Everyone has a home first aid kit. Some have a whole drawer dedicated to medicines for any possible discomfort: one type of pills for headache, another one for food poisoning, third for insomnia, and so on. These piles are accumulated throughout the years and become more extensive each year as we face new problems every now and then.
How fascinating and revolutionary would it be if one day the scientists found "the new aspirin" that would be as universal in its use? A magical substance that would cure anything, from a simple cold to severe inflammation, or even help manage mental health problems? One single product that you would keep in a drawer and substitute it for piles of pills, capsules, syrups, drops, or any other forms of traditional medications out there. It seems like this product is out there, and its popularity is growing every day. The name of the new 21-century panacea is called CBD.
First, let's power through some definitions.
What Is CBD And How Does It Work?
Cannabidiol or CBD is a natural component extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant, also known as marijuana or hemp. CBD is one of more than 100 phytocannabinoids that are found in this plant. It is well-known for its healing, calming and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another active ingredient found in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When consumed in large quantities, it creates a high effect. Some CBD products include THC in their composition; however, the concentration is so little that it doesn't cause a high.
Here is a simple summary of how CBD interacts with our body. As you may know, we all have both messengers and receptors. The messengers are Cannabinoids, and the receptor is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). After consuming CBD infused products, cannabinoids from the CBD send signals to your brain to regulate panic attacks, calm down a mental state, or facilitate pain relief. Our organism can get those messages both from your naturally produced cannabinoids and cannabinoids from the CBD products.
Exploring CBD benefits
CBD has a variety of advantages, and the list keeps getting longer as more research is being held. It helps manage chronic pain, reducing stress and anxiety symptoms, and even in providing extinction of unpleasant memories, and the list doesn't end there. CBD products can help manage the following problems:
CBD for anxiety
Many tests showed a positive effect of CBD in anxiety treatment. The component interacts with receptors in a human brain and reduces concern feelings.
CBD for depression
CBD works as an antidepressant and helps in managing mental disbalances. It can be used as a more natural and healthy alternative to other antidepressants that often have serious side-effects.
CBD for insomnia
Regular use of CBD may provide better sleep quality and substitute melatonin pills. It affects the sleep-promoting chemical and as a result, helps in dealing with insomnia.
CBD for pain
CBD oil is an effective way to relieve pain. It reduces inflammation that can trigger pain flow in the body. Cannabidiol facilitates muscular aches after an intense workout by stimulating the anandamide production, which relaxes and calms your body.
Other uses
Can CBD be beneficial in other situations? A wide choice of CBD-infused products encourages us to try them for treating other distresses. CBD is a promising method of treatment and may also be helpful in the following cases: nicotine withdrawal, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, acne, and other skin problems, diabetes, etc.
Cannabidiol can also be named one of the most effective pain relievers for patients with cancer due to the ability to reduce side effects of chemotherapy without decreasing their effectiveness.
Is CBD Even Legal?
According to EU regulations, it is allowed to grow industrial hemp legally if it contains less than 0.2% of THC. Cultivated hemp plants and all manufactured CBD-infused items must get approval before being used or put on the market. If the product meets a very particular and strict list of standards, the product is considered legal for selling and purchasing.
Forms Of Using CBD
Nowadays, CBD products are widely used as a safe and natural method to improve health. The health market offers different CBD-infused items. These products come in various forms: syrups, tinctures, oils, vapes, gummies, and even chocolate.
Different ways of consuming CBD can be used to achieve different effects. Product use options also impact the speed of how quickly it starts to show results. It's important to try various forms of CBD products in order to find one that would be the most effective for you. It may take time before you find out what works best, but it's worth experimenting because what works for someone else in the review section, might not work for you. Here is a short list of forms CBD products come in:
- Edibles and beverages. Edible CBD infused products are widely accessible and might be anything tasty from cookies to gummies. There are also beverages such as coffee or sports drinks that you can consume in the same way you would drink a regular traditional alternative while getting the benefits of CBD.
- Syrups/Tinctures/Oils. CBD syrups can be mixed with your food or beverage. Such a form is a convenient method of consuming CBD and controlling its dosage. Oils can also be used in aromatherapy and become a great night time routine for relaxation.
- Creams. Beauty market offers a great choice of products that contain CBD, for instance, shampoos, balms, body moisturisers, and lotions. CBD has unique healing properties and can become your new favourite item in a beauty routine.
- Vape. Vaping is a popular method of consuming CBD that gives results fast. You can use a vape juice or a cartridge. It is an excellent product for people that enjoy smoking because it can also help to quit smoking cigarettes.
CBD Side Effects
The most common side effects include tiredness, exhaustion, diarrhoea, appetite, and weight changes. As any product of a similar nature, CBD has also side effects in case of overdose. It may impact your body and cause fatigue and unwell feeling.
Scientists already held plenty of tests to reveal CBD influence; however, a lot more are yet to come to understand exact side effects better. It is essential to realise that as great as it is, CBD may have different effects on different people.
Furthermore, bear in mind that CBD infused products can be incompatible with some supplements or medications, so you need to be extra careful in choosing a product if you are already taking other medicaments or antibiotics. We recommend consulting your doctor before purchase. Also, make sure you are not allergic to any of the individual components.
Dosage
There are no concrete guidelines on how to determine an ideal CBD dose because it depends on many individual factors, such as drug tolerance, weight, age, current and past diseases, and so on. Our recommendation is to start with the smallest dosage recommended for a particular product. This information can be found on the label or in the annotation that comes with the product. You can increase the dosage slightly after the first week if you would like to have more impact.
Cautions Before Consuming
CBD is an affordable and well-known product, but it is not suitable for some groups of people. Restrain from consuming CBD products if you are under the age of 18, pregnant or breastfeeding.
Use of CBD infused products along with other types of medications, can cause side effects or affect the performance of either product. Consult a doctor before using two and more products simultaneously.
