The popularity of CBD oil is growing with more people familiar with its therapeutic benefits. CBD is readily available in vapes, topicals, and edibles. Users can harness CBD's benefits by adding it to their favorite dishes or drinks to mask the bitter earthy taste associated with Cannabis products. In the UK, CBD oil is legal for public consumption and can be used for recreation and as a food additive. The Food Standard Agency (FSA) regards the oil as safe for treating conditions like seizures, ADHD, Parkinson's, and PSTD.
CBD is a chemical compound extracted from the cannabis Sativa plant. Upon extraction, the compound is highly diluted with organic carrier oils like coconut oil to form highly concentrated CBD oil. Cannabidiol (CBD) has no mind-altering effects associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); instead, it exhibits health properties like an anti-inflammatory. Users can take the cannabis derivative oil in topicals and edibles.
Companies use different extraction methods resulting in three spectrums of CBD; the spectrums have different potencies infused in various products. The following are the three types:
CBD products are available in tinctures, edibles like gummies and capsules, and topicals like balms and lotions. Cannabis-based oil is the most commonly used cannabis product. The following are ways to consume the oil:
Smoking cannabis is different from vaping CBD oil. Although vaping may cause respiratory difficulties, it tends to smooth and treat certain respiratory problems. It involves using an electronic device called a vape pen to vaporize CBD oil into an inhalable format. The vape pen contains three main parts, namely:
Inhaling CBD oil has the following advantages over other consumption methods:
Like hemp tinctures, CBD oil is consumable sublingually under the tongue. It involves using droppers to place a certain amount of Cannabidiol under the tongue. The oil is left to settle for approximately 60 seconds before swallowing. Therefore, there is enough time for CBD molecules to penetrate the soft mouth membranes directly into the bloodstream. As a result, CBD's therapeutic effects will kick in almost immediately.
It involves swallowing tablets and edibles already infused with a pre-determined CBD oil dosage. CBD gummies and soft gels are the most common cannabis product taken orally. The products pass through digestion and metabolic breakdown before getting absorbed into the circulatory system. As a result, it is the slowest way to harness the benefits of the cannabinoid since it takes 1 to 2 hours to manifest in the body.
CBD oil is characterized by a bitter earthy flavor that is a significant roadblock to many sensitive consumers. Therefore, most customers tend to add oil to their daily foods to mask the undesirable taste. However, Di Marco et al. (2018) opined that CBD could easily degrade under high temperatures; therefore, it is mostly added to a cooked dish or beverage; the oil does not alter the texture and taste of the cooked dish or drink.
CBD topicals are applied directly on the skin for localized problems. Topical is made by infusing CBD oil into skin care products like lotion, cream, lip balm, and scrubs. Afterward, the resulting product is applied directly to the affected skin area. Cannabinoids penetrate through the skin pores into the inner layer, interacting with certain receptors to boost skin moisture and treat discomforts like skin irritations, redness, and itchiness. It takes approximately 30 to 90 minutes to feel the calming effects of CBD topicals.
The cannabinoid in the oil interacts with certain receptors to correct irregular body functions. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), responsible for maintaining body balance. Unlike THC, CBD does not bind with cannabinoid receptors but induces the production of compounds like anandamide which help in tackling imbalances. Therefore, CBD oil offers the following health benefits:
Anxiety is a common mental disorder that manifests into depression if not treated. It affects mostly seniors who carry it from a young age, and it intensifies as they experience abrupt changes like retirement, health complications, and loneliness. Crippa et al. (2018) stated that CBD oil could act as an anti-depressant agent. The cannabinoid can interact with CB1 receptors to induce brain neurons to release serotonin hormone. The hormone alters how patients perceive traumatic thoughts by triggering compounds like dopamine.
Trans et al. (2020) explained that taking CBD oil an hour before bed can help treat certain sleeping disorders like insomnia.
Cannabidiol is popular in promoting calming effects that relax tired muscles and the mind, making users sleep quickly. Additionally, the cannabinoid can tackle body aches and stressful thoughts that keep one awake all night. During the day, CBD oil keeps you alert, refreshed, and energetic, thus stabilizing your sleeping patterns.
Many pain-relieving medications lead to drug dependency. Therefore, most patients have opted for natural remedies for body aches; CBD oil is one such natural alternative. According to Kasper et al. (2020), Cannabidiol can interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors to block the signaling of nerve pain impulses. As a result, it promotes calming effects that make patients feel relaxed.
CBD oil is a natural remedy for loss of concentration or low mental clarity for people suffering from chronic diseases like ADHD and Parkinson's. Compounds like dopamine control behavior, memory, focus, and mental clarity. CBD is popular in supporting the release of these compounds by the brain neurons.
Cancer is among the chronic diseases that cause death to most seniors in the UK. Clinical trials on rats have shown that CBD oil can treat cancer cells and help in therapy sessions. It can mitigate the reproduction and inflammations of cancer cells, reducing the growth of cancer cells and making the affected patients absorb medication efficiently. The cannabis derivative also reduces vomiting caused by cancer-related medications.
CBD oil is popular in making people feel energetic and alert. It interacts with ECS receptors to boost the body's metabolic rate by converting the stored body fats into energy.
Inflammation is a normal reaction induced by the immune system when it senses any threat. However, sometimes the system may induce excessive inflammatory responses that cause body irritations and increases the production of stressing cell messengers. Pellati et al. (2018) noted that CBD oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce oxidative cell activities that trigger muscle fatigue and body discomfort.
In 2018, the UK parliamentary chamber passed a bill legalizing CBD products for public consumption. However, THC products and smoking marijuana joints remained illegal. The following are other laws and regulations surrounding CBD oil:
Because companies use different extraction methods to derive CBD oil, the oil may differ in terms of quality, potency, and purity. Therefore, customers should be cautious in purchasing CBD oil from an authorized vendor. According to Ashton &Livvy (2021), users should consider the following factors in determining the quality of CBD oil:
Pure CBD oil has no psychoactive effects like highness or paranoia but helps reduce the mind-altering effects of THC. However, due to FSA's improper regulation of cannabis manufacturers, some CBD oil can be contaminated with THC levels above the 0.2% mark.
The difference between the two CBD products lies in the CBD potency and how to use them. CBD gummies have lower CBD potency and are consumed by ingestion. In contrast, CBD oil is used in different ways by taking it sublingually, cooking, or inhaling it.
CBD oil has gained a huge reputation for treating various body discomforts. It is simple and convenient to use. The user can directly apply to the affected skin, inhale the oil, take oral CBD drops sublingually, or add them to their favorite food or drinks. Nonetheless, the product can relieve body pains, manage anxiety and stress, improve mental clarity, reduce inflammation, and boost body energy. However, it is crucial to a physician for dosage clarification and the best CBD oil to purchase, depending on the severity of the problem.
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Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., &Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis sativa L. and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids: their chemistry and role against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. BioMed research international, 2018.
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