Your Comprehensive Guide to CBD for Mind, Body, & Soul
Is it just me, or did CBD explode overnight?
If you were to walk down Melrose in West Hollywood today, you would see advertisements promoting coffee and smoothies with CBD. This is a big deal, even for progressive Los Angeles. With pot lounges soon to be open in the neighborhood, it’s indicative of a new perspective on the cannabis plant in which scientist have found over 483 chemical compounds, one of which is CBD.
CBD is certainly the new ‘it’ substance that is quickly transforming the wellness industry. Sales of CBD and CBD-based products are expected to reach $22 billion by 2022, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
If you’re wondering if it’s safe, you’re not the only one. Research on CBD has confirmed that it can help with many chronic health conditions. CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, interacts with receptors in the brain that regulate your stress hormones in a positive way. Many psychological conditions and physical conditions have improved with the use of CBD. You may also be wondering if incorporating CBD in your life will only wind you up with cannabis addiction. This is a fair and wise concern given the current epidemic of opioids in the US. The rise in overdoses and deaths related to drugs is staggering.
CBD and the cannabis plant may put up a red flag in the minds of many, so today we’re going to take a look at how CBD can be used and its potential to transform the healthcare and wellness industries in one fell swoop.
Is CBD Even Legal?
Unlike THC, which is one compound produced by the cannabis plant, CBD is legal at the federal level. THC does affect your mind and is regulated at the federal level as a drug, although it’s now legal in some states for recreational use. CBD is actually only legal on the state level in most states, but not all. You’ll have to check with your own state laws to make sure it’s received the green light to consume it without risk.
It’s important to note that CBD produced from the marijuana compound is not legal, while under the Farm Bill, CBD produced from hemp is. There are still strict regulations on hemp, although it is not on the controlled substances list. Hemp cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of THC to be legal.
Outside of the US, many countries are beginning to legalize cannabis at varying rates. Make sure you do your research on the laws regarding cannabis and CBD in your community before you get started.
Does CBD Get You High?
No, CBD does not get you high.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound - unlike THC, which is the compound that makes you high. The effects of CBD are very different than the effects of THC. While THC makes you feel stoned, CBD can relax both the mind and the body without altering your mental state. When applied topically, it can help reduce pain and swelling as well. People do not report any extremely noticeable changes immediately after use, but after 30-90 minutes, people report decreases or total elimination of pain.
THC binds to your brain receptors causing a high while CBD makes the receptors produce endocannabinoids, which improve the health and harmony of your body. Endocannabinoids are produced naturally by the body and are necessary for a proper response to stress. If you’d like to learn more about the endocannabinoid system in the body, click here. Basically, it’s the system in the body that responds to CBD and THC cannabinoids. Its health is essential for the health of your body.
Will CBD Make Me Fail a Drug Test?
The only way CBD could make you fail a drug test is if you consumed 1000 - 2000 milligrams per day of CBD, which could leave trace amounts of THC in your system.
Legally, hemp must contain less than .03 percent THC, so if you did ingest low amounts of it through the CBD, you could technically get a false positive on a drug test. That said, you would have to consume a lot of CBD for this to happen! In states where marijuana is legal, drug tests may not be looking for marijuana at all. 31 states now allow marijuana for medical purposes, and 11 do not allow discrimination against marijuana users. The answer to this question then depends both on your level of CBD consumption and your state’s laws.
What Conditions Does CBD Help With?
To put it this way: It would be easier to answer what conditions CBD doesn’t help with.
Research shows CBD helps with over 80 health conditions ranging from mental health issues to chronic pain and diseases. Anxiety, drug addiction, fibromyalgia, cancer, Crohn’s disease, seizures, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, MS, OCD, kidney disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s, PTSD, sickle cell anemia, sleep disorders, chronic pain, arthritis, and many health issues can benefit from including CBD in treatment. CBD is now being used for children as well as adults.
The World Health Organization has declared that CBD does not have the potential to exhibit effects of abuse or dependency, and is now recognized as a substance that can be helpful for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions. CBD is also helpful in cognitive disabilities and autism. One study found that in 80% of children with autism, there was an improvement when using CBD.
Related Article: 10 Common Ailments CBD Oil Can Help With
What Forms Does CBD Come In?
CBD comes in many forms, including oil, isolate, wax, crystal, and capsules to name a few.
CBD can be applied topically, ingested as an oil, and even diffused aromatically. It also comes as a powder. You can use CBD just like any other tincture.
While it’s usually safe to ingest pure CBD, most people add the substance into food or drink to consume it.
How Much Should I Take?
There is not yet a recommended daily dosage for CBD as it is still being researched and understood fully for each condition.
The general recommended dosage is 25 milligrams twice per day. It’s said that you should start with the lowest recommended dosage for a few weeks and slowly increase by 25 milligrams every few weeks.
For more specific dosage recommendations for certain conditions, see what this website has to say. That said, always seek advice from your doctor or a medical professional before you introduce a new treatment - everyone is different and will react differently.
What Are Some Popular CBD Products?
There are 93 million CBD products already (and counting!), so which should you choose?
CBD-infused teas (like Buddha Teas), coffee, and smoothies are beginning to pop up in cafes. You can also find it in many skincare products, as well as in muscle rubs like Ginger Heat (a personal favorite). It also comes in gum, candy (check out these yummy hemp-infused gummies that made it on New York Magazine’s list of top CBD products for 2018), and even in spray forms. Apothecanna’s Extra Strength Relieving Spray is great for joint and muscle pain and contains other herbs that will help you as well.
With so many CBD tinctures available, look for high-quality oils without additives such as the ones from NuLeaf. If you prefer to take a capsule, check out Colorado-based CBDistillery capsules.
Is There a Harmful Dosage of CBD?
Taking too much CBD could cause drowsiness, lethargy, or exacerbate mood disorders like anxiety.
Like anything else, moderation is key to CBD.
Taking too much CBD could result in diarrhea or an upset stomach as well. It’s best to introduce CBD to your body in small quantities (after speaking with your doctor) to see how your body responds to it. While side effects are not likely, it’s important to watch out for dizziness, hallucinations, low blood pressure, irritability, or depression from withdrawal.
Concluding Thoughts
When it comes to your health, it’s always most important to do your own research about CBD and talk to a doctor you trust.
This NY Times article is not so keen on using CBD and concludes its effects are mostly placebo. There will always be conflicting evidence available online. But, with a substance with so few possible adverse effects, CBD may just be worth a try.
Congratulations, you are now more informed than most people on the ins-and-outs of CBD!
Related Article: The Benefits of Hemp Products That You Should Know.
