5 Things You Should Know about CBD
By now you will probably have seen CBD crop up in some place or another - it’s in skincare, food, coffee. You name it, someone has probably managed to infuse CBD into it. CBD expert Dr. Dani Gordon gives us the lowdown.
By Dr. Dani Gordon
1. It will not, we repeat, will not get you high
In order for a product derived from the hemp plant to make you feel high, it needs to have THC in it. THC is a psychoactive compound also found in the same plant, but is the compound that is currently still illegal in most places. However, CBD is completely legal and safe to use, without any of those adverse effects that THC can give you.
2. We have a natural system within our bodies that is meant to work with compounds like CBD (so let’s embrace them)
This system is known as our endocannabinoid system. While it’s still a fairly new area of research, what doctors and scientists do know is that the endocannabinoid system works to regulate a lot of physiological and cognitive processes. These include a large part of the immune system, our appetite, mood, memory and pain sensation. So because we have this system already within us, compounds like CBD respond really well in our bodies as they help to boost an already existing system.
CBD is short for cannabidiol, it is a naturally occurring chemical found in the Cannabid plant. It has gained widespread popularity over recent years as it’s starting to be recognised as a great treatment for illnesses, aches and pains.
3. CBD is multi-functional
Just as our endocannabinoid system is multi-functional, so is CBD. While a lot of scientific research is still being done (it is a fairly new area of health after all!) there is a lot of evidence out there that suggests CBD can help ease chronic pain, help with anxiety, stress, low moods, balancing your appetite and so forth. It can even be applied topically to help ease sore muscles and speed up the healing process of cuts and scrapes.
4. Full spectrum or broad spectrum products are the best
Dr. Dani Gordon recommends looking for CBD products that use full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD. What this means is that they contain a lot more of the compounds found in the hemp plant, the difference between full and broad being that full still has trace elements of THC, but still very legal. You want to have these plant compounds in the product you’re using as they work more efficiently in synergy, meaning that the product will most likely work better for you than if you were to use just a CBD isolate (where there is only CBD in it). Most CBD products like oils will specify on the bottle if they are full or broad spectrum.
5. Always look for a certificate of analysis
To know that you’re using the best possible product, look out for a certificate of analysis or a lab report from a third party lab. Some websites selling CBD products will have these readily available for the wider public to view, but if they are not you can always drop the company an email - they should be able to send you these documents.
What these certificates and reports show are that there are no other harmful chemicals in the CBD product you’re consuming. They will also show the levels of THC present in the product - either none at all or a trace level that is within the legal limit.