The Ultimate Guide To CBD Oil

CBD oil is gaining more and more popularity in the health and wellness world. If you have been keeping up with your favorite wellness bloggers or social media stars, you have probably noticed that they’ve been talking about this trend. Whether it be the traditional oil, CBD bath bombs, or even CBD mocktails, this compound seems to be everywhere.

That being said, there is still a lot of controversy, confusion, and even stigma about the topic of CBD. This guide aims to clear up the CBD confusion.

What Does CBD Stand For?

CBD stands for cannabidiol – a compound found in cannabis plants.

Yes, cannabis – as in the plant with which marijuana is most commonly associated.

Is CBD Oil Marijuana?

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way. It is easily the most commonly asked question, and understandably so. There’s a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to understand.

CBD can be derived from both hemp and marijuana. But the oils we’re talking about in this article come from hemp leaves.

Difference Between CBD And Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana both come from the cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana and hemp are essentially different leaves of the same plant, but they vary in their specific genetic and chemical make-ups.

Hemp is less processed than marijuana and is used for developing things such as clothes, paper, body products as well as being used as a health food.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is the more processed form of the cannabis plant, and is generally used for the mind-altering effects for which marijuana is most known.

CBD and THC

These leaves have compounds within them called CBD and THC – and this makeup is where the main difference lies between the two. The THC and CBD concentrations vary greatly between the two leaves.

THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects traditionally associated with marijuana use. When THC is heated up and broken down in the body, it produces that “high” that users chase.

Marijuana leaves have a much higher concentration of THC than hemp.

CBD can also be found in marijuana, but in much lower amounts.

CBD concentration is much higher in hemp, and consequently THC concentration is lower. In fact, hemp barely contains THC – only around 0.3%.

THC concentration is what determines whether hemp and marijuana are considered legal in the United States. The legal cutoff is 0.3%, so, by that standard, marijuana is not legal but hemp plants are.

So this is why CBD oil derived from hemp can be bought at the store or online. Quite simply, hemp-derived CBD oil is considered legal. Marijuana, of course, is a different story in most states.

The CBD compound is more known for its medicinal capabilities and benefits and this is why it’s exploding in popularity right now.

History of CBD

While research on CBD specifically is relatively new, the use of cannabis plants has a long and storied history. Cannabis originated in Asia because of the temperate climate and the cultivation of the plant dates back as far as 12,000 years.

Medicinal use of cannabis dates back to 4000 BC when it was used as an anesthetic for surgeries. The plant made its way to Europe via invaders from Central Asia, and it became a part of Western medicine by the mid-19th century.

Dr. W.B. O’Shaughnessy is credited with using cannabis as a treatment for ailments in the western world during the late 19th century. He used cannabis extracts as a pain reliever and sedative on his patients, and he found particular success when using the extract to treat muscle spasms from tetanus and rabies.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is an oil that can be ingested by the user. It is made by extracting the CBD from the cannabis plant and then mixing it with a carrier oil – usually coconut or hemp seed.

CBD can also be a powder that is mixed into a cream or gel. Alternatively, it can be put into a capsule to be taken orally. It can be applied topically. It can be vaped and bought in wax-form. There really are a ton of ways to use CBD.

CBD Benefits

Please remember this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice. 

You may be wondering why CBD oil and various CBD products are dominating the wellness world right now. As mentioned earlier, CBD has been shown to have potentially powerful medicinal benefits. The research is relatively new and conclusions being made about the healing potential of CBD are not fully developed.

That being said, the research that has been conducted has had some surprising, and even hopeful, results.

CBD for Pain Relief

The use of CBD has shown to have analgesic effects for modulating pain in various conditions – although many of these studies have been conducted using animal models.

In a study conducted in 2016, researchers applied a topical CBD gel to rats suffering from arthritis and saw positive results. Specifically, the researchers observed reduced swelling of the joints as well as other markers that showed improvement in arthritis-related symptoms with no other side effects.

Another 2012 study found that CBD suppresses pain through targeting α3 glycine receptors in mice and rats.

CBD for Anxiety

A review study conducted in 2012 found evidence that CBD has anxiolytic effects – which means that it can be used to help reduce symptoms of anxiety. These studies reviewed looked at CBD use in both animal and healthy human subjects. It was also shown to reduce symptoms in subjects who suffered from social anxiety disorder as well.

For children with insomnia and anxiety from post-traumatic stress disorder, CBD oil has been used as an effective tool without exhibiting any negative side effects.

