hemp

Piper methysticum (kava) is a plant native to the Pacific Islands, where it is a highly revered part of the culture and has been used for centuries for medicinal, religious, political, and social purposes.  Kava ceremonies are important rituals in the region for many occasions, featuring the making and drinking of kava and a ceremonial feast.  It is also consumed recreationally at kava bars, which have spread beyond the South Pacific due to their popularity.

The primary active ingredients of kava are called kavalactones, which are generally more concentrated in the roots of the plant.  There are 18 known kavalactones, although six of them are responsible for most of the plant’s analgesic and anesthetic properties.

Kava helps to reduce anxiety and produces sedative effects.  It creates a sense of relaxation, well-being, and euphoria.  The most common side effect, usually only seen with long-term, heavy usage, is a skin rash called kava dermopathy.  It also may cause nausea, loss of appetite, or weight loss with excessive consumption.  However, side effects generally are not severe, and kava is considered safe, with a low level of health risk.

Kava is available in various pharmaceuticals and supplements, and it is also an ingredient in the products Tianaa Red, Phrenze Bump, and Phrenze Chill.

Kava powder

A relative to the coffee family, mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, where it has been used in traditional medicine for a variety of purposes, including to relieve pain and increase energy.  The leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder.  Consuming the leaves produces both stimulant and sedative effects, depending on the type and dosage.

There are several different strains of kratom, usually named for the place where it originated.  However, the most important strain characteristic is the color of the veins in the leaf, of which there are three varieties:

  • White Vein Kratom: Harvested while the leaves are still young, white vein kratom has the highest mitragynine content, and is therefore very potent.  This strain is known for its energizing and mood-enhancing effects.  It is mildly stimulating, providing increased concentration, motivation, and endurance. Tianaa White was designed as a white kratom alternative, offering a similar level of alertness, clarity, energy, and focus.
  • Red Vein Kratom: On the opposite side of the kratom spectrum from white vein kratom is red vein kratom, which is harvested from the most mature kratom trees.  The most popular of the kratom strains, red kratom is not a stimulant, but rather has a mild sedative effect.  It is known to reduce pain, relieve stress, and create a calm, relaxing experience. Tianaa Red is a red kratom alternative that provides contentment, relaxation, relief, and sedation.
  • Green Vein Kratom: Sitting right in between the white and red varieties, green vein kratom is harvested in the middle of the tree’s life cycle.  It is the most balanced of the three, giving a mild energy boost and increasing focus while also being useful for treating pain without causing drowsiness. Tianaa Green provides similar contentment, energy, relaxation, and relief as green kratom.
Kratom powder

L-Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in green and black tea and in some mushrooms.  Among its many benefits are stress relief, anxiety reduction, and increased creativity, focus, and attention.

When paired with caffeine, it is even more effective, providing faster reaction times, quicker memory, and improved accuracy.  Studies have also shown an improvement in ADHD symptoms.

Some research even suggests that L-Theanine may help improve the functioning of the immune system, manage blood pressure, improve inflammation of the intestinal tract, and assist certain chemotherapy drugs in fighting cancerous tumors.

Whether drinking a spot of tea, eating some ‘shrooms, or using a natural product like Phrenze Bump, it’s definitely beneficial to take the nootropic L-Theanine any way you can get it.

L-Theanine

Marijuana is actually a slang term, generally used to refer to a cannabis plant with high levels of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Other common slang terms for marijuana include weed, pot, ganja, bud, grass, Mary Jane, reefer, herb, chronic, and many more.

People consume marijuana in a variety of ways, including smoking, vaporizing, or ingesting it.  Used recreationally for its intoxicating effects, marijuana also has many medicinal purposes, including to help treat chronic pain, alleviate anxiety, control nausea, and increase appetite.

While marijuana is still technically illegal under U.S. federal law, each state has its own individual legislation regarding both recreational and medicinal use.  The legal status of marijuana is continually changing, and has steadily been trending toward increasing levels of legality and acceptance in the U.S

Marijuana flower

Noopept is a synthetic nootropic developed in Russia and designed to help enhance cognitive function and memory.  It also may reduce anxiety and improve mood. 

