CBD has become extremely popular in recent years and you’ll find positive stories about it in the news every single day. Here’s everything you need to know about this popular and incredibly useful substance.
What is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound found in the hemp plant. Hemp contains over 85 of these unique cannabinoids, such as CBN and THC, the psychoactive substance that provides the ‘stoned’ feeling. But don’t worry, CBD products in the UK only contain minuscule amounts of THC – you certainly won’t notice any unwanted mind-altering effects from it.
CBD oil can be taken in a number of different ways. You can vape it, swallow it in capsule form, use it under the tongue, use oral sprays, or apply it topically to your skin. It has become a hugely popular wellness product, with a vast range of uses for all kinds of issues.
What are the benefits of CBD?
Official medical studies are still in their infancy, but there are many reported benefits to using CBD. It has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can help with everything from acne to chronic pain from arthritis. It brings balance to your system, working on all kinds of issues, covering sleep, appetite, anxiety and many more.
Antioxidant properties have been found in these cannabinoids. This means they can be useful when treating a huge variety of problems, such as age-related and autoimmune diseases. Following strokes or trauma, they can help limit neurological damage, or treat neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.
But this is just a small number of the potential benefits of using CBD. Studies are ongoing and new applications and uses emerge all the time. Currently, people use it for all kinds of different reasons so we recommend you do your own research to see what CBD can do for your specific ailments. It’s an incredibly versatile substance.
How does CBD oil work?
It all relates to the endocannabinoid system – put simply, this is a communications system within the brain and the rest of our body. This system balances the mind and body, as well as affecting things like appetite, mood and sleep. Cannabinoids can be either consumed (phytocannabinoids) or produced naturally by the body (endocannabinoid) and so it’s this system that responds to the presence of cannabinoids such as CBD.
Our bodies can naturally produce its own endocannabinoids but phytocannabinoids such as CBD are known to help to kickstart our central regulatory system and provide the positive effects that you’ve heard so much about.
Does CBD get you high?
No. CBD often gets confused with THC, a very different cannabinoid. THC is an intoxicating and illegal substance, and causes a “high”. However, CBD is non-psychoactive as it works on different pathways to THC. It is impossible to get high through CBD alone.
Where does CBD come from?
CBD comes from the hemp plant. Hemp refers to the types of cannabis plant species that contain very low amounts of THC (the chemical that makes marijuana psychoactive). Hemp shouldn’t be confused with illegal marijuana, instead it refers to the non-drug plant that is grown for its fibre and seeds.
CBD is the second most plentiful chemical in the cannabis plant, and usually makes up around 40% of its extracts. In the UK it is legal to grow, process and market hemp and hemp products, so most CBD in the UK are extracts from hemp.
How can I buy CBD oil in the UK?
If you’re interested in trying out CBD oil or another CBD product, we highly recommend doing some research beforehand. Because the UK CBD market is largely unregulated, you should exercise caution in order to avoid low-quality products. It’s important to look for brands with positive reviews and independent third-party lab test results. CBD Shopy has a put together a good review on UK’s best CBD oils for sale.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
Yes, in the UK it is completely legal to buy, sell and own CBD products, provided they contain less than 0.2% THC. You’ll find it in a range of items, including balms, oils, tinctures and edible forms such as gummy sweets, or as a shot in tea or coffee.
Most cannabinoids are listed as controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 but CBD is an exception, so long as it comes from an EU-approved industrial hemp strain.
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