Medically CitedIn This Article
CBD Oil Overview
CBD is one of the many compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. This compound is very controversial because this compound is extracted from the hemp plant, which is also categorized as a recreational drug.
THC is a compound in a hemp plant that has a psychoactive impact on a person’s brain, but as this compound is extracted from a hemp plant, it automatically became controversial.
Despite plenty of controversy, the CBD oil market size is consistently growing over the period of time.
The recent study estimated the CBD market to grow to over $2 billion in 2022. Huge growth is anticipated for the future[1].
Here are some of the benefits of CBD oil:
- Contains anti-inflammatory properties
- Is a natural pain reliever
- Helps in the treatment of mental health disorders
- Helps fight cancer
- Treats anxiety
And so on…
Now, the question to ask over here is whether CBD is marijuana or not.
Is CBD Marijuana?
Is CBD Marijuana?
Whenever people start talking about the cannabis plant, they immediately assume that any compound that is found in the cannabis plant is marijuana. Let’s dig deep into this topic now.
From what researchers have found, THC is the most active compound that is found in the cannabis plant.
Marijuana contains both THC and CBD, and both of them have different effects. THC is a compound that is recognized for its mind-alerting effects, and due to this compound, the people who smoke weed experience the “high” feeling.
However, the case with CBD is a very different one. In the case of CBD, this compound does not have psychoactive properties. What this means is that the consumption of this compound does not have any effects on the state of mind of the person.
But it has been found that the consumption of CBD certainly has some other effects in the mind, and the body of a person and these effects have some medical benefits.
The maximum amount of the CBD is extracted from hemp, which is the least processed form of the cannabis plant. Both marijuana and hemp are extracted from the same plant, i.e., cannabis sativa.
Over the period of time, the farmers have emphasized growing a cannabis plant that tends to be higher in THC. Some reasons could be due to the smell or the effect.
In the case of farmers, who cultivate the hemp plant, they do not modify the properties of the plant too much. The hemp plants that are not modified a lot are the plants that are used to extract CBD for medical purposes.
How CBD Works?
Before purchasing CBD-infused hemp oil products, it’s a good idea to understand how CBD works. All cannabinoids, which also includes CBD, attach to specific receptors of the body in order to produce their effects.
The human body is also capable of producing its own version of certain cannabinoids. In fact, there are two specific receptors in human beings, and they are called CB1 and CB2 receptors.
The CB1 receptor can be found all over the body, but the majority of these receptors are found in a human brain.
The CB1 receptor that is found in the human brain deals with various functions, such as coordination and movement, emotions, pain, mood, thinking, appetite, memories, and others. THC also attaches to those same receptors.
On the other hand, CB2 receptors are usually associated with the human immune system. These receptors influence pain and inflammation.
CBD does not act on its own. Instead, it influences other parts of the human body to use more and more cannabinoids of its own.
Before You Buy CBD Oil
After being equipped with some basic information about CBD and how it works, you may want to buy the CBD oil. And there are some more things you should know about CBD before you move ahead with your purchase decision.
It’s crucial for an individual to know about lab tests before they go to a store to buy CBD oil. Like many other chemicals and medicines, the hemp product also needs to go through various tests and analyses before CBD oil can be certified free of toxins.
The CBD oil can be said to be pure to provide all the benefits claimed by the producer if it manages to pass the test.
It’s necessary to be aware of this information before you make a purchase. Here are some of the tests that CBD oil should go through to prove its potential.
- Potency test
- Pesticide testing
- Microbiological testing
- Terpene profiling
- Residual solvents testing
The first test is the potency test, and this test is performed to know the levels of cannabinoids in the specific product. As I have already mentioned before, the hemp plant is not only composed of the CBD.
Cannabinol is only one of the many different cannabinoids that can be found in the hemp plant.
To determine the concentration of different types of cannabinoids in the product, it’s important for the CBD oil to go through this test. It will help in assuring if the product is safe or not to use.
A Brief Background To The Cannabinoids Tests
A Brief Background To The Cannabinoids Tests
Let’s dig deep into cannabinoids tests. Usually, the tested cannabinoids are CBC, THC, CBN, CBD, and CBG. Among these cannabinoids, CBD or cannabinoid is a compound that has no psychoactive compound.
This compound is responsible for most of the health benefits that are offered by cannabis plants.
CBD is also known for acting as a natural neuroprotectant and for exerting antioxidant properties. Because of these properties, CBD is effective in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
This compound is also useful in strengthening your immune system for protection against inflammation and infections.
Furthermore, CBD is also a compound that plays a role in counteracting the psychoactive effects of THC.
THC is an active compound that is responsible for adding psychoactive properties to cannabis plant. This is not the only thing that you should know about THC.
