CBD or Cannabidiol has become all the rage lately. Every Tom, Dick & Harry seems to be able to extract this naturally occurring remedy from Hemp plants, and convert it into an array of topicals, tinctures, gummies and more. CBD Water, CBD Beer, CBD Gum, CBD Night Cream, CBD vapes, the list is endless.
This article is aimed at assisting people to make better choices when it comes to purchasing CBD, depending on the ailment you’re looking for assistance with.
Let’s get into it.
1 – The Good
CBD works with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system, a complex nerve cell signaling system. To explain it simply, it plays a role in regulating various bodily functions. Here are a few examples:
• Sleep
• Metabolism
• Mood
• Inflammation Response
• Memory
• Immune Response
Although the above isn’t a complete, exhaustive list, it does cover some pertinent areas.
Even though our bodies produce endocannabinoids naturally, sometimes, we do need an extra boost. Some of those receptors may not be firing off properly, which can cause issues like pain, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Compare it to supplementing your diet with extra vitamins. Sometimes you may not be getting enough vitamin C, therefore, you can increase your intake by taking a vitamin C supplement. The major difference is that CBD isn’t a vitamin, but rather an aid.
2 – The Bad
It can be extremely confusing when it comes to deciding on which CBD to take. Something as simple as deciding on whether to use a topical or oral CBD product already has many confused, not even to mention things like Full Spectrum, Isolate, 300/450/600mg, etc.
I believe a large part of this has to do with the marketing aspect. CBD products promote various aiding and healing aspects, therefore I’m going to try and keep it as simple as possible.
Let’s start with the three main types and quantities:
Full Spectrum
These CBD products contain the highest number of cannabinoids, essential oils & terpenes. CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid in the hemp plant. There are more than 60, with studies averaging between 80 and 100 cannabinoids. CBD and THC are amongst the most well-known, with THC being responsible for the psychoactive part causing that high sensation. Therefore, if you don’t want to get high, it’s important to look for a product containing 0,3% or less THC. In this case, the CBD counteracts the THC, which counteracts the high.
CBD or CBD Isolate
If you’re buying a product where the CBD Isolate has been extracted correctly, there’ll be no trace amounts of THC, or any other cannabinoids, terpenes and essential oils. This is important for those who may be subjected to drug tests, like a professional athlete, for example. There are CBD Isolate products that combine CBD with other terpenes and oils, which can still provide that entourage effect you may experience with a Full Spectrum or Broad Spectrum product.
For more on the entourage effect, click this link here
Broad Spectrum
Unlike Full Spectrum, these products are generally manufactured to be THC free. Bear in mind, that some may still contain trace amounts of it. Broad Spectrum CBD products also have an array of compounds that can aid in improved health. If you’re subjected to drug tests, be wary though, as not all of them are THC free. Ask for an independent lab report to verify whether it actually is.
Here’s a look at the dosages
CBD products come in an array of CBD content per product. From 100mg to 1100mg, with some even more or less. This is important because this shows you how much CBD is in the product you’re buying. The quantity displayed should be the total amount of CBD within the product. Alternatively, it should display the amount of CBD per dose.
To give you an example, let’s look at a 600mg CBD oil. The total content of the oil is 30ml, with 1ml dose per pipette. Therefore, if we divide 600 by 30, it will give us 20 milligrams of CBD per 1ml dose. Simple, right.
3 – The Ugly
As mentioned earlier, every Tom, Dick & Harry claims they have the ability and means to produce CBD. This is particularly prominent where legislation and laws surrounding the production and distribution of CBD are lacking. I’ve had how many grandparents and people tell me things like, “Oh, my son makes this,” or, “I’ve tried it, but it makes me high.”
If CBD makes you high, it’s not CBD! A more likely scenario is Billy cooking up some stuff on his stovetop at home, calling it CBD, and this just damages the industry. Not everyone likes that sensation. Imagine you’re not used to smoking doobie, but you decided to buy a gummy from Billy’s Homemade CBD because you’ve been struggling with anxiety lately. Next thing you know, you’re high as a kite at work, jumping out of your chair at every little sound. It can be detrimental to some individuals struggling with mental health disorders.
The point is if you’re going to buy a CBD product, make sure it has been independently tested by a laboratory. This link explains how to read the Certificate of Analysis and has one on display that gives you a good idea of what it should look like:
COA Info
Which CBD should I get?
As mentioned earlier, the marketing aspect can confuse people. In many cases, CBD forms a blanket approach, therefore it can be used for pain, insomnia, anxiety, etc. The main thing to look out for would be the other ingredients in the product. It obviously won’t help to buy CBD for sleep when it contains caffeine. Many products are specifically marked as aiding a particular ailment, however, if you’re not buying one of those, then look at the amount of CBD and what else it contains.
As for dosage, it depends and can be varied. Most products will display a recommended dosage, and the consensus is to start with a lower dosage, then scale it up if required.
More importantly, you should get a CBD product that’s in the correct carrier medium. For example, a CBD tincture works well with various carrier oils. Hemp oil has its benefits, but the taste may put you off. Coconut oil is tasteless, therefore, it’s easier to add flavors and for some to consume.
On the other hand, you have your topicals, which could use different carrier mediums. Therefore, it’s important to know the ingredients, then make an informed decision from there. I’ve added a quick link here which gives you a good explanation regarding carrier oils, specifically CBD related. I’d suggest you check it out if you’re still in doubt.
Lastly, there are extraction methods. I’m not going to go into much detail here, however, exercise caution if the CBD you’re buying has been chemically extracted, which may leave trace amounts of undesirable chemicals behind. The best and most stable results come from supercritical CO2 extraction. In general, it will be referred to as CO2 or Carbon Dioxide extraction. For more on CBD extraction, check this link here
Finally, here’s a simple breakdown of what to use for which ailment:
- Arthritis – Topical. For best results use in conjunction with oral.
- Anxiety – Oral. No caffeine. Gummies, tinctures, tablets, etc.
- Insomnia – Same as anxiety, however, a bath infused with CBD is great too before bed.
- Muscle Recovery – Topical and/or CBD infused bath, like salts or bath bombs.
In conclusion, there are various opinions out there regarding Hemp for consumption. Some will say CBD on its own isn’t effective, others will dispute this. I’ve personally seen how effective CBD Isolate and Full Spectrum is. My wife and my son struggle with severe anxiety. My mother has Rheumatoid Arthritis. CBD Isolate and Full Spectrum have both been effective for them, including many happy customers we’ve supplied in the past for various ailments.
Just beware of Billy’s Homemade CBD. Insist on individual lab test results. With that said, you'll likely get better quality CBD products and advice from people who specialize in it, as opposed to your local pharmacy or retail outlets. They're out there.
Points to remember:
- CBD content equals the total milligram displayed
- CBD aids various ailments, therefore CBD for pain could work equally well for anxiety. Check other ingredients
- The 3 main categories are Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum & CBD Isolate
- Start with smaller doses, then scale up if required
- Carrier mediums make a huge difference
- Extraction process makes a huge difference
- Insist on independent lab tests
