Can CBD Help You?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has become very popular recently, with many users touting its therapeutic and healing benefits. Even the scientific and medical communities are delving into its uses, including it in clinical trials and studies for patients suffering from major medical conditions.

Most popularly, CBD is used as a natural remedy for everyday common ailments, and to supplement medication for more serious ones, too. This all-natural product has risen in popularity, and for good reason. Keep reading to discover what you need to know about your CBD options.

What is it?

CBD is a natural component found inside the cannabis plant. It is not intoxicating and will not create a “high” feeling like THC does, which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Instead, CBD’s calming effects are ideal for pain relief, nausea, and other conditions. And because it’s non-addictive, it’s safe for most people to use every day.

What is it good for?

The biggest news stories about CBD are those covering children with severe epilepsy syndromes that aren’t responding well to traditional medications. Certain types of CBD are shown to reduce the number of seizures and even stop them altogether.

Other medical conditions are shown to see improvement thanks to CBD treatments. People with autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis; neurological conditions, like Alzheimer’s; metabolic syndromes, like obesity; neuropsychiatric illness, such as PTSD; gut disorders, like Crohn’s; cardiovascular issues, like atherosclerosis; and skin disease, like psoriasis.

What’s in it?

Full-spectrum CBD includes up to 0.3 percent THC, which isn’t enough to get you high. However, full-spectrum CBD products are more easily absorbed and put to work by your body’s endocannabinoid system, making them a top choice.

Broad-spectrum CBD products don’t contain THC, but they do contain other cannabinoids that work together to act on your endocannabinoid system. Together, they are readily absorbed and put to work.

Finally, isolate products contain only CBD. For some people, isolate products are adequate for their uses. However, some people may find that they get greater benefits from products with other cannabinoids inside.

What types of CBD products are there?

Depending on your condition you’re trying to find relief from, or if you simply want to use CBD as a general health supplement, you’ll want to choose a specific type of CBD product.

For example, for skin treatment, you might choose a CBD lotion, a topical cream you can apply all over for general use, or only on parts of the body causing you pain.

Another popular form is the CBD tincture. A tincture is a liquid that you can mix into your favorite drinks or simply place under your tongue. Many are flavored to improve their taste, and because they’re ingested, they can relieve internal issues, like digestive issues, and general pain. Some CBD tinctures are also ideal for helping you fall asleep.

If you spend any time shopping for CBD products, you’ll also run across things like body bars, a type of thick lotion pressed into a bar-shape, that you apply to your skin; rollers, which release essential oils and the CBD onto your skin, wherever you apply it; bath bombs, for soaking your body to get the benefits of CBD; or even in edible gummies or other treats, which, like tinctures, are absorbed in your digestive tract.
Some companies even produce CBD products for pets. CBD treats are designed to help relieve your pets’ symptoms of illness, or to help keep them calm if they have anxiety or are easily stressed.

How do I know it’s a good product?

Full-spectrum products come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This certificate means the contents of the CBD product were independently verified by a third-party laboratory, with no financial stake in the product.

Compare what is on the COA to what the company has printed on the label.

The COA will include:

• CBD and THC concentrations
• A list of cannabinoids and other compounds found in the product. If you’ve purchased full-spectrum CBD or broad-spectrum CBD products, you should expect it to include them.
• An analysis of heavy metals and pesticides. The COA will inciduce “pass” if these contaminants are within acceptable, safe limits.

Where can I buy it?

If you’re intent on shopping for CBD products, you must do your due diligence to ensure you get a quality product. In general, if a website or store seems sketchy, you might not want to rely on their products to be what they say they are.

Instead, find a reputable source for your products, including online retailers you can trust, or local hair salons or other businesses with whom you’re already a customer.