Posted by Priscilla Acres on 28th Dec 2022
CBD Oil 101
CBD can be found in hemp and marijuana or any other plant within the cannabis family. It is one way without feeling of hesitation to want to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without feeling high.
CBD has a great ability to lessen anxiety and reduce inflammation without causing an individual to get high. However, there are warnings about the lack of sufficient scientific data to probe all the purported health benefits of CBD. While there are studies that have shown the effectiveness of CBD in controlling anxiety and depression, you should not bank all your hopes on it if you suffer from chronic depression.
A Short History of CBD Oil
Initially, CBD oil was used for its purported healing and anti-inflammatory properties, but it was not until the 1980s that scientists discovered the compound’s connection to the human endocannabinoid system, which led to its use in the treatment of various medical conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, and epilepsy. In fact, a growing number of doctors, researchers, and patients now believe that CBD (and THC) may be the most important medical discovery ever made, with the potential to significantly reduce or even eliminate entirely the agony of many serious and/or chronic illnesses that are otherwise very difficult to treat.
Carrier Oils for CBD Oil
The reason that CBD oil is so different from traditional cannabis oil extracts is because it is a non-psychoactive extract of the hemp plant, which contains CBD and THC. In other words, it does not get you “high” or cause any kind of psychoactive reaction in your body. Therefore, it is completely legal to sell and use as a dietary supplement.
CBD oil can be created using a variety of carrier oils; each oil is unique in its properties and characteristics. Here are the commonly carrier oils for CBD oil:
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is commonly used in cold-pressed cannabis edibles because it provides an excellent balance of dietary fats (it contains many MCTs) while being rich in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). The saturated fat contained in coconut oil helps to improve absorption rates compared to other carrier oils such as olive oil or sunflower seed oil, which are typically lower in saturated fat than coconut oil.
Olive Oil: It is best to opt for extra-virgin olive oil, which has a higher concentration of these beneficial compounds compared to regular olive oil. It can help to reduce blood pressure, improve blood sugar control, and reduce inflammation, which can help to reduce the risk of various chronic diseases. It can also be used on the skin to improve the appearance of aging and fight the signs of wrinkles thanks to its antioxidant content.
Hemp seed oil: It is best used for dry skin as it is very moisturizing and helps to keep the skin hydrated for a long period of time. It is also great for treating inflammation as it has been known to reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. It is also good for your hair and has been known to reduce hair loss and improve hair growth.
Grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid. Grapeseed oil is great for your skin, as it is very moisturizing, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which make it great for reducing acne, rashes, and other skin conditions. It also has folic acid, which is very important for pregnant women, as it reduces the risk of certain birth defects. Grapeseed oil is low in saturated fats, but it is high in polyunsaturated fats, which is very good for your health.
Avocado oil: It is rich in oleic acid, Vitamin E, and other nutrients that are good for your hair and skin. Avocado oil is great for dry and itchy scalps, promoting hair growth and preventing further issues. You can also treat dry, itchy scalps by massaging your hair with avocado oil several times a week.
Sunflower seed oil: It is rich in Vitamin E and has antioxidant properties that help protect against cell damage, thus reducing the risk of various diseases. It also has a strong nutty flavor that makes it great for certain foods such as roasted vegetables. Sunflower seed oil has a wide range of benefits, from improving heart health to boosting skin health.
Pomegranate seed oil: It is great for your hair, helping to prevent excessive shedding, reduce dandruff, and slow down graying. Pomegranate seed oil’s high concentration of punicalagin decreases UVA and UVB damage, helps fight wrinkles and fine lines, and improves elasticity. Unlike many other oils, pomegranate seed oil is not easily oxidized, so it has a much longer shelf life. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties, making it helpful for people with psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions characterized by redness and itching.
Emu Oil: Emu oil can be used for all skin types as it has a naturally balanced fatty acid profile. It is rich in essential amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. Emu oil has anti-aging properties, nourishes and moisturizes the skin, and helps with acne, wrinkles, and sun damage.
How to Select, Store, and Prepare CBD Oil
There are many CBD oil products available online, in health stores, and in dispensaries. Some products contain just CBD oil and some have added ingredients. Some are health and beauty products infused with CBD oil. Understanding the different properties and uses of common CBD phytochemicals and carrier oils will help you decide which products fit your own needs. Before you make a purchase, however, there are a few more things to consider.
CBD Oil Variations
CBD is extracted from hemp by using either ethanol, olive oil, or high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. Most CBD oil is made via CO2 gas extraction, which is efficient but expensive and results in a clear, flavorless extract. Extraction via ethanol or olive oil results in a green extract that tastes like grass. After the phytochemicals are extracted from the raw hemp extract, the CBD oil can be processed further to remove a single chemical or to isolate individual cannabinoids, and carrier oils are added. The following are the three main types of CBD oil:
Full-spectrum CBD oil: hemp extract that has all of the cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp plant (including THC), and contains a carrier oil.
