Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of chemical (scientifically termed a cannabinoid) that can be extracted from cannabis. Although there has been limited scientific evidence, various animal studies and personal anecdotes have suggested the many potential health benefits that CBD might be able to provide for a wide range of medical conditions, including sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.
Nevertheless, this brings us to consider how CBD could be taken in order for consumers to realise these physiological benefits. With that, this article seeks to explore this topic in greater depth.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of the two most prominent active ingredients that can be extracted from the cannabis plant alongside another similar compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, unlike the non-psychoactive characteristic of CBD, THC is the substance that is responsible for the “high” feeling that consumers experience when ingesting marijuana. In the meantime, CBD, including products from Joy Organics, can also be derived from a close cousin of marijuana called the hemp plant or be synthesized in a laboratory setting.
How Can CBD Be Consumed?
In general, CBD concentrate comes in a number of forms. While these products will all present similar consumption experiences, their respective methods of ingestion may vary significantly. Notable examples of these would include the following:
CBD Oils and Tinctures
As its name suggests, CBD oils are basically oils infused with CBD and are a popular product due to their ease of consumption. On top of that, the consumer would also be able to feel its effects very quickly as CBD oil is often absorbed by our system rapidly. Thus, CBD oil tincture is an excellent option for any individual who is not a fan of swallowing pills and helps to relieve stress and insomnia. In the majority of cases, CBD oils are usually taken in small portions by being placed under the person’s tongue using a dropper.
CBD Capsules and Pills
Just as you would with any other pill, CBD capsules and pills are consumed orally and might aid you with certain health-related issues ranging from digestive problems to epileptic seizures. However, the key distinction between consuming a CBD capsule and CBD oil is that the CBD capsule will take a longer time to be ingested by your body. As a result, you are not likely to feel its effects as quickly as when taking CBD oil.
CBD Creams and Lotions
Certain CBD products, particularly CBD lotion and creams, are applied to our skin and are designed to help relieve joint and muscle pain. In other cases, certain manufacturers may claim their product offers some beneficial effects for skin-related issues like eczema. Still, there is a limited amount of scientific evidence backing these statements.
CBD Edibles
While CBD gummies remain one of the most popular types of CBD products, consumers would also be able to consume CBD via a variety of other edibles such as cookies, ice cream, chocolates, cakes, candy, or even alcoholic drinks.
CBD Vapes
Theoretically speaking, the quickest way for one to experience the effects of CBD is by inhaling vapourised CBD oil using an e-cigarette or vaping equipment. This is because the vapourised CBD oil can enter your bloodstream much faster than any other approach, so that the chemical will be absorbed very quickly. However, this is not a practice that is recommended for most consumers as there have been questionable safety issues surrounding CBD vaping.
Is Cannabidiol Safe?
Generally speaking, the safest way to consume CBD is oral, meaning via chewable, edibles, tablets, or tinctures. Unlike THC, consumers can rest assured that CBD is arguably a fairly harmless chemical as it does not cause any “high” feelings associated with marijuana consumption.
In the meantime, it is always strongly advised for one to steer clear of any synthetic CBD products, such as those “CBD bath salts” or “CBD spices”, as these products are technically illegal. Not to mention, they have developed a negative reputation for inducing psychotic reactions amongst certain users, so that they may present a substantial health risk for many.
Things To Bear in Mind When Looking for CBD Products
Given that there are literally hundreds of CBD products in our world today, there are a few areas that one ought to keep in mind whenever they are shopping for CBD products, including the following:
The Product Label
Should the CBD product be marketed as a dietary supplement, customers should be able to view a warning section as well as a disclaimer issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the product’s back panel.
Third-Party Test Results
In an ideal scenario, consumers should have access to the CBD product’s third-party laboratory test results, whereby a third party is essentially a reputable independent organisation that has no association with the company distributing the CBD product. This is because quality assurance has been an industry-wide concern, so making sure that your CBD products are verified by an external authority figure helps to safeguard your overall well-being.
The Dosage
Overall, it is imperative to take into account whether the CBD product contains full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, or CBD isolates. The reason for this is that full-spectrum CBD may contain other types of cannabinoids, such as cannabigerol (CBG) or cannabidivarin (CBDV), and consuming all of them together may generate a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect”, meaning that their efficacy becomes more effective compared to taking any one of them alone. On the other hand, broad-spectrum CBD products would not contain any trace of THC, whereas CBD isolates would be the purest form of CBD.
Indefensible Claims of Curing Disease
As a general rule of thumb, if the CBD product labels contain any claims of being able to cure diseases such as cancer or COVID-19, this signifies a serious red flag. All in all, a company making bold claims about its product are either unaware of the industry rules or has chosen to disregard them. As a consequence, many CBD manufacturers have come under scrutiny by the relevant government authorities.
Product Batch Number
Legitimate CBD manufacturers would usually include a batch number on their products as it is a significant indicator of whether they are abiding by the gold-standard manufacturing practices. On top of that, such practices also provide a way for them to immediately identify this product in case an operations recall becomes necessary.
Additional Ingredients
Just like for any supplement, consumers should always bear in mind what they will be ingesting other than CBD for any CBD product that they intend to consume.
In the meantime, if you are on the lookout for high-quality CBD products, do consider checking out Naturecan’s CBD products for a wide variety of options.
Is Cannabidiol Effective?
In our world today, CBD has been popularised for its many potential health applications, whereby the strongest case has been built for its medical applications in treating childhood epilepsy syndromes that are often unresponsive to anti-seizure medications, including Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). More specifically, CBD has been suggested to be able to reduce the occurrence of seizures or eliminate them altogether. As a result, the CBD-infused medication called Epidiolex has been approved by the FDA to treat these health conditions.
Conversely, various studies conducted on animals or a limited number of humans have also implied the possible applications of CBD in alleviating anxiety, chronic pain, and depression and improving general well-being. Nevertheless, such studies are far from comprehensive and should be taken with a pinch of salt. Regardless, the evidence for the many uses of CBD is still growing, with certain countries having officially legalised its utilisation for medical as well as recreational purposes. What’s more, additional research will continue to follow, whereby we should hopefully gain a better understanding of whether there may be any undiscovered issues tied to the long-term consumption of CBD.
Key Takeaways
All in all, CBD is a natural chemical that is present in the cannabis plant. It offers various applications in the medical field, whereby several studies have suggested its plausible benefits in treating chronic pain, depressive disorders, and even addiction. Not to mention, depending on its concentration and the presence or absence of THC, the effects of consuming CBD products would generate different effects depending on the individual.
Therefore, it is imperative for everyone to make sure that the CBD product you are looking to purchase has been tested by a third-party authority for quality assurance purposes. Regardless, CBD has been generally considered to be a safe compound to consume by the World Health Organisation (WHO), so experimenting with CBD may be something worth considering to elevate your health and wellness profile.
Related Posts:
- Flavored vs. Unflavored CBD Oil & Which One Is the Best?
- What Are The Pros of CBD Products for Cats?
- CBD for Concentration and Focus: Essentials to Remember
- 4 ways CBD can help you take charge of your life
- What You Need to Know About CBD Cigarettes
