Can CBD Oil Help You? Everything You Need to Know About Cannabidiol

What Is CBD Oil?

Before we can delve deeper into this question, we need to mention CBD's full name: cannabidiol.

Cannabidiol is a type of cannabinoid. But that begs a new question...

What is a cannabinoid?

Let's break that down:

All plants produce chemicals to aid in making energy, protecting against threats, and even communicating with surrounding plants. While these chemicals exist to benefit the plant itself, many are also extremely useful for the human body, as well.

In the cannabis plant, these chemicals are called phytocannabinoids. Or cannabinoids for short.

But that's only part of the cannabinoid equation.

How does cannabidiol affect the body?

The human body contains countless chemicals and transmitters that release and absorb these chemicals. From the brain to the stomach, these chemicals and their related systems are responsible for pretty much everything the body does.

Seriously, check it out, that includes how we think, experience pain, and regulate our appetites.

One of these systems is called the endocannabinoid system. This system is made up of free-floating cannabinoids — which trigger different bodily functions — and cannabinoid receptors.

The endocannabinoid system helps regulate the endocrine system, also known as our hormonal system, hence the endo- prefix.

Does CBD get you “high?"

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Like CBD, THC interacts with the body's endocannabinoid receptors, supplementing our naturally produced cannabinoids.

Lets break that down a bit.

However, since THC has a different chemical structure than CBD or any other cannabinoid, it also triggers different responses from the body. The most notable of THC's effects is the mental intoxication that takes place when THC enters the brain's endocannabinoid receptors.

So here's the good news:

Those on CBD can safely drive, perform their work duties, and complete any other day-to-day activity.

Where does CBD Oil Come From?

As we mentioned already, CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant. But not all cannabis plants are created equal.

Let's define a few things first:

When it comes to CBD oil, this product can be extracted from any member of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica species. However, especially in states without legal recreational marijuana, most CBD comes from the hemp variety of Cannabis sativa.

Does CBD oil contain THC?

Is CBD Oil Truly Legal?

With the current legal climate surrounding marijuana and THC, it's really no surprise that many people are confused by CBD and its legal status. And it certainly doesn't help that these laws vary from the federal to the local level.

Let's break this down:

So can you safely purchase, possess, and take CBD products without risk of legal repercussions?

Federal Laws

At least in states where recreational marijuana is illegal, commercial CBD is legal because it comes from the hemp plant (which, as we know, contains negligible amounts of THC).

In states where recreational marijuana is legal, CBD can technically come from either a hemp or non-hemp cannabis plant. But hemp is still the most common source of CBD.

Ok, so now that we know more about federal laws, let's get closer to home.

Local laws

Yes. The most newsworthy case of this is New York City's crackdown on local restaurants, bakeries, and other establishments adding CBD to their goods. However, areas of California, Maine, and other states have also followed suit.

But, there is more to the story!

Fortunately, these local regulations typically only apply to edible goods, like coffee, pastries, and more, that contain CBD products. And the reason for these restrictions in the first place has to do with the Food & Drug Administration's (or FDA's) lack of approval.

FDA regulations

So, how does that affect you?

While the average CBD user isn't affected by the FDA's ban of CBD products, this restriction has affected business owners who wish to create CBD-infused drinks and edible goods.

As of now, we have no way of knowing which direction the FDA's hearing will go. But...

based on the growing acceptance of CBD and other cannabis-derived products, it will be interesting to see what CBD's future holds. Especially in the realms of food and drinks, and transportation.

Transporting CBD products

Let's dig into that:

On the one hand, CBD hemp has been removed from the federal controlled substances list. This means that interstate transportation of these products should be legal for both consumers and commercial distributors.

On the other hand, though, the FDA still considers CBD to be a controlled substance under their jurisdiction. And this means that, according to the FDA, interstate commerce is still illegal.

Confusing? Here's the important question:

Will you face charges for selling or transporting CBD products across state lines?

The answer? Probably not. But the laws are still incredibly murky.

Now, what about if you mail it?

Mailing CBD products

Technically, the USPS allows the mailing of CBD products across state lines. However, distributors must hold the proper licenses and submit a sworn statement.