Broad-spectrum CBD oil: full-spectrum hemp extract that has been processed to completely remove the THC, and also contains a carrier oil.
Isolate CBD oil: hemp extract containing only the chemical compound CBD, without any other cannabinoids or terpenes, suspended in a carrier oil.
Full-spectrum CBD oil is most effective for wellness applications, followed by broad-spectrum CBD oil, and then CBD oil products made from CBD isolate. If you are hoping to avoid THC completely, it is best to skip full-spectrum CBD oil products and use THC-free broad-spectrum CBD oil products.
Any of the three types of CBD oil can be found in commercial CBD oil tinctures, gummies, teas, patches, soft gels, drinks, and lotions, although the least beneficial form, CBD isolate, is used in most brands due to legal restriction on shipping CBD oil products with THC across state lines. To reap the full benefits of all the phyto-cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes found in the natural hemp plant that are missing from CBD isolate products, it’s better to make your own CBD oil recipes at home from full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD oil.
CBD Oil Dosing
There are no one-size-fits-all dosing recommendations for CBD oil, as each product differs in the way it was extracted, the amount of CBD and terpenes it contains, and the carrier oil(s) and other ingredients used. Some CBD oil tinctures have as little as 250 milligrams of CBD, whereas some “extra-strength” formulas have as much as 5,000 milligrams. The standard bottle of CBD oil contains 30 milliliters of product and comes with a dropper that holds 1 milliliter at a time for accurate dosages.
The first step in creating effective CBD oil recipes for health and beauty treatments is to know the concentration of your chosen CBD oil. To determine how much CBD is in 1 dropper of your CBD oil, divide the milligram (mg) amount of CBD by the milliliter (ml) amount in the bottle. For example, if the product label says there are 1,500 milligrams of CBD in a 30-milliliter bottle, each dropper contains 50 milligrams of CBD. Droppers are labeled with quarter markings, making it easy to estimate smaller doses. Once you figure out the amount of CBD in each dropper, look to the product label for more specific dosing recommendations.
CBD Oil Storage
Always shake your CBD oil before drawing up liquid into the dropper, as the CBD and other active phytochemicals may not be evenly distributed throughout the bottle—especially if it has been sitting for a while. The chemicals in CBD oil can degrade over time and with exposure to light and oxygen, so once the bottle is opened, keep your CBD oil tightly closed in the refrigerator. If your CBD oil is not in a dark bottle, make sure to keep it in the box to block out light.
Benefits of CBD
Much research and many scientific studies, including a review published by the British Journal of Pharmacology in 2013, have discussed the possible medicinal properties of CBD. Most of these studies have been conducted on animals; only a few of them included human subjects. The studies concluded that the use of cannabis may deliver the following medicinal effects:
Anti-inflammatory
Cannabis minimizes inflammation to prevent inflammatory disorders, including glaucoma. According to a review published by the National Eye Institute based in Bethesda, Maryland, cannabis aids in minimizing the pressure within the eyeball and thus helps control the symptoms of glaucoma, an eye condition marked by increased pressure within the eyeball, which leads to gradual loss of vision.
Antipsychotic and Antidepressant
Cannabis fights various psychosis disorders, as well as the symptoms of depression and anxiety. There has been much scientific research analyzing the effects of medical cannabis in controlling the symptoms of mental disorders such as anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, mania, panic disorder, schizophrenia, and other forms of psychosis.
A study conducted in 2006 by the Molecular Pharmaceutics Journal stated that cannabis can be effective in controlling the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Anticonvulsant
In the mid-19th century, the United States Pharmacopeia described cannabis tincture as a valid treatment for pediatric epilepsy. Later studies indicated that the anticonvulsant properties of the cannabis plant may help minimize the frequency and intensity of temporal and parietal lobe seizures.
Antidiabetic
Studies have also found that cannabis positively affects fasting insulin and insulin resistance. Additional benefits listed by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (2005) include suggestions that it is a vasodilator and an antispasmodic agent, and that it relieves the symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS) and neuropathic pain.
Antiemetic and Antioxidant
Cannabis protects against cell damage and oxidation, thereby preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Cannabis consumption may help in relieving or controlling nausea and vomiting.
Anticancer/Anti-tumoral
Research from the California Pacific Medical Center appearing in the Molecular Cancer Therapeutics journal in 2007 reported that CBD may be effective in preventing the spread of cancer by shutting down a gene known as Id-This gene activates cancer cells and prompts them to spread throughout the body.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis leads to many painful symptoms. Medical cannabis can be an effective option to minimize pain and muscle spasms.
Asthma
CBD may deliver potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects that are extremely helpful in controlling the symptoms of asthma. THC may also help in calming asthma attacks.
