It’s difficult to go a day without hearing about CBD (cannabidiol) products due to their recent surge in popularity and the continued potential health advantages of CBD in the health and wellness sectors. If all of this excitement is piqueing your interest, you’re undoubtedly eager to learn more about the potential advantages of CBD hemp oil.
To find out more, go through our comprehensive introduction to CBD.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (shortened as CBD) is one of the numerous chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Although the hemp plant contains over a hundred different types of cannabinoids, CBD is the one that is most widely recognized due to its high abundance.
THC, CBN, and CBG are a few other well-known cannabinoids.
You can consume CBD in its unadulterated form as smokable hemp flower or you can extract it from the plant to make tinctures and oils.
It is frequently supplied as food and drink items, pills, creams and lotions, and vape cartridges. Many people believe it to be a safe, very efficient herbal treatment for a range of ailments, such as anxiety, seizures, and chronic pain.
December 2018 saw the government legalization of hemp.
Despite being closely related to marijuana, hemp and marijuana have completely different effects on the user. Hemp won’t get you stoned or euphoric. Instead, when used as a nootropic, it improves cognitive function.
This is because hemp lacks tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive cannabinoid that is frequently present in large amounts in marijuana and has no concentration in hemp.
How Does CBD Work?
Among the most potent components of cannabis is CBD. However, it is not psychoactive like THC and does not get you high. The endocannabinoid system in our bodies is made up of receptors located all over the body, including the brain. CBD does not have the same psychotic effects on the brain as THC since it doesn’t activate these receptors.
The main way that CBD functions in the body is through interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates many immunological, cognitive, and physiological functions.
This crucial system, which was only recently discovered, consists of three parts:
* Endocannabinoids, which are naturally produced by your body
*Enzymes that produce and degrade endocannabinoids
*Cannabinoid receptors are located all across the body, but are particularly common in the brain (CB1 receptor) and immune system tissues (CB2 receptor).
Consider these receptors to be locks, and cannabinoids to be the keys that unlock them, resulting in various health impacts.
What are CB1 and CB2 receptors?
Cannabinoid receptors regulate many various functions in the body, including appetite, memory, mood management, and even physical sensations.
These receptors are frequently activated by endocannabinoids produced by the body as well as cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp.
CB1 and CB2 are the two primary types of cannabinoid receptors.
CB1 is predominantly prevalent in our brain system, although it can also be found in the lungs, kidneys, and liver in tiny amounts. When triggered by cannabis, CB1 generates and releases neurotransmitters, resulting in psychotic symptoms. CB1 receptors also aid in the maintenance of bodily homeostasis and the lipogenesis process in the liver.
CB2, on the other hand, is an important component of our immune system. CB2 is involved in a variety of bodily activities, including apoptosis and immunological suppression. It also controls pain and has an important role in many neurodegenerative illnesses.
Types of CBD
Understanding the differences between the three varieties of CBD—full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate—can assist you in determining which is best for your unique needs and preferences.
1. Full-Spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD refers to a hemp extract that contains CBD and other compounds naturally present in the hemp plant, such as terpenes (compounds responsible for the way a plant smells) and minor amounts of THC.
CBD, flavonoids, essential oils, terpenes, and other cannabinoids found in full-spectrum CBD products might work together to create the “entourage effect,” which some studies suggest may boost the therapeutic advantages of CBD when used alone.
This evidence-based idea, first offered by Israeli researchers in 1998, proposes that cannabinoids and other chemicals in cannabis function in synergy. Simply put, the entourage effect indicates that cannabis appears to perform best as a whole-plant mixture with CBD, lesser cannabinoids, and other beneficial chemicals.
Consider an orchestra as an example. An orchestra, as a musical ensemble, will sound significantly more majestic and grand than a violin or piano on its own.
Similarly, combining all of the chemical components of cannabis can provide stronger effects than CBD or any other cannabinoid alone.
2. Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD is a hemp extract that is similar to full-spectrum CBD, but it often goes through an additional extraction procedure to eliminate all THC while leaving the remaining components naturally found in the hemp plant intact. Having said that, testing has revealed that some broad-spectrum CBD products contain only negligible amounts of THC, therefore it’s best to refer to them as “nearly THC-free.”
3. CBD Isolate
CBD isolate, or pure CBD, does not include any THC or other hemp plant chemicals. CBD isolation, unlike broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD, cannot produce the entourage effect since the extraction procedure separates CBD from all other terpenes, cannabinoids, and plant components found naturally in hemp.
What Are the Benefits of Using CBD?
CBD shot to prominence about six years ago when it was used successfully as an anticonvulsant in a little girl named Charlotte Figi. Charlotte reduced her weekly grand mal seizures from about 300 to three or four per month. CBD’s popularity grew rapidly, and it soon became clear that it was useful for more than just seizures.
CBD appears to be an effective anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antiemetic, antipsychotic, anti-depressant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory agent, according to current studies. Indeed, due to CBD’s therapeutic potential, the CBD oil benefits list could encompass all of the ailments listed here, as well as others.