CBD and Cancer

CBD has been found to have potential as a cancer-fighting substance. Up until recently, the THC component of cannabis was more well-studied for its anti-tumourigenic properties.

But, as mentioned previously, THC use can be accompanied by unwanted mind-altering effects. This has prompted scientists to look deeper into the use of cannabidiol for similar results.

A 2013 study found that “Collectively, the non-psychoactive plant-derived cannabinoid CBD exhibits pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative actions in different types of tumours and may also exert anti-migratory, anti-invasive, anti-metastatic and perhaps anti-angiogenic properties.”

It is well-reported that there needs to be much more extensive research conducted to find out just how powerful the anti-cancer potential of CBD can be, but studies such as this one show promising results.

CBD and Epilepsy

CBD has also been studied for its effects on the condition of epilepsy. While there have been studies that show potential, this is still an area that needs more research as well.

In one study conducted in 2017, CBD use was shown to reduce the number of seizures experienced by children with epilepsy by 23% as compared to the placebo group.

How to Use CBD Oil

The most common way to use CBD oil is to take it orally. But, as you’ve probably put together by now, research on CBD oil is still so relatively new that there aren’t exactly dosing regulations in place.

So far, toxicity hasn’t been found with long term CBD oil use and there has been no evidence to show that there is danger in CBD overdose. Furthermore, side effects with CBD oil use are rare, but may include any of the following: tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight. Compared to other medications that are used to treat the previously mentioned conditions, these side effects are much tamer.

Quality Matters

That being said, quality really matters when it comes to choosing which CBD oil to use. Because this market is unregulated, you can run into the issue of impure products. Low-quality CBD oils will not provide you with the same health benefits as a high quality oil will.

It is important to be diligent about your CBD oil search – do your research and don’t ever be afraid to reach out to the company to ask questions. It’s your money and your health, and we want to ensure you’re getting the best value possible.

Recommended brands

Quality is IMPORTANT when it comes to buying CBD oil. There are so many different brands, companies, and products on the market right now, and we want to make sure you know the best ones.

We have partnered with three CBD oil companies that we believe are doing things the right way. They are producing a high quality product, passionate about health and educating the public about the medicinal properties of CBD, and offer excellent customer service and support.

Octagon Biolabs

Octagon Biolabs offers a variety of products – all full-spectrum CBD. One of my favorite aspects of these products? Nothing artificial in them. No matter what you buy from them, you’ll be sure that there’s no fake flavorings, preservatives, colors, or sweeteners. I personally alternate between two products – the 1000mg CBD oil  and the 500mg Hemp Balm.

I take the oil before I sleep every night and I definitely notice a difference in the quality of my sleep. As a troubled sleeper, this oil allows me to fall in to a deeper sleep and I wake up less throughout the night.

Because I spend 10 hours/week training in Olympic weightlifting, I use the balm if I’ve had an especially tough training week. It helps me recover and fight off soreness.

If you want to try Octagon Biolabs, be sure to use the code PALEO at checkout for a 20% off discount on whatever you order.

SaBaiDee

One of our favorite brands on the market is SaBaiDee. Not only is this because their product is one of the highest quality oils that you can find, but their company mission and commitment to giving back is second to none.

SaBaiDee was formed when the founders realized that there was something missing in the CBD market – companies that were committed to making CBD oil the right way. The industry was filled with companies that spread bad information, mislabeled their products, utilized synthetic hemp, used fillers in their oils, or had more THC in their products than promised.

SaBaiDee knew they wanted to do things differently. The hemp used to make their products is 100% organically grown on a farm in Colorado. They then put their products through rigorous in-house testing to make sure they are hitting all of their standards, and they then have an outside lab test their product to ensure that it is of the highest quality.

Their customer service is fantastic. I reached out to them about trying their products, and I had a response within hours. And their shipping is just as fast too. The products were on my doorstep within 5 days. In today’s world, these are two ways a company can prove just how awesome they are. And SaBaiDee nailed it.

I tried the Good Vibes Pure Hemp Extract oil. This was the first CBD oil I have ever tried, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. This product uses coconut oil as its carrier, and it’s flavored with organic peppermint oil.

I use the dosing recommendations as stated by SaBaiDee – which is a dropper-full 1-3 times daily. I choose to do one dropper-full in the morning and one at night. And, I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed the taste. It’s minty with just a hint of coconut. Compared to some other brands, there’s really not that much of the “hemp” taste. The peppermint oil really helps with this!

