What is CBD
The Comprehensive Guide to CBD
So you heard about CBD, and someone told you that you should be utilizing it. Unfortunately, you’re not sure precisely what CBD is, how it would benefit you or how it can be used. If this isyou,then you are in the right place.
In this comprehensive guide to CBD, we will look at precisely what CBD is, the potential benefits that it may offer you as well as the many different ways in which it can be utilized. First off let's look at what CBD is exactly and how it interacts with the human body to offer a potential plethora of benefits.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for the scientific name of this compound which is Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol or CBD is one of many cannabinoids found within the Cannabis and hemp plants. This cannabinoid falls into the category of a phytocannabinoid.Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids produced by plants.
There are also other forms of cannabinoids which are produced Naturally by the body known as endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids occur naturally in breast milk and include compounds such as anandamide which is widely known as the bliss molecule.
A phytocannabinoid that you may have heard of other than CBD is THC which is short for the scientific name of the cannabinoid which is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is a cannabinoid that produces mind-altering and psychoactive intoxicating effects for most consumers.
CBD does not produce the same types of effects. In fact, you should feel no intoxication or psychoactive effects from consuming a pure CBD product. For many years cultivators of cannabis as well as researchers have primarily been focused on THC however this has drastically changed in recent years after the story of Charlotte Figi went viral on CNN back in 2013.
Charlotte was a young girl who suffered from a severe form of epilepsy that found relief from a high-CBD cannabis strain after traditional pharmaceuticals and other treatment options excelled at providing relief. Epilepsy and seizures or just one of the many things that CBD has now been found beneficial for treating.
The Potential Benefits That CBD May Offer You
CBD has been proven scientifically to offer various mental and physical benefits.
List of CBD Benefits
- Antibacterial
- Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth
- May Help Treat Psoriasis
- Neuroprotectant
- Pain Reliever
- Promote Bone Growth
- Reduce the Small Intestine Contractions
- Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
- Reduces Convulsions
- Reduces Inflammation
- Reduces Nausea and Vomiting
- Reduces Risk of Artery Blockage
- Reduces Seizures
- Relieves Anxiety
- Stress Reducer
- Suppresses Muscle Spasms
- Works as a Tranquilizer
Conditions CBD May Be A Potential Treatment Option For
Some of the conditions that CBD has proven to offer potential benefits for include but are not limited to the following:
- Acne
- Addiction
- AIDS
- ALS
- Alzheimer's
- Anorexia
- Antibiotic Resistance
- Bipolar
- Cancer
- Crohn's Disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Digestive Issues
- Eczema
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Heart Disease
- Huntington's Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Disease
- Migraines
- Motion Sickness
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuropathic Pain
- Obesity
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Psoriasis
- PTSD
- Rheumatism
- Schizophrenia
- Seizures
- Sickle Cell Anemia
This list is based upon the research repository found here.
The Many Different Ways to Utilize and Benefit From CBD
When it comes to consuming and utilizing CBD, consumers and patients have quite a variety of options to choose from. Different products and consumption methods are essential especially when you are looking to target a specific ailment. Here are 4 of the most common ways to utilize CBD and reap the potential benefits that it has to offer.
Sublingual
Sublingual tinctures and oils that can be consumed sublingually (under the tongue) are very popular. The sublingual delivery method is thought to be the fastest and allows for the highest bioavailability of the product being consumed.
Topical and Transdermal
There are many topical and transdermal products from creams, lotions, and salves to lip balms, patches, and more that contain CBD. Topical and transdermal products such as these are applied externally to the skin and allow you to target areas of pain, inflammation, or discomfort specifically. This is a highly utilized method of CBD for those looking to treat pain, inflammation, and skin disorders.
Ingestion
On the market today you can find dozens of different foods, sweet treats, and beverages that contain CBD. These products may take a while longer to get into your system as they must be broken down by the digestive tract, they then to provide a stronger effect that lasts for a prolonged period of time in comparison to other consumption methods. Many individuals also consume CBD oil directly or through capsules via ingestion as well.
Inhalation
Vaping CBD and smoking hemp flowers that are high in CBD are also two widespread ways to utilize CBD. Vaping CBD is done through vaping a CBD infused e-liquid which is commonly known as CBD vape juice. This e-liquid is vaped just like the common nicotine filled e-liquids that have grown in popularity in the past decade.
The Legality Of CBD
The legality of CBD has been a rather grey area. This is particularly true in the United States where CBD has been primarily associated with “marijuana” or cannabis and often classified along with this plant which is federally illegal. CBD is also present in hemp however which is legal as long as it contains less than .03% THC.
This is the grey area that many CBD businesses have been operating within in the U.S. With the recent Farm Bill being now signed into law by the President, Hemp has been removed from the Controlled Substances Act and legalized along with CBD at the federal level.
In the UK CBD products are 100% legal if they have been derived from a cultivar of hemp that contains less than .02% THC. 63 such cultivars have been approved by the EU. Now that you know more about CBD, its potential benefits and its legality, let’s look at how you can start utilizing CBD in your life!
How to Get Started Benefiting From CBD
The best way to get started benefiting from CBD is by incorporating it into your daily health and wellness regimen. If you take vitamins or medications, start taking a CBD capsule each day in addition. If you work out or exercise regularly, purchase a CBD infused cream or lotion and start applying it topically after each workout.
If you aren’t looking to target any specific ailment and are just looking to incorporate CBD into your life in hopes of reaping benefits, it is recommended that you ingest CBD via an oil, capsule, or other ingestible product such as foods or beverages that are infused with CBD. Check out the wide variety of different CBD products available in our shop today!
