What is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol - more commonly known as CBD - is a non-psychoactive chemical compound found in hemp plants. It is related to the body's endocannabinoid system, a network of cells and neuroreceptors that help regulate your mood, energy, and immune system, and is believed to have been first used medicinally for thousands of years.
CBD oil is one of many ways of taking CBD, among drinks, sprays, gummies, and other CBD products. CBD oil is made from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant through specialised extraction processes.
Being a soothing compound, many people wrongly assume that CBD oil is an addictive substance, but CBD doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive ingredient found in hemp that can get you high. This also means that CBD won’t show up on a drug test, as long as you’re buying from reliable and trustworthy brands. There are some unregulated CBD products out there which contain THC and would show up, but at TRIP our CBD oils are third party lab tested to ensure they are of the highest quality and purity.
What is CBD oil used for and what are its benefits?
Because CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for keeping the body in balance, many people are turning to CBD products as a remedy for various mental health issues. While more research needs to be conducted to determine all potential benefits of CBD, and it’s still always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting a new daily routine, what’s already known about the benefits of CBD oil is promising.
1. Stress and anxiety
Many people use CBD to help settle stress and feelings of anxiety, that's why people choose to introduce CBD oil into their everyday routines.
We all feel the daily stress and it can impact how many people function day-to-day. From social interactions and interpersonal relationships to our sleeping and eating habits, stress or anxiety can completely disrupt both physical and mental patterns and behaviours, causing other problems such as fatigue, lack of concentration, and muscle tension.
Some studies have suggested that taking CBD may help to reduce anxiety and prevent these symptoms. This research, carried out on individuals with social anxiety disorder, revealed that ‘CBD significantly reduced their anxiety and discomfort’.
2. Pain
Although there’s still a lot of research which needs to be done regarding how CBD may help reduce different kinds of physical pain, the results up until now have been promising.
A study published in the Journal of Pain Research reported that ‘CBD may help reduce chronic pain by affecting endocannabinoid receptor activity’. The authors of these studies suggest that there is evidence CBD is ‘safe and modestly effective in neuropathic pain and also for relieving pain in patients with malignant diseases.’
In particular, it’s thought that ‘CBD oil may be effective for nerve pain and back pain’, but it is also still being investigated as a way of potentially relieving the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and arthritis.
3. Sleep quality
Getting enough sleep is as important for the mind as it is for the body. Over time, sleeping for too few hours can raise your risk for long-term health issues. Plus, the way you feel while you are awake depends in part on how well you have slept, since sleep is the time your body uses to refresh and reset itself.
For many, this is where CBD oil comes in. One of the possible benefits of adding CBD into your daily routine is that it may improve sleep and allow for a better night of rest.
Studies have suggested that CBD oil has the potential to be an effective solution for improving the quantity and quality of sleep. A study of the effects of CBD on sleep at the University of Colorado reported that 66.7% of test subjects saw an improvement to their sleep after using CBD.
What are the side effects of CBD Oil?
Although the potential benefits of CBD are enormous, and it does not cause addiction, it may occasionally cause adverse reactions in certain people.
Side effects can include:
- Diarrhoea
- Reduced appetite
- Changes in weight
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Mood changes
These are not typical, and where they do occur are mild, as the FSA reports that CBD is generally tolerated well by most individuals in varying quantities. Like caffeine or alcohol, dosage varies person to person, so it can be a case of trial and error to determine what works best.
CBD can interact with several medications, so before you try CBD oil, do feel free to discuss it with a healthcare professional to discuss an appropriate dosage and any other medical questions you may have.
When searching for the right CBD product, choose one that has been third-party tested for quality and purity, like TRIP.
How to take CBD oil
There are many ways to take CBD oil, but the most efficient and most popular option is to take CBD oil orally, by popping a few drops under your tongue. This method is simple, efficient and comes into effect quickly.
In order for CBD oil to work, it needs to reach the relevant bodily receptors. To feel the benefits of CBD most effectively, place a few drops of oil under your tongue and hold for a minute before swallowing. This part of the mouth has a high number of capillaries, and so the CBD moves directly into the bloodstream, getting to work much more efficiently than other methods of taking CBD where it has to travel through the digestive system.
Having said that, when it comes to CBD oil there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Even put under the tongue, the rate of absorption is affected by different factors such as weight and genetics, so it can take a while to work out what the perfect dosage is for you. Fortunately, with CBD oils it’s easy to adjust your dose by adding or subtracting a few drops.
We’d recommend starting a daily ritual, taking a few drops just after waking up or before you get into bed at night. With CBD, consistent use is key.
What’s the difference between cannabis oil and CBD oil?
Although very often confused, there are a number of differences between cannabis oil, known as hemp oil, and CBD oil.
CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant in its production, since these contain a higher concentration of CBD, and thus have a number of potential health benefits.
On the other hand, hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant, which can often result in an earthy flavour many people find unpleasant. The seeds do not contain CBD, but instead have a rich profile of nutrients, fatty acids, and bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.
Most people use CBD oil to help relieve their stress and anxiety, improve their sleep, or as an alcohol alternative - helping them find calm when life gets overwhelming. If you are looking to boost your overall well being, CBD is likely to be the best option for you.
Conclusions
CBD oil isn’t just having a moment, it’s here to stay. Why? Because it’s easy to take, easy to incorporate into your routine, and for many people can have some serious physical and mental benefits.
If you still need some help working out the best CBD oil for you, TRIP has two flavours of its original 1000MG oil, voted 'UK’s best CBD oil’ by Grazia, which might just be the perfect solution.
