How CBD Creams are Made

CBD creams are typically made by combining CBD extract with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil, and a base cream or lotion. The CBD extract is typically derived from industrial hemp, which contains high levels of CBD and very low levels of THC (the psychoactive compound in cannabis). After extraction, the CBD is added to the carrier oil and then blended with the cream or lotion to create a topical product.

Different Usages and Products

CBD creams can be used for a variety of purposes, including pain relief, inflammation reduction, and skin care. They come in a variety of strengths, from low-dose creams for general skin care to high-dose creams for targeted pain relief. Some common types include:

• Pain relief creams: These creams typically contain a higher concentration of CBD and are designed to provide targeted relief for muscle and joint pain.
• Anti-inflammatory creams: These creams are designed to reduce inflammation and can be helpful for conditions like arthritis and eczema.
• Skin care creams: These creams are typically lower in CBD concentration and are designed to provide general skin care benefits like hydration and anti-aging effects.

Recommendations for Buying the Right Product

When shopping for CBD creams, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable brand. Look for products that have been third-party tested for purity and potency, and choose a product that contains a concentration of CBD that is appropriate for your needs. Additionally, it’s important to consider the other ingredients in the cream, as some people may be sensitive to certain additives or fragrances.

Medical Precautions

While CBD is generally considered safe, there are some medical precautions to keep in mind. CBD can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and antipsychotic drugs, so it’s important to talk to your doctor before using CBD if you are taking any prescription medications. Additionally, some people may experience mild side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, or changes in appetite.

In conclusion, CBD creams offer a convenient and effective way to target specific areas of pain or inflammation. When shopping for these products, it’s important to choose a reputable brand and consider the other ingredients in the product. If you are taking any prescription medications, it’s important to talk to your doctor before using CBD. With the right product and precautions, CBD creams can be a valuable addition to your pain management or skin care routine.

Reference Links:

1. Project CBD – “CBD User’s Manual” (https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-users-manual-guide)
2. Healthline – “CBD Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Uses” (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits)
3. Mayo Clinic – “CBD: Safe and effective?” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700)

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Can CBD Oil Really Help Our Pets?

In short, yes. Though most of the research is being done for the benefit of people, many studies are conducted on animals first. The way CBD works is by interacting with our endocannabinoid systems (ECS). As it turns out, all vertebrates have endocannabinoid systems of their own. They aren’t all identical and don’t respond to CBD in exactly the same way. But, what we all share is that our ECS uses cannabinoids produced by our own bodies called endocannabinoids as messengers.

Our ECS is a homeostatic regulator, its job is to keep all major bodily systems in balance and the body as a whole running smoothly. When things are out of whack, the ECS deploys endocannabinoids as messengers to tell various systems and processes to get back in balance. For dogs, cats and people, cannabinoids like CBD can interact with the ECS in a way very similar to how our own endocannabinoids do, dialing down anxiety, inflammatory responses, pain perception and more.

There isn’t enough scientific research out there that proves CBD does what people say it does. A lot of what we understand about CBD comes from anecdotal evidence—stories from people who have tried CBD for their conditions and reported improvements. The same holds true for pets. Something like 74% of CBD users have pets, which likely explains how this practice became so popular so quickly. Pet owners have tried CBD products and, discovering that they help, bought CBD products for their pets to try as well. In many cases, CBD improves pets’ quality of life.

American Kennel Club Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Jerry Klein, for example, believes cannabidiol shows tremendous therapeutic potential for a multitude of conditions. CBD’s list of properties is long and impressive, including anti-inflammatory properties, cardiac benefits, anti-nausea effects, appetite stimulation, anxiety relief and even anti-cancer properties.

That’s why the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has sponsored a Colorado State University study, through the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, evaluating CBD for use in epileptic dogs whose conditions currently resist normal therapies. The hope is that the study, as the first for CBD in dogs with this condition, will yield valuable new data.

Among the other studies out there we can mention is a 2018 study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. This one looked at CBD for dogs with osteoarthritis, specifically whether it increased their comfort and activity at home. The result was that 80 percent of the dogs experienced significant improvement in mobility and comfort.  

Another study on epileptic dogs showed that CBD helps reduce the frequency of seizures. There are a few studies out there that supports the theory that CBD is helpful to animals and humans alike. Though there aren’t that many peer-reviewed studies out there yet, a very large amount of scientific inquiry has begun since legalization in the US, Canada and other jurisdictions.

Stephanie McGrath, one of the researcher on the American Kennel Club study, seems bullish on CBD’s potential for pets. At the moment, veterinarians don’t have that many tools for treating conditions like osteoarthritis and epilepsy. The options they have often come with harsh side effects. “If CBD works, then I think it would hit the mark of being both effective and not carrying a lot of side effects,” said McGrath. “So that’s kind of what we’re hoping for.”

CBD For Pets. The Do’s And Don’ts

Do…

Ask your veterinarian if they can talk to you about CBD. If so they can offer valuable insight and advice for how to administer CBD to your pet safely.

Do…

Find out if your pet has any coconut allergies. Most pet CBD oils use MCT oil as the carrier oil. This is fine for most pets, but some animals may have sensitivities. To read more about the benefits and possible risks of MCT oil for your dog read here.

Don’t…

Buy shoddy products that contain little-to-no CBD. Examine the label and make sure none of the ingredients are allergens, fillers, preservatives or THC. THC intoxication can be traumatic for pets, especially since they need smaller amounts than humans to get high.

Don’t…

Give pets any kind of human CBD treats—they may be toxic to your pets! Examples of human foods we shouldn’t share with our pets include:

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Nuts
• Oils
• Citrus

For a full list see here.

What’s the Proper CBD Dose for my Cat or Dog?

If your veterinarian is allowed to talk about CBD, ask them first. If professional advice isn’t available, you can follow the general outlines below. These quantities are perfectly safe:

• Mild Dose — 0.022 mg/lb or 0.05mg/kg
• Average Dose — 0.068 mg/lb or 0.15 mg/kg
• Strong Dose — 0.136 mg/lb or 0.30 mg/kg

It’s often too hard to give pets doses as accurately as the numbers above imply. Not to worry, these amounts are harmless and it won’t matter if you are off by a milligram or three.

Finding the dose that works best for your pet may take some work. You’ll want to keep a journal that records what CBD dose you  administer on a given week, plus observations about your pet’s condition and behavior. The more detail the better. “Start low, go slow” is the general rule, so start with a lower dose and increase it by 5-10% once a week. After a month or two, you can go back through your journal to try and determine which week your pet felt best.

Between pet CBD oils and pet CBD treats, there are quite a few ways to give your pets their dose. CBD oils are the easiest to administer accurately with bottles that come with measured droppers. However, CBD pet treats should mention the amount of CBD per piece, if the dose is in the range that works for your pet, then it’s fire and forget!

Can I Give My Pet Too Much Cannabidiol?

CBD is non-toxic and doesn’t cause overdose. Giving your pet too much CBD might make them more sleepy, but they’d only experience side effects like mild nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, changes in appetite with very large doses.

