CBD and the cannabis plant have gone from being relatively unknown to one of the buzziest wellness products out there. Since being legalized in many places, CBD products have infiltrated almost every industry, loaded shelves in stores, and added to cafe menus.
It seems like every person could do with a bit of CBD or CBD oil, with myths of its mood-boosting capabilities and aphrodisiac advantages.
The constant changes in the recreational or medicinal use of CBD have sparked an interest in this drug throughout the world. Some countries still keep CBD in their ban list, associating it with the stimulant Class I controlled substance status marijuana.
This has led to a lot of confusion, with many of us still wondering what it’s all about, the right way to use it, and whether the stuff we might be buying is of good quality. Find out all you need to know about the basics of CBD here!
What Is CBD in Simple Terms?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, a naturally occurring substance found in the Cannabis Sativa plant or, in layman’s terms, the cannabis plant. This plant contains two chemical components: CBD and THC. When consuming CBD, it gives no “high” psychoactive effects such as euphoria, whereas THC does.
Basics of CBD – Hemp, Cannabis, and Marijuana
The Cannabis Sativa plant has two species, hemp, and marijuana. Both of them have naturally occurring CBD, but the hemp plant holds a higher concentration. THC is contained mainly in marijuana and occurs in hemp at only about 0.3%.
You might have seen hemp mentioned in beauty products, hemp oil is extracted from hemp seeds, and there are no cannabinoids involved; neither cannabidiol nor THC is found in hemp oil. Hemp oil has moisturizing advantages and therefore a popular additive in beauty products.
How Do You Explain CBD?
CBD is extracted from hemp plants, hemp being a species of Cannabis Sativa and has super tiny amounts of THC. The main beneficial component that we are interested in is Cannabidiol or CBD, which is reported to have benefits. It’s extracted in the form of oil or tincture from the hemp plant and can be bought in this form from health stores.
CBD can also be extracted from marijuana species, referred to as Cannabis Oil, but this will contain THC, and therefore it’s illegal.
CBD Oil
When the oils from hemp herb are extracted, they’re put through filtration and distillation systems to give a purer and more refined quality with just its CBD or cannabinoids concentration remaining. CBD concentrates and tinctures that can be bought as CBD products contain various degrees of the Cannabinoid receptor and compound.
Better quality products or “full-spectrum CBD” contain terpenes. This compound intensifies the benefits you feel in your health. Industrial hemp contains less of this compound due to it not being grown organically or lost during distillation processes.
The Endocannabinoid System – Health Benefits
There is some anecdotal evidence to say that CBD products can treat, cure or prevent health problems.
The body contains an endocannabinoid system that regulates sleep, appetite, pain, and immune response. Endocannabinoids are produced by our bodies, which impact the nervous system, so when CBD is consumed, the bodily endocannabinoid receptor interacts with it, which reduces inflammation and chronic pain.
Pain Relief
Currently, there is only one CBD medicine approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) that helps treat epilepsy. However, many swear by the effects of application and consumption of CBD oil on their arthritis, joint pain, back pain such as sciatica disease (interaction with sciatic nerve), and pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
Though there isn’t enough research to prove this nor recognition from the FDA, glowing and promising consumer reviews on products show that people have used CBD to treat and cure their ills due to cannabinoids’ effect on anti-inflammatory responses on our bodies.
Anxiety and Depression
The prime reason for CBD’s popularity is its advantages on mental health conditions, mainly anxiety and depression. Since it’s a huge contributor to health and well-being worldwide, many who may have resorted to pharmaceutical drugs that have side effects have now started trying out CBD products for their health conditions.
The effect of CBD on the mind may be down to the role of Endocannabinoid receptors and the nervous system in humans, which is a significant player in issues like anxiety and depression.
Oral CBD of 300mg has been shown to reduce anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general stress-like symptoms.
How Do I Start Using CBD?
The basics of CBD usage are that you choose a reputable company and select a method of taking your CBD depending on your lifestyle. Start with a low dose to gradually work your way up, maybe every other month, increasing the number of milligrams.
Buying Source
Before purchasing, conducting a quick internet search about companies selling CBD is essential. Look out for trustworthy reviews from approved buyers. Also, read about the variety of hemp they use and how they extract from the raw leaves and other technologies they may have used to ensure good quality CBD ingredients.
If a company doesn’t supply this information on their website, contact them and find out. If they don’t give you this information, then they’re probably not worth your money.
Methods Of Taking CBD
The different methods of taking CBD will determine their effectiveness because of the bioavailability of the CBD. Bioavailability is the percentage of absorption of CBD or how much of the serving becomes available for your body to use after going through all the bodily processes.
So the form of CBD you take determines how much is absorbed by your body and how quickly it has an effect.
