Beginner s Guide to CBD OIL
What is CBD? In recent years, CBD oil has skyrocketed in popularity, but it also has raised concerns and controversy usually due to a misunderstanding of what CBD is all about. Cannabidiol, or CBD as it s called for short, has often been confused with marijuana because cannabidiol is one of the many compounds found in cannabis plants. However, there s a big distinction between CBD and marijuana. While both marijuana and CBD hemp oil come from cannabis plants, they are more like cousins than siblings. Marijuana contains the psychoactive compound delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, which is better known as THC. When broken down by heat, it can generate the high associated with marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, does not have any psychoactive efects. While both CBD and THC are found in marijuana, most CBD oils being sold come from hemp plants, not marijuana plants. As a result, they are very low in THC in the U.S., hemp oil can only contain a maximum of 0.3% THC. (By comparison, THC in marijuana is usually over 5% and can be as high as 35%.) At those small amounts, it s impossible to get high from CBD oil, and studies have shown that CBD can counteract the negative efects of THC. The bottom line is, CBD oil doesn t have the same ability as THC to create a mind-altering efect on the people who use it. However, more and more research shows that CBD has many medical beneits and can make signiicant changes in the way the body reacts to pain, inlammation and other health issues. 1 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
Understanding the Legality of CBD Laws surrounding CBD in the U.S. can quickly become confusing even for those who are trying to enforce them. Each state has its own set of laws regarding CBD oil and both recreational and medical marijuana. Because there has been so much confusion around what CBD is, consumers often question whether or not it is legal to buy and use in their area. Technically, hemp-derived CBD oil is legal in all 50 states. In the states where marijuana and hemp are legal both medically and recreationally, both THC and CBD products are legal. The best approach is to do some online research about your own state s laws and make the choices that work best for your situation. Isolates, Broad Spectrum and Full Spectrum CBD products are categorized either as isolates, broad spectrum or full spectrum products. But what does that mean to you? Isolates contain only CBD and no other cannabinoids or terpenes. Broad spectrum products generally contain an array of cannabinoids and terpenes but no THC. Full spectrum products generally contain all the naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis including up to 0.3% THC. While this isn t enough to get you high, it can give you the beneit of interacting with the CBD and creating what is known as the entourage efect. This means it can amplify the efect of the CBD and make the product more efective. Since isolates and broad spectrum products don t contain detectable levels of THC, people using them will be at a lower risk of failing a drug test. However, there will always be some risk of testing positive on a drug test if you are using any CBD oil product. So if testing positive on a drug test would have catastrophic consequences, we recommend that you not use any CBD oil product. 2 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
How Does CBD Oil Work? Cannabinoids, including CBD oil, work naturally with our system, thanks to the fact that all mammals have cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body. Known as the endocannabinoid system, this network of receptors help regulate a number of physiological processes, including mood, memory, pain sensation and appetite. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors: CB1, which are found in the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys and central nervous system, and CB2 receptors, which are found in the immune system and afect things like inlammation and pain. Over time, or as a result of injury or illness, the endocannabinoid system can start wearing out or get out of balance. When you take a cannabinoid like CBD, it attaches to these receptors and directly afects how these receptors react. And, because of the way these receptors react, it provides a number of potential beneits to users. These beneits range from battling insomnia to quelling seizures to having efective therapeutic results with anxiety-related disorders. It has proven beneicial in treating epilepsy and diabetes, and early research indicates it has good potential for ofsetting memory loss associated with Alzheimer s disease. CBD also appears to block the spread of cancer cells. One of the big selling points of CBD oil is that research has not found any serious side efects from using it; in some cases it may cause dry mouth, drowsiness or low blood pressure. 3 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
1. It can help ight pain 2. Because CBD oil reduces inlammation in the body, it may be good for things like arthritis and psoriasis 3. CBD oil contains more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables 4. CBD s ability to boost serotonin levels provides anti-depressant efects 5. CBD can help improve both the quality and quantity of sleep 6. Studies show CBD oil can help break the smoking habit 7. It may be good for good for treating anxiety and anxiety-related issues including PTSD, OCD and panic disorders 8. CBD has been proven efective for alleviating seizures and neurological disorders 9. It can help lower blood pressure and help manage blood sugar levels in diabetics 10. CBD oil has been shown to help stop cancer tumors from spreading 4 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
