What is CBD?
CBD oil, cannabidiol, is a compound extracted from the cannabis plant. What many people like about it, beyond its palliative effects, is that unlike the other famous compound derivative of the cannabis plant, it does not cause the psychoactive effects associated with THC. Hence, you’re left clear-headed and, hopefully, alleviated of your symptoms.
Some of the Benefits of CBD
- reduce anxiety and depression
- improve sleep
- reduce seizures in people with epilepsy
- soothe pain and inflammation
- improve heart health
- improve symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Different Methods of Taking CBD
Not all CBD is equal. CBD comes in a variety of forms, milligram strengths and formulations.
When it comes to taking your CBD there are two essential questions to answer. Firstly, what delivery method do I prefer?
To answer that we need to know, well, what kinds of CBD products are available?
In short, there are capsules and edibles (i.e. gummies); sublingual tinctures; patches and topicals (i.e. lotions and creams); and vapes. Interestingly, it is important to note that each of these methods of consumption possess different levels of uptake or bioavailability, meaning that your body absorbs more or less of the CBD depending on how you consume it.
The list of CBD products above is ranked in order of uptake, so in other words edibles uptake the least whilst vapes uptake the most. Tinctures and topicals fall between the two.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to how you consume your CBD. It is really a matter of preference and its effectiveness on you. You may want to experiment with different types of CBD products as well as strengths (in milligrams) of any specific product. The truth is that no one can tell you the perfect CBD product at the perfect milligram strength for you.
People come in different sizes and with different metabolisms and no two people’s physiology is exactly the same. Prudent experimentation is the rule of the day here.
Different Types of CBD
Secondly, you will need to ask yourself, what type of CBD do I wish to procure? Of which, there are generally considered to be four types: isolate, broad spectrum, full spectrum and whole plant. Let’s take a look at each:
Isolate: as the name suggests, contains only CBD. All other compounds and terpenes/flavonoids (compounds that impart scent and flavor, i.e. lemongrass, blueberry, etc.) are stripped out.
Broad Spectrum:unlike Isolate it contains a broad array of compounds, such as CBG and CBN, beyond just CBD. Unlike Full Spectrum and Whole Plant it also goes through a process to remove any trace amounts of THC. The U.S. government allows up to .03% THC in CBD products because such small trace amounts will not cause any psychoactive effects. That said, if you are subject to drug testing and want to be sure there’s not even any trace amount of THC in your system, Isolate is the safest way to go.
Full Spectrum: contains all the 100+ compounds found in the cannabis plant, including tiny, less than .03% amounts of THC.
Whole Plant: similar to Full Spectrum, different insofar as it extracts from the whole plant, not just the bud, stem and all.
The type of CBD you may prefer will come down to a few important factors. But it will basically be a balancing of cost effectiveness with dosage effectiveness. The only way to truly answer that question will be through a process of trial and error (experimentation). That is the basis of science, and that’s the only way we learn. So don’t be afraid to try a few different things out.
One last thought on the different types of CBD: Because they contain the full array of plant compounds, Full Spectrum and Whole Plant are reported to produce an “entourage effect.” The thought is that the plant compounds together produce a synergy that is more effective or more therapeutic than Isolate and perhaps even Broad Spectrum. It is a consideration when trying different types of CBD....
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of this product has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.