This includes:
- Oils & Tinctures
- Edibles
- Pills & Capsules
- Lotions & Creams
- Inhaling through vaping
Researchers have found that CBD shows the highest percentage of bioavailability when processed in the form of oils or tinctures. All other forms that go through the digestive system, like edibles, will have some portion that will become unavailable for the body to use due to the various bodily systems that break them down.
Which Form Is Best For You?
Though we know that oils & tinctures have the best response, they may be inconvenient for many. Thankfully there are other methods to take CBD and still benefit from its positive difference and improved conditions. To decide which is the suitable form for you, consider the following:
- What you’re using it for: If you want to use CBD for its skin benefits, then you’re better off with topical applications, like lotions.
- Convenience: If you’re living a busy life and don’t have time to stand around dropping drops under your tongue twice a day or if you tend to travel a lot, then gummies, pills, and capsules would be a great choice.
- Bioavailability: If you want to have an immediate impact, you’re better off looking for tinctures that enter the bloodstream fast and get absorbed better into your body..
- Accuracy: Pills and gummies allow you to be accurate with serving sizes. If you’re taking other supplements and pills that may interact with CBD (ask your health professional), you should be more cautious with serving sizes. Other methods such as vaping aren’t accurate, as you could be inhaling more milligrams than required.
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CBD Oils & Tinctures
Since this is the most popular method for taking CBD products, it’s the one we’ll explain. CBD oils or tinctures are taken by the mouth and have double the bioavailability of edibles.
You can administer them by mixing them in your drink or you can use a dropper and put a few drops under your tongue. This method ensures a quicker transition into the bloodstream.
How Much to Take?
It is recommended that you have a dose twice a day, but your decision depends on how many milligrams your bottle states and what condition you’re treating; check how many milligrams are there per serving before dosing.
An example would be if you have arthritis; the arthritis foundation recommends taking a few milligrams twice a day, under the tongue, and increasing this every week.
If you’re thinking of taking CBD for general health care, you should be on lower doses, such as 50mg or less. But follow the recommendations on your CBD oil bottle and consult a health professional for the best results.
When to Take a Dose?
It’s recommended to take it at night; researchers found that it can make you drowsy, more so with high doses. Once you’ve adapted, you can start to take it in the daytime.
Researchers have also found that it can increase your brain’s focus, so after a while, try taking a dose both in the day and night.
Dosage Increases?
If you don’t notice any difference or benefit, you can slowly increase your CBD dosage by adding a few more drops, but do this gradually and listen to your body. If you notice increased drowsiness, for instance, return to your original dosing amount.
Can I Overdose on CBD?
CBD products are tolerated well, even when taking high doses. It’s also non-toxic, so you’d have to take a lot of products for it to have negative health effects. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Researchers have found the below to be common overdose conditions experienced:
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness that changes to fatigue
- Increases or loss in appetite
- Weight change
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
It is recommended from the CBD knowledge that is currently to date to begin dosing slowly and increase your dosage gradually. Once you’ve started a particular product, stick with it and don’t take others simultaneously.
That can prevent unwanted effects and also allow you to adapt and adjust.
Does CBD Really Do Anything?
There is evidence that CBD works for a few conditions, but not all claims are valid, such as the claim of curing cancer. Other research also points out that there isn’t enough scientific evidence to suggest that CBD has an impact on fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, or migraines. However, most users have expressed a positive experience on these issues.
Additionally, lotions and creams designed to treat skin conditions are hard to test for their clinical benefit. It’ll take a long time and dedicated empirical research to test whether CBD does anything for areas like the skin.
Having said that, the most advantages have been felt when treating issues such as anxiety, sleep, and general pain, like backaches, joint pain, and arthritis; there is some evidence to back this. Also, pharmaceutical anxiety medications tend to have more negative after impacts than CBD, making CBD a popular choice for tending to these common woes.
CBD is also the main ingredient in the drug Epidiolex that’s been scientifically approved by the FDA in treating epilepsy, so there is room for CBD in future pharmaceuticals.
Scientific research has been so far conducted mainly on mice or rats but has shown positive outcomes.
Researchers have found that CBD, on the whole, is worth a try, particularly for some of the conditions mentioned above because of the role of the endocannabinoid system that gets stimulated with cannabinoids (CBD), which, in turn, modulates the brain activity and mood.
Conclusion
Cannabinoids have come into light recently for their role in relieving mental issues like depression, insomnia, and mood swings. CBD products contain no psychotic effects of illegal marijuana but rather give the benefits of the natural hemp plants that it’s derived from.
Research on CBD is ongoing, and more needs to be learned about its efficacy, but many users and some studies have claimed it’s a natural treatment for many health issues.
To obtain a positive experience out of CBD, it’s essential to determine what health benefits you want out of your CBD product to be constantly conscious if it’s working for you or not. Follow this by choosing the correct dosage. CBD can be a natural remedy for many woes and could be something we’re buzzing on for a long time to come!
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