Also, the THC content of these products must remain under 0.3 percent.

This might seem straightforward, but the complication comes with obtaining the proper license.

The Safe Use of CBD Oil

If you were worried about CBD oil sending you into a marijuana-fueled stupor, you can rest easy knowing that's just not the case. But you might still be wondering if CBD is 100 percent safe and risk-free.

As far as therapeutic chemicals go, CBD is practically harmless. As with anything we ingest, though, you should still be aware that there are some potential side effects.

Here's what you need to know:

Who can take CBD oil?

CBD oil and other CBD-containing products are a great option for almost anybody. No matter your age or gender, CBD can be a great, drug-free solution to all types of aches, stresses, and other day-to-day concerns.

There's more to it:

As with any supplement or medication, we strongly recommend speaking with your doctor if you plan to make CBD a regular part of your routine.

Side effects and other risks are rare, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're already using CBD on a regular basis, let your doctor know at your next visit so that they can safely prescribe medication and other treatment in the future.

Ok, now, the question of gestation:

Is CBD safe for pregnant women?

If you believe CBD might be a safer alternative to other medications you currently take, please reach out to your doctor to discuss your options. Again, CBD hasn't been proven harmful to pregnant women or their children.

But there also is no proof that it is 100 percent safe.

Will CBD show up on a drug test?

If you're required to submit to drug testing for employment or for any other reason, you won't need to worry about CBD showing up on the results...

Standard drug tests only test for THC. So not only will CBD not be an issue on your drug test, but no one will even know you take it.

Now, for those on medications, an important question:

Does CBD oil interact with medication?

In general, CBD has shown little interaction with prescription or over-the-counter medications.

But there is one exception.

Since CBD oil has a slight blood thinning properties, it can cause issues for those with existing blood or cardiac concerns. If you are being treated for poor blood pressure, clotting, heart problems, or any type of similar issue, discuss CBD usage with your doctor before using these products.

What about side effects?

Are there side effects associated with CBD oil?

Unfortunately, CBD oil usage isn't always sunshine and rainbows.

But the few side effects that CBD can cause are fairly harmless and short-lived.

Common side effects of CBD consumption include:

These side effects can be unpleasant in the moment, but once the CBD is out of your system these effects will also dissipate.

But keep this in mind:

The presence of these side effects doesn't necessarily mean that the CBD oil isn't benefiting you.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about whether or not CBD oil is right for you.

CBD Oil as Medicine

As more and more research emerges, it's becoming clear that CBD has incredible benefits when it comes to treating mental disorders, chronic pain, seizures, chemotherapy side effects, and even addiction withdrawals.

So what can this seemingly magical chemical help treat? And is there real science to back up these claims?

Mental disorders

In many cases of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other disorders, symptoms are partially caused by a disruption in serotonin and other neurotransmitter levels.

Since the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating these neurotransmitters, supplementing with CBD can have therapeutic effects.

Here's what we found:

In theory, taking CBD can improve the brain's ability to produce and uptake serotonin and similar neurotransmitters. While this treatment won't work for every patient suffering from depression, anxiety, or PTSD, many people have found some relief through CBD products.

Patients with sleep disorders may also benefit from CBD therapy.

That's not even close to all the benefits...

CBD oil is a promising therapy for many mental disorders.

However, it can be difficult to measure effectiveness in a clinical setting. Fortunately, since CBD doesn't have the same addictive properties or side effects as many popular prescription medications, there is little risk associated with at least trying this treatment option.

You need to know this:

Of course, CBD is not a guaranteed solution and should not be relied on for serious mental disorders. We recommend speaking with your doctor about trying CBD oil or supplementing your current medication regimen with CBD before making any changes.

Post-concussion syndrome

When most people think of concussions, they think of the delirium, headache, and other short-term symptoms that can follow. But for severe concussions, the reality can be much more severe and long-lasting.

What can CBD do here?

On the bright side, early research shows that CBD can help treat these long-term symptoms, including pain and depression. In addition to relieving symptoms on the surface, CBD might even help improve neuropathic healing and overall recovery.

