CBD wasn’t something that many people had heard of ten years ago. Today, it’s a massively popular supplement used by young adults and older Americans alike. Of all the different compounds and different substances within marijuana, CBD may be the most exciting. Here’s what you need to know about CBD and making it a part of your health routine.
CBD Basics
CBD’s story starts with the cannabis plant or hemp. Hemp is a plant that, when dried, can be smoked; users get high, and also enjoy proven medical benefits. But hemp isn’t an all-in-one deal. It’s actually full of different chemical compounds, each with its own impact on the human body. These compounds are called cannabinoids.
There are more than 100 cannabinoids, but most people are familiar with only two: THC and CBD. THC is famous because it’s the compound most responsible for getting marijuana smokers high. THC vape oils and edible products offer experiences quite similar to that of smoking regular marijuana.
CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive. It won’t get users high, but it does play an important role. CBD is believed to be responsible for many of marijuana’s famous health benefits. Health officials and researchers agree that marijuana can help treat symptoms of serious diseases. Research has suggested that CBD — even when isolated from the rest of the compounds in marijuana — can help reduce anxiety, nausea, and pain.
That’s a big deal, in part because CBD is more widely legal than marijuana or THC. In the United States, a cannabis company can’t sell marijuana outside of states with laws governing legal marijuana markets. But CBD can be sold just about anywhere to just about anyone.
That covers a lot of what you need to know, but there’s still more to learn. For more in-depth information, check out expert analyses in the Bloom & Oil CBD guide.
How Should You Take CBD?
So, you’re ready to make CBD a part of your regular health routine. Great! But you may be wondering: How should you take it?
You’ve certainly got options. There are a lot of different CBD products out there, and they include all sorts of different methods for ingestion. Some CBD products are edibles like CBD gummies. Others take the form of vape oils, tinctures, and more. You can even find CBD in cocktails and coffees.
Not all CBD products are created equal, of course. Taking CBD in a cocktail is probably not the wisest way to ingest a daily dose, especially if you usually take your vitamins in the morning — CBD may be good for you, but downing whiskey at six in the morning is decidedly not. Experts have also raised some concerns regarding vaping (though CBD oil is rarely singled out, and may be healthier than other hemp products and oils). Among other organizations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have expressed doubts about the safety of e-cigarette products. Vape product use may lead to lung injuries and perhaps even lung disease, the FDA and CDC caution. Young people believe that vape pens and cartridges are quite safe, but that’s not always so; products have been known to cause lung injuries. Problems like exploding cartridges can create serious and acute lung injuries, as can some vape oil ingredients; a frequent target of criticism from the FDA, CDC, and others is Vitamin E Acetate. With all this said, it may be that acute lung injury, chest pain, and other forms of vaping injury and illness are less likely to be encountered with CBD oil. In most cases, injuries have been associated with THC oil products, not CBD oil. It’s likely that CBD oil is safer than a similar THC or tobacco product, but that’s not known for sure. If you have concerns, speak to your health care provider.
Even if you’re looking to cut back on your use of e-cigarettes, you should have no problem finding CBD oil alternatives like CBD tinctures, edibles, and even coffees. Find the right fit and adjust your dosage until you feel that you’re getting the effects that you desire. Whether you’re using CBD oil or another method of ingestion, you’ll likely find that CBD can help you.