This compound also has a mild analgesic effect. For those people, who do not want to use the cannabis plant to get high, it’s important to stay away from the product that has a high concentration of THC. Just as CBD, THC is also a compound with antioxidant properties.
However, THC may also have adverse reactions. This compound can attach to the cannabinoid receptors and also in the endocannabinoid system. After it reaches that system, this compound can bring down the speed of communication between brain cells. This causes interference in the brain’s activity.
This prevents neurotransmitters from performing their job in a normal manner. This compound binds to the hippocampus receptors. To give you an idea of the kinds of effects of this compound, here is an appropriate example.
THC can result in impairing the memory function, which is an area that is responsible for the overall learning process of human beings. When this compound again binds to receptors that are found in the cerebellum, THC can have an adverse impact on the motor combination and balance.
Besides these two compounds, the lab tests also check the concentration of other cannabinoids. THCV is a compound that is believed to have appetite-suppressing properties, which can help in effectively treating metabolic disorders. THCA is known as the acid form of THC. This compound is found in a huge volume of raw cannabinoids, and this compound is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
THCA is known as the acid form of THC. This compound is found in a huge volume of raw cannabinoids, and this compound is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
This study has shown that this compound can be effective in inhibiting the cancer cells proliferation along with relieving muscles spasms. [2]
CBNA, another compound found in the cannabis plant, also has psychoactive properties. This compound can further enhance the psychoactive effects of THC.
CGBA is a compound with no psychoactive effects, and this compound has both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. This compound is believed to be effective in the prevention of certain forms of cancer. CBC is also a very common form of a compound that is present in the cannabis plant.
This compound has anti-inflammatory properties, but this compound is also known to be a bone-stimulant.
What Are Some Of The Analysis Of The Tests Before You Grab CBD Oil Product?
Analysis Of The Tests
There are many lab tests that a CBD oil product must go through to prove its worth, as mentioned in the above part of the article.
Now, we will see how the analysis tests should be looked at before you purchase the CBD oil product.
CBD/THC Balance: For a CBD oil product to be regarded as an awesome product, it’s very important to know the balance of CBD and THC on the product.
The CBD oil product should contain the higher concentration of CBD, and the product should be very low in THC, or there should be no THC.
The concentration of other psychoactive compounds that are found in the cannabis plant should also be minimum or nil. Knowing this fact helps you to choose the safer CBD oil product.
Pesticide Testing: The pesticides are used by many farmers to grow cannabis plant for protecting the plant from many insects. However, the thing is the higher concentration of herbicides and fungicides can lower the quality of CBD oil.
In order to ensure the safety of the CBD oil, this test is performed to check the concentration of herbicides and fungicides in the product.
The higher concentration of herbicides and fungicides means a red signal for a product because the higher concentration of these pesticides can lead to various side effects.
Microbiological testing: The microbiological testing is another important testing to ensure there are no harmful bacteria or mold on the cannabis plant or a hemp plant.
The pathogens can be there in the plants, and therefore can get into human bodies without much difficulty.
The level of pathogens will be checked by this test. If the level of this dreadful thing is too high, there could be the risk of inviting many unwanted diseases to our bodies.
Residuals Solvents Testing: This test is the complete lab test, which includes the analysis of the residual solvents. The solvents come into play when the plants are transformed into oils, powders, and any other forms of products.
This test is only for the solvent-based extraction process.
There is a very good chance that the product may contain a very high concentration of solvents, such as carbon dioxide, ethanol, propane, or acetone.
The higher concentration of these solvents can also lead to many unwanted health conditions, and these solvents can also turn the product into highly flammable ones.
Terpene Testing: This testing is performed to identify those things that are responsible for giving taste and color to the cannabis plants. Terpenes are pungent oils, which provide flavors. The flavors could be pine, citrus, berry, mind, and so on.
Terpenes are also believed to have numerous health benefits.
After being aware of all these lab tests, you can consider yourself as an informed customer. However, there is a little bit more information to retrieve before you can make a perfect decision.
Buying CBD Oil That Fits Your Needs—Be Aware of These 3 Traps
Buying CBD Oil
With so many tests and ways to check the safety and effectiveness of the CBD products, more and more states in the United States and other nations are slowly legalizing the sale of CBD products and this is why the market is expected to grow at a rapid pace.
Because the popularity of CBD products is growing, there are many companies that are offering these products. These companies claim that their products can be used for almost everything from acne to cancer.
However, these companies do not provide any scientific arguments to support the claims that they are making.
People are very eager to purchase CBD products, and they get into buying a poor quality product that does not deliver any results. Before purchasing the product, here are some of the things that you should consider.
1. Put Quality Over Price
There are many products on the market with many different price tags. Some CBD products that are sold on the market are cheaper while some other CBD products that are sold on the market are comparatively expensive.