How to Choose the Right CBD Products For You Today, the large and growing range of CBD items available speaks to its popularity. The advantage of having so many products is that it allows you to choose the best way for you to consume CBD oils. Let s take a closer look at what types of products are available and how to choose which one is best for you. Drops. Also called tinctures, this is the most popular way for consumers to use CBD oil. Using a dropper, you ll place the drops under your tongue and the highly concentrated oil is absorbed into your bloodstream. This is the most popular way of using CBD oil, and there are many diferent brands available. Vaping. Vape oil is the second most common way to use CBD oil; it requires a vape pen and works the same way as vaping nicotine. It s not recommended for people with lung conditions, and vaping CBD may have some health risks, although it has not been rigorously studied. One advantage of vaping is that a larger amount of the CBD gets into your bloodstream compared to capsules and edible products. Topicals. Creams or salves containing CBD can be applied directly to the skin. They may come in roll-on formulas, as a lotion or in many other ways. Their efectiveness has not been as widely researched as some other forms, so make sure you read user reviews and buy from a reputable distributor. Capsules. For convenience, CBD capsules or gel caps are extremely popular. They also provide an easier way to make sure you re getting a speciic dose. However, be aware that capsules take longer to take efect and less of the CBD oil gets delivered to your bloodstream, so you may need to take a higher dose to get the same efect. Gummies. These candies come in various doses, so you can select one that s right for you. Gummies have the convenience of capsules but ofer a lavorful alternative. However, ingredients also include dyes, corn syrup and gelatins, so make sure you re comfortable with everything that s going into your product. All of these are available either as full-spectrum (0.3% THC), broad spectrum (no THC) or isolate (no THC) products. In addition, CBD isolate can be purchased in various forms, including powder, crystals and shatter. Some CBD isolate produce have also been infused with terpenes. (Terpenes are natural chemicals found in a plant that provides its individual scent proile.) Isolate can be used for making your own tinctures or topicals, as well as being used for vaping and dabbing. 5 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
What About Side Efects? For all its beneits and overall safety, CBD does sometimes have adverse reactions in certain individuals. The most common of these are headaches, diarrhea, fever and anxiety and were seen when CBD was taken in larger doses. Also, if you are taking any medications, it s important to check to make sure that they will not interact with CBD oil. Steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, NSAIDS and beta blockers are among the prescription medications that can potentially have adverse interactions with CBD oil. Before taking any CBD oil products, research possible contraindications with prescriptions you are taking and discuss it with your healthcare provider. 6 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
The CBD Buyer s Guide Even after you ve decided how you d prefer to take your CBD oil, you still have a lot of choices to in front of you. There are many diferent manufacturers, a variety of options and a wide range of prices. Since the industry is relatively young, regulation, standardization and transparency are still gray areas, creating a buyer beware environment. While there are many great products and manufacturers out there, there are also makers who are simply trying to make a quick buck or two. How do you know if you re getting a quality product? Here s what to look for and what to avoid. Manufacturer or distributor. The name of the manufacturer or distributor should be on the label, so look for reviews to see what customers say. (Look for reviews on third-party sites, like CBDOilUsers.com, instead of depending solely on what s on the seller s website.) Research their testing standards and make sure they can provide independent third-party testing from a reputable lab. Amount of CBD. How much CBD does the product actually contain? The label should tell you how many milligrams of CBD are in the product and how much CBD is in each serving. Check how many servings the package contains and compare products. This is particularly important if you re using CBD for therapeutic/health reasons; you want to ind out the amount of CBD that works for you so you can get the right dosage, regardless of what product you re using. Other ingredients. What else is in the product and how much of each ingredient? Some manufacturers may tout the addition of superfood ingredients that they claim give their product additional nutritional value, but they may only include trace elements of that ingredient. Read the label as carefully as you would a food label in the grocery store. Today, there are many diferent products to explore, so take time to educate yourself about how to shop for the CBD oil products that are right for you. Avoid the temptation to buy the cheapest option to see if you like it, because you may be sacriicing quality. Instead, buy a few sample-size products, try more than one option and ind the CBD oil product that works best for you. 7 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil
Before You Buy: 3 Things to Check in CBD Products Source. Where did it come from? Look for brands that source their cannabinoids from organic-certiied farms. Testing. A reputable company will provide lab results from independent third-party testers. Make sure the testing includes potency of CBD. Manufacturer s claims. Legally, sellers can t advertise their products as a cure for a speciic condition. Avoid any sites that make such claims. Learn more about CBD products and ind reviews, tips on dosing, coupons, buying guides and more at CBDOilUsers.com. 8 Beginner s Guide to CBD Oil