You most likely have heard of cannabidiol, a substance derived from the hemp plant. Its popular name is CBD and although it might be more popular for its recreational uses, it has a ton of health benefits.
Cannabidiol is extracted from cannabis namely hemp. It can also be extracted from marijuana which is a sister plant to hemp. It is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids that are present in cannabis but it is the most effective and most popular. Some other cannabinoids you can find in cannabis include CBG, CBC, CBL, CBV, CBN, CBDA, THCA and THC.
THC is on the heels of CBD in terms of popularity. THC’s full name is tetrahydrocannabinol. It is the cannabinoid in cannabis that gives it its psychoactive characteristics. That is, it makes a user experience a high when it is used.
CBD is majorly extracted from hemp and contains little quantities of THC. In fact, hemp may be cultivated to contain no traces of THC. On the other, marijuana has large deposits of THC and lower deposits of CBD.
For this reason, consumable cannabidiol is mostly extracted from hemp. It is illegal to use any product that contains more than 0.3% of THC at least in the United States. You can find the differences between the two cannabinoids here.
Cannabidiol is found in every part of the cannabis plant; the leaves, stem, stalk and seeds. However, it is majorly concentrated in the flowers which can sometimes be referred to as buds. It is made up of substances such as terpenes, flavonoids and several beneficial nutrients.
Some of these nutrients include vitamins A, C, E and B complex. It also contains iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, essential oils and fatty acids to name just a few.
Cannabidiol Products
After cannabidiol is extracted from hemp, it is made into a variety of products for humans as well as for animals. Bear in mind that usually, human cannabidiol products differ from animal products. Therefore, when administering CBD to your pet, ensure to buy an animal-specific product.
Common cannabidiol products for humans include:
- CBD oil
- CBD Vapes, cigarettes, wraps and rolls
- Capsules and pills
- CBD Gummies
- Rub, balms, lotion and sprays.
Cannabidiol may also be used as an ingredient in cosmetics and food or you may add it to your tea. Of all the cannabidiol products available, CBD oil is the most popular and also the most effective.
For animals, there are
- CBD oil
- Pills and capsules
- Chews such as treats
- Balms, rub, lotion and sprays.
Avoid administering your personal CBD products to your pet. This is because it can be harmful to them as it was not designed for animals. Also, if you are intending to treat a disease, you may not obtain the desired results. Manufacturers have both human and animal-specific products available if you need them. You can visit cheef for examples of both variations.
How to Use Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol can be used in at least one of four ways. These are sublingually, topically, by inhalation, or by ingestion. These four methods are discussed below.
Inhalation
Inhalation involves smoking cannabidiol through vapes, cigarettes, rolls, or wraps. Inhaling the substance causes it to hit your lungs directly without a need to be worked on or digested by any organ. Therefore, it enters the bloodstream easily and quickly. When you inhale CBD, its effects can last up to four hours in the body.
Sublingually
This is the most common way to administer cannabidiol. It is when you place two to three drops of CBD oil underneath the tongue using a tincture. The substance is swirled around the mouth for a bit before it is swallowed.
This makes it effective as it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream without a need to pass through organs in the body. In less than one minute, you will begin to feel its effect. Additionally, it has a longer lasting effect on the body.
Ingestion
This is when you swallow or eat cannabidiol through food, capsules, pills, or gummies. It is not as effective as inhaling or taking cannabidiol sublingually. This is because the substance needs to go through the digestive system where it is processed. This can take a while for it to be effective. When it is finally available, it would have lost some of its potency.
Topically
This is applying CBD oil directly onto the skin. This is by using products such as cosmetics, sprays, balms, runs and so on. It is also not as effective as the sublingual or inhalation methods but it works nonetheless.
Dosing
When using CBD oil, there are no specific dosages. Manufacturers of the product will often provide users with guidelines on how to use their products. You will also find dosage charts, guidelines and calculators online that you can use. Typically dosing is dependent on factors such as weight, age as well as the type of illness that is to be treated.
When using cannabidiol for the first time, it is advisable to begin with a small dose. You should then gradually increase this to a tolerant dose and stick with that.
As a beginner, you may also experience some slight side effects such as fatigue, dry mouth, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc. There is no need to worry if you experience any of these symptoms as they would disappear before you know it. You can check out this article https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/sns-tft-cbd-basics-first-time-20200508-kzo5emo5srfj3crharykcpk2sy-story.html to learn more.
Conclusion
CBD is a medically beneficial substance that is extracted from cannabis. It can be made into many products and these products can be used in a variety of ways. Whichever way you choose to use them, you can be sure that you will enjoy the inherent benefits.
