What Is CBD Oil?

A guide for beginners on CBD Oil:



CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of over 100 chemical compounds present in the Cannabis Sativa plant. These compounds are known as cannabinoids, and they are very similar to the endocannabinoids a human body produces as part of your endocannabinoid system (“endo” referring to the fact that these cannabinoids are found internally, or endogenously, inside your body).

Your endocannabinoid system is responsible for keeping your body in a healthy state of balance. It helps modulate your mood, appetite, sleeping cycles, pain response, immune function, and much more. When you consume CBD oil, it introduces more cannabinoids in your body, bolstering the effectiveness of your endocannabinoid system.

Depending on the specific condition you are consuming CBD for, the process differs specifically, but mainly, CBD assists your endocannabinoid system do a better job bringing the system in your body back into balance. For instance, if you consume a CBD topical to treat the arthritis pain in your shoulders through a massage, the CBD interacts with endocannabinoids in your peripheral nervous system to provide relief from pain. It also bonds to cannabinoid receptors in your brain, lifting your mood and readjusting your perception of the pain.

How Is CBD Oil Made?

Commonly, CBD is extracted from cannabis by using carbon dioxide or a solvent like olive oil that later evaporates away. After the extraction process, the oil initially consists of other cannabinoids, such as CBDV, CBDA, and THC. This type of CBD oil is referred to as a “full-spectrum.” If the extract is then cooled and refined to filter all other cannabinoids besides CBD, it is labelled “THC free” or “CBD isolate.”

Should you use full-spectrum or isolate CBD? 

Some consumers prefer full-spectrum CBD for the so-called “entourage effect” they produce. Due to other cannabinoids being present, some people believe they experience a more productive result with full-spectrum CBD, since more cannabinoids are working together to relieve their condition. However, if you are concerned about any THC being present in the product, a CBD isolate may be more befitting for your choice.

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

CBD comes from the cannabis plant, so does THC, and the cannabinoid responsible for the “high” of marijuana. Because CBD and THC are extracted from the same plant, people often confuse the two.

CBD contains no psychoactive properties; therefore it will not get you high. If anything, some users experience a feeling of relief when using CBD, but the principal effect will be relief for whatever purpose you’re using it for.

It is important to be aware that CBD oils are derived from either the hemp or marijuana strains of cannabis. Industrial hemp contains 0.3% THC or less than that, so CBD oils sourced from the hemp will not produce a ‘’high’’. Marijuana, on the contrary, typically contains greater amounts of THC (ranging between 5% to 20%). As a result, CBD oils extracted from marijuana may produce a “high.”

We recommend CBD oils sourced from hemp. These contain a higher concentration of CBD, are widely legal across the country, and will not produce a “high.” To check out our list of best CBD Oils of 2020 Read: List of the Best CBD Oils of 2020

What Can CBD Oil Help With?

The field of CBD research is very interesting, mainly because researchers keep discovering new benefits of CBD. To date, CBD appears to be beneficial for an expanding range of conditions, including:

  • Anxiety: CBD has been shown to minimize symptoms of anxiety for people with social anxiety disorder.

  • Depression: CBD’s activation of 5-HT1A receptors inside the brain generates an effect similar to an antidepressant.

  • PTSD: One study found that CBD improved the symptoms of sleep and anxiety in a pediatric patient resistant to conventional PTSD treatment, while another study found that CBD produced a sustained reduction in anxiety after exposed to a threat from predators.

  • Insomnia: CBD can relieve general insomnia, and improve sleep-related symptoms for patients with PTSD or rheumatoid arthritis.

  • Chronic pain: Multiple researches have concluded that CBD provides productive pain relief for individuals with arthritis pain, multiple sclerosis, and chronic nerve pain.

  • Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: For cancer patients, CBD reduces nausea and vomiting symptoms by as much as 50%.

  • Acne and psoriasis: CBD’s anti-inflammatory help inhibit the production of oily sebocytes that contribute to acne, as well as slow the skin inflammation that leads to psoriasis.

