CBD or cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive element of the cannabis plant, has exploded in popularity over the past few years. While the research on its benefits is still relatively scarce, anecdotal evidence abounds about how much it helps with everything from arthritis and pain to anxiety and sleeplessness. The market has been flooded with products of every description, from edibles to pet products.
What is CBD?
CBD is an extract derived from the buds and flowers of the cannabis plant. Most suppliers extract it from hemp, a member of the cannabis family, as hemp contains little THC. Marijuana plants are often bred to contain high amounts of THC and THC is the component of the cannabis plant that gets people high.
Is CBD legal?
CBD is legal in the U.S. as long as it contains less than 0.3% of THC. It is regulated differently from state to state and these regulations can sometimes be quite confusing, particularly when you’re buying products online.
While it is legal, and there is easy access to CBD products, buyers need to be aware about what they’re buying. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not test CBD products and so there is no federal oversight to make sure what you think you’re buying is what you’re actually getting.
Read more at herbonaut.com if you want to know how to find the best CBD oils. These have been tested by independent third-party laboratories to determine whether they contain residual solvents, heavy metals, molds, bacteria or pesticides. The lab tests also reveal what ingredients are present in the CBD oils and in what amount.
What types of CBD are available?
You are able to buy CBD isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD. The isolate is the most processed of the three and the purest form. All other compounds of the hemp plant are removed and only pure CBD is left.
Broad-spectrum CBD has all traces of THC removed but still contains the other compounds. Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the hemp plant in the proportions in which they occur naturally.
What CBD products can I buy?
CBD is sold in a variety of different forms, including as oils, pills, creams or gummies. It is up to you to find out what suits you best and how much you need to use. For instance, if you want to use CBD to help with panic attacks, it would be better to choose a way to get CBD straight into your bloodstream than edibles that have to go through your digestive system.
A number of factors come into play when deciding how much CBD you need to take. There is no standard dosage and a good rule of thumb is to start with a low dosage and increase it gradually until you experience relief from your symptoms.
Does CBD really work?
While there has been a fair amount of research on animals using cannabis and CBD, this doesn’t always translate to humans. Human studies to date have tended to be quite small but they do indicate CBD could be helpful for mood, sleeplessness and pain.
CBD interacts with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system in the human body. This system helps to regulate bodily processes such as immune system function, temperature control, sleep, appetite and much more. It helps to keep balance in the body and so it is possible that CBD helps to play a role. More research needs to be done into its role as it presents some exciting possibilities.