Remember to “start low and go slow” when starting your pet out on a CBD regimen.

Some Handy Advice For Shoppers

Thinking about trying CBD for your pet? Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting something reliable and safe. Some companies out there are sneaky and might want to sell you hemp oil with no CBD in it but dress it up as “medicinal.”

1. Look for organic. MCT oil can be organically-sourced. Check lab results for any evidence of pesticides, fungicides, or solvents.
2. Don’t price shop. Quality products cost more. If something is too cheap to be true, it’s probably no good. People using extremely cheap ingredients might be giving you something contaminated with toxic substances, pesticides, heavy metals, herbicides or more. If you see illegible additive-sounding ingredients on the label, steer clear.
3. Get the analysis. Every brand should be able to provide 3rd party lab tests for their products. Check whether the product has any impurities or THC. THC can be medicinal for pets, but it can also get them high and traumatize them if there is too much. Pets are usually much smaller than us, so it only takes a fraction of the THC to give them a panic-inducing bad trip.
4. CBD oils are the easiest option. These are just the easiest to use overall. Drop some on their favorite treat or kibble, measure out dosage more easily. Some CBD oils for pets are flavoured with chicken, salmon or bacon flavours too, and pets usually love them!

Medical disclaimer: This information does not constitute medical advice and it should not be relied upon as such. Consult with your doctor before modifying your regular medical regime.

The post CBD for Pets, The Complete Guide! appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.

In this article we’ll look at the science to learn how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to understand how CBD works. We’ll reference studies to see what’s been discovered so far and highlight best practices for CBD use.

Hopefully, this article will serve as a good starting point for anyone curious about using CBD oil for pain.

Full Disclosure: Linked products in this article point to items for sale in our shop.

CBD for pain: some history and science

CBD is extracted from hemp and cannabis plants. Our relationship with these  plants goes back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Ayurvedic healers were prescribing cannabis as medicine for everything from arthritis to epilepsy to anxiety to menstrual cramps as far back as over 4,000 years ago. Queen Victoria’s own doctor prescribed it to her in 19th century England!

Unfortunately, the early 20th century was to be the beginning of a long period of prohibition on cannabis in Canada and the US. This became a severe impediment for those in the medical community interested in studying cannabis. Even worse, this was happening just as a scientific revolution in medicine was getting underway.

In 2018, CBD was legalized in both Canada and the US. Medical research has resumed, but it’s still early days and much more research needs to be done before we understand CBD enough to prescribe it like a drug.

Today, the most common use for CBD is to address chronic pain. In a recent survey of over 2400 people by the The Center for Medical Cannabis Education, most people using CBD to treat a medical condition said the top 3 uses for CBD were for chronic pain, arthritis and joint pain.

How does CBD work in our bodies?

Medical research has already uncovered a few pathways through which CBD can affect pain. First, CBD inhibits the release of inflammatory agents like glutamate. This is a quality that is considered “neuroprotective.” CBD can also help dull the burning, tingling and prickling sensations that accompany neuropathic pain. CBD may be more effective for this when combined with magnesium glycinate.

Another way CBD works is by enhancing anandamide signaling. Anandamide, also known as the “bliss molecule” is an endocannabinoid produced by our own bodies which plays a role in regulating pain. It’s also linked with feelings of well-being and happiness. By enhancing anandamide signaling, CBD helps reduce pain throughout the body.

Research also shows that CBD can calm dysfunctional glycine receptors. Glycine receptors play a big role in how our bodies process pain—and can cause heaps of problems By targeting alpha-3 glycine receptors CBD can help suppress chronic pain and reduce inflammation.

Another way we are discovering CBD alleviates pain is through activation of certain receptor proteins responsible for controlling our awareness of pain. One such receptor protein is vanilloid receptor TRPV1.  A 2014 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that TRPV1 mediated CBD’s pain-relieving properties. The research team concluded that CBD could be a “useful pharmacological alternative in the treatment of the disease-associated chronic pain.”

Is there any proof CBD oil for pain will work?

How can I use CBD oil for my pain?

Since there are quite a few products out there, the first thing to think about is the kind of pain you’re treating. After you’ve considered your options and purchased your first product you’ll need to do a little experimentation. If you’re just beginning to incorporate CBD into your health and wellness routine, remember the golden rule “Start low, go slow.” Whether you use CBD topicals, ingest CBD edibles or oils, or take CBD another way, it’s always best to start with a minimum dose, and to increase it only gradually. After a month or two of experimentation and self observation, you should be able to find your “sweet spot”—the dose you find works best for you. For more on how to do that, read our article on CBD oil dosage.

It’s important to follow this gradual process of experimentation because CBD works differently for each person and also causes different effects at different doses. Simply doubling a dose does not guarantee CBD will kill twice as much pain. With CBD, sometimes less is more. 

Generally the idea is to start with a very low dose of 5-10mg, and gradually increase it every 5-7 days. Observe yourself daily and record the effects you feel in a daily journal. Did you yell at your children less frequently. Did you feel more mobile? Did you feel less anxious? How was your sleep? Try to be as detailed as possible and become more self-aware. After a month or two, look back in your journal and evaluate. You should be able to identify the dose that worked best.

CBD creams and skin balms are often applied to areas of localized pain, such as sites of muscle spasms or arthritis pain. Be aware than the skin is not very permeable to CBD and that CBD is only absorbed through pores. Consider buying a higher potency CBD cream, transdermal patch, or CBD oil for topical use.

If your brain is the intended destination, you can put drops of CBD oil under your tongue. A measured dropper helps measure out dosages more precisely.  The area under your tongue contains a very high concentration of blood vessels, plus it’s close to the brain. Don’t swallow your oil immediately. Leave it under your tongue between 30-90 seconds. If you swallow it right away, the CBD will have to go through your digestive tract and much of it will be filtered out by your liver. Once CBD gets into your bloodstream it can be deployed throughout your body.

There are situations in which ingesting CBD might be preferable. Eating CBD might be better if you want CBD released into your system gradually over time. Typically, CBD that goes through the digestive process remains in your system longer than vaping or drops under the tongue. Some find that eating a CBD gummy or two before bed is better for sleep, for example.

People suffering acutely often combine different methods, for example using a CBD cream and taking drops as well. This is perfectly safe as CBD is non-toxic and you can’t overdose. Generally speaking, the human body can well tolerate doses between 20mg-1500mg per day.

One thing to consider when using CBD oil for pain is whether it is acceptable to have any THC in your product. Although most people prefer Full Spectrum CBD Oil, it may not be appropriate for all. Hemp CBD OIl – No THC is the better choice for anyone with THC sensitivities, or who want to avoid THC altogether.

How does CBD affect inflammation?

Inflammation occurs naturally as our bodies fight infections and heal injuries. It’s when inflammation becomes chronic that our immune systems go from healing us to producing damaged cells and free radicals. These are highly damaging to the body, and can be precursors for a host of ailments, including cancer.

