The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to CBD

Questions about CBD continually circulate the web, so naturally, people wonder what the hype is all about.

That’s why we wrote the ultimate beginner's guide to CBD. It will cover some commonly asked questions and provide detailed answers.

Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll learn — the science of CBD, how it works in your body, the safety profile, legalities, and dosage recommendations.

 

What Is CBD? 

 

The full scientific name for CBD is Cannabidiol. It’s a naturally occurring phytocannabinoid found in cannabis. The hemp plant is part of the cannabis family and has a high concentration of CBD.   

CBD and other cannabinoids appear in large quantities in the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. These cannabinoids work synergistically with CBD to support the well-being of the body and mind.

Because CBD is much different than THC, you won’t experience any psychoactive effects when consuming CBD.

 

How Is CBD Oil Made? 

 

From hemp to oil, the process involves extracting CBD from the flowers and leaves of the plant. Then, the cannabidiol extract gets mixed with a carrier oil, like coconut or sunflower oil.

The therapeutic effects of CBD oil are better absorbed when made with a carrier oil. Two of the most popular forms of consumption today is CBD oil, taken sublingually (under the tongue), and CBD edibles, such as gummies.   

 

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) 

 

The endocannabinoid system was discovered within the last few decades. Its role is to promote homeostasis or balance within the body. The ECS can achieve homeostasis through the regulation of the body’s immune-system responses, sleep function, and pain response.

CBD indirectly interacts with the endocannabinoid system via the cannabinoid receptors — CB1 and CB2. These receptors are primarily concentrated in your brain, central nervous system, and immune system.

CB1 receptors are responsible for:

• Coordination
• Movement
• Emotions
• Mood
• Appetite
• Memories

While CB2 receptors help in the management of inflammation and pain.

Even though the ECS is newly researched, scientists already regard this system as the regulator of overall health. So, taking CBD oil is one way to ensure your body has enough cannabinoids for optimal well-being.    

Due to the anecdotal evidence about CBDs effects, scientists are conducting more and more studies to learn about it. In fact, the Wolrd Health Organization (WHO) published a report in 2017 about CBD and found that “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

 

Properties of CBD

One of the first forms of documented evidence on CBD’s effects came in the form of U.S. Patent 6630507B1. It reads:

“Cannabinoids (CBD) have been found to have antioxidant properties. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants.”

To comply with FDA regulations, we cannot make any claims or speak about the benefits of CBD. Yet, there is a lot of scientific research and studies that report on the therapeutic potential of CBD. Perform your own research, to see if CBD is right or you. 

 

Safety Profile of CBD 

The safety profile of CBD oil is favorable, as confirmed by many studies and by the World Health Organization.

Their report stated, CBD “in humans... exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential….To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

 

Is CBD Legal? 

For countless years, the laws on hemp and CBD in particular, have not been clear. Luckily, all that changed when The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 became law on December 20, 2018.

When this Bill passed, hemp and hemp-derived CBD were removed from the list of controlled substances.

In accordance with this Bill, hemp is defined as all parts of the Cannabis L. Sativa plant that doesn’t exceed 0.3% THC by dry weight. So, many of the products you’ll find for sale online, like Hemp Health One’s products, contain less than 0.3% THC.

For specific information about the laws in your state, please visit our blog article called, Is CBD Legal: Federal and State Laws Examined.

 

What to Know About Dosing? 

If you’ve never taken CBD, and want to start with a CBD oil product, here are some dosage suggestions.

To start, place a couple of drops of CBD oil under your tongue, then hold for at least 60 seconds before swallowing. This helps the oil access the sublingual gland, to help promote the absorption of CBD into your bloodstream for better results.

With any new wellness product you try, it’s good to start with a low dose, then gradually work up to a higher one. This dosing strategy gives your body time to adjust to the effects of CBD.

Some people who start taking CBD oil notice immediate effects. Yet, experts say effects might not occur until a few weeks of consistent use.

 

Summary of Main Points

• The World Health Organization concluded that CBD is safe for consumption.
• Hemp-derived CBD products don’t have psychoactive properties.
• As with any new wellness product, start with a low dose. After several days of consistently using the product, increase the dose as you see fit until you eventually find your ideal dose.
• You can legally buy CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC, like CBD oil, in the United States.

 

 

Resources:

https://www.projectcbd.org/about/what-is-cbd

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317221.php

https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo200967

https://www.greenrelief.ca/blog/cannabinoid-receptors/

https://www.projectcbd.org/about/legal-issues/evolving-regulatory-status-cannabidiol

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/science-behind-cbd-everything-want-know

https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/health/is-cbd-oil-legal-14802001

https://echoconnection.org/nausea-medical-cannabis-and-cbd-research-overview/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17712814

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25691302

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https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30709-2/fulltext

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098033/