What is CBD?
Benefits CBD offer have been studied for years. CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the chemical compounds known as cannabinoids that are found in cannabis, CBD is often extracted from the cannabis sativa plant in oil form and mixed with an inert carrier oil like hemp seed oil for consumption. In fact, of the 60% of U.S. adults who report having used CBD before, 55% of them use CBD oils and tinctures specifically, according to a recent Forbes Health survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by OnePoll. Cannabis plant has 2 main types (Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa). By law, hemp should not contain more than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol – the compound in cannabis that has psychoactive properties and gives you a high).
CBD derived from hemp doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC. CBD is legal federally but it’s still illegal under some state laws. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), there’s no evidence that it is associated with any serious side effects.
Proponents states that CBD oil may treat a wide variety of health conditions, including:
- Anxiety
According to a 2015 review of studies in the journal Neurotherapeutics, CBD oil shows promise in the treatment of anxiety disorders. In some studies, lower doses of CBD oil (less than 10 mg/kg or less) were better able to treat symptoms of anxiety. Higher doses (more than 100 mg/kg) showed virtually no effect. You can use CBD Anti-Anxiety and Calming Capsules. - Parkinson’s Disease
Some smalls studies have investigated using CBD to relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, with generally encouraging results. - Acne
A laboratory study discovered that CBD prevented human sebocytes from making too much sebum in addition to having an anti-inflammatory effect, keeping inflammatory cytokines from activating. Excessive sebum may lead to oily skin, which can lead to clogged pores and acne. Topical CBD could be an effective treatment for acne and may prevent future breakouts. - Insomnia
30% of individuals taking CBD oil for other conditions (anxiety or non-cancer-related pain) reported improved sleep with CBD oil. - Depression
Studies have indicated some effect of CBD oil at relieving depression, possibly related to its strong anti-stress effect. - Pain
Studies have shown that CBD oil has anti-inflammatory effects and works on the endocannabinoid and pain-sensing systems to soothe pain. Researchers believe that CBD oil reduces nerve pain by binding to glycine receptors in the brain that control the speed at which nerve signals pass between nerve cells. - Arthritis
Studies demonstrated that topical CBD applications soothe pain and inflammation related with arthritis with few side effects. The topical application of CBD is beneficial for joint pain.
Other conditions
CBD oil may also treat other health conditions, such as anorexia, high blood pressure, drug addiction and withdrawal, epilepsy, muscle spasms, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, and much more. However, more trials are needed to examine its use for various conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, muscle-spasticity in multiple sclerosis, substance-abuse treatment, etc.
With these benefits, CBD is thought to be helpful in easing the symptoms of the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis – this painful joint condition has been examined quite a bit in relation to CBD. Some early studies show that CBD acts as an antagonist and blocks or debilitates the GPR55 receptor, which may slow osteoarthritis by facilitating bone reabsorption.
- Type 2 Diabetes – CBD may activate a receptor called, PPAR-gamma, which may increase insulin sensitivity, an important step in improving type 2 diabetes, and decreasing the risk for developing diabetes-related neuropathic pain.
- Cancer and Alzheimer’s – CBD may exert an anti-cancer effect via the debilitation of GPR55 receptors in the body and by the activation of the PPAR-gamma receptor, which also degrades amyloid-beta plaque, a key molecule linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis – CBD continues to be studied for these inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, as well as for fibromyalgia. Here’s more on cannabinoids and lupus.
- Multiple Sclerosis – there are mixed data for the use of CBD (as well as THC) in helping to reduce MS-related pain and spasticity.
- Anxiety – as noted, anxiety related to living with chronic pain, or that exists on its own, may be eased with CBD use, whether temporarily or in the long-term.
How to Buy a CBD Product
First, consider the source. Studies show that continuous CBD consumption is generally safe and can have many benefits. However, because of CBD’s complicated status, the compound itself may still be classified as an illegal substance. See the FDA’s FAQs on cannabis regulations
How do you know you are getting the CBD the package claims? You don’t, but there are a few ways to put the odds in your favor.
- Buy direct from us, either online or in the store.
- Look for brands based in early legalization states, such as Colorado, Washington, and Oregon.
- The best way to be sure you are consuming what you want is to request third party testing. You can also do your own third-party testing by bringing your CBD sample to a testing lab, although this may get a bit tedious (the USDA provides a searchable hemp testing laboratory list).