Chronic inflammation doesn’t always present itself in obvious fashion, but that makes it no less dangerous.

In the last few decades, the link between chronic inflammation and disease has become clear. Scientists currently estimate that up to 20% of cancer cases have chronic inflammation at their root. Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, isn’t necessarily caused by inflammation. However, people with Alzheimer’s have elevated inflammatory markers which increase both the severity and speed of cognitive decline.

There are a number of serious health conditions and diseases we know of that are linked to inflammation:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Osteoporosis
• Periodontitis
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Depression

Interestingly, CBD addresses inflammation in much the same way as aspirin. Doctors often recommend a daily aspirin for those at risk of heart attack. Aspirin works by inhibiting your body’s production of inflammatory prostaglandins. That’s a trait aspirin shares with CBD. CBD works by inhibiting the enzyme COX-2—the very enzyme that produces prostaglandins.

Studies conducted on rodents show that CBD likely protects joints against inflammatory arthritic damage in other ways as well. CBD was found to reduce the production of inflammatory tumour necrosis factor (TNFα).

CBD also influences the PPARγ receptor—the one responsible for telling your DNA to change which genes it expresses. The PPARγ receptor plays a role in reducing production of inflammatory molecules. It also influences the production of antioxidants. Because of it’s neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, researchers believe CBD might potentially have a role in treating Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis and other conditions.

CBD’s reliability for treating arthritic pain is also supported by patient testimony. A CreakyJoints.org poll noted that of the 57% of arthritis patients that tried marijuana or CBD for medical reasons, more than 90% say it helped.

CBD: part of preventative and holistic medicine. 

The laws now allow people to experiment with CBD oil for pain and inflammation. However, most chronic conditions can’t be addressed by CBD alone. CBD works best when incorporated as part of a self-care routine that incorporates an anti-inflammatory diet and physical activities. These improve immune system function and help reduce inflammation by preventing its occurrence in the first place. Some scientifically-backed ways to reduce inflammation include:

• Anti-inflammatory diets that are high in raw foods, vegetable and whole grains. Reduction or elimination of meat, sugars, simple carbs and processed foods—all highly inflammatory.
• Increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA. These are abundant in fish and algae.
• Engaging in low-impact exercises like cycling, yoga, pilates, water sports and tai chi. Emphasize core strength, breathing and flexibility. Allow your vital fluids and nerves to flow and signal freely.

Use CBD safely

Although CBD is non-toxic, non-addictive and you can’t overdose, it doesn’t mean it can’t be abused. Remember that CBD can prevent the uptake of certain medicines in the same way grapefruit does. If your medicine carries a grapefruit warning, CBD may interfere with it. If you are on any medications, make sure to consult a medical professional first.

Medical disclaimer: This information does not constitute medical advice and it should not be relied upon as such. Consult with your doctor before modifying your regular medical regime.

The post CBD Oil For Pain: Just The Facts Jack appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.

As research on CBD oil dosage began only recently, there are still many things we don’t fully understand. For one, the way CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) is not yet fully understood. Then there’s the ECS itself. It’s a highly complex system, and only recently discovered. We have only just begun to explore it. In fact, the ECS was only named in 1992.

Each person responds to CBD a little bit differently and different doses will affect your endocannabinoid system, and your body, differently. The same dose you would use to treat chronic pain won’t be as effective for insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy or the myriad of other conditions we’re discovering CBD may help you with. Doses will also vary according to your weight and your natural tolerance to CBD.

For all of these reasons, there’s no way for anyone to tell you what dose you need for your particular condition. This is why sites are banned from advertising that CBD cures cancer and from making other unverified claims. However, there is a way to use CBD safely and quite effectively, it just requires a little experimentation and self-observation.

Full Disclosure: Linked products in this article point to items for sale in our shop. You’ll also find helpful product recommendations at the end of the article.

Do varying CBD Oil dosage affect our bodies differently?

Indeed, they do! There are many receptors CBD can bind to in our bodies—over 65 in fact! CBD binds with the receptors it has the highest affinity for first. At a low dose, CBD binds only to those receptors with which it has the highest affinity. But at higher doses, those receptors get saturated. The excess CBD that can’t bind to high-affinity receptors moves on to other receptors in our bodies. This binding to other receptors leads to the experience of different effects.

Two important things to remember about CBD is that 1) the way consume CBD affects how much is absorbed, 2) and that CBD is biphasic.

When speaking of how much CBD is absorbed and actually gets to the receptors, we use the term “bioavailability.” Bioavailability varies quite dramatically depending on how you’ve consumed your CBD.

The human digestive tract is quite efficient at removing cannabinoids. When consuming in edible form, a large amount of CBD compounds is scrubbed out before it reaches the bloodstream. In addition, when ingesting CBD this way, the effects of CBD come on more slowly and are felt over a longer period.

When consuming CBD by smoking flower or vaping, your lungs filter a little CBD out, but more gets into your bloodstream compared to through your digestive system.  The effects come on more quickly but don’t last as long.

One of the most popular ways to take CBD these days is to administer drops of CBD oil under the tongue, often called taking CBD “sublingually.” The advantages of this method are that it is far easier to measure out a dose of CBD oil using a measured dropper then to estimate how many mg you’re getting by vaping. You’ll also get more CBD into your system than you would through an edible. This is because there are a large number of blood vessels under your tongue. CBD can be absorbed into these blood vessels and bypass the digestive system.

If using the sublingual method, remember not to swallow the oil right away. Make sure to leave the tincture under your tongue 30-90 seconds. The blood vessels under your tongue are close to your brain. Therefore, the sublingual method is also one of the quickest for getting CBD to receptors to your brain.

Next, CBD is biphasic. That means that at one dose, CBD will have an effect while at another dosage CBD will have a different effect.

Alcohol is a good example of another biphasic compound. Below a certain level of blood alcohol content (BAC), alcohol is a stimulant. It’ll make you feel energized, confident and sociable. But this changes with dosage. When your BAC gets too high, alcohol goes from a stimulant to a depressant. Your cognition and coordination are reduced, and your mood can go dark.

Although CBD is biphasic, it’s not identical to alcohol. It’s not as simple as a stimulant at one dose and and a depressant at another. What’s important to understand is that changes in CBD oil dosage will change the effects you experience.

The key to dosage, for newcomers to CBD especially, is to “Start Low and Go Slow.”

As it’s currently impossible to prescribe dosage accurately, finding your ideal CBD dosage is going to involve a process of experimentation. Start with low dose of 5-10mg and go up from there.

This process of experimentation can last 1-2 months. During this time, it’s essential that you keep a daily journal where you record your CBD dosage and notes about your self-observations. How much joint pain did you have? How many times did you yell at your kids? Mood, anxiety, sleep, pain, appetite and things of this nature are good to record.

After a week, increase your dosage by 5-10mg and repeat the process. Continue with the self-observation and keep daily notes. This is also good for promoting keen self-awareness.

