CBD is one of the most talked-about developments in modern medicine in recent memory. But with all of the hype that surrounds the seemingly magical healing oil, a gap in public knowledge has formed with plenty of people asking - 'what's the deal with CBD anyway?'.
Perhaps the most surprising personal discovery of CBD is the realisation that using the cannabis plant to treat medical conditions is absolutely nothing new. In fact, the use of the medicinal plant can be dated back as far as 2737 BC with a Chinese emperor using cannabis-infused tea to treat a variety of physical ailments.
CBD wasn't truely investigated until 1839 in which an Irish physician and medical researcher published a study documenting the therapeutic effects of the plant itself. Cut to 1963 and the research into cannabis hit another breakthrough with the identification of the stereochemistry of CBD. That's some serious time between the first realisation and the discovery of CBD...
It may have taken over 3000 years for the discovery of CBD with it's medicinal and therapeutic purposes, but there's still plenty of us that don't know much (or anything) about the oils.
Feeling a little in the dark about the whole CBD situation? Here are 8 things you must absolutely know about CBD oil with 0% THC.
1. CBD won't get you 'high'
One of the biggest concerns with taking CBD is whether or not the oil will get you 'high'.
Despite what many have written and plastered over the web, CBD won't get you high. The substance responsible for the high from marijuana is the psychoactive compound THC. With minimal traces of this cannabidiol in CBD oil, it's safe to say that there won't be any highs felt when using CBD products.
This doesn't mean that CBD doesn't affect the brain as alleviation of depression and anxiety is often reported with the use of the oils. The calming feeling from the CBD use is down to the cannabidiol itself, not that of the THC.
2. CBD won't make you fail a drug test
Another major point of worry for plenty of people wanting to try out CBD is whether or not you'll fail a drug test if you're regularly using the oils.
Again, we're happy to report that providing you're using a CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC, you're all clear for drug tests. That means you're not in danger of breaking the rules of your workplace and won't be failing the tests before major sporting events.
CBD is totally safe if you're in an environment where you're often drug tested.
3. The difference between hemp and marijuana
There's often a little bit of confusion when comparing and contrasting hemp and marijuana with the two often overlapping in conversation.
All hemp is cannabis but not all cannabis is hemp. Hemp is a form of cannabis with a concentration of less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana is the form of cannabis with much higher traces of THC and is designed to get you high whereas hemp is much more health-focused with the healing properties of the plant targetted.
The 2018 farm bill legalised hemp and CBD in the US.
4. More isn't always better
Everybody is different and may react differently to substance put into their body and CBD is absolutely no different.
Using more and more CBD every day isn't a recipe to feel better and better. Instead, simply using a couple of drops (or what the label prescribes, not all are created equally) should be more than sufficient for your daily dosage of CBD oil.
Exceeding this isn't always going to make things better, you'll find that they'll be very little change - or you may even feel a little worse.
5. CBD is a bit of a legal grey area
Although CBD was legalised in the 2018 Farm Bill, it's still recognised as a bit of a legal grey area.
The issues with the hemp-derived CBD comes in the form of the THC concentration. Any more than 0.3% THC by weight is regarded as illegal - so it's important to know the percentages before purchasing CBD oils.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) are still to legalise CBD for sale as a health supplement, stating that the agency requires more information on CBD alongside time to consider regulation. It's a tricky situation, but one we're expecting CBD to come out on top of.
6. There's plenty of different CBD products
As the excitement and hype build around CBD, more and more products using the magic oils are hitting the shelves and targetting customers in all walks of life.
From oils and CBD gummies to beverages and cosmetics, there are plenty of products to choose from when shopping for CBD. It'll be interesting to see the verdict from the FDA and see what else becomes normal to see on our shelves!
7. The health benefits are remarkable
It's probably CBDs worst kept secret, but the health benefits associated with supplementing with CBD oil are absolutely remarkable.
With everything from mental health to physical conditions positively affected by the oil, it's no wonder there's been such an explosion of popularity. The following conditions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to conditions that can be treated with CBD oil:
Fibromyalgia
Neuropathy
Huntington's disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Migraines
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson's
Autism
It's a powerful tool and one we're more than grateful for!
8. CBD can even be given to pets
Last but not least on our list of useful CBD facts comes a key use that many of us overlook when talking about the oil - it's use in pets!
Dogs, in particular, can benefit massively from the use of CBD with many suffering from anxiety, nervousness, epilepsy and seizures, all of which can be treated and reduced with CBD oils. Using the oil exactly the same as with human use, pets can benefit in much the same way with plenty of pet-based forums and CBD reviews raving with a plethora of positive feedback, giving pets a normal life.
Is there anything it can't do?