Especially with the lack of options.

Since concussion recovery is largely approached with a "do nothing" attitude, CBD oil might be the only therapy a patient can use. Because of this, there is little risk in choosing CBD oil as a treatment option.

However, like always, we still suggest speaking with your doctor.

Pain disorders

Although pain is a very real thing for those experiencing it, all pain technically starts as a chemical response within the body. Just like CBD oil can help manage how your neurotransmitters respond to serotonin, it can also influence how your body responds to pain-inducing chemicals.

But pain is a complex thing to treat. Not all types of pain respond to the same treatments, and not all patients experience the same level of relief.

There is good news:

Based on current research, CBD therapy shows the most pr​omise in treating joint pain and neuropathic pain.

With joint pain, CBD's pain-relieving properties combine with anti-inflammatory compounds. This makes CBD extremely effective for treating arthritis and similar pain conditions.

What is neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain refers to pain caused by damage to part of the body's nervous system.

The exact reason why CBD is useful in treating this pain it isn't entirely known, but likely has to do with the close relationship between the nervous and endocannabinoid systems.

One thing to note:

Seizures

Before CBD was legal across most of the United States, it had already gained popularity for the treatment of seizures.

In fact:

Today, Epidiolex (a seizure medication) is the first prescription medication to contain CBD as an active ingredient.

In clinical stu​dies, CBD has been shown to lower the number of seizures in a range of patients. Including those with different seizure-causing disorders.

So, what does the future look like?

With hard evidence showing that CBD can help improve the lives of seizure patients, these disorders might become the forefront for nationwide cannabis policies in the future.

Chemotherapy

Many cancer patients have a difficult choice to make: allow their cancer to continue unchecked or undergo chemotherapy and live with the symptoms. These chemotherapy symptoms can be so severe that patients will opt out of the treatment altogether.

But there is hope:

Many have found some relief for these symptoms with CBD and THC usage.

In fact, there's enough clinical and anecdotal evidence of these benefits that CBD and other cannabinoids have found their way into FDA-approved medications. These include Dronabinol, containing THC, and Nabilone, containing a synthetic cannabinoid.

And there are more of them...

Although it hasn't yet made its way into the United States, Nabiximols is a CBD- and THC-based medication used in Canada and parts of Europe. Since this drug is currently undergoing clinical tests in the U.S., we may see it hit the market soon.

We should be clear about one thing:

While CBD can help lessen negative side effects of chemotherapy, it does not offer any known anti-carcinogenic effects. It is just alleviating the symptoms of cancer treatment. Not treating the cancer itself.

Addiction recovery

In preliminary research, CBD aids recovering alcohol and opioid addicts. As opioids and other prescription drugs continue to be a major issue in parts of the United States, these findings are great news for many people.

The use of CBD for addiction recovery may be two fold.

On the one hand, CBD oil can help relieve generalized withdrawal symptoms. But if the addiction stems from insufficient pain management, CBD's pain-relieving properties can also help provide an alternative to opioids and other drugs.

Pretty amazing for a plant extract.

Choosing the Right CBD Oil for You

Are you interested in trying CBD oil for yourself? Or do you think these products could help a loved one struggling with mental, physical, or addiction-related issues? If so, it's crucial that you understand the current CBD market and the products contained within.

As we mentioned above, the FDA does not regulate CBD supplements at this time (with the exception of prescription medications containing the cannabinoid). Instead, finding safe, reliable, and effective products rests entirely on the consumers.

Types of CBD products

One of the first things you need to decide when adding CBD to your routine is how you want to ingest this compound. As the CBD market continues to flourish, more and more options continue to emerge.

Here are some of the most popular CBD products currently available to consumers:

Smoking and vaping

Just like you can smoke tobacco, you can also smoke CBD-containing hemp. While CBD cigarettes are available, they are probably one of the least popular ways to consume the compound (likely because they contain many of the same health risks as any other type of smoking).

Instead, vaping is an extremely popular option for therapeutic CBD consumption. Not only is a vape pen easy to carry around, but vaping itself offers one of the quickest absorptions of any method.

