CBD or cannabinoid has become popular among all age groups in the UK over the last couple of years. CBD oil is the most popular method of consuming CBD, and as per Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, the current market for CBD products in the UK is around £300 million. It is expected to reach about £1 billion by 2025. In this article, we will discuss the cannabinoid itself in depth in an attempt to help beginners who for the first time, may be looking for CBD oil for sale.
This article will cover a number of topics, including a basic outline of what exactly CBD is and how it works, the various ailments or health conditions that CBD can help, possible side effects as well as how to actually use a bottle of CBD oil.
What is CBD
CBD or cannabidiol, as it is also known, is one of the plethora of phytocannabinoids derived from hemp or cannabis. To date, we know of over 110 that definitively exist, but there is bound to be many more yet to be discovered.
CBD was first successfully extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant by Harvard Chemistry graduate Roger Adams. Funnily enough, he was not even aware of what he had achieved at the time and it wasn’t until years later that research began into the health benefits of CBD.
The first CBD test on lab animals was conducted by Dr. Walter S. Loewe in 1946 and found that CBD doesn’t alter your state of mind – the psychoactive component of the Cannabis plant did not apply to CBD. During the same year, Dr Raphael Mechoulam identified the three dimensional structure of CBD – hence why he is often credited with the discovery of CBD. It wasn’t until the 1960s however that British pharmacologists released the first CBD oil intended for medicinal use.
Although CBD is derived from hemp, it does not have any intoxicating effect on humans, and you will not experience the “high” experienced after smoking weed. This psychoactive effect has been the crucial element that has inhibited a great deal of research in the past, so the successful extraction of CBD paved the way for renewed research efforts.
Another phytocannabinoid, THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is responsible for the high experienced after smoking cannabis. CBD has been primarily used for various medicinal and therapeutic purposes over the decades, and several medical studies have confirmed the health benefits of CBD over the years.
How does CBD work?
CBD primarily interacts with our endocannabinoid system that plays an essential role in regulating various biological functions throughout the body. The endocannabinoid system is a crucial part of our body and is responsible for regulating several vital functions. CBD attaches itself with CB1 and CB2 receptors that interact with the nervous system.
CBD is known to influence our nervous system in a way that has an overall soothing effect. Due to this interaction with the nervous system, it is used for treating several medical conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, etc.
CBD is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for treating inflammation and swelling. CBD oil can also be applied topically in order to reduce the pain associated with certain skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. CBD achieves this by numbing the nerves responsible for us feeling the sensation of pain and thus provide temporary relief from pain. A study conducted in 2008 by Ethan B Russo (Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain) found that CBD is almost as effective as other analgesics for relieving pain. This study also mentioned the effectiveness of CBD for treating pain caused by multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Our endocannabinoid system receives signals from thousands of receptors located in the brain and throughout the nervous system. It is absolutely essential for our immunity and combating myriad diseases. By enhancing the endocannabinoid system’s functioning, CBD can also work as an immunity booster that will help you guard against a number of diseases.
What conditions can CBD help with?
A study published in 2007 by Kogan and Mechoulam (Cannabinoids in health and disease) considered the health benefits of CBD and discussed a wide variety of conditions treated by CBD oil. The study reviewed the efficacy of CBD when it comes to the treatment of pain, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, osteoporosis, glaucoma, epilepsy, obesity, pain associated with cancer, and schizophrenia etc. The study also noted the ‘benign side effects’ and ‘very low toxicity’ of Cannabis in general, with Kogan and Mechoulam concluding that its clinincal potential should absolutely be researched in greater depth.
Drug regulators across various jurisdictions have approved the use of CBD based medicine for treating some of these conditions. Epidyolex has been approved for treating rare forms of epilepsy in the UK and the government made it easier to obtain Epidyolex last year. Furthermore, Epidyolex is also approved for treating epilepsy in the US and the EU.
Sativex is another CBD derived drug that is used for treating spasticity caused by MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Like Epidyolex, Sativex is also approved for use in several other jurisdictions such as Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil.
Are there any side effects of CBD?
Like any other drug, CBD can have side effects if taken without proper knowledge or consultation with a medical practitioner. It is essential to take only the recommended dose as an overdose of CBD may do more harm than good. You must also ensure that you only buy CBD products from approved manufacturers who follow the manufacturing procedure specified by the regulators.
Current UK regulations state that CBD must be derived from specific hemp strains that contain less than 0.2% THC as anything above this limit will make the CBD product illegal. CBD oil if applied in excess, can cause irritation, itching, or scratches on the skin. The same is true for CBD products delivered via different methods such as CBD oil tinctures, CBD creams, transdermal CBD patches etc. Any excess dose of CBD, irrespective of the delivery method will lead to some minor side effects. But if the dose is correct, then there are usually no side effects unless a person has some pre-existing conditions or is allergic. That said, any side effects are minimal and highly unlikely to cause any major distress to the user.
It is also absolutely essential to seek certified lab reports (preferably independent) where possible. This ensures that you know exactly what you are getting in your CBD product and avoids the unwanted inclusion of heavy metals, THC or other unwanted materials.
Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) authentication is also a very promising signal to be aware of. This is a certification awarded for to manufacturers who are in compliance with the highest standards of manufacture. This means that you will be receiving a product that has been inspected from seed to bottle, throughout the entire process and is of the highest standard.
How do you take CBD Oil?
There are of course a multitude of delivery methods available when it comes to consuming CBD. That said, CBD oil in tincture form is without doubt one of the most effective in the interest of bioavailablity.
You can take the CBD oil itself, by placing the dropper or spray beneath your tongue and dropping a dose of the oil underneath. This particular area of the mouth is very rich in capillaries and as a result, the CBD will reach your bloodstream quicker. Holding the CBD oil under your tongue for approximately a minute and swirling it around your mouth before swallowing will also help to improve the efficacy of your chosen product.
In terms of the size of dose, it is very much down to the individual. There are a wide range of individual differences that can influence the optimal dose, including BMI (Body Mass Index), CBD content and diet. On average, people tend to take 12 drops a day – either 4 drops of CBD oil 3 times, or 3 drops of CBD oil 4 times. That said, it is all about finding the optimum dose for you through your own experimentation. As previously mentioned, the side effects of CBD are indeed minimal so the chances of you having any negative experience from getting the dosage wrong are considerably remote.
Conclusion
CBD oil is not only used for treating several medical conditions, it is also a useful aid for general wellbeing as it helps cope with stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, and pain. Some of these ailments are quite common due to modern diets and lifestyles, and there is no harm in taking CBD as a supplement for your health and wellbeing.
There is plenty of literature out there that can help a beginner choose the right CBD product based on their individual needs. If you want to use CBD for treating specific conditions, then it is better to consult with your GP before starting the treatment. There are many online CBD oil shops that allow you to buy CBD oil online, but make sure that you always read the supporting literature carefully before buying CBD oil from an online shop. This will ensure that the product is genuine and has been produced following the legally stipulated procedures.
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