After a month or two you can look back through these notes and see in detail how different dosages affected you and you should have a much clearer idea of the ideal dose for you.

The gradual approach is important. Trying to take shortcuts and just doubling the dose won’t guarantee success. CBD is biphasic. Doubling your dose doesn’t mean it’ll double the effectiveness. In fact, it could be less effective than your original dose. That’s why the gradual approach is better. You’ll have a better chance of finding your “sweet spot.”

CBD oil dosage calculation

Though we can’t offer precise guidance for dosage, we can offer a starting point. Use the chart below to identify a starting dose that best aligns with your weight and the severity of your condition. Bear in mind, this chart does not factor in any tolerance you might have for CBD, and it does not constitute medical advice.

When determining CBD oil dosage, try and find a brand that offers bottles with measured droppers. These make it easier to measure out doses. 

Remember to increase your dose gradually, to self-observe and to keep a journal.

How do I take CBD the right way for my condition?

There many ways to take CBD, including sublingually, vaping/smoking, in capsules and edibles, but you can also use CBD topically, in CBD skin cream, or take a CBD suppository.

The way you take CBD can affect how you feel the effects, as well as where. Unless CBD reaches your bloodstream, it basically stays where you applied it. Using CBD oil, or a CBD cream on your abdomen near your uterus can help assuage PMS cramps for example. 

Before you take CBD, think on the intended target. If targeting your brain, immune system or blood, it’ll be more effective if CBD travels through your bloodstream. If the bloodstream is the target, the best ways to get CBD into your system would be sublingually or vaping/smoking.

If targeting joints or muscles, you can combine sublingual CBD oil with a topical CBD cream on the target area. This way you can address systemic inflammation as well as local inflammation. 

Gummies or capsules can be well suited to sleep or anxiety. A gummy in the morning slowly introduces CBD into your system in the smoothest, mellowest way possible, reducing anxiety and increasing focus. 1-2 at night can fight inflammation and increase sleep quality.

What’s the right CBD dose for my weight?

Again, this is not medical advice, but a safe starting point. Here is the formula for calculating an initial dose according to weight:

 0.1mg per pound of body weight.

So that means an individual weighing 100 pounds can safely start on a dose of 10 mg/ day. Start here and increase your dose gradually while keeping a journal of your daily self-observations.

Any advice for how to use CBD for particular conditions?

Simply put: No.

Much more research will have to be done before anyone can accurately prescribe CBD for particular conditions. The best we can do is offer some very basic guidelines. This is not medical advice. What follows are simply safe suggestions for where to start with various conditions. The numbers below have not been arrived at scientifically, but anecdotally. These numbers come from people self-reporting the doses that are effective for them. 

Chronic pain: 2 to 20 mg a day.

Anxiety: 10 to 20 mg a day.

Epilepsy: 200 to 300 mg a day.

Glaucoma: 30 to 40 mg a day.

Insomnia: 50 to 150 mg a day.

Depression: 2 to 10 mg a day.

Which CBD is best for me? Full Spectrum or Hemp CBD Oil – No THC?

Full Spectrum CBD Oil is, in general, more popular than Hemp CBD Oil – No THC. Though it hasn’t been proven by science, most people claim that Full Spectrum CBD Oil works better for them than the alternatives. The reason for that may be because Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains all of the natural terpenes, cannabinoids and flavonoids of the hemp plant. Some research indicates that whole plant extract CBD—like that found in Full Spectrum CBD Oil—may be more effective than a THC-free CBD oil made with CBD isolate.

CBD isolate is a powder that is 99.9% pure CBD. This substance has been refined from the whole plant extract in order to remove THC and isolate CBD.

For those with sensitivities or allergies to THC, a Hemp CBD Oil – No THC is your best choice. Likewise if you are periodically drug-tested. Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains trace amounts of THC which can be detected on a drug test—even if it is only present in trace amounts. If THC is a problem for you for any reason, it’s likely you should stick to Hemp CBD Oil – No THC.

Can I overdose from CBD?

No. CBD is highly safe and considered “well-tolerated” by humans even at large doses (according to the WHO). CBD is non-toxic and non-addictive. There are few, if any, side-effects. 

In the case of unusually large doses for beyond the recommended amount, it is possible to experience side effects including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, changes in appetite and other fairly mild symptoms. It’s not recommended to take large doses over 1000mg. As we mentioned before, more CBD is not necessarily better.

What are the most common uses of CBD?

In a 2018 study, almost 62% of CBD users reported using CBD to treat a medical condition. The top three medical conditions were pain, anxiety, and depression. According to a study by SingleCare in 2020, the most common uses of CBD for Americans were pain relief (64%), anxiety (49%), and insomnia (42%).

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained is not intended as medical advice, and cannot be used as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician or medical professional.

The post CBD Oil Dosage, General Guidelines and Best Practices appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.

What is CBD? A cannabinoid named Cannabidiol.

That’s right, like THC, CBD is a cannabinoid—a type of compound produced by cannabis plants. Interestingly, our own bodies produce cannabinoids too. Ours are endogenously-produced cannabinoids which are referred to as endocannabinoids.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, was discovered in 1940. CBD isn’t as well known as THC—the most famous cannabinoid of all, but that’s changing. Unlike THC, CBD does not get you “high.” Cannabis and hemp plants produce something like 140 different cannabinoids. Of those, only THC can make you feel high.

So, there are cannabinoids produced by plants, and cannabinoids we produce internally called endocannabinoids. But, how do these compounds interact with our bodies? The answer to that mystery lies in a complex network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The endocannabinoid system branches out throughout our brains and bodies and is equipped with receptors, such as CB1 and CB2. These ECS receptors can interact with cannabinoids and endocannabinoids alike. The ECS is a homeostatic regulator that uses cannabinoids to adjust a broad variety of processes. In some cases, these adjustments include the dialing down of stress responses, inhibiting the release of inflammatory agents, or helping to boost  anandamide signaling.

The ECS is the system that regulates all other bodily systems and processes. It’s the most important physical system you’ve never heard of. It regulates everything from immune system responses to sleep, appetite, mood, fertility and much more. As we’re discovering, the reason CBD seems to be able to have positive effects on such a broad number of conditions has to do with the fact that the ECS affects nearly everything in our minds and bodies. We’re also discovering that chronic inflammation, usually brought about by the body’s own inflammatory response, is the root of most disease. This is another reason CBD is effective for so many ailments. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory and it acts on the ECS—which regulates all major bodily systems.

CBD is extracted from cannabis and hemp plants. Advances in cannabis processing in recent years has led to the popularization of extraction methods that eschew solvents in favor of heat, pressure or carbon dioxide. The result is an extremely clean extract called full-spectrum distillate which is used to make full spectrum CBD oil. The THC can be removed from the distillate to produce broad spectrum CBD oil. Next, CBD can be further isolated into pure CBD powder – referred to as CBD isolate. CBD isolate contains no THC and is used in products like Ethical Botanicals Hemp CBD Oil – No THC and CBD Oil for Pets.

