The Truth about CBD Oil
Have you heard of CBD oil?
If you’ve paid any attention to health news over the past year, then I bet you’ve noticed the appearance of a new product…
One that’s controversial, has raised a lot of eyebrows, and is getting more and more popular every single day…
And it’s what I want to talk to you about today…
And here’s the question that’s been on the tip of many people’s tongues – is CBD oil healthy?
Well, today I’m going to give you all the information you need to know about CBD – what it is, whether the purported health benefits are actually true, and, most importantly, is it worth the price?
First off, let’s talk about what it is… AND what it’s not.
The Truth About CBD Oil
Now, for starters, let me tell you that CBD oil is NOT the same thing as the drug marijuana.
Although they technically do both come from the same cannabis plant, there’s a difference in how the plant is classified. There are two types of cannabis – the drug comes from the marijuana type and CBD oil comes from the hemp type.
But what makes them different?
It all has to do with the compounds you get from the types of plants. With marijuana, drug users want the “high” effects that come from the THC compound. By the U.S. classification system, the hemp variety can only have a maximum of 0.3% – which isn’t enough to produce the marijuana high.
That’s why marijuana is illegal in many states and hemp products can