The A-to-Z Guide of CBD Oil: What, How, and Why

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, which is widely known as CBD, is the largest chemical compound in the hemp or cannabis plant. Considered an excellent remedy for many common ailments CBD's popularity is indeed on the rise.   However, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC), CBD oil doesn’t have any psychoactive properties.

If you ever wondered how people ‘get high, well, it’s the THC! Also associated with cannabis, or marijuana, THC is a primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp plant. But despite their similar chemical structures, CBD and THC don’t really affect the body in the same way. In fact, many studies have proven that CBD counteracts the psychoactive effects found in the THC.

Also, while CBD oil is found mainly in extractions, THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. Made by soaking the hemp plant in a solvent, CBD is actually among the one hundred and four chemical compounds referred to as cannabinoids found in the hemp or cannabis plant.

However,  it’s the use of CBD oil that can alleviate many unwanted symptoms, and cure many modern illnesses like depression, anxiety, and stress. On the other hand, THC use can come with adverse psychological side effects. For this reason, CBD oil has become a necessity in the health and wellness industry.

CBD oil products

CBD products are easy to distinguish, and they fall into three categories:

Full-spectrum

These are products that have their THC levels of less than 0.3%. The oil is transparent but also has some gold reflections in it. Also, because they are less refined than the crystalline isolate products, they contain a minimal level of THC. Due to the concentrations of THC in them, these CBD oils are great because of the resulting entourage effect .

The only disadvantages of this type of oil are the risk of failing a drug test that its use represents, and of course, the earthy taste. In case you don’t like this taste, you can flavor it according to your wishes.

Crystalline Isolates

These products do not have any THC, and they look like salt crystals. Since they don’t contain any THC, these products are tasteless, and you won't fail any drug test.

The main disadvantage of using these oils is that they lack the plants' nutrients so the product will not be as potent as you would like. To compensate, you’ll need to use more oil to feel its effects.

Unrefined full spectrum

These products have less than 0.3% THC, and they also have other components. The oil looks very thick, cloudy and dark. Because of the low levels of THC and the other components such as plant nutrients, cannabinoids, and omegas 3, 6, and 9 found in it, this oil is considered to be rich in nutrients. If the company that makes this product does not flavor this product appropriately, then it will have a very earthy and dark taste.

How the CBD works

Did you know that the human body produces its cannabinoids that work together with all the body systems?

Every vertebrate has an endocannabinoid system known as the ECS. Besides producing cannabinoids, just like the immune system and the nervous system, the ECS has specific functions. Cannabinoids regulate things like motor control, sleep, mood, pain perception, appetite, and memory.  Thus, ECS is basically in charge of regulating homeostasis in our bodies. But as we age, just like everything else in our bodies, the ECS wears out, and the inner equilibrium crumbles.

Diseases and injury also influence the function of the ECS. The sicker and older we get, fewer cannabinoids get produced, and as a result,  we end up cannabinoid deficient. Early one, we start getting cannabinoids from our mother's milk, and as grown-ups, we can actually outsource by using more often the hemp plant. As a result of plant-based cannabinoids use, your ECS will also become more stimulated, causing your body to be more in balance.

[tweet_box design="box_8"][Endocannabinoid system] ECS is basically in charge of regulating homeostasis in our bodies. But as we age, just like everything else in our bodies, the ECS wears out, and the inner equilibrium crumbles.[/tweet_box]

Can you overdose on CBD?

When you are taking CBD oil in a pill or capsule, it’s the same as when you are eating fruits or drinking coffee; you can never have too much. You can never overdose from eating of too many fruits. The real problem comes up when you do not eat them enough, and the same goes for cannabinoids.

However, it is important to know how much CBD you are using especially in reference to the type of product that you are using. A good starting point is that you can decrease or increase the amount of CBD you are taking depending on how you are feeling.

In the same way that you are eating your vegetables approximately three times a day, try taking CBD after every meal. However, taking CBD doesn’t come with an exact prescription. You may find people who are suffering from insomnia who take one a day, before bedtime.

