You’ve probably heard someone mention CBD to you by now. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the chemical compound found in hemp plants that have been linked to the calming and relaxing effects of marijuana, without the high brought on by THC. With more promotion of CBD products to relieve pain or help alleviate feelings of anxiousness, it is important to research which products are right for you.
The Growing CBD Market
CBD is now popping in just about any form you can imagine from a capsule to a fruit-flavoured gummy. It’s important for any first-time user to look at some CBD oil reviews to get an idea of what they can expect from even the best CBD oil brands. Use of CBD products should be done with consultation from your healthcare provider, and with an understanding of the active ingredients that some products may contain.
For example, some CBD oils contain medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. MCT oil is popular among athletes and bodybuilders, seeming to help reduce lactate buildup in muscles and use fat for energy. Some CBD brands may contain a highly potent dosage compared to other products in the hemp oil industry. CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD that you can find.
It’s processed in a way that removes contaminants but keeps pure CBD locked into a product. Meantime, full-spectrum CBD oils contain the natural compounds that hemp and cannabis plants have, including THC. With terpenes and other chemical compounds, it’s able to produce the “entourage effect” where the compounds work together to produce a stronger effect.
Understanding CBD
While there are no guidelines to CBD usage as there are for prescription medications, it is important to calculate the dosage with the understanding of different potencies in CBD products. Most CBD oils come in 30 mL bottles with a dropper cap. The tricky part is calculating the exact amount of CBD per milliliter of oil. Some tinctures can have a concentration of 1,500 milligrams per 30 mL, while others have 3,000 mg or more.
Each drop is roughly 0.05 mL of oil, meaning there are roughly 600 drops in a bottle. If the tincture is 1,5000 mg/ML, one drop is about 2.5 milligrams of CBD. The average CBD user takes a dose of 5 to 25 milligrams per day, but different dosages are possible in consultation with their health care team. CBD oil is used by placing one or more drops under the tongue and holding them there for 30-60 seconds without swallowing. Dosage can vary with other products like capsules, gummies, sprays, and even balms containing CBD.
Benefits of CBD Use
Some CBD users have seen the immediate health benefits from the use of oils, edibles, and other products. CBD has been commonly associated with alleviating pain and inflammation associated with chronic conditions like arthritis and spinal cord injuries. Cannabidiol has also popped up in the news with lab tests linking it to benefits for epilepsy patients. Researchers are testing how much CBD is able to reduce the number of seizures a patient can have daily.
CBD may also be associated with helping those dealing with anxiety and stress better to better manage their condition. CBD oils, CBD gummies, and more products are utilizing hemp to change the way the brain’s receptors respond to serotonin, a chemical linked to mental health.
The CBD industry has seen this compound induce drowsiness to help those with insomnia rest easier, while also improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Again, it is important to understand the dose of CBD before use. A lower dose may be the best way to start and could be a great solution to avoid the use of addictive opioids and prescription medication that carry much more dangerous side effects.