Along with cleaner products have come more consistent ingestion methods and more accurate dosage. The use of CBD oil administered via measured dropper under the tongue has made it possible to easily measure out a desired dose.

How does CBD work?

It only became legal to research CBD in 2018, which means researchers have only just begun investigating this question. What we know so far is that CBD interacts with the ECS in a variety of ways, is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety agent, and promotes “homeostasis.”  

Homeostasis is the condition of optimal functioning for organisms, a state of balance in which steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions are maintained.

CBD’s interaction with the ECS is crucial. The ECS is an incredibly complex system which regulates every other major bodily system. As a result CBD can impact a host of physiological processes and states, including mood, energy, digestion, immune activity, blood pressure, bone density, glucose metabolism, as well as how we experience pain, stress, hunger, and more. Cannabinoids, including our body’s own endocannabinoids, play the role of messengers in this system.

As endocannabinoid scientist Bradley E. Alger, (PhD, Harvard) describes them, “…Endocannabinoids are literally a bridge between body and mind.” This is why CBD seems to be able to affect so many conditions, because of the role it plays in the endocannabinoid system—which is connected to every system in your body.

In addition to this, studies indicate that CBD may help regulate how other chemicals naturally produced by our bodies are deployed. These include serotonin, which modulates mood and stress; adenosine, which plays a part in our sleep-wake cycle; and vanilloid, which is involved in pain modulation.

The ECS is critical to managing our bodily processes and ensuring that responses occur within reasonable limits. An overactive stress or pain response can de damaging or dangerous. When our ECS no longer functions properly, it can lead to chronic imbalances which lead to disease.

In fact, new research shows that most pathological conditions are the result of an unbalanced ECS. Thanks to discoveries like this, we are beginning to understand that “modulating endocannabinoid system activity may have therapeutic potential in almost all diseases affecting humans,” say Pal Pacher and George Kunos, scientists with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), in a 2014 publication.

In some instances, CBD can help tip our ECS towards balance to slow or even stop disease progression. Charlotte Figi was afflicted with Dravet’s syndrome, which caused approximately 300 nearly-lethal seizures per day. Charlotte’s parents had already exhausted all pharmaceutical options before trying CBD. They tried a new CBD/THC product called Epidiolex. After starting on Epidiolex, Charlotte immediately went from having 300 nearly-lethal seizures per day, to just 1 or 2 mild ones per day.

Is CBD legal?

CBD oil has been 100% legal in Canada since 2018, consumers can own or take CBD freely. 

One important thing to consider, however, is the presence of THC in some CBD products. This may be a concern for people who must submit to drug testing for sports or work. Full spectrum CBD oil contains trace amounts of THC. This means anyone with drug testing in their future should avoid full spectrum CBD oil and stick to Hemp CBD Oil – no THC.

As it matters to professional athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency has removed CBD from its list of banned substances. It is legal for athletes in the US, UK and elsewhere to use CBD. However, THC is still banned. Therefore, athletes must ensure that the CBD products they consume do not contain THC.

Why are Canadians taking cannabidiol?

Although medical science has yet to catch up, millions of people have taken it and experienced improvements in their quality of life. This is evident from thousands of testimonials and product reviews online. We still lack scientific evidence for how well CBD works due to difficulty in conducting studies while CBD was illegal. But if you look online, you’ll find a mountain of anecdotal evidence out there that cannabidiol works.

Celebrities are helping drive awareness of cannabidiol’s benefits too. In fact, there have been a surprising number of celebrity endorsements. Everyone from supermodels like Alessandra Ambrosio to Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe to pro golfer Bubba Watson to UFC star Nate Diaz has evangelized for CBD. In a few short years, awareness has risen and people have begun using it as a curative for the sick, as preventive medicine for the healthy, and as an all-purpose palliative for pets too.

What does the research on cannabidiol indicate so far?

Since the science around cannabidiol is still nascent, there isn’t that much information out there yet. However, with the wealth of studies currently underway, that will soon change. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, a US database of accredited clinical trials worldwide, at least 150 trials testing cannabidiol are currently in progress. It is being investigated as a treatment for a wide variety of health conditions, including autism, alcoholism, skin conditions and schizophrenia. But the problem of a lack of data is something researchers acknowledge and are eager to address.

“There is a great deal of interest in the possible therapeutic effects of CBD, but there is very little evidence of efficacy,” said Dr. J Hampton Atkinson, co-director of the Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR) at the University of California, San Diego.

At the Center for Medical Cannabis Research, Dr. Atkinson suggested that there is “much interest in the possible anti-inflammatory effects of CBD, for use in arthritis of various types, including knees and hands,” Recent research on human cell lines with rheumatoid arthritis seems to suggest that cannabidiol may reduce inflammation.

There are other promising indicators too. Other studies indicate cannabidiol may reduce anxiety and self-deprecating thoughts. There’s also evidence CBD’s antipsychotic effects could help people with schizophrenia.

A 2017 clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine found cannabidiol was highly effective in reducing seizures for people with Dravet’s syndrome. The list goes on.

Can cannabidiol get you high?

“CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, so what that means is you won’t have any effects like euphoria,” says Junella Chin, DO, an osteopathic physician and medical cannabis expert. “You won’t feel sedated or altered in any way.”

In short: No

CBD does not get you high.

Are there different kinds of CBD oil?

Indeed there are. The 3 main kinds are:

1. Full Spectrum CBD Oil
2. Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
3. CBD Oil – No THC, made with CBD isolate.

First, full spectrum CBD oil. This oil is made from a raw extract containing hemp’s full spectrum of cannabinoids as well as other compounds like flavonoids and terpenes. The THC content of this extract is usually around 0.3% if it was taken from hemp. However, the THC content can be higher if the extract was taken from cannabis. When checking your CBD oil bottle ingredients, look for “full spectrum cbd distillate.”

Next, broad spectrum CBD oil is the same as full spectrum, the only difference being that the THC was removed. So you can think of this oil as THC-free full spectrum CBD oil.

Finally, CBD oil made with CBD isolate. This kind of oil has but 2 ingredients: 99.9% pure cannabidiol powder and a carrier oil. It can have many names like Hemp CBD Oil – No THC or just CBD Oil. To be sure, check the bottle ingredients to see if the CBD being used is indeed “CBD isolate.” This kind of CBD oil is most popular among people with THC sensitivities or those who many not be allowed to take THC for professional reasons.

What is the “entourage effect” all about?

Although more scientific research is needed to understand it fully, the “entourage effect” is the idea that cannabinoids and other compounds in cannabis plants work together to amplify healing effects. Research is preliminary at this point, so it is by no means definitive, but research from Israel suggests that whole-plant extract outperforms CBD isolate.

Some studies show that cannabidiol can actually reduce some of the psychoactive effects of THC. This means that when you choose a product that has both cannabidiol and THC, the cannabidiol may help curb unwanted effects like anxiety that some people experience when consuming high amounts of THC.

What are the benefits of cannabidiol?

