CBD oils are gaining popularity among people who are dealing with a variety of health issues. They offer a natural way to relieve pain and have other health benefits. They are also very easy to use.
What is the history of CBD oil production?
CBD seems to be a recent phenomenon. In fact, however, cannabidiol is an integral part of the cannabis plant, which humans have been growing and using since time immemorial. It was therefore only a matter of time before people delved deeper into its composition and brought out the best of it. This happened in 1940, when scientist Roger Adams first used the abbreviation CBD for cannabidiol isolated from cannabis. Along with it, he also isolated cannabinol – CBN – and hypothesized the existence of the psychoactive substance THC. However, it was not isolated until 24 years later – in 1964 by scientist Raphael Mechoulam. He was the one who defined the properties of CBD in more detail. It was Mechoulam’s discovery that led to the exploration of what was then a new and unknown receptor system, which was named the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Elucidation of this system in the body led to even greater fascination with cannabis. Perhaps this was because it turned out that cannabis contains a powerful phytocannabinoid activator, CB 1 R. However, further studies were needed. At the same time, numerous discussions arose about the possibility of legalizing cannabidiol.
It can be said that it was not until 2000 that cannabidiol became known to the wider public, and awareness of this substance spread further through discussions on the internet. In that year, the availability of CBD on the market was already much greater, and demand for CBD oils and capsules began to increase. However, for a long time, CBD as a whole, along with cannabis, was on the list of substances controlled by the state, similar to tobacco or alcohol. This changed in the US in 2018, when cannabidiol was declared a legal substance (not all states did so). Other countries then followed suit in legalizing CBD. The general condition was a THC content of less than 0.3%. The limits for the legality of CBD vary from country to country. In the Czech Republic, the THC limit has been set at 1% since 2021.
What types are there?
CBD oils can be divided into three basic categories:
– FULL SPECTRUM CBD,
– BROAD SPEKTRUM,
– CBD IZOLATE.
Full-spectrum CBD oils
Full-spectrum CBD oils are characterized by a strong cannabis flavor because, in addition to CBD extract, they also contain all other cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis. These products have the strongest effects. Full-spectrum CBD products naturally contain THC, but only in small amounts that do not cause intoxication.
What are the advantages?
The advantage of full-spectrum CBD oils is their beneficial therapeutic effect. Users who are not concerned about the small amount of THC, which is usually less than 1% (mostly 0.3%), can enjoy the benefits of other substances present, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and support the therapeutic effect of CBD.
Broad-spectrum CBD oils
Broad-spectrum CBD oils contain all the substances that occur naturally in the cannabis plant, but during production, they undergo filtration, which leaves only certain cannabinoids in increased amounts. THC is present in broad-spectrum CBD oils either in very small amounts or not at all. Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains high levels of CBD, CBN, CBG, and CBC.
What are the benefits?
This group is chosen by users who want to avoid THC content but still want to enjoy the benefits of other phytochemicals in combination with cannabidiol.
CBD isolate
These are CBD oils from which other substances naturally contained in cannabis have been removed through intensive filtration and purification in order to obtain only CBD extract with 0% THC content. This extract is usually supplied in powder form and then used for the production of CBD oils or supplied in the form of an oil-based tincture.
Advantages
The advantage of CBD isolate is that it has no taste or smell, which makes it easy to add to other products and suits users who do not like the taste of cannabis. Another advantage is the 100% certainty that the product contains no THC. It is used by users who undergo drug testing and are concerned that the use of other products could affect the results.
CBD oils without THC
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive substance in cannabis that causes a feeling of intoxication. While you may find small trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils (which almost never cause intoxication or affect drug test results), CBD isolate contains no THC at all, nor does it contain any other cannabinoids. It is simply a CBD extract that may be preferred by highly sensitive users, users who do not want to consume even trace amounts of THC, or users who decide to do so for any other reason.
How to use CBD oils?
You can use CBD oils in several ways:
– place a few drops under your tongue and hold for about 1 minute before swallowing the oil (this is the most common method, which ensures rapid absorption),
– add to food or drink (this masks the unpleasant smell and taste for some people),
– take CBD extract in capsule form (a more convenient option for some people),
– apply CBD oils to the skin for a local effect (for example, for joint pain or skin care),
– inhale CBD oils (through an electronic cigarette filled with CBD liquids or through a vaporizer of dried cannabis flowers).
Please note that only CBD products intended for this purpose should be inhaled. Regular CBD oils intended for internal consumption would be harmful when heated, as their carrier oil would also heat up along with the CBD extract.
How to choose a good quality CBD oil?
1. Check the list of ingredients
When purchasing, you need to have a clear overview of what ingredients your CBD oil contains. You should know how many milligrams of CBD are in one bottle and how much is in one drop. A quality product does not hide its ingredients; on the contrary, it is transparent.
2. Consider the concentration of CBD extract
The effect of using CBD oil depends on the concentration of the extract. There is CBD 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and sometimes even more. Here you can follow a simple rule – the higher the concentration, the fewer drops you will need to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. It is also true that while low-concentration CBD is more suitable for beginners, high-concentration CBD is more suitable for experienced users.
3. Look at how the CBD oil was produced
Different companies use different extraction methods. The poor-quality ones even use toxic solvents such as hexane, pentane, propane, or butane for extraction. The ethanol method is considered the gentlest extraction method. This method extracts much more from the plant than the second gentle and high-quality method – CO2 extraction.
4. Find out where the cannabis was grown
This is also important because the plant absorbs contamination from the soil, which then leaves traces in the product. Give preference to products made from cannabis that has been grown without fertilizers and other contaminants.
5. Find out what the carrier oil is
The most commonly used carrier oils are MCT oil, hemp oil, olive oil (unlike other types, it may not be as stable), or avocado oil.
6. Buy only from verified and reputable manufacturers
7. Look at the price
A low price may be suspicious, because high-quality and environmentally friendly production comes at a cost.
Who can benefit from CBD oil?
– Users suffering from chronic pain (cannabidiol can relieve this),
– users with arthritis (cannabidiol has anti-inflammatory effects and relieves pain and the main symptoms of arthritis),
– People with multiple sclerosis (studies are still ongoing, but preliminary results show that cannabidiol may help suppress limiting symptoms),
– People suffering from anxiety and depression (CBD has a significant calming effect),
– people with epilepsy (cannabidiol helps treat certain types of epilepsy, which is why in 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of CBD for the treatment of epilepsy – under the name Epidiolex. The drug is intended to treat seizures, specifically those caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome),
– People with diabetes (some studies have shown that CBD can mitigate the effects of high blood sugar levels on cells, thereby also mitigating the frequent complications associated with diabetes).
– People addicted to opioids (CBD has been shown to reduce drug cravings, optimize heart function, and calm the nervous system).
– people with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) – CBD alleviates the symptoms of this disease,
– people who want to use CBD preventively (here they could take advantage of the high antioxidant effects of cannabidiol and prevent, for example, the development of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral ischemia, or multiple sclerosis),
– People with post-traumatic stress disorder (CBD has a positive effect on treatment).
– People trying to lose weight (some studies suggest that cannabidiol helps break down fat cells).