  • Epilepsy: CBD can alleviate the occurrence of monthly seizures by a margin of 36.5% to 52.4%.

  • Addiction withdrawal: For those in recovery, CBD has shown to significantly decrease an individual’s craving for nicotine or heroin.

People are using CBD to help treat these disorders, and more. Many people also occasionally use CBD to deal with daily stress or the occasional insomnia bout.

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Is CBD Oil Safe to Use?

Part of what makes CBD so attractive is that it produces zero to few side effects. CBD is very safe and well-tolerated by most people, even in high doses and with chronic use. This has led many to seek out CBD as an alternative treatment, since it doesn’t produce the negative side effects that are present with many over-the-counter or prescription medications.

What Are the Side Effects of CBD Oil?

Although rare, the side effects can be experienced with CBD. The most popular of these is fatigue, which some individuals may feel when they begin to take CBD first. Other CBD side effects include:

  • Diarrhea

  • Nausea

  • Dry mouth

  • Changes in appetite or weight

  • Low blood pressure

However, CBD is not recommended for anyone. If you fall into one of the below risk groups, exercise caution when using CBD or avoid it altogether.

  • People taking other medications: When side effects occur, they most frequently occur among those taking other prescribed medicines CBD can affect the way your liver metabolizes drugs, similar to grapefruit juice, so always consult with your doctor before you use CBD if you are taking any other prescription medication

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women: There were not many studies to assess whether CBD is safe for women who are pregnant or who are breastfeeding. Many research, however, indicate that this could increase the permeability of the placental barrier, thus jeopardizing the fetus.

  • Children: As for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, not enough trials in children have been done to assess the efficacy of CBD in this group. Consult with your pediatrician before introducing your child to CBD.



How to Use CBD Oil

CBD oil can be utilized in several ways: rubbed into the skin, inhaling, applying sublingually to the tongue, eating, or otherwise orally ingesting. There is a growing variety of products for each of these ingestion methods.

  • CBD oil tinctures come with a dropper, whereby you can apply the oil beneath your tongue or add it to food or drink.

  • CBD topicals are rubbed or massaged into the skin. These include lotions and creams, salves, and lip balms.

  • CBD sprays are spritzed directly into the mouth.

  • CBD vape oils are heated and inhaled using a vape pen or vaporizer.

  • CBD capsules resemble traditional medications and can be swallowed.

  • CBD edibles are eaten. These include CBD gummies, candies, chocolates, and baked goods.

CBD oil is effective, regardless of what form it comes in. However, some individuals find certain ingestion methods to be more effective than others.

For example, it may be helpful for individuals taking CBD to cope with chronic pain to use a topical CBD, as rubbing the CBD into their skin provides the benefits of massage. Individuals who take CBD to deal with anxiety triggers may find a most effective tincture or vape, as the effects are felt almost promptly with either of these methods. Others prefer CBD gummies or capsules, because they’re more discreet ways to consume CBD. It’s totally up to your personal preference and what works best for you.

How Much CBD Oil Should You Take?

CBD oils are available in a variety of concentrations, expressed in milligrams. The general rule of thumb for every 10 pounds of your body weight is to take 1 mg to 6 mg of CBD. That range is based on how firmly you want the desired effects to feel.

For instance, if you just wish relax after a stressful day at work; you might want to take just 1mg of CBD for every 10 pounds of your body weight. However, if you are consuming CBD for severe chronic pain, you will likely require a dose towards the increased end of that spectrum (5mg to 6mg for every 10 pounds of your body weight).

Here, we have a general guide for CBD doses and prescribed doses for anxiety, pain and sleep. 

For your body weight, we recommend starting with the least prescribed amount and gradually increasing your dose from there until you feel the effects. You can stop going up your dose at that point. People aren't developing tolerance for CBD. How Long Does It Take for CBD Oil to Be Effective?

One of the main reasons people choose one form of CBD over another is the length of onset—or, how long it takes until you start to feel the effects.

CBD edibles (including powders, gummies, and capsules) take the longest to start kicking in since the CBD has to go through the digestive system first. This can take around from 30 to 90 minutes.

