Ayurveda | Health Articles | How to Use CBD Oils

There’s no doubt that there is a shift in perception and knowledge happening around cannabis and CBD. The supply and demand of this treasure is growing- CBD based products are overflowing the market more and more each day. Moreover, more and more researches on the subject are made each day resulting in many new informations on what CBD really is and how does it benefit our bodies. People are getting interested in discovering and making this wonderful substance a part of their lives. CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol; an exogenous cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. CBD can be extracted from industrial hemp and marijuana- both are different versions of the cannabis plant. CBD oil can be made using many extraction methods, although CO2 extraction method is the preferred option since it preserves terpenes and flavonoids. Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system, which contains endocannabinoid receptors that accept and respond to the CBD molecules. Our cannabinoid system can produce endocannabinoids itself, however we might get deficient in this cannabinoids since we do not intake them through food. A baby on the other hand, if breastfed, takes extra cannabinoids in its system- a mother’s milk contains cannabinoids. Once we have these super molecules stored in ourselves, they stimulate our cells to do the activities needed for homeostasis and health. Both hemp and marijuana contain CBD; the difference between them is marijuana contains much larger percentage of THC (5-35%) whereas hemp has low amount of THC. They also differ in their appearance and their chemistry. Hemp is harvested for its seeds and stalks of which many products can be made in the industry: paper, canvases, biodegradable plastics as well as food, supplements, body care products, medicines; offering a broad choice of how one can integrate cannabis and CBD in his/her life. There are several different ways to consume CBD and enjoy its benefits. CBD oil: CBD oil can be extracted from cannabis or hemp plant. The CBD molecule is the same in both; however there is a difference between the oils themselves. Cannabis- derived oil will grant different percentage of THC as well as other components of the cannabis plant. Contrary to popular belief, this CBD oil does not contain only CBD due to the CO2 extraction method it contains other cannabinoids such as CBDa, CBC, CBN, CBG plus terpenes and flavonoids- the result of this is Entourage effect ( this means that all of these molecules work together to create a bigger and better effect as a medicine). On the other hand there is the hemp- based oil- this one contains only CBD and very little THC- less than 0,3%. These oils can be taken from a bottle dropper or with a spray- this is a very quick and convenient way because the absorption of CBD is fast. You can also put this potion in smoothies, drinks, food etc. to get your correct daily dosage. Different people experience different results and have different preference- you may want to try what works better on yourself- however consult someone with more knowledge and experience or educate yourself more. Vaping CBD: Vaping is a practice of inhaling a vapor that is produced by a vaporizer ( like an electronic cigarette). Two main categories are vape shots and refillable vape pens ( with a disposable cartridge). Ninety percent of CBD goes into the bloodstream when taken this way at a fast rate. Vape shots and refills can be flavored with natural plant based or artificial flavors such as vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol, which are thinning agents that make the juice viscous enough to work with the electronic heater coils that are found in vape pens. The CBD vape juice, also called CBD e-liquid or CBD vape oil, are all terms to describe CBD oil specially designed for vaporizers- DO NOT confuse them with CBD oils made for direct consumption orally in your mouth. Never place CBD oils in your vaporizer nor CBD vape oils in your mouth. 100% pure CBD isolates are not as effective as full- spectrum CBD products because CBD works better with their fellow partners- the terpenes, flavonoids and the other cannabinoids. The isolates can be mixed with different additives and isolates to create other spectrum of products. This can be a bright side to smokers as they can add the nicotine juice or they can swap their electronic cigarette with a new modern version of CBD vaporizer altogether. Another great benefit is that ingesting CBD this way gets in your system faster and easier. However, the downside can be that by heating the artificial flavors, they might become toxic. CBD Balms: The skin care products industry is starting to use cannabis components such as CBD as more and more research is emerging of its benefits. There is a rise of CBD balms, creams, lotions, face cleaners, face masks, lip balms etc on the market. The difference between a balm ( salve and ointment can be used interchangeably) and a cream or lotion is that a balm uses wax and fatty acids as a base whereas the base used for creams or lotions is water. The oil is the carrier of CBD- the more fatty acids the more CBD can be carried. The balm is a medicine infused concoction where the part that is supposed to be a medicine is directly transferred through the skin. In this case CBD is our medicine and when passed through the skin it starts influencing the cells around, interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. The effect is immediate and direct on the part that needs healing. Compared to CBD taken through digestive system which takes time to be absorbed and spread throughout the body, this would be a better option on a localized problem area. This makes CBD balms much more appropriate for treating joint pain and skin conditions. Actually, studies have shown that CBD balms are effective in treating arthritic pain and inflammation, muscle soreness and pain as well as psoriasis and eczema. These are some very interesting new products, make sure to check and try some out!

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