What is CBD?
The Hemp plant (Cannabis) is comprised of many active cannabinoids that affect the body in different ways. Cannabidiol’s or CBD’s, are one of the more than 113 cannabinoids found in cannabis. These CBDs are widely used for medical reasons and lack the psychoactive properties found in THC, the most prevalent and well known cannabinoid in hemp. Available in many different forms the most commonly used is the Tincture, or the liquid extract from the hemp plant. The oil is meant for oral consumption and provides many health benefits to the user, preventative and treatment.
What and How do CBDs help?
The health benefits from the hemp plant, and CBD’s specifically, are extensive. The chemical makeup of the CBD cannabinoids interacts with different receptors in the brain to provide many different outcomes, depending on one’s health needs. The CBD oil helps to balance the endocrine system and helps regulate the digestive system. This helps the user maintain a healthy weight by decreasing the appetite and regulating blood sugar levels as well as balancing hormone levels that can affect weight gain. Certain properties of the CBD’s also provide a narcotic effect and relieve chronic pain and inflammation. The cannabinoids block or override pain receptors in the brain and reduce swelling at the actual location of the injury. CBD’s also help maintain mental health by modulating chronic stress and relieving anxiety. They provide a calming effect and a slight sedative property if enough is consumed. Some doctors have successfully used CBD’s in the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis, although more research is needed for a definitive statement in this area.
How Do I use CBD Oils?
There are many ways of ingesting or consuming the best CBD oil and receiving the benefits of its properties. The most common way is in paste or tincture form. Users of the tincture place a few drops under the tongue, hold it there for sixty to ninety seconds or swish it around the mouth, before swallowing. This allows the saliva to start breaking down the oils to aid in digestion. The CBD tincture may provide a numbing effect in the mouth but this usually lasts only a brief amount of time. Other ways to orally ingesting the CBD oil includes capsules, mouth strips and baking it into edible foods and candies such as chocolate or gummies.
Some CBD oil users prefer to heat the oils in special pens or devices, and inhale the vapor. This is the quickest way to ingest the CBD’s and start feeling the medicinal effects of the product. It has an immediate reaction in the body since it enters the bloodstream so quickly through the lungs. A less common way to benefit from the CBD oil is through absorption from the skin. Users will apply lotions or creams on parts of the body or wear a patch that releases a controlled dose of the CBD’s through the wearers skin. This option takes longer to feel the effects but benefits those that may be more sensitive to the effects of the CBD oils.