CBD Oil has been gaining popularity over the years, earning a place in health food markets, as well as inside the homes of people seeking to ease their ailments, and improve their health through natural products.
To discover the absolute truths and find out the most incredible benefits of this new-found natural compound, Nature’s Discount has interviewed an expert in CBD Oil: Ph.D. Maday Labrador.
Maday Labrador has a Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition and has worked in the US Health Industry for 20 years. Her background includes Quality and Regulatory Sourcing of Ingredients, New Product Formulation, as well as Education and Training on Dietary Supplements and Natural Ingredients.
Lately, she has also studied and researched CBD oil, and even decided to start taking it herself. She has become an advocate for CBD and its many wonderful benefits. One of the best parts of CBD oil is that it doesn’t seem to have any side effects.
In this article, we will unravel the deepest secrets of CBD oil, read about it with us.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for Cannabidiol; one of the several natural compounds named cannabinoids, that are found in many plants, but mostly in the cannabis plant. It is important to note that this compound is not marijuana.
Most CBD products that you can find on the market are derived from the Hemp plant.
Although Hemp belongs to the same Cannabis Genus of plants as Marijuana, they are different. They are cultivated differently, they are harvested differently, and thus, they have a different composition.
Hemp has a higher percentage of CBD.
Does CBD make you high?
No, it doesn’t.
CBD comes from a non-psychoactive portion of the plant. There are more than a hundred cannabinoids and cannabis plants. In each plant, you can find CBD or THC at different levels of concentration. Hemp plants have a very low THC level which makes them safe for CBD extraction.
This THC is the psychoactive compound, it is the one that is responsible for the high that people get that is associated with marijuana.
The Marijuana plant has a high amount of THC, whereas Hemp has a lower amount of THC but a higher amount of CBD.
If you look at Hemp plants that are grown in the US, there is a strict control around the THC levels that Hemp plants must have, r 0.3% to be exact. An extremely low amount that won’t make you high.
How does CBD Work & What does it do in the body?
The human body naturally produces compounds called Endocannabinoids, which can be found in the Endocannabinoid system, ECS for short.
This system is all around the human body and is naturally wired with receptors that interact with these endocannabinoids. They play an important role in the balance and the health of the body. CBD is a plant-derived cannabinoid, which acts in the same ECS system, activating the same receptors with similar effects.
This system affects many aspects of human health, including mood, pain, inflammation, stress, and anxiety. It can also affect several things such as appetite, muscle control, pain, cognition and stress response.
Many of the ways our body maintains balance.
What are the main benefits of CBD?
The main benefits are going to be associated with supporting the body’s endocannabinoid system, helping to maintain its balance. This is going to be reflected in aspects like eating, sleeping, pain, relaxation, and recovery.
CBD also helps with anxiety and pain, which are its most often cited benefits. It also helps prevent acne from appearing and can help induce sleep in case of insomnia.
There are experts continuously researching CBD from all the people who consume it and experience great benefits from it.
Can I use CBD for Pain, Stress, and Anxiety, especially in this current COVID-19 Pandemic?
Currently, everyone is dealing with extra stress due to the pandemic. It is quite the endurance we all have to face in these anxiety-inducing times; we can get drained both physically and mentally.
CBD supports the body’s endocannabinoid system and maintains balance. Positively affecting eating, sleeping, cognition, and relaxation: the reason why many people take CBD to treat stress.
It also helps with anxiety and pain. As previously mentioned, these are two of the most often cited benefits that you hear from CBD users.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), is funding new research into cannabinoids to explore their potential around pain management.
CBD also limits the breakdown of a very important neurotransmitter produced in the body called anandamide, also known as “The Bliss Molecule.” This neurotransmitter is in charge of producing feelings of happiness. CBD has been shown to inhibit an enzyme that breaks it down, causing anandamide to stay active longer in the system, making us feel less worried, stress-free and generally better.
Is CBD addictive or habit forming?
No, it is not. Studies have reported that CBD has anti-addictive properties. The World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence recently said that CBD is non-addictive and is generally well tolerated by everyone.
What are the types of CBD oil?
There are three types of CBD oil:
Full-spectrum: It contains less than r 0.3% THC and includes almost all the other Hemp-derived cannabinoids. All those wonderful compounds work well together which people usually call its effect: The Entourage Effect. You get all the benefits of the whole plant because it is the most potent presentation of the product.
Broad-spectrum: Similar to full-spectrum, yet it is refined to have almost zero THC, or as less of that compound as possible. Still, you might experience the benefit of all the other cannabinoids found in the Hemp plant.
Isolate: With the CBD Isolate, they remove all the other compounds, so it is about 99% pure CBD. While it is the most refined product, it is also the least potent and you might need a bigger dose to get the effects desired.
What’s the suggested CBD dosage?
There is no solid scientific data that says there is a specific amount or dosage for anyone to use.
First, you must consider: what kind of CBD oil are you using? Whether it is Full spectrum, Broad Spectrum or Isolate.
Full-spectrum is going to include other cannabinoids together, causing the Entourage Effect, which makes it more effective. Some people might need a smaller amount of Full Spectrum CBD, in comparison to those using Isolate CBD. As we mentioned before Isolate requires a higher dosage to obtain the same effect.The Low & Slow Method is recommended: Start slow with small doses for several days, if it’s not enough to obtain the desired effect, then increase as needed.
How do I know I’m buying High-Quality CBD?
People should always look for purity.
The label should tell you the percentage of CBD you’re getting, either in concentration or a total of mlg in the bottle. The higher the number, the more potent the CBD. It should also say if it is Full-spectrum, Broad-Spectrum or Isolate.
There should be access to third-party lab test results. Most brands advertise test results on their website. Make sure you can see a lab number on the bottle and search test results regarding their CBD and THC levels.
Also, look for the other ingredients in the product. For CBD Oil products, pay attention to the carrier oil used. Hemp Seed Oil or MCT oil (from the Coconut Oil), are good carrier oils that enhance CBD absorption, as well as having other nutrient benefits as well.
What’s the most effective way to take CBD?
CBD Tincture, administered under the tongue, is usually the most effective method.
There is a sublingual gland —a gland under the tongue— where substances that are administered directly into it, get absorbed right into the bloodstream. This allows for a higher absorption rate.
If you prefer to swallow CBD it is recommended to place it under your tongue for at least 30 seconds before you swallow.
After reading these Frequently Asked Questions, all kindly answered by our expert Maday Labrador, we hope we have fully eliminated any possible doubts about this newly discovered compound.
Listen to the entire interview