* ADD and ADHD
* ALS
* Addiction
* Alzheimers
* Arthritis
* Anxiety and stress
* Asthma
* Bipolar Affective Disorder
* Autism
* Cancer
* Depression
* Crohn’s and Colitis Disease
* Eating Disorders
* Fibromyalgia
* Endocrine Disorders
* Glaucoma
* Huntington’s Disease
* Heart Disease
* Inflammation
* Kidney Disease
* IBS
* Liver Disease
* Migraines
* Metabolic Syndrome
* Mood Disorders
* Multiple Sclerosis
* Motion Sickness
* Nausea
* Neuropathic Pain
* Neurodegeneration
* Obesity
* Pain Management
* OCD
* Parkinson’s Disease
* Rheumatism
* PTSD
* Stroke
* Schizophrenia
* Sleep Disorders
* Skin Conditions
* Spinal Cord Injury
Does CBD Have Side Effects?
Many individuals are concerned about CBD’s adverse effects because of its close relationship to cannabis. The truth is that the adverse effects of CBD are minor, if present at all. They do include certain incidences of weariness, diarrhea, and appetite problems, but for the majority of people, the main side-effect of CBD is a better sense of well-being. CBD has been shown over and again to have a highly favorable safety profile when compared to several over-the-counter drugs, much alone prescription medications.
Interaction with Other Drugs
If you are using other medications, CBD may reduce their efficacy, and your doctor may need to re-evaluate your dose. CBD may interact with other drugs and create negative effects.
Because there has been little study on how CBD interacts with over-the-counter supplements and prescription drugs, it is advised to see your doctor before using CBD if you are on other medications.
Finding the Best CBD
When you finally decide to utilize CBD products, you want to make sure you get the best for your specific needs. So, how do you go about finding the greatest CBD? Continue reading to learn how to shop for the best CBD.
1. Which CBD product is best for you?
The first step in locating the best CBD product for you is determining how you intend to consume it. CBD products come in a variety of formats, including:
* Pre-rolled CBD joints and Hemp flower
* Oils for smoking, vaping, or putting under your tongue
* Edibles and beverages
* Creams, balms, and ointments for the skin
How you consume CBD might influence how quickly you feel its benefits and how long they last:
Vaping or smoking is the quickest method: The effects are usually felt within a few minutes and peak around 30 minutes. You may have side effects for up to 6 hours. If you’ve never used cannabis before, are sensitive to little levels of THC, or take multiple inhalations, hemp joints and vapes may make you feel incredibly relaxed, even high.
CBD oil takes a bit longer to take effect, but it lasts longer: CBD oil under the tongue has a slower start, but the effects linger longer than smoking or vaping.
Edibles take the longest to take effect and last the longest: You may feel the benefits within half an hour to 2 hours and they can last up to 12 hours. Oral CBD has a 5% absorption rate, and taking it with a meal will likely yield the best results.
Topical CBD has a different effect on the body: People frequently use topical CBD to relieve pain or inflammation. When CBD is taken in this manner, it is absorbed only at the skin’s surface and not throughout the body.
Your own tastes as well as the diseases or symptoms you are attempting to cure will determine the CBD product that is best for you.
2. How do you go about finding high-quality CBD products?
The next step in locating high-quality CBD products is to look for the proper combination of CBD and other cannabis-based compounds. As indicated earlier, CBD is available in three different formulations:
* Full-spectrum CBD items: These products contain additional cannabis plant ingredients such as cannabinoids and terpenes. They frequently contain trace quantities of THC.
* Broad-spectrum CBD: These products include all of the compounds found in the cannabis plant apart from THC.
* CBD isolate: The purest form of CBD available. There are no terpenes or additional cannabinoids in it.
3. How can you tell if a CBD product is genuine?
Examining the product label might assist you in determining whether you are obtaining genuine CBD.
* Name and address of the distributor or manufacturer
* Ingredients (including non-cannabis additives)
* Cannabinoid content
* Batch, lot, or control number
* Net quantity (weight)
* Production date
* Expiration date
* Suggested dosing information or serving size
* Instructions on how to utilize and store the product
If a CBD product’s label does not include all of this information, it may not be genuine.
4. Ensure the product is lab tested
When shopping for a high-quality product, it is critical to verify the Certificate of Analysis (CoA). CoAs are created by third-party laboratories to confirm that CBD products are safe and appropriately labeled. Every credible CBD company provides batch-specific lab findings, which are usually available on the company’s website. If a product does not come with a certificate of authenticity, it is not a credible product.
5. Ensure there are no additives
If you vape, only utilize products containing 100% cannabis and hemp with no additives. Failure to do so puts you at danger of lung injury, a disease known as EVALI. If you use non-vape items, be mindful of any additives that may trigger an allergic reaction, like coconut oil or nuts.
6. Go for glass packaging
CBD adheres to plastic, so less of it ends up in your body. This also includes aluminum cans, which are normally lined with a BPA-free material.
7. Purchase CBD products from trusted sources
Avoid buying CBD products from petrol stations or smoke shops. Consider purchasing CBD from a legal dispensary or from an online company that provides information about their cultivation and production procedures, as well as lab results.
Final Word
Purchasing a subpar CBD product could result in you consuming hazardous chemicals or additions. Since these goods are not independently validated by labs, you might be receiving a product that contains more or less CBD than what is stated on the label if you buy CBD from a firm that does not give CoAs for every batch of its product. If you choose low-quality CBD, you might not experience the desired effects or you might swallow dangerous substances that could have unfavorable side effects.
Always go for the type and quality of CBD product that suits your needs and preferences!