Some with chronic pain, on the other hand, may end up taking it up to five a day. Different bodies process nutrients differently, and because of this, you should start slow and find your own dosage.

Benefits of CBD oils

As a pain relief remedy

The most celebrated benefit of using CBD oil is its excellent analgesic effect. Because people used marijuana as a pain reliever for centuries, the news that CBD oil also works as a great pain reliever should not come with a shock. Numerous studies show that CBD reacts with the receptors in the immune and brain system in order to reduce any inflammation and alleviate any pain.

The ECS, also known as the endocannabinoid system, is a specialized system that is involved in regulating many functions of the body like sleep, appetite, and pain responses. Made up by neurotransmitters known as endocannabinoid which bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system, the EC is as an emerging target of pharmacotherapy.

Though the body produces its own cannabinoids, many studies actually show that CBD oil impact for the better neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors.

[tweet_box design="box_8"]CBD reacts with the receptors in the immune and brain system in order to reduce any inflammation and alleviate any pain.[/tweet_box]

Research has also shown that CBD can offer immense pain relief without inducing any adverse side effects on the people using it. There is an oral spray in the market at the moment known as Sativex that contains restricted THC levels and CBD oil that is used to treat pain-related illnesses related to multiple sclerosis.

It has anti-seizure properties

Most seizures that affect most people happen because there is a dramatic fluctuation in the electrical activities inside the brain. Recently, research has shown that CBD oil has significant properties that counteract these interruptions when they happen thus reducing the seizures.

It fights anxiety

Depression and anxiety are very common in today's world, and they can have a devastating effect on a person's well-being and overall health. According to the WHO, World Health Organization, depression and issues related to anxiety are among the leading contributors to disability in the whole world.

Most of the time, depression and anxiety are treated with prescribed pharmaceutical drugs that are proven to have numerous side effects that include agitation, headaches, insomnia, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction.

Unfortunately, medicines like benzodiazepines have addictive properties and can lead to substance abuse. Luckily, recent studies show that CBD can also assist in the therapy of a variety of mental health issues like anxiety.

Also, CBD oil has been safely used to treat anxiety and insomnia in children with post-traumatic stress disorder, and it has some antidepressant effects. These effects are set in motion by the CBD'S ability to act on specific brain receptors, which are related to the production of serotonin. Lastly, because serotonin regulates a person's social behavior and mood, CBD use can come with great benefits.

It helps in fighting cancer

CBD oil has been used in many ways when it comes to the treatment of cancer. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties CBD has compounds that have antitumor effects. CBD can also support the death of particular tumor cells, and it also helps in the reduction of the production of cancer cells in cancer patients.

Besides this, CBD helps in reducing the symptoms which are related to cancer while minimizing the side effects of the strong medicines used for chemotherapy. Symptoms like pain, nausea, and vomiting are some of the worst kinds of side effects that many cancer patients suffer through when they’re undergoing treatment. Although there are drugs that are specifically manufactured to combat these symptoms, none of them are as effective as the CBD oil.

It reduces the risk of diabetes

The benefits of using CBD oil for diabetes are not so popular, but CBD oil helps in reducing the risks associated with developing diabetes.

It helps in reducing acne

More than nine percent of the entire population has suffered some form of acne at some point in their life. There is no specific cause of acne, but studies have shown that underlying inflammation, an oily secretion that was made by the sebaceous glands, bacteria, overproduction of sebum and genetics have been linked to its cause.

According to recent research studies, CBD oil can help treat acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, CBD oil can reduce the production of sebum by preventing the activation of ‘pro-acne' agents such as inflammatory cytokines, thus reducing instances of acne flare-ups.

It has neuroprotective properties

Studies have shown that CBD can act on the brain signaling system and the endocannabinoid system, which provides in return essential benefits to people who are suffering from neurological disorders.

Patients with disorders like multiple sclerosis and epilepsy have shown significant improvement once they started using CBD oil. New on the market,  Sativex is an oral spray which has controlled levels of THC and CBD, and which alleviates neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity, and other symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, CBD has been proven to have antipsychotic properties. According to many studies, CBD can help people who are suffering from schizophrenia and most mental disorders by reducing the symptoms associated with their psychotic tendencies.