It is structurally similar to the drug piracetum, a cognitive enhancer used to improve memory, attention, and learning.  However, Noopept’s advantage is that it can be taken at a lower dose.

One of the ways Noopept is believed to enhance cognitive function is by increasing the levels of the brain chemicals acetylcholine and glutamate, both neurotransmitters that help the brain function properly. 

It is also thought to have neuroprotective benefits, and clinical research suggests benefits to patients with dementia or cognitive aging.

Noopept is an ingredient in the natural product Phrenze Bump.

Noopept

Known colloquially as “smart drugs” or “cognitive enhancers,” nootropics are natural or synthetic substances believed to have a positive impact on mental functioning, particularly memory, attention, thinking, learning, mood, motivation, and creativity.  Nootropics generally fall in the categories of dietary supplements, prescription drugs, or synthetic compounds.

They are thought to work by altering the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as acetylcholine or glutamate.  Natural nootropics aid in promoting the brain function and improving brain health, and they may increase the brain’s blood circulation, vital nutrients, energy, and oxygen flow.  They may also lessen inflammatory responses in the brain.

Some popular nootropics include:

  • Caffeine
  • L-Theanine
  • CDP-Choline
  • Noopept
  • Alpha-GPC
Brain with Nootropics

First discovered and widely used in Russia, phenibut helps to relieve tension, fear, and anxiety, particularly social anxiety.  As a nootropic, it also has cognition-enhancing, brain-boosting effects.

Phenibut is similar chemically to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system which reduces the excitability of brain cells.  Phenibut provides a feeling of calm and relaxation, and it is used in some countries to treat insomnia.

Although phenibut is well-tolerated, possible side effects include nausea, anxiety, dizziness, headache, irritation, and allergic reactions.  It is important to follow all dosage guidelines.

Phenibut logo

All MT Brands products are safety tested to ensure they are free of the following:

  • Heavy Metals
  • Microbials
  • Pesticides
  • Mycotoxins
  • Residuals Solvents
  • Filth / Foreign Materials
  • Yeast and Molds

Results of these tests can be found on the product’s Certificate of Analysis (COA).

Scientist with clipboard

Tianeptine is an antidepressant used in several European, Asian, and Latin American countries to treat major depressive disorder.  It is also used for anxiety, pain, and asthma, among other conditions.

Tianeptine is favorable compared with other antidepressant agents because it is not known to cause adverse cognitive, psychomotor, sleep, cardiovascular, or bodyweight effects.  Also, it has high bioavailability and is rapidly eliminated.

Products containing tianeptine include Tianaa White, Tianaa Red, and Tianaa Green.  Some countries and U.S. states have banned products such as these due to fears over abuse potential.  It is certainly important to adhere to strict dosage schedules, as withdrawal symptoms are reported after extended use at high doses well above the recommended range.  When used as directed, however, tianeptine has relatively minimal side effects, most commonly nausea, headache, constipation, and dizziness.

Always follow the label, and only buy from a trusted GMP facility like MT Brands.

Tianaa bottles

Found naturally in many foods, vitamin B6 is also added to foods or available as a supplement.  The body does not produce vitamin B6 naturally, so it must be obtained through food or supplements.  The richest sources of vitamin B6 include chickpeas, beef liver, tuna, salmon, poultry, fortified cereals, potatoes, and some vegetables and fruit.

Vitamin B6 helps to build certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.  This provides benefits such as improving mood and brain health.  Studies have shown that individuals with deficient levels of vitamin B6 doubled the likelihood of depression.

Along with depression, vitamin B6 is also known to help prevent anxiety, morning sickness, and PMS.  It also promotes a stronger immune system and better blood circulation.  It may even lower the risk of cancer and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin B6 is an ingredient in the products Phrenze Bump and Phrenze Chill.

Vitamin B6
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Caution: You must be 21 years of age to use these products. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use these products if you are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant. These products may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. Prolonged use or exceeding the recommended dosage may be habit forming. Always consult your physician prior to use. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Manufacturers/Re-sellers assume no responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of these products.
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