How to use CBD Oil.

CBD is the new shining star on the natural remedies market. The medical community started getting interested in the benefits of CBD usage  and public perception has shifted. A large number of studies have emerged to prove that CBD is quite beneficial for many illnesses. Researchers found that CBD helps with a multitude of health issues. These include anxiety, epilepsy/seizure, colitis, psychotic disorders, stroke rehabilitation, PTSD, liver injury and pain relief. The first CBD-based drug Epidiolex approved by the FDA was introduced to the market this year. It is used as a treatment for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Today you can find an array of  products that contain cannabidiol.  Oil, balm, gummies, ointments, sleeping pills, and capsules are all common products on the market. CBD oil is made by extracting the CBD from the plant (marijuana or hemp), and then diluting it with a carrier oil – coconut or hemp seed oil. It is used for reducing pain, anxiety and depression, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, acne and other conditions. So what is CBD and how do you use it?

The Science Behind CBD and THC

What is CBD?

Scientists have identified 113 cannabinoids in hemp plants.  CBD (cannabidiol) is one of them. CBD is a phytocannabinoid that makes up almost 40% of the plant’s extract, and it’s one of the most active substances derived from it. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) for comparison is derived from the marijuana plant, and it is the most active substance derived from it.

CBD affects the endocannabinoid system, which has cannabinoid receptors throughout the human body. That’s one of the major reasons why CBD’s therapeutic properties include pain relief. The cannabinoid receptors are connected to the human nervous system.  CBD affects some of them (not CB1 and CB2 which are activated by THC) and a  neural connection is triggered in the brain. Since CBD doesn’t induce any mind-altering side-effects, the medical community is more open when it comes to using it as medicine.

What is THC?

THC or respectively the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most active substance found in the marijuana plant. It was first discovered in the 1940s (or at least, the effects of it) by an Israeli scientist named Rafael Mechoulam, who synthesized the THC molecule in 1965. We came a long way since then, and today we have a greater understanding of the mechanisms at work. THC is the activator of the CB1 receptors, which trigger the intoxication in the brain. A group of scientists (respectively Martín-Santos, Fagundo AB, Crippa JA, Atakan Z, Bhattacharyya S, Allen P, Fusar-Poli P, Borgwardt S, Seal M, Busatto GF, and McGuire P.) proved this fact with the help of brain imaging. Their studies have revealed increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex region of the brain during THC consumption.

If you’re wondering what the function of the prefrontal cortex is, let us tell you. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making, attention, and other executive tasks, including motor skills. That means that when you consume THC, any of the above areas can be affected. For example, anecdotal evidence suggests that when people are “high,” they experience euphoria, time lapses, the decline in motor skills and mostly hunger. The main reason this happens it’s because THC also activates the brain’s reward circuitry, which is located mostly in the ventral tegmental area of the brain – think stimulation of the amygdala. Because of THC activation of the brain’s reward pathway, by binding to CB1 receptors in the brain’s reward system people experience euphoria. That in return makes THC a quite disable drug, which of course has other health benefits, but we’re discovering them along the way.

What’s the difference between CBD and THC?

THC is considered to be the psychoactive substance that alters your state of mind and affects the proper function of the senses, CBD has a slightly different role in the process. CBD molecules have very low affinity for the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. These in turn act as inhibitors or antagonists of the THC psychoactive qualities. Because CBD doesn’t bind with CB1 receptors, it interferes with the binding of the THC molecules too. To put it plainly, CBD reduces the “high” that is achieved by consuming THC.

Furthermore, that’s not the only difference between these two substances, even though both of them have the same chemical structure. For example, both CBD and THC affect the body’s endocannabinoid system and thus provide relief for many of the same conditions. CBD is used for more “serious ailments.” Including but not limited to seizures, psychosis or mental disorders and inflammatory bowel disease. The reason for that is that CBD doesn’t get you “high.” In fact, it would be impossible for a person to get high while using CBD because as we said above, it interferes with the CB1 receptors.

Benefits from using CBD oil

Because of CBD’s ability to bind with the TRPV1 receptors, it can beneficially regulate body temperature, inflammation and pain tolerance. However, the most exciting areas of research are CBD effects on epilepsy and spasmodic conditions like multiple sclerosis. Today, it’s mostly used as a supplement that promotes overall health and has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety properties. CBD is also recommended as a natural pain relief medicine. It has been reported to aid the relief of severe conditions like cancer and AIDS. Furthermore, CBD can lessen the negative side effects of the chemotherapy treatment.

Risks from using CBD oil

So far, no fatal overdose levels have ever been reported from CBD usage. CBD itself is non-toxic, and according to several studies that researched CBD dosage,  highly tolerable. The highest dosage administered was up to 1,500 mg/day, without any side-effects, which a lot more than an average person would consume during the day. Generally, people don’t report any side-effects because they are not very common, but it’s possible for some to experience drowsiness, dry mouth, low blood pressure or lightheadedness.

Methods for using CBD Oil  

Inhalation

Inhalation is a using method, which is strictly recommended for adults that have previous vaping experience. Teaching non-smokers how to inhale CBD by using a vape pen is entirely unnecessary since there is more than one way to use the oil. Furthermore, inhalation can become complicated if you don’t know how to vape. When you inhale the CBD oil, it enters the lungs and is diffused rapidly into the bloodstream.  

The most efficient way to deliver CBD into the body is through inhalation. That’s because more of the product, and thus more of the active components of CBD are distributed in the bloodstream. However, you should be aware that they pass through the human system in a few hours. Note of reference, CBD is very different from THC, because CBD does not act as a psychoactive substance and doesn’t produce “a high.”

You can purchase CBD for inhalation in the form of CBD e-liquid. 

Topical Application

CBD in balms, ointments and salves if you want to treat damage to the skin. CBD helps with reducing pain and helps with the healing process of the skin. However, if you use topical application, the CBD doesn’t enter the bloodstream of the body. Instead, it helps with the treatment of the uppermost layer of cells.

Sublingual (under the tongue)

You can use pure CBD oil sublingually, or place it under the tongue. The capillaries in the mucous membranes absorb the CBD, and then they enter the bloodstream. What’s left of the oil is swallowed and digested. This method allows for immediate and long-lasting relief. If you choose to use CBD oil like this, make sure you’re holding it under the tongue for more than a minute so that it can be absorbed in the bloodstream. The active substances in the CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system within minutes.

Ingestion

 If you have to administer CBD to a child or a beginner, perhaps the best way to do that is to swallow the oil. Consuming the oil will activate the digestive system, metabolize in the liver, and then it will enter the bloodstream. The same process happens when you take vitamins.  You can also mix it with juice, loaves and any other food products if you want.

Conclusion

According to the New Frontier Data report (CBD Report: 2018 Industry Outlook) published earlier this year, the CBD market is expected to reach $2 billion by 2022. That’s almost 700% growth for the CBD industry according to Forbes analytics. The conclusion we can draw from these numbers is that the CBD field still hasn’t reached its full potential. Furthermore, there are numerous ongoing medical studies and many more to come that will further the in-depth knowledge of the effects CBD has on people and pets. If you want to know more on the subject, we can recommend you to read this comparison article by Production Grower.