A Guide to CBD Oil

by | Jun 26, 2020 | Health Featured

CBD (Cannabidiol) is one active compound out of many from the cannabis plant and is also one of the most popular things in mainstream media right now.

Despite its impressive press coverage, there is still an unwavering amount of misinformation, and it can be challenging to know where to start.

This piece will cover the main aspects of CBD oil, what to look out for, and why it should be tried!

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a combination of the active compound, cannabidiol, usually suspended in a carrier oil such as coconut or hemp crude oil.

There are many ways to get CBD in the bloodstream, and they all affect the body differently.

Oil is one of the most popular ways to get CBD into the bloodstream as the fat binds with the active compound. The consumption of the oil offers a quick, discrete dose of CBD that can be taken sublingually, making it easy to keep the dose topped up, and can also be mixed in with other consumables such as coffee or yogurt, for those who do not like the taste.

There are many different brands, varieties, and strengths available on the market, and it is essential to pick not only the right one but also to pick a reputable brand with third-party testing. CBD is regarded as a food supplement, though not legally, as products have yet to be regulated by the FDA. As with all exciting new trends, there can be products that are not what they say they are, or very low in quality.

How is CBD Oil Made?

CBD oil can be made in more than a few ways through the extraction process. The most popular extraction method is Co2, where extraction can utilize Co2’s unique ability to function in solid, liquid, and gas states of matter, allowing the liquid Co2 state to absorb the oil from the hemp plant and promptly turns into gas leaving the oil behind.

Another method similar to this includes using liquid solvents to absorb CBD from the plant.

Oil infusion is probably the oldest method, tried and tested, and still used to this day. The plant is decarboxylated to activate the compounds and then added to a carrier oil, heated at 100c for a couple of hours.

This is not the end of the process, because winterization and distillation are both used after extracting the oil to remove the oil of impurities and any other undesirable components from the oil, making it as pure as possible.

What Can CBD Be Used For?

CBD can be used for different ailments, though it has only anecdotal instances in its possible effects on anxiety and pain management.

There is still much more research needed to determine the efficacy of CBD, but in the meantime, there are streams of anecdotal evidence which point to the potential of his compound.

CBD is also renowned for treating childhood epilepsy, where seizures were significantly reduced with the treatment, and Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD treatment.

While the research is still limited, CBD shows great potential in helping people with some of the most common complaints, with the potential to mitigate side effects that might occur through synthesized medicines.

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