With so many online stores on the internet, purchasing the product is just a matter of a few clicks. This makes us very eager to purchase the most affordable CBD products from the online stores that we see on the internet.
It’s true that cheap products are not always bad, but the very cheap products that are sold online are often very bad. Upon entering the keywords on the Google, hundreds and thousands of CBD product websites may appear on the search result, which can often make people very confused.
Most of the websites that appear on the search results are from the manufacturers, which do not provide pieces of evidence that their products are able to deliver the results that they claim.
They may offer cheap prices, but chances are you will be wasting more money if you buy cheap products.
Just think about it. If you make a purchase, you will spend some dollars on the product. That is your initial cost. If the CBD product that you just purchased is of inferior quality, it could lead to many unwanted health conditions.
This may result in spending more money and time to treat the unwanted health conditions after using an inferior brand. You should look for a higher concentration of cannabidiol on the products that you’re looking for, and check out the lab tests that I’ve explained in detail while purchasing the product.
It’s not necessary that the quality products cost way too much. It may cost just a few dollars more, and these products can offer more satisfaction than the cost that you’ve paid for the product.
2. It May Be Better To Stay Away From The Products That Claim To Treat Everything
Before ordering the CBD oil from the random online store, just learn about the real properties and benefits of cannabinoids. Medical marijuana is very different than CBD oil and Hemp oil (CBD oil and Hemp oil are also two very different products).
There is a chance that you might have heard CBD oil treats various forms of diseases, such as cancer, anxiety, tumors, and so on.
With so many scammers on the internet, there is a very high chance that the manufacturers that are posting these things on their websites are probably publishing lies.
CBD oil is a very powerful antioxidant, and the strength of this oil is also higher than vitamin C, D, and E. There may be very convincing studies that may come out later to prove the effects of CBD oil on the treatment for these diseases. [3]
However, there are no strong reports obtained from the studies that can claim that the use of CBD oil can treat these diseases miraculously. This is the reason why you should be aware of the publishers, which claim to treat almost everything.[4]
The Products That Claim To Treat Everything
Ask the manufacturer for solid proof if you come across CBD products that claim to heal everything miraculously.
The CBD oil is not meant to be a miraculous drug that can heal various unwanted health conditions. These manufacturers are just playing with the sentiments of people to earn quick cash.
If you want to purchase a reliable product, just do not purchase from these manufacturers. Purchase a product from that manufacturer that makes a rational claim. Remember, you are trying to buy CBD oil, not medical marijuana.
The manufacturer which sells CBD oil as a dietary supplement should be chosen over a manufacturer which promotes its product as a miraculous drug.
3. Make Sure That The Oil That You Are Trying To Purchase Is Not Psychoactive
The CBD products that are sold on the market may contain psychoactive compounds in them. CBD products sold as supplements should not contain THC. Before purchasing the CBD product just check the label. You should choose the CBD product that is free of THC.
To prepare top-quality CBD oil, there is a need for some specific technologies, and the cost of these technologies is expensive. This is the reason why many manufacturers just do not bother to make top-quality CBD oil and why good CBD products are generally more expensive.
There are also some so-called gurus who teach people to make CBD oil at home. However, the problem with the teaching of these so-called teachers is that the CBD oil that is made at home is of very poor quality.
Read More: The History Between Drug Enforcement Administration & CBD Product Use
Final Verdict
There are numerous health benefits of CBD oil, and one should consider using this oil to extract all the health benefits of this oil. You should carefully check out the dosage before applying the CBD oil to get the maximum benefits out of the CBD oil.
According to the study, some of the common side effects seen among people while treating the patients using CBD oil were diarrhea, change in appetite/weight, and tiredness. [5]
But, if you buy high quality CBD oil (which you will if you have read all the instructions mentioned in this article), you can apply CBD oil safely and experience many benefits from it.
5 Sources
We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.
[1] CBD industry to grow to $2 Billion by 2022: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/14/1551412/0/en/CBD-industry-to-grow-to-2-Billion-by-2022.html[2] Zhu D, Shi C, Jiang Y, Zhu K, Wang X, Feng W. Cisatracurium inhibits the growth and induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by promoting lincRNA-p21. Bioengineered. 2021;12(1):1505-1516. doi:10.1080/21655979.2021.1916271
[3] Cannabidiol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through induction of the host ER stress and innate immune responses: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abi6110
[4] As CBD Use Rises, Clinical Trials Needed to Determine Safety, Efficacy in Heart Disease Patients: https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2022/09/06/14/48/As-CBD-Use-Rises-Clinical-Trials-Needed-to-Determine-Safety-Efficacy-in-Heart-Disease-Patients
[5] How to Shop for CBD: https://www.consumerreports.org/cbd/how-to-shop-for-cbd/
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