When you vape any cannabis product, including CBD, your lungs absorb the compound within minutes. After that, the compound gradually spreads throughout your entire body. This offers reliable and quick therapeutic benefits for both mental and physical concerns.

The one downside to smoking or vaping CBD is that the effects subside after only one or two hours. For those using CBD for pain relief or other concerns, this means continually ingesting more CBD to keep the benefits going.

Edibles

Oils and tinctures

Finally, many CBD users opt for oils and tinctures. These products work best when applied under the tongue, where the CBD can absorb directly into the bloodstream.

Once the CBD has entered the bloodstream, it then quickly and evenly spread throughout the entire body.

One of the best things about these products is that they typically offer an easy-to-use dropper. This allows you to consume precise doses as needed.

Oils and tinctures kick in after about 15 minutes to an hour. After which you can expect the effects to continue for up to 8 hours.

Topicals

While not the most popular CBD product, topicals can be extremely effective for certain users.

These products normally come in the form of a lotion or cream, which can be easily applied anywhere on the body.

Unlike other CBD products, topicals only penetrate partway through the body. In most cases, these products will not reach your bloodstream or spread throughout the body.

This makes CBD topicals a great option for treating muscle pains, arthritis aches, and menstrual cramps, among other things.

Another thing to consider, if you live in an area with legal marijuana, is the presence of THC in these products. Unlike other consumables, the THC in a topical cannot reach the bloodstream. Therefore it does not produce a psychoactive high in the brain.

If you can legally purchase them, topicals with THC and CBD are highly effective for many surface-level conditions.

Which dose should you start with?

First, you need to know how CBD products label their dosages.

In most cases, whether looking at a vape oil, edibles, or tincture, you'll see one large number on the front of the packaging (typically in mg). This number represents the total CBD within the entire product.

For instance: a bottle of 30 gummies might be labeled with 3,000mg CBD. This means each gummy contains 100mg CBD.

Next, you need to understand how much CBD you should personally consume. This number depends on a variety of factors.

One of the easiest dosing systems uses your body weight:

Or, you can go by trial-and-error. If you choose this route, we recommend starting low and adding as needed. This will help save product and determine your lowest effective dose.

If you currently or have previously used cannabis products, then you might have a built-up tolerance. Don't be surprised if you need to increase your dosage above these recommendations.

If you take more CBD than is necessary for the desired results, then you are ultimately just wasting the product. Since CBD can cost over 15 cents per mg, saving product is often a great way to save a good chunk of money!

Where to buy CBD oil

Finally, where is the best place to buy high-quality CBD? As this cannabinoid becomes more accepted in mainstream culture, this list continues to grow.

The most obvious place to purchase CBD products is your local smoke or vape shop. In fact, many of these retailers advertise their CBD products heavily, including the brands they carry.

Another option, especially if you're uncomfortable going into one of these retailers, is your local health or natural food store. However, keep in mind that these stores might have a much smaller selection than a vape or smoke shop.

Lastly, for the most options with the highest level of convenience, you can order CBD products online.

There are plenty of trusted online retailers out there. But two of the most popular are Green Roads and PureKana.

These CBD retailers offer a wide variety of products and concentrations to choose from. Plus, since everything is right in front of you, you can easily compare and contrast products to find the best one for you.

The Future of CBD and Other Cannabis Byproducts

With the passing of the Farm Bill and numerous states legalizing recreational marijuana, the future of CBD and other cannabis products looks increasingly bright.

However, we are still far from understanding the potential benefits (and risks) of these products in a therapeutic setting.

Thankfully, now that more researchers are able to legally obtain cannabis plants and their byproducts, a variety of clinical studies are likely just on the horizon. With time, the medical community will have a much greater understanding of CBD, THC, and cannabis' other chemical compounds.

For the time being, though, much of our CBD usage is purely experimental. While many people report life-changing benefits from these products, others remain skeptical at best.

However, the fact remains that CBD is changing lives, and that is pretty wonderful!

Have you tried CBD products in the past, let us know your personal experiences in the comment section below!