One reason so many are turning to cannabidiol is because it is much easier on the body than the pharmaceutical drugs people are using to treat their conditions. Without the risk of addiction, plus almost no side effects, cannabidiol can be integrated into a regular self-care routine without harm.

If you listen to testimonials from friends or others, you’ll see that people are using cannabidiol in many different ways for many different reasons. Despite the fact that cannabidiol is not an approved treatment for many of the conditions people use it for, many people report that CBD has some sort of positive impact. Medical science has yet to determine whether these claims or true or not. But there is some promising research out there. 

As more research comes online, we are getting a clearer picture of what CBD can really do and how it works. According to current research, cannabidiol might potentially, benefit people with a wide range of ailments, including:

• Autoimmune diseases (inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis)
• Neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington’s chorea, stroke, traumatic brain injury)
• Metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity)
• Neuropsychiatric illness (autism, ADHD, PTSD, alcoholism)
• Gut disorders (colitis, Crohn’s)
• Cardiovascular dysfunction (atherosclerosis, arrhythmia)
• Skin disease (acne, dermatitis, psoriasis)

Additionally, researchers are finding that CBD has neuroprotective effects. What’s more, research centers across the US and elsewhere are investigating its potential anti-cancer properties. In fact, a 2010 brain cancer study by California scientists found that cannabidiol “enhances the inhibitory effects of THC on human glioblastoma cell proliferation and survival.” This means that cannabidiol can enhance THC’s anti-cancer effects.

Research has also shown cannabidiol to have anti-Alzheimer’s properties. In 2010, German researchers reported that cannabidiol stimulated neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells, in adult mammals.

Is CBD safe?

“I think CBD is a safe thing to try,” says Houman Danesh, MD, director of integrative pain management for the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. According to the WHO, cannabidiol is generally well-tolerated in humans. it is non-toxic, non-addictive and you can’t overdose on it.

However, cannabidiol should be used like it is a medicine, not a supplement. Do not take cannabidiol while pregnant. If you are on any medication, speak to a health professional first as CBD can inhibit the uptake of certain medications in the same way that grapefruit does. For any serious health issues, it’s important to speak to your doctor before trying it for the first time.

What are the side effects of cannabidiol?

Like most things, if you overdo it, it can feel bad. Cannabidiol can cause some mild side effects, but it’s rare unless taking very large doses over 1500mg. The human body tolerates doses of CBD up to 1500mg very well, however, some side effects like tiredness, diarrhea, changes in appetite, insomnia, decreased appetite and fatigue can occur in the case of extremely high doses. To avoid experiencing any side effects, simply avoid taking doses far larger than what is recommended.

How do I take cannabidiol?

When beginning to take CBD for the first time, think of the following. What are you using it for? What is an appropriate first dose for someone of your weight? Do you prefer to feel the effects more quickly, or to feel them more slowly over a longer period of time? As cannabidiol is thought to be biphasic, different doses can make you experience different effects. Here are a few of the ways you can consume cannabidiol:

• Sublingually, which means drops of oil under the tongue.
• Vaping or smoking.
• Topical creams, balms or in bath bombs.
• Edibles like gummies or chocolates.

When cannabidiol is eaten in gummy or edible form, it must first pass through your digestive system before it reaches the bloodstream and eventually your endocannabinoid receptors. Your digestive system is quite efficient at scrubbing cannabidiol out, so a bit less gets into your system from edibles compared to a method like vaping or smoking. In addition, cannabidiol will take longer to reach your endocannabinoid receptors, but will stay in your body for a longer period of time, between four to eight hours.

Currently, the most popular way to take cannabidiol is sublingually—by putting a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue. Thanks to the large number of blood vessels there, it can be absorbed into your bloodstream without having to go through the digestive tract. This allows more to get into your system and for cannabidiol to reach endocannabinoid receptors more quickly.

Topical CBD creams are good to use for muscle and joint pain. Skin is not permeable to cannabidiol, but it can make it through the skin to local endocannabinoid receptors through pores. This means that you need a bit more of it in a cream if it is to get through the skin, so a higher potency skin cream is usually better. Cannabidiol is hydrophobic and it cannot travel through the body very easily. This means that CBD applied topically stays in the area where it was applied.

For more information about dosage, click here.

A few handy shopping tips

Here are a few handy tips to keep in mind when you’re shopping:

• Buy in the right kind of shop – no gas stations.
• Read labels carefully and check ingredients. Hemp oil, for example, contains no cannabidiol whatsoever. 
• Avoid products made from hemp seed or stalks. Most of the cannabidiol is in the hemp flower.
• Look for bottles with measured droppers for convenient dose measurement.
• Make sure the products you buy have been 3rd party lab tested for quality.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained is not intended as medical advice, and cannot be used as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician or medical professional.

The post What Is CBD? Everything You Want To Know appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.

Human have been using CBD for sleep for a very long time.

“CBD for sleep” sounds like some new trend—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. CBD is extracted from cannabis plants, and is especially prevalent in the male “hemp” plant. Humanity’s relationship with cannabis goes back thousands of years. The Chinese had already listed cannabis as a sleep aid in medical texts as far back as 1200AD. Even earlier than that, Hindus had written about cannabis-as-sleep-aid in the Atharvaveda, roughly 3500 years ago.

We all know how bad it feels to wake up after a bad sleep. We’re far from our best. When poor sleep becomes a regular occurrence, we can experience serious impacts on our productivity and health.

Lack of sleep is an alarmingly regular occurrence in the US. In that country, 80% of people report experiencing lack of sleep at least once a week. The big challenge for those experiencing sleeplessness regularly is that natural remedies aren’t quite effective. On the other hand, over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be ineffective or addictive. Those already on medications such as opioids and anti-depressants might also experience more sleep disruption.

This is probably why CBD is rapidly gaining popularity. Many consider it comparable or superior to pharmaceuticals and natural remedies, but has the added benefits of being non-addictive and non-toxic. CBD’s big advantage is that it is generally quite effective and a very safe alternative for sleep.

Does the research back CBD for sleep?

Unfortunately, as CBD was only legalized in the US and Canada in 2018, there hasn’t been that much research done yet. That’s changing now, and there are large numbers of studies being done on CBD and cannabis medicine in general. However, it’ll be some time before we fully understand how these medicines work and how to use them effectively. That being said, there are a few studies out there that provide interesting insights.

One University of São Paulo study showed that CBD dramatically improved the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and Parkinson’s Disease. The subjects in this study were prone to reacting physically to dreams by moving, which disrupted their sleep. These disruptive movements, and other symptoms, were reduced after CBD was administered.

Another study on 72 patients suffering anxiety and difficulty sleeping conducted by Scott Shannon, MD, involved giving patients 25mg CBD pills over a one-month period.  47 of these patients reported suffering from anxiety, whereas the other 25 had difficulty sleeping.  At the end of the study, the patients were interviewed with the following results:

1. 79.2% participants said CBD lowered their anxiety
2. 66.7% of participants said they experienced better sleep with CBD.