It benefits the health of the heart

Recent studies have shown that CBD oil has several benefits with regards to the circulatory and heart system. And one of the benefits includes its ability to reduce high blood pressure significantly. High blood pressure is a risk factor that is associated with a variety of health conditions like heart attack, metabolic syndrome and stroke.

CBD oil is an effective and natural treatment for high blood pressure. Researchers believe that the anxiety-reducing and the stress relieving properties of the CBD oil are responsible for its capability in reducing high blood pressure.

Moreover, because of it's stress-reducing properties and its powerful antioxidants, CBD can help reduce the rates of cellular death and inflammation that occurs with heart diseases.

The 10 Most common questions asked about CBD oil

Whenever we do not have enough information about something, then we end up misinterpreting it and most of the time this where myths are born. It’s not surprising that CBD oil has some myths because not many people understand it. Some of the questions below are the most asked questions by people who are curious about CBD.

1) What is CBD oil?

CBD is an essential compound of hemp or cannabis, a plant that is known for its neuro-protectant, inflammatory and analgesic properties. Usually, CBS gets extracted from cannabis or marijuana by using a powerful, inflammable, and non-toxic component which is carbon dioxide.

2) Is CBD similar to marijuana?

Most of the time people see marijuana somehow being the same as hemp oil because it can relieve pain as quickly as marijuana does. However, cannabis has two different varieties that get differentiated concerning the cultivation process, chemical properties, and other uses. First one, being hemp,  gets cultivated for its natural oils, and is a great pain reliever. Many people also use it for fabrics and making rope, some as food. The second one, marijuana, is generally used for smoking, and it contains high levels of about 20% of the psychoactive ingredient known as THC. Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC.

3) If I use CBD oil, will I feel intoxicated?

This question is the most popular when inquiring about CBD oil. CBD does not have any form of psychoactive components like there are in marijuana. Therefore, you will definitely not get or feel intoxicated when you are using CBD oil.

4) Is CBD oil safe to use?

The well-known and respectable companies that produce high-quality CBD oil ensure that their products reach the market only after it has undergone consistent testing. Since the core product of CBD is hemp, the hemp is being grown with a lot of precaution by avoiding all types of pesticides and chemicals.

Due to this factor, the plant is considered organic and exceptionally qualitative. Though CBD is very safe and has very minimal if not any side effects, it’s crucial to consult a qualified physician before purchasing any products.

5) How do you take CBD oil?

CBD comes in different forms too. If bought as pills,  they usually need to be placed under the tongue in order for them to dissolve more easily. Taken as capsules, they need to be swallowed like any other medicine. In case you want to use CBD on a specific part of the body and you want a strong effect then you can use CBD ointments. Also, CBD oil can be inhaled when taken in vapor form.

If you want to use it on a specific part of the body and you really want a concentrated effect, then you can use a CBD ointment. Also, CBD oil can be taken in vapor form when it’s inhaled.

6) What types of conditions does CBD help?

As discussed above, CBD has a lot of benefits, and it has been researched and proven to help in healing many diseases like asthma, inflammation, epilepsy, chronic pain, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, insomnia, and many others.

7) When you are using CBD will it show on a drug test?

Since most CBD oils are deficient in THC, you don't need to worry about not passing any random drug testing at home or in the workplace. This fact is especially true if the product you are using falls in the crystalline isolates category.

8) Is CBD oil available online?

The CBD oil, which works great as a pain reliever, can be purchased online. However, since not all states have legalized cannabis, without a proper medical urgency, you can’t buy CBD.

In order to ensure that no people overdose on CBD, these laws apply in different states.

9) How much does it cost?

The cost of CBD oils varies because of two factors: first, to the quantity, and second,  the potency. The compounds found in the oil play an important role in deciding how much the CBD oil will cost.

10) Is using CBD legal?

Compared to cannabis, CBD is legal in more states. Since CBD has very low THC, many countries want to legalize it due to its numerous benefits. Therefore, you will not be breaking the law if you plan on using it.