The Cannabidiol – or CBD – market is one that has exploded in size over the last couple of years and 2020 is looking to be another great year for it. In case you haven’t heard of CBD it is a compound which is found naturally in the cannabis plant, is totally safe, won’t get you high and is completely legal.
There are many reasons people try CBD and why its popularity is soaring, so let us take you through the world of CBD step by step.
Firstly, what is CBD and what can it do for you?
There are over 100 compounds in the cannabis plant, and one of the most prevalent is CBD. It can be extracted from the plant using a number of different methods, but the best one at the moment is by using CO2 in a process which is the same as when coffee is decaffeinated.
Within the human body, we have a system called the endocannabinoid system. This is a system that was only really discovered in the 1990s and which helps the body to stay regulated and create the best environment for it to work. It is responsible for a number of factors, such as:
- Body temperature
- The immune system (including inflammation)
- The central nervous system (including pain management)
- The digestive system
- Mood and anxiety
The endocannabinoid system functions through the interaction between cannabinoid receptors and cannabinoids – or ‘endo’cannabinoids as they are made by the body. CBD is also a cannabinoid (although made by a plant) and scientists have found that it can also interact with the endocannabinoid system. By taking CBD, we can help our endocannabinoid system work properly, and therefore help to keep our body well-regulated and working at its best.
Is CBD legal?
In short, yes, it is. Just because CBD comes from the cannabis plant, doesn’t mean that it is illegal. Now that scientists can break down the different compounds in the plant, it means that we can differentiate between what is good for us and what is not.
It is the compound called THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the compound that makes you high, and it is this that is illegal when taken. In the UK, the law says that as long as the THC level per product is below 1mg of THC it is legal and all is fine and dandy.
Most CBD producers, therefore, use hemp – which is a variety of the cannabis plant which has been specially bred to have very low (and therefore legal) levels of THC. This means that as long as your CBD products contain less than 1mg of THC, in the UK they are completely legal (and you won’t feel any feeling of a high).
How is CBD taken?
One of the reasons why CBD is becoming so popular is because it is not only great for your general health and well-being, there are also a number of different ways that you can take it. Which one you choose is down to your personal preference although you should also think about the reason why you are thinking about taking it.
1. CBD Oil Drops or Spray
CBD oil is one of the most common – and one of the easiest ways to take it. You will usually take the oil from the bottle with a pipette and drop several drops – or spray – under the tongue. This allows the CBD to be quickly absorbed through the lining of the mouth and should have an effect within about 15 minutes.
When shopping for CBD oil it is important that you do your research beforehand, a good indicator that your detailing with a reputable company are customer reviews. CBD Shopy is a great example of a UK retailer who proudly displays their TrustPilot rating throughout their website to build trust with potential consumers, check out their section on CBD oil to learn more.
2. Vaping CBD
Vaping CBD is the quickest way to get it into your system as it involves heating the CBD to a vapour and inhaling it through an e-cigarette. The CBD goes into the bloodstream via the lungs, meaning that it has an almost immediate (yet short-lived) effect.
3. CBD Topicals
Some people are using CBD to help them with inflammation, sore muscles, skin problems and painful joints. Many of them choose to use CBD in a topical form – through creams, gels or balms. It can be rubbed into the skin and have a local effect meaning that it doesn’t go into the bloodstream. You can apply your CBD topicals are regularly as you like, as and when you feel like you need it.
4. CBD Gummies & Edibles
Another option is to take CBD in an edible form – either through gummies or even in chocolate. In this case, you can get very accurate dosing and include it as part of your daily nutritional routine – and edibles are a pretty fun way to do it too! When you eat CBD gummies and or other edibles, it goes through your digestive system just like any other food and is absorbed through the digestion process. For more check out this review on UK’s Top 5 CBD Gummies.
This does mean that it can take up to a couple of hours to enter your bloodstream and take effect, but can also take up to about eight hours to leave it.
Different types of CBD
There are generally three different types of CBD available:
- Full Spectrum CBD Oil – CBD oil, which is made from a full-plant extract, meaning that all of the other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids are also included in the oil. Scientists agree that this is the most effective, and will contain traces of THC (although it is completely legal)
- Broad Spectrum CBD Oil – CBD oil, which includes most of the compounds in the plant, but will generally have no THC. Although it is effective it is not as effective as full spectrum oil.
- CBD Isolate – is as close to ‘pure’ CBD as you will get. It should contain no other compounds, but contrary to what you might think, it is the least effective of the three as the other compounds in the plant help to make the CBD more effective due to a phenomenon called the ‘entourage effect’.
CBD is legal in the UK, safe to use and non-addictive. Although it can produce some mild side effects, they aren’t serious, damaging or long term and many people find that CBD can help them with numerous health issues. If, however, you are thinking about trying CBD and are taking medication you should speak to your doctor before trying as it can affect how your body processes some medicines.
