Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of hundreds of chemicals found in cannabis plants, including hemp and marijuana. But it’s one that you may have heard some buzz about, because it’s believed to have a number of medicinal benefits. It could treat your anxiety, relieve your chronic pain, or help you sleep better at night. And it’s not intoxicating. Let’s look at the benefits of CBD, and how you should go about buying and using it.
CBD Benefits
Researchers are still exploring the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoid compounds, but there is evidence to suggest that CBD has potent medicinal properties. It may relieve the symptoms of insomnia so you can sleep through the night. It has been found to relieve anxiety, chronic pain, and inflammation. It has promise as an antipsychotic, an anticonvulsant, and a sedative. The FDA has even approved a prescription form of CBD for the treatment of rare but severe seizure disorders.
CBD has few side effects and most people tolerate it well. It’s legal on a federal level and in many states. You can buy it over the counter and it’s affordable. Side effects tend to be mild and include diarrhea, decreased appetite, and fatigue.
Choosing a Quality Product
Most CBD products are sold as supplements, so they aren’t regulated by the FDA. You’ll have to do your due diligence as a customer to make sure you’re getting a quality product. Buy CBD from companies that offer a certificate of analysis (COA) for their products. The COA will tell you how much CBD and other cannabinoids are in the product, and whether it contains any impurities or contaminants, like pesticides or mold. It should be done by a third-party lab that is accredited by the International Organization of Standardization or ISO.
Ways to Take CBD
There are several ways to take CBD. You can inhale it using a vape cartridge. You can drop CBD tincture or oil under your tongue and hold it there for a minute before swallowing, to absorb the CBD sublingually. You can use a transdermal patch that will allow CBD to absorb into your bloodstream through the skin. You can use an ointment or lotion that contains CBD to treat painful muscles or joints. Or you can eat CBD as capsules or added to food and drink.
You can even buy products that combine CBD with other medicinal herbs and supplements to accentuate their effects. For example, the product Uleva Relax combines CBD with ashwagandha for additional stress relief and mood support.
Which delivery method is best for your situation? Capsules and edibles are discreet and easy to take and carry anywhere, but they can take a long time – up to two hours – to take effect. Sublingual and transdermal CBD may take effect a little faster, but the fastest way to feel the effects is to smoke or vape hemp flower or CBD vape cartridges.
Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and CBD Isolate
When you start shopping for CBD products, you’re going to notice the terms full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. These terms refer to the cannabinoid profile of the product. Full-spectrum CBD products contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds found in hemp, including trace amounts of THC in some products. It’s believed that the combination of all these chemicals working together offers a more potent medicinal effect.
However, some people don’t want to take any THC. Broad-spectrum products contain all of the cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp except for THC. These cannabinoids and terpenes include CBD, cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), and limonene. Broad spectrum CBD products allow you to take advantage of the entourage effect and get the benefits of all the other cannabinoids and terpenes in hemp, but without ingesting any amount of THC.
CBD isolate products don’t contain any other cannabinoids or terpenes, just CBD. Because terpenes are the chemicals responsible for how a plant smells and tastes, CBD isolate products won’t taste or smell like marijuana. They’re the right choice if you want to benefit from the effects of CBD alone, or even if you just want to see how CBD will affect you all on its own.
If you’re looking for relief from symptoms of pain, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and other illnesses physical and mental, CBD could help. It’s a non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound that has been found to have a range of beneficial effects. Grab some CBD today and start living a better, happier life.