If you are completely new to CBD oil supplements and would like to learn a little bit more before trying CBD for the first time, then this guide is for you.
It will cover the basics of CBD oil including what it is, how it is made, what the potential benefits are and how much you should take.
When supplemented, CBD interacts with the human body's endocannabinoid system where it's powerful neuro-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects can provide a range of benefits.
Although more research is needed to understand the potential CBD carries towards human health, a small number of scientific studies have suggested CBD oil may be beneficial across a number of areas including anxiety, pain, sleep and more.
CBD oil's anxiety reducing effects were first displayed over 10 years ago when researchers in Brazil showed that taking CBD oil before a public speaking test significantly reduced anxiety.
Since then, several other scientific studies have come to the same conclusion - that CBD oil reduces anxiety. To explore how CBD oil reduces anxiety in further detail, read our article on CBD oil and anxiety
Research has suggested that CBD oil can to help manage a number of symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia.
Want to explore this area further? Read our article on CBD oil for Fibromyalgia.
When taken post exercise, CBD oil's anti-inflammatory properties decrease the severity and duration of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Learn more by reading our article on CBD oil for muscle soreness.
CBD oil is a nutritional supplement made up of 2 ingredients:
Cannabidiol, often abbreviated to ‘CBD’ is a naturally occurring compound found within the cannabis plant.
It belongs to a family of compounds known as the phytocannabinoids, of which hundreds have been identified to date. You are probably most familiar with the controlled phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol, often abbreviated to ‘THC’.
Asking how CBD is different to cannabis is a bit like asking how your leg is different to your body. CBD comes from cannabis and is one of numerous compounds that make up cannabis in its totality.
Do not let that worry you though, as when consumed the non-intoxicating health improving effects of CBD are very different to the intoxicating effects of cannabis.
CBD is made by the cannabis plant itself; we simply extract it.
In order to extract CBD from cannabis you first harvest mature plants and dry them. Following drying the CBD is extracted from the dried plant material using solvents.
A range of solvents can be used for extraction, with the most common being alcohol and CO2. Here at Cannubu we use CO2 extraction as it creates consistent, clean and stable products every time.
Following extraction the crude CBD is processed further to remove plant materials such as waxes, fibres and various other impurities. The final purified extract is then used as the main ingredient in our CBD products.
To make CBD oil you simply mix a CBD extract with an ingestible oil, such as hempseed oil or olive oil. The oil that is mixed with the CBD extract is sometimes referred to as a 'carrier oil'.
Here at Cannubu we have chosen to use a hempseed carrier oil, meaning both of the ingredients that make up our CBD oil come from Cannabis Sativa L., utilising the entirety of the plant.
The amount of CBD extract you add to a given amount of carrier oil is what determines a CBD oil's strength.
Following the ingestion of CBD oil, CBD interacts with the human body's endocannabinoid system. where it exerts its beneficial effects.
First discovered in the 1990’s, the endocannabinoid system is a signalling system found within almost all parts of the human body. It evolved in humans and many other species millions of years ago and is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body by influencing the way cells communicate with each other.
The endocannabinoid system has been shown to play a crucial role in a number of bodily functions including immunity, inflammatory responses, sleep, stress and much more.
CBD oil supplements are extremely easy to use.
If you choose to use a CBD oil, you simply place a few drops of oil under your tongue, hold for a while, then swallow.
CBD capsules are even easier to use, you simply swallow them just like you would with any other capsules or tablets.
You may be thinking, how can you grow cannabis and extract CBD from it when cannabis itself is illegal? The answer is Cannabis Sativa L. - often referred to as industrial hemp.
Industrial hemp is a legal, low-THC variety of cannabis that has been farmed for thousands of years. It has traditionally been used to create a wide range of products from food through to clothing, with CBD supplements being the latest and most innovative use of the plant.
CBD is not a drug and is not listed as a narcotic under the United Kingdom’s Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
It is not a drug in Europe either, despite some attempts to classify it as such. This was ruled upon in 2020 by the European Court of Justice in a landmark case known as the ‘Kanavape Case’.
CBD supplements are 100% in the United Kingdom
In order for CBD products created using Cannabis Sativa L. (industrial hemp) to be considered legal, the illegal cannabinoids must stay below the level laid out in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Providing that CBD products meet these criteria; they are completely legal in the United Kingdom. Similar laws and regulations apply across Europe, albeit governed by EU and country specific laws.
In a recent report the World Health Organization stated “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
'Any reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications'.
Although such statements from the WHO and results from scientific studies show CBD is indeed safe, further toxicology studies are currently being conducted worldwide to obtain a more concrete understanding of cannabidiol's safety profile. This is completely normal for new products entering the market and you should not be alarmed. In the meantime, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency has recommended people do not exceed more than 70mg of CBD per day.
Pregnant/breastfeeding women and people under the age of 18 should avoid CBD supplementation.
CBD will not get you high whatsoever.
It is normal to have concerns though, seeing as CBD comes from cannabis. In a recent report the World Health Organization stated, ‘there is no substantive evidence to suggest that CBD is likely to cause THC like psychoactive effects.’
CBD oil supplements come in a variety of strengths, usually indicated by an amount of CBD in milligrams, for example 1000mg CBD oil or 1000mg CBD capsules.
Many CBD oils also have a percentage value to describe the strength of the product, for example 10% CBD oil or 15% CBD oil.
These values mean the same thing. A 1000mg CBD oil has 1000mg of CBD per 10ml of carrier oil, making it a 10% CBD oil.
Cannubu's products state the amount of CBD in both milligrams and as a percentage, so that consumers will never be confused as to how much CBD is in our products.
If you have never used CBD oil before we highly recommend choosing a CBD oil strength based on your bodyweight. Typically, the heavier you are, the more CBD you will likely need to experience the effects.
Below are Cannubu's recommendations for what strength CBD oil you should use based on your bodyweight:
There are 2 ways to time your CBD supplementation for best results:
Take your CBD at any point during the day as part of your daily supplementation regime
Taking CBD routinely as part of your daily supplementation regime is simple – you take it at any point during the day just like you would with other supplements such as multivitamins. It does not really matter when you take it, as you are taking it for general wellbeing rather than for its acute effects.
Take your CBD around an event such as a workout, a stressful situation or before going to bed
If you are using CBD for a specific reason such as sleep, stress, anxiety or muscle pain then we suggest you take your CBD at a specific time.
For example, if you are taking CBD for anxiety and you know that a work meeting or the morning commute is a trigger for you, then take your CBD 15 minutes before that anxiety inducing event begins. The same can be applied for people who take CBD for sleep or stress management.
In a similar manner to the dosage recommendations, you are welcome to experiment and find a timing that works best for your individual needs.
CBD is helping millions of people worldwide who are looking for an alternative, natural and balanced approach to wellness.
Whether you are looking to manage anxiety, cope with stress a little better or get to sleep easier, CBD is a powerful tool that belongs in your supplementation regime.