The past few months before trying CBD oil, I was struggling bouts of insomnia. Now, I can’t say with complete certainty that the CBD oil is what has helped me start sleeping again because I started taking a couple of other supplements to help. But I have been taking Good Vibes (along with valerian root and the Tranquility supplement) for a couple of week and my sleep has dramatically improved.

One thing I did notice is that once I started taking the CBD oil, my dreams became much more vivid. They weren’t bad dreams, per se, just incredibly vivid. Other than this, I’ve never noticed any side effects.

I had a great experience using SaBaiDee. Click here if you want to learn more and order your own bottle of Good Vibes.

4 Corners Cannabis

4 Corners is another brand that is committed to providing the highest quality cbd oil possible. They rely heavily on science to guide their decision-making process and focus their efforts on preserving the integrity of the genetics of the plant because that’s where the efficacy of the product lies. They grow their own hemp in the 4 Corners area of Colorado.

I tried the 500+mg oral tincture from 4 Corners Cannabis. This is a full spectrum hemp extract. The recommended dosing for this tincture is 1 drop per every 10 pounds of body weight. For me, that’s 13 drops – around a full dropper.

This oil is amber-colored and tastes hemp-ish (I might have just made up that word, but let’s go with it…) The carrier used is MCT oil, and it’s mixed with Limonene – orange extract.

As I was researching this brand, I came across many reviews online that said this oil specifically helped people dealing with anxiety. On top of dealing with insomnia, I also have episodes of high anxiety occasionally. I made sure to carry this oil in my backpack, and took a dropperful when one of these episodes would hit. Within 10 minutes, I would notice a discernible difference in my anxiety levels. Of course, this is only anecdotal, but as someone who deals with anxiety semi-regularly, it feels really empowering to have a safe and effective tool to help me navigate that experience.

The customer service for 4 Corners is top notch. Their team is responsive and helpful and the shipping is quick.

4 Corners also offers a variety of products such as vape liquid, salve, and cbd oil for your pets. If you want to learn more about 4 Corners and all of the products they offer, click here. Use the code UPG10 to get 10% off your order!

CBDistillery

Based out of Colorado, CBDistillery was founded by people who believe that cbd oil should be available to the public in the highest-quality form and at fair prices. What I love about CBDistillery is that providing education about hemp-derived cbd oil is a top priority for them.

Six months ago, I didn’t know anything about CBD oil. The education piece of this journey has been huge for me, and I feel like a lot of people would say the same. It can be intimidating to try a new product – especially one as “taboo” as CBD oil – without the proper knowledge behind it.

That’s why I appreciate that education is important to this company. What’s the point of having a top-quality product if people don’t understand what CBD oil is and how it can be beneficial.

CBDistillery offers a variety of products – hemp oil, isolates, capsules, topical products, vape liquid, and more. I tried a variety of their tinctures ranging from 250mg to 2500mg. While there is no specific dosing information on any of the products, the company recommends to start with a small dose and build from there. While you can take this oil straight into your mouth, you can also experiment mixing it into smoothies or juices.

Overall, I was incredibly pleased with this product and the company. The shipping was fast and customer service was helpful and friendly. As with the other oils I tried, this one made significant improvements in my sleep quality and ability to cope with anxiety that I experienced throughout the day. Specifically, there was one instance where I was on the verge of slipping into an anxiety episode. I took a dose of the 1000mg oil. Within 10 minutes, I felt calmer, more centered, and more connected with my breath.

We’ve also partnered with CBDistillery to make these great oils available to you. Check out this link to view everything CBDistillery has to offer and use the code UPG5 to get 5% off your order.

Bottom Line

I went into this project knowing very little about CBD oil. After hours of research and weeks of actually trying all of the oils mentioned above, I can’t deny the fact that I have noticed considerable improvements.

Before I started using the tinctures, I suffered from extended periods of insomnia and anxiety. While I approached both of these issues from a holistic angle, I believe the CBD oil played a major role. Now, it’s part of my morning and nighttime routines. And I carry a bottle in my backpack, so I can resort to it if an episode of anxiety arises for me during the day.

A stigma looms around CBD, and understandably so. But with the right amount of education and awareness, I believe this powerful oil can break through and provide relief for people who need it.

Medical disclaimer: The contents of this site, such as text, images, and information, are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice.