Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid that has reportedly helped a number of people with a variety of symptoms and conditions. These range from muscle spasm and chronic pain to inflammation and intense anxiety. Due to the increasing popularity of CBD and CBD oil products, many are asking: is CBD safe and what is the best way to use CBD products?
CBD has not only gained attention in the medical marijuana industry, but it has also attracted attention from the pharmaceutical industry - not to mention the attention of politicians and the general public. For politicians, the cannabis subject centralizes on law and reform. For the public, interest in medicinal cannabis is now a real subject of research and debate. While CBD cannot, by law, have any official medical utilities, there is a steady stream of scientific studies being performed on the potential health benefits, which complements the back-catalog of cannabis research highlighting potential medical uses and thousands of anecdotal reports on CBD’s health benefits.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of many phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It does not invoke any psychotropic effects and is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a safe and effective compound. Studies have shown that CBD can be linked to positive effects in the treatment of some conditions and the easing of certain symptoms.
These symptoms and conditions include:
• Inflammation
• Pain
• Muscle spasms
• Anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Insomnia
Some cannabis cultivators have focused on breeding certain cannabis strains that carry high levels of CBD and trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for medicinal purposes. Although THC does exhibit potential health benefits in its own right, its psychotropic properties can potentially cause undesirable side effects. It is worth noting that despite the strong psychoactive effects of THC it has proven to be effective in the treatment of a number of conditions and, can be used alongside CBD and other phytocannabinoids as a medicine.
The myriad of websites and articles on cannabis and working out the best way to use cannabis can be confusing for the general public. There are many ways in which CBD can be incorporated into daily life, the following article will highlight some of the most popular ways of using CBD for medicinal purposes.
1. Microdosing with CBD
You may have heard the saying; a little goes a long way. And in the case of CBD microdosing, it couldn’t be more true.
Microdosing is a trend that has been on the horizon for a while now, and it looks set to stay.
How is it done?
Typically speaking, a micro-dosage is 2.5 – 5 milligrams. Research performed on rodents suggests that CBD can reduce inflammation in the body. Microdosing introduces CBD into the body in very small amounts according to a semi-regular schedule.
2. Topical CBD creams
While many people think of oral ingestion when it comes to CBD oil, topical creams containing CBD can be equally beneficial and are believed to have excellent pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory action.
These creams are also used by those suffering from arthritic symptoms. According to this study, CBD could relieve painful arthritic symptoms without the negative side effects that sometimes accompany the use of pharmaceutical drugs. The study reports that by using a topical cannabis oil cream, the metabolic system is bypassed thereby increasing absorption, assimilation, and efficiency of CBD.
3. Cooking with CBD oil
There are many cannabis cooking resources on the internet, offering an alternative method for introducing CBD oils into a patient’s daily diet. Infusing food with CBD can be both enjoyable and effective. However, those dealing with an acute condition that needs immediate relief would be best to consider a more direct method of ingestion due to the reduced bioavailability of the CBD product: when infusing food with CBD, the dosage used is critically important, and in most cases, the CBD takes a little bit longer to come into effect.
4. Vaping with CBD
A vaporizer simply heats up whatever is put into it, in the case of CBD this is typically an oil. The vapor is then inhaled by the user.
CBD oil for vaporizers can be obtained in cartridges or refill bottles, and both are easily found across most of the U.S.
How does vaping CBD oil feel?
Due to a lack of scientific studies on the area of vaping CBD, the information is limited to anecdotal reports. The inhalation of the vapor into the lungs allows for fast delivery into the bloodstream since it does not first pass through the metabolic system, therefore anecdotal reports state that vaping CBD provides an almost instantaneous effect.
Using CBD oil as a daily supplement or as a treatment for a health condition is becoming increasingly popular. Those curious about using CBD oil products are advised to first talk to their healthcare practitioner and be aware that there are currently no official scientific health benefits associated with CBD products.
Disclaimer: There are many different CBD products and methods of ingestion. Those considering using CBD for medicinal purposes should always speak with a health practitioner and conduct research on the literature.