Onset for the other methods of ingestion—including inhalation, sublingual, and topical application—is much faster. You’ll feel the effects within a few minutes.

Ingestion Method

Length of Onset

Duration of Effects

Oral

30 to 90 minutes

4 to 6 hours

Sublingual

5 to 20 minutes

4 to 6 hours

Topical

1 to 3 minutes

4 to 6 hours

Inhalation

1 to 3 minutes

2 to 3 hours*

* You’ll note that the duration of effects for inhalation is relatively shorter than other consumption methods. However, the effects are felt almost instantly. This makes inhaling CBD a better option for those users taking CBD to manage acute symptoms, such as a panic attack or nausea.

Where Can You Buy CBD Oil?

CBD is readily available for buying online, and to an expanding extent in physical stores. You can find CBD oils at:

  • Manufacturer websites: Most CBD oils are available for purchase directly on the manufacturer’s websites. These are often the best place to get the lowest price for a particular product.

  • Retailer websites: Online retailers will sell CBD oils from several different brands, allowing you to enjoy the widest product range and selection.

  • Health or drug stores: You can also find hemp-derived CBD oils in some local health and drug stores. Depending on where you live, marijuana-sourced CBD oil may also be available.

  • Marijuana dispensaries: If you live in a state where marijuana is legal for recreational use, you can often purchase CBD oils at dispensaries as well.

Is CBD Oil Legal?

Yes, it is. CBD oil sourced from industrial hemp is legal.

The same cannot be said for CBD-based marijuana. If you're planning to buy marijuana-based CBD, you'll would want check your state's laws before doing so. Even if you can buy it online, where you live, it might not be legal. 

If you buy hemp-sourced CBD, discussing all the CBD brands we review below, you will not have to worry about the legality. As of December 2018, with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp—and CBD oil sourced from it—became federal at a legal level across the country.

How to Find Quality CBD Oil

When browsing for CBD oil, making sure you choose a reliable product from a reliable producer is essential to do a bit of work. A 2017 report of 84 CBD oils sold online showed that about one-third of the CBD content was correctly labeled. 

To understand you can trust what you read on the bottle, use the below checklist to determine what CBD business you are considering purchasing from

Which extraction method do they use?

Chapter CBD oils tend to come from producers that use less secure methods of extraction. These manufacturers may go as far to extract their CBD oils using toxic substances such as butane. We recommend extracting CBD oils which use carbon dioxide (CO2). It is the process which is safest and most effective.

Where do they grow their hemp?

Locally grown hemp minimizes the potential for toxic ingredients to be present in your CBD oils. We recommend manufacturers who grow their hemp in the United States. and make all of their CBD products from non-GMO, 100% pesticide-free industrial hemp.  

Do they use third-party testing?

Reputable CBD oil producers use independent third-party laboratories to test the health of their ingredients and the CBD and other cannabinoids presence in their products. Not only do these producers use a third party lab; they should also make these analysis results freely accessible on their website or in the packaging of the drug.

What do other consumers have to say?

For information about what kind of problems people are using CBD oil for, what dose they used, and how they found it successful, feedback can be a great source to dig for. Check at the drug ratings on the website of the company and inquire for more feedback on public sites such as the CBD subreddit.

What’s the price per mg?

To others, price is both a driving factor and a means of measuring the consistency of a CBD product. When a commodity seems to be too low a price to be real, it actually is. The quality of your CBD oil would depend for the most part on the commodity concentration and thickness. It is possible to measure the cost per milligram (in each of our reviews below we've done it for you). That way you can quickly tell if you are paying a reasonable amount for the strength of the CBD that you are buying. Good quality CBD oil can cost between $0.05 / mg and more than $0.20 / mg anywhere.

Is there really a best CBD oil? Or is the point of reading CBD brand reviews to simply find a product that best fits your taste and budget?

Well, it’s a combination of both of these factors.

You need to defend yourself in an unregulated market but there are lots of good options. We've tried hundreds of different hemp products to make things easier, and found the best standard CBD oils for sale online. Here’s a list of our top picks.

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