Another big reason people lose sleep is because of pain. This 2018 review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that CBD can improve sleep by diminishing pain.

There are other studies out there that bolster the idea that CBD is good for sleep, but at the moment the science is insufficient for health authorities to approve CBD as a sleep medicine. We’ll have to wait for more research to come online before we have that kind of certitude.

How does CBD promote good sleep?

According to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center professor and neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, M.D., CBD works because it reduces two major obstacles to good sleep: pain and anxiety.

Some studies show that CBD can reduce pain-induced sleeplessness. Rather than create a powerful numbing or sedative effect like some pharmaceuticals, CBD addresses the symptoms that prevent us falling and staying asleep.

Additionally, a 2017 review in Current Psychiatry Reports showed another way CBD might be influencing the quality of our sleep is by stimulating parts of our brains involved in the our daily sleep/wake cycles.

Another way CBD may reduce sleep-ruining anxiety and stress is by regulating the release of the stress hormone cortisol. A large-scale review showed that CBD increased sleep quality by reducing the symptoms of anxiety-related disorders.

Furthermore, there are other studios out there showing that CBD may help with movement disorders. For patients suffering from insomnia due to movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Restless Leg and Huntington’s disease, CBD’s muscle-relaxing and muscle-tremor-reducing qualities help ensure better quality rest.

Another condition that can be a major contributor to loss of sleep is PTSD. CBD is thought to help relieve PTSD-related sleep issues thanks to its anti-anxiety properties. Ever-increasing numbers of research studies bolster the idea CBD improves sleep by diminishing anxiety-induced REM sleep (in other words: vivid, panic-inducing nightmares). The result appears to be fewer dreams that disturb sleep.

Another way CBD is thought to improve sleep quality is by decreasing the duration of REM sleep and increasing the “deep sleep” phase. Indications are that this improved sleep quality results in improved memory and reduced depression.

With improved sleep quality comes greater sleep recovery. CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. A dose before sleep may improve sleep recovery by reducing inflammation, oxidative damage and pain.

That’s largely the reason why CBD’s been endorsed by so many pro athletes. The list includes Olympic gold medalists, UFC Champions, and some of the greatest golf champs of all time, like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Nate Diaz, Megan Rapinoe and many, many others.

How much CBD should I use for sleep?

At this point, the answer is we don’t know. We don’t have the understanding yet to know how to prescribe particular doses of CBD and other cannabinoids for individuals and their conditions. More research is necessary.

So, there are no recommended dosages, but the good news is, there is a very safe process of experimentation that will allow you to discover the dose that works best for you. To learn more about that read our article on CBD oil dosage.

CBD is biphasic, like alcohol, the effects you feel are different depending on how much you’ve had. With CBD, if you take less, it generally makes you more wakeful and focused. If you take more, it generally makes people more sleepy. CBD does work a bit differently on each of us, but generally speaking, that is how it affects people.

There are general guidelines for dosage out there. As the article on dosage mentions, if you’re trying to find your ideal dose yourself, you should follow the “Start Low, Go Slow” approach.

To improve wakefulness and your sleep schedule, start with 20-25mg in the morning. To reduce anxiety, pain, inflammation and others,  and improve sleep recovery; take 30-160mg an hour before sleep.

A few additional resources:

One of the best ways to to improve sleep is through routine. Developing habits and a routine will improve your chances of getting a good nights sleep.

Have a look at How to Fall Asleep the Natural Way it’s a great resource if you’re looking to get a good night’s sleep without drugs.

This information does not constitute medical advice and it should not be relied upon as such. Consult with your doctor before modifying your regular medical regime.

The post CBD For Sleep and Insomnia, Can It Help? appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.

Anxiety Sufferers Are Not Alone

The sad fact is, anxiety disorders are more prevalent than most people realize. According to World Health Organization figures, approximately 1 in 13 people suffer from anxiety worldwide. For those living in the US, that number is significantly higher. The National Institutes for Health report that about 1 in 4 Americans will experience some sort of anxiety disorder during their lifetimes.

Anxiety is no laughing matter. In severe cases anxiety can be debilitating. For most, symptoms like shortness of breath, a pounding heart, anxiety sweats and spiraling negative thoughts would be unpleasant enough. But, when you experience those daily, it can make living a normal life extremely difficult.

A big problem for people who suffer from serious anxiety issues is that many current medical options like Zoloft, Xanax, Prozac, Klonopin and others can be highly addictive. Klonopin, for example, has the potential for inflicting serious, dangerous withdrawal symptoms. In fact, The American Addiction Centers warn that quitting the drug too quickly, rather than gradually, could set off  “potentially fatal seizures or a coma.”

Though prescriptions drugs of this type can prove effective, they can also be very expensive and come with a host of side effects such as nausea, lack of energy, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, weakness, impotence, depression, disorientation and more.

These are the kinds of risks that turn people off of drugs and sets them to seeking out a cheaper, more natural option.

CBD was legalized in Canada and the US in 2018. As a result, serious research has recently begun into whether CBD can be that natural option. However, it’s still early days. Much more research needs to be done to fully understand how CBD works, and its potential. That being said, early results do show promise.

How Do People Perceive CBDs Effectiveness For Anxiety?

You can find many bloggers on the web singing CBD’s praise. There’s also mountain of anecdotal evidence that CBD works in the form of online product reviews and testimonials. There has even been a bit of formal research into how people feel about using CBD for anxiety. In 2019 Remedy Review surveyed of over 1,000 people. The main question was whether they felt CBD was as effective for treating anxiety as prescription drugs.

The results were quite encouraging. Of the 1,000 people in the study, 64% reported they found CBD was “extremely effective.” Pharmaceutical drugs scored higher, but only by a tiny fraction: 64.5% reported pharmaceuticals were “extremely effective” for their anxiety. That’s a difference of just 0.5%.

This means people felt CBD was “extremely effective” over 99% as often as prescription drugs. A pretty favorable comparison.

But, CBD’s greatest benefits may well be its price and lack of unwanted effects. CBD typically costs much less than drugs. Plus, it doesn’t cause addiction or serious side effects.

As the graphic on the right indicates, high cost and addiction risks were serious concerns for those participating in the study.

CBD For Anxiety. How Does That Work?

CBD appears to work through a variety of different pathways including stimulation of neurotransmitter systems, neural regeneration, interactions with serotonin receptors; and by playing a role in the brain’s processing of extinction learning—the process that causes us to react less and less to re-occurring stimuli over time.

An example of extinction learning could be the suppression of fear responses to something startling, like loud noises in a trainyard. The first few times the loud noises occur, you might react with a start. But, when you hear the loud noises repeating, you begin reacting to them less and less until you don’t react at all.

Next up: stress hormones. When we experience chronically high levels of stress hormones, especially cortisol, our bodies can take serious damage. Over time, this can develop into a number of serious issues:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Headaches
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Digestive problems
• Weakened immune system
• Muscular tension
• Endocannabinoid imbalance

Stress hormone levels are important because stress hormones can alter the brain’s structure and chemistry. Levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endocannabinoids can become unbalanced and provoke changes in neural receptors. Parts of the brain can shrink or atrophy, while other parts of the brain can go hyperactive.

