CBD oil, or cannabidiol, is quickly growing in popularity thanks to an influx of consumers who are choosing to turn to natural methods as a way to help calm down difficult health issues. Before taking CBD oil, however, you should learn more about this beneficial cannabinoid.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the main cannabinoids in the hemp and marijuana plants. In fact, there are over 100 beneficial cannabinoids all together. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the other main cannabinoid. Both CBD and THC have their own set of benefits, however, THC is well known for causing a euphoric “high” sensation when taken in large quantities. When paired together, both CBD and THC work together in a synergistic manner to decrease their negative effects and boost up positive effects. This is better known as the entourage effect. In products made from the marijuana plant that contain elevated levels of THC, CBD works to lower the negative effects of THC like nausea, and boost the positive effects of THC like increasing appetite.

How CBD Can Be Helpful

There are a wealth of scientific studies that prove how helpful CBD can be with different health issues like chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and many others. In fact, CBD has many neuroprotective properties that are currently being researched. Some of the conditions that CBD can help with are:

• Arthritis
• Depression
• Acne
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimers
• Autism
• Anxiety
• Sleep

How CBD Works in the Body

When you take a full-spectrum CBD oil, the CBD and THC work together in a variety of different ways. They can mimic the effects of the body’s own endocannabinoid system which functions to help bring the body back to a state of balance, or homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system helps to regulate bodily functions and processes such as mood, energy level, immune system function, sleep, metabolism, reproduction, pain, stress, hunger, and much more. Some of the other bodily functions that the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate are:

• Appetite
• Digestion
• Inflammation
• Motor Control
• Temperature Regulation
• Memory
• Pleasure

When CBD oil is taken into the body, it interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain to help balance the body and its functions. As stated earlier, because the body has an endocannabinoid system, it does not necessarily need CBD to bring itself back into balance. CBD oil simply may help give the endocannabinoid system a boost. The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, contains endocannabinoids, receptors in the brain, body, and nervous system that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids bond with, and special enzymes that break down cannabinoids and endocannabinoids.

CB1 receptors are located in the central nervous system and CB2 receptors are found in the peripheral nervous system that consists of nerves in your extremities, digestive system, and immune system. The body uses its ECS in a very precise and exacting way. In other words, it only calls upon the ECS to handle processes and systems that are not functioning properly. Once the body is brought back to a state of balance, then the enzymes within the ECS break down endocannabinoids and cannabinoids to stop them from acting any further and potentially causing imbalance.

THC interacts with the CB1 receptor in the brain to create a euphoric “high” sensation. The body’s natural endocannabinoid that is similar to THC is called anandamide. It’s important to note that anandamide functions to bring about a calming effect in the body and does not cause a “high” like the cannabinoid THC does. The brain, endocannabinoids, and cannabinoids function as neurotransmitters that help to deliver vital information from cell to cell. These neurotransmitters interact with a large variety of other receptors to bring about different effects within the body. 

The main reason why THC causes a high and anandamide does not is because the FAAH enzyme breaks down anandamide as well as other of the body’s endocannabinoids. Because the FAAH enzyme appears to work mainly with the body’s endocannabinoids and not with cannabinoids like THC, this means that THC lingers in the body longer and therefore has a larger impact.

Unlike THC, CBD will not bring about a feeling of euphoria. In fact, one of the ways that CBD functions is that it works to stop the FAAH enzyme from breaking down anandamide so that it can have a greater impact. This is one of the reasons why scientists believe that CBD can help to calm down individuals who have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders.

Can the Body Suffer From Endocannabinoid Deficiency?

The quick answer is yes, the body can have an endocannabinoid deficiency. In learning more about the ECS, scientists discovered that a deficiency in endocannabinoids can be linked to a condition called clinical endocannabinoid deficiency, which is a dysregulation of the ECS. Some common conditions that are related to clinical endocannabinoid deficiency are fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and migraines. These conditions, better known as functional conditions, typically are resistant to many common medical treatments. Medical researchers, therefore, are exploring cannabis-based treatments as an alternative means of treating these conditions.

Fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraine headaches usually involve both the peripheral and central nervous systems, immune systems, endocrine system, and sometimes the digestive system. And because these health issues involve more than one system, scientists are beginning to think that these conditions correlate to a dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system.

Is CBD Legal?

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD made from the hemp plant was removed from the Controlled Substances Act. This move by the United States federal government paved the way for hemp to be legally cultivated, possessed, sold, and distributed throughout the United States. The law clearly states that all CBD products sold and purchased within the US must contain less than 0.3% THC. The hemp plant naturally contains less than that amount while, conversely,  the marijuana plant contains well over that amount.

Since there is so little THC in CBD products that were created from the hemp plant, you cannot get high from using them. However, you can absolutely get high from anything that was created using the marijuana plant. Along with pilot programs being able to research hemp-derived products, the 2018 Farm Bill also relaxed regulations on hemp by making it legal to

• Transfer hemp-based products across state lines for commercial use
• Cultivate hemp
• Sell, transport, and possess hemp-derived products that are created according to government regulations

While the Farm Bill did make quite a few things legal, it still does not permit hemp to be grown by people or businesses in any place and at any time. Moreover, each state has their own rules and regulations that apply to hemp and hemp-derived CBD products. It’s highly advised that you read your state’s laws prior to purchasing any CBD products. Also, if you are planning on traveling and crossing state lines with your CBD products, then you should also look into the laws of those other states as well prior to travelling.

What’s the Difference Between CBD Varieties?

Some brands sell broad spectrum products while others sell full-spectrum products. Yet, there are also brands that solely retail CBD isolate products. When you’re new to the world of CBD, it can be quite confusing to tell the difference between each variety. Full-spectrum CBD oils contain all of the beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients that the hemp plant has to offer. Additionally, these oils also contain less than 0.3% THC. Broad spectrum oils are basically the same as full-spectrum oils, however, they do not contain any THC. Lastly, CBD isolate oils contain just what the name implies: 99% pure CBD. In CBD isolate oils, all of the terpenes, cannabinoids, and phytonutrients have been filtered out so that only pure CBD remains.

If you have concerns about THC, or are worried that you might fail a drug test because of a full-spectrum product, then it’s best to either purchase broad spectrum oils or CBD isolate oils. Even though there is less than 0.3% THC in full-spectrum oils, this can still potentially be detected in a drug test. Therefore, it's best to err on the side of caution.

What Kinds of CBD Products Can You Purchase?

Even though CBD oils are one of the most popular products made from extracting CBD from the hemp plant, there are a host of other products that are made from the beneficial cannabinoid. For example, CBD is also made into:

• Creams
• Salve
• Daytime Gummies
• Nighttime Gummies
• Dog Treats
• Edibles
• Teas
• Drinks
• Chocolates
• Coffee
• Skin Care Products

These products all have their own sets of benefits and can be used for specific issues and in specific ways. For example, CBD oils are best taken under the tongue for maximal absorption into the body. When you place the oil under the tongue, hold it there for 30-60 seconds before swallowing. When you do this, you allow the CBD to enter into the bloodstream through the blood vessels under your tongue. CBD oil can help with a variety of difficult health conditions like insomnia, pain, depression, anxiety, and others. If you are dealing with difficult muscle and joint aches and pains, then a CBD topical cream or CBD salve are the best products to go with. When you massage the cream or salve into your skin, it absorbs into the skin and sinks down into the muscles and joints where it can effectively relax the area and decrease any pain, stiffness, or tension that you’re experiencing.

Lastly, if you just need a lift throughout your day or if you’re having a difficult time sleeping at night, then a daytime CBD chew or a nighttime CBD chew will work best. Once eaten, the CBD enters into the stomach and goes through the digestive system where it is slowly broken down by the body over time. Daytime CBD chews and nighttime CBD chews are a great way to help bring about relaxation during the day or a restful and restorative sleep throughout the night.

The type of product you choose to purchase directly depends on what your health goals are and what issues you are trying to get a handle on. It’s advised that you take some time to consider what your overall goals are before purchasing a specific CBD product.

How to Purchase the Best Product Possible

Before you hop online and purchase the first product that you come upon, you should slow things down and take some time to research various reputable brands and products. There is a wealth of information online that you can delve into when it comes to CBD, CBD brands, and CBD products. Remember that not all CBD brands and products are created equal. Just because the prices feel great for your pocketbook doesn’t mean that the products will be the best for your overall health. A lot of times, brands with cheaply priced products will cut corners and use hemp that’s laden with pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals. Moreover, they will sometimes use other extraction methods that can leave dangerous solvents and other impurities in CBD oils. Look for brands that use the industry-preferred Co2 extraction method as these extracts are clean and free from leftover solvents and other impurities.  

FAB CBD is an example of a highly reputable brand that uses the industry-preferred Co2 extraction method. Moreover, all of FAB CBD’s full-spectrum oils are crafted from top-quality ingredients, are potent, and free of harmful herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals. The brand is also extremely transparent with its customers as all of its products are routinely tested by an independent third-party lab. Those results are posted and easy for customers to find on the FAB CBD website. Also, make sure that the brand you are interested in uses an independent third-party lab to regularly test all of its products for both quality and potency. Any brand that uses a third-party lab and that openly posts their lab results on its website truly cares about being transparent with its customers and potential customers. Finally, read verified customer reviews as well as publications from niche experts and CBD journalists. These individuals will be able to give you an unbiased first-hand account of a brand and its products.

How to Take CBD Oil

As we just stated, CBD oil should be taken under the tongue and held there for 30-60 seconds so that it can be best absorbed into the bloodstream. When it comes to dosing, it needs to be stated that there’s not one perfect dose per person. Everyone’s body is different. And just like it takes time to get used to a medication or natural supplement, it also takes time to get used to both CBD as well as the dosing. A great rule of thumb when it comes to taking CBD oil is to start low and go slow. Higher is also not always better. Higher milligrams of CBD work best for difficult health conditions, while lower milligrams work best for general health and wellness. If you’re just starting out with CBD oil, you might want to go with 600mg or 1200mg oils. As far as dosing, you can begin by taking a half a dropper full (5mg) once a day for about a week. After a week has elapsed, check in with yourself to see how you’re feeling. If you feel that you need to increase the dose, then take a half a dropper full twice a day. This will equal 10mg of CBD per day. Stay at this dose for another week before checking in with yourself again. If you feel great, then by all means, stay where you are at. If you feel that you need to increase, then follow this pattern of slowly increasing and checking in with yourself on a weekly basis. You might also want to consider going with a lower or higher milligram strength, depending on what your needs are and what you’re trying to accomplish.

Closing Thoughts

CBD is an amazing beneficial compound that has many scientifically proven health benefits. Since the legalization of hemp-derived CBD products, more people are turning to the cannabinoid as a natural way to help calm down health issues from anxiety, to depression, chronic pain, insomnia, arthritis, and many others. When it comes to product selection, the type of product that you choose will depend largely on what you will be using it for and what your health goals are. Remember that not all CBD brands and products are created equal. Therefore, take some time to research both the brand and the product before you purchase any CBD online. Take time when starting CBD oil. Your body will need time to get used to both the CBD as well as the dose. Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to reach out to your primary care physician or medical specialist, as they can guide you through any issues you need to discuss.