CBD 101 - What You Should Know About CBD
Our company speaks with many people about CBD and these are the common questions they have: “Will it work for me?”, “ How do I use it?”, “How much do I take?” “Should I use a full spectrum CBD product?”, “How do I find quality CBD?”, and “How much should I expect to pay”?
Many people believe you just add a few drops of CBD to a beverage and miracles will happen. That’s not how it works. CBD will not cure anything; it may just make you feel better. The only reason CBD will help you feel better is because it can help your endocannabinoid system work as it should. Every vertebrate has an endocannabinoid system, endocannabinoid receptors and enzymes. Most people don’t make enough endocannabinoids to support homeostasis in their body. When you introduce cannabinoids from cannabis, your endocannabinoid system recognizes the cannabinoids as something it needs and uses them accordingly. For more details about the endocannabinoid system, see my previous blog titled Endocannabinoid System.
The best method of delivery is sublingually, which means you place the oil under your tongue. Holding the oil under your tongue for about a minute will allow the cannabinoids to enter your bloodstream more quickly and efficiently than through the digestive system. You can add CBD to food or drink, but it must go through the digestive system and be processed by the liver before it enters the bloodstream.
The most frequently asked question is “How much should I take?” Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer. It really varies per person. Online CBD calculators and caregivers I have spoken with say a good guideline for most adults is between 15mg and 25mg per day to get desired results. Some sites recommend higher amounts, but the 15 - 25mg range is a good place to start. Pay attention to the total amount of CBD in the bottle you are purchasing to assure you get the correct amount. If your 30 ml bottle has 500mg total, one full dropperful has about 16mg of CBD. A 30ml bottle with 750mg of CBD will have about 25mg per full dropper. You will want to look for a company who provides a graduated dropper. You shouldn’t have to guess how much you take each day.
There are three types of CBD oil on the market: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Many people are confused about the differences and are unsure of which to try. Everyone agrees the full spectrum CBD products are the most beneficial because all the cannabinoids work better together than any one alone. This is known as the entourage effect. Legal hemp derived CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC. However, there are still trace amounts of THC in a full spectrum CBD product. If taken every day, the THC could build up in your system and appear on a drug screen. If you have to pass a drug test for your job, do not take a full spectrum product orally. A broad spectrum or isolate oil may be a better choice. For more information on the different types of CBD oil, see my previous blog titled What is the Difference Between Full Spectrum, Isolate, and Broad Spectrum CBD Oil and Why Does It Matter?
Quality CBD companies will provide 3rd party lab test results. The cannabinoid profile should be identified and show how much CBD is in your product. Past studies have shown that many CBD products do not contain the amount of CBD listed. Pesticide and solvent profiles are also important test results to prove there are no harmful chemicals in the product. Third party lab tests are expensive, but good companies will provide them to consumers.
Pricing for CBD varies significantly. According to Health.com, current market prices for CBD oil are between 5 - 20 cents per mg. You may find a quality oil for less, but you really should not be paying more than 20 cents per milligram. Pricing is based upon many factors such as quality of hemp, extraction/processing methods used, quality of packaging, and whether the company provides 3rd party lab testing. However, pricing should not be your only determination for purchasing a CBD product. Definitely research the company.
Quality CBD is expensive and people want results. Unfortunately, there is a spectrum of results for people using CBD. Some people report they are able to do activities they haven’t participated in for a long time and their overall quality of life is much better. Others say they didn’t see enough change to justify the expense. Most people fall somewhere in between.
If you are thinking of trying a product containing CBD, I would suggest you speak with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or take any prescription medications. Find a quality company and give it at least 3 weeks of continuous use. During this time, note any changes in your daily life, then decide if CBD works for you.
Bobbie Stormann, Square One, LLC All Rights Reserved 2020
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
Footnote:
1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2661569