Two of the ways CBD is thought to help counter stress hormone damage is by stimulating neurotransmitter systems, and by promoting neural regeneration.

Receptors damaged by stress can malfunction, reducing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin released into the body. Serotonin is associated with feelings of happiness, so dysfunction in this regard can lead to anxiety, depression and more.

Serotonin actually interacts with at least 14 different receptors in our bodies. Interestingly, CBD binds to the same serotonin receptor targeted by buspirone, an anti-anxiety drug. CBD’s target receptor, in this instance 5-HT1A, is thought to play the most important role in anxiety disorders.

Another way CBD functions is by interacting with our endocannabinoid systems (ECS). The ECS is complex system distributed throughout the mind and body which regulates all major bodily systems. Our own bodies produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD called endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are like messengers than run between different parts of the ECS to keep things running smoothly. But under conditions of chronic stress, things start to break down, become unbalanced and dysfunctional.

CBD helps by boosting our own body’s production of endocannabinoids, and by inhibiting the release of the enzymes that break endocannabinoids down. This helps to restore balance in the endocannabinoid system, reducing chronic stress.

This is important because chronic stress can cause brain damage over time. Happily, there are already a number of animal studies out there that show CBD plays a role in promoting neurogenesis. In one study on mice, CBD helped reduce anxiety in chronically=stressed specimens by stimulating the growth of new neurons. Neurogenesis is also thought to play a role in mood and memory disorders, as “impaired neurogenesis is associated with depression and cognitive impairment.”

Finally, another promising animal study showed that CBD helped to relieve both anxiety and OCD by influencing how rodent brains processed extinction learning. Extinction learning, as mentioned earlier, is the process that allows our brains to “unlearn” fear responses that come with certain stimuli, like repetitive loud noises, routine stressful situations and more.

CBD Oil For Anxiety: What Does The Clinical Research Say So Far?

Research is still limited and there’s a long way to go before the science catches up, but there are hopeful signs out there. In 2019, a double-blind study on 37 Japanese teenagers was conducted to see how CBD compared to Paroxetine. The teenagers in the study all reported suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), for which Paroxetine is commonly prescribed.

The study showed that CBD performed well and provided as much relief as Paroxetine overall. In addition, there were follow-on benefits. Some teenagers were able to develop the courage to seek treatment. Teenagers with SAD are often scared to get therapy for fear of being mocked. Also, they are scared of the experience with a therapist itself. Of the 17 teenagers given 300mg CBD daily during the 4-week study, 9 said they would like to get treatment.

Another study, this time taking place in a Fort Collins mental health clinic in 2019, was a retrospective case study. This one examined patients given 25 mg of CBD daily, in addition to other treatment, for anxiety.

In this case, 79.2% of patients reported that their anxiety problems improved after the first month. In the following month, 78.1% reported further improvements in their anxiety compared to the month before.

Evidence is starting to accumulate that CBD may have positive impacts on numerous conditions including:

• Social anxiety disorder
• Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

How do I use CBD oil for anxiety?

The good news is, there are many options and they all work. There are subtle differences between them, but once you get to know them it’s pretty easy to make a choice about which kind of product you’d like to try.

CBD edibles like CBD gummies are always big sellers for any CBD brand. What people seem to like most is that they are usually really tasty, plus discreet—in that they look like candy or a treat. CBD edibles are at a disadvantage compared to CBD oils in one respect. Your liver is quite effective at scrubbing CBD from your bloodstream. You’ll still absorb a good dose of CBD, but you will lose some to the digestion process. Edibles passing through the digestive tract also deliver CBD to the intended target a bit more gradually, and over a longer period of time. That’s preferable for some.

Probably the most popular way consumers take their CBD is to take CBD oil sublingually—a fancy way of saying dropping CBD oil drops under your tongue. Why under your tongue? That area is filled with tiny blood vessels. Plus, the mucous membranes there are porous, allowing CBD to be absorbed almost directly into the bloodstream. This avoids first-pass digestion.

Another reason consumers like this method of intake is because CBD oil bottles usually come with measured droppers. These make it easier to dose more consistently and precisely. Another feature people enjoy are blended tinctures and flavoured oils. Some brands create blends with varying ratios of CBD, THC and other cannabinoids. You can find products with 1:1 THC to CBD ratios, 20:1 CBD to THC ratios as well as THC dominant blends and multi-cannabinoid blends.

For people suffering anxiety, THC is usually not a good idea, as many people report feeling anxiety when they are “high.” No-THC CBD products are probably a safer bet.

Another popular and effective method for getting CBD into your system is to vape it. CBD vapes have become popular for those that enjoy smoking or vaping. The main benefit is that delivery through the lungs is quite direct, making CBD more bio-available and delivering it to endocannabinoid receptors more quickly.

If the benefits of CBD vaping sound good but the health risks of vaping MCT oil or vegetable glycerin based products sound bad, there is another vaping option. Some vaporizers are built expressly for vaporizing cannabinoids from cannabis/hemp flowers. There are numerous high cannabidiol cannabis flower strains out there, some containing no THC.

What’s The Right Dosage For Anxiety?

Unfortunately, at this point, we don’t have enough research to prescribe CBD with the accuracy modern medicine demands. Another challenge is that each person responds to CBD a bit differently, and there are other factors like body weight, natural tolerance to cannabinoids and more to consider.

An increasing number of doctors are starting to talk about CBD and medical cannabis products with their patients. If your medical professional is open to this topic, seek advice from them first.

If you can’t find a medical professional to advise you online or in a local clinic, there is a safe way for you to find a dose that is effective for you.

The rule of thumb is: “Start Low, Go Slow.”

Before beginning your CBD regimen, get a journal and prepare to observe yourself daily. Start with a low dose and increase it gradually, by 5-10mg every week or so. In your journal, record your dosage and observations on a daily basis.

CBD effects can be quite subtle as cannabidiol doesn’t produce a powerful numbing feeling like some drugs. It is noticeable by the absence of sensations, behaviors etc…

For your journal, try to be mindful when recording your observations. Do you wake up more fresh? Do you stress out and shout at people less? Is your chronic pain less acute? Has your appetite changed? Is your mind more clear? Has your mobility changed? The more detailed your observations, the better.

Record what you experience and the dosage you are on daily. After 1-2 months, you should be able to look back and find the week where the effects seem best, and identify the most effective dosage.

Read more about dosage in our article about CBD Oil Dosage

Something important to consider is that CBD alone is not a comprehensive treatment for serious anxiety issues and disorders. CBD can be a part of your treatment plan. We highly recommended that you talk with medical professional about your anxiety treatment plan, especially if you currently take prescription medications.

The post CBD For Anxiety: An Easy, Comprehensive Intro appeared first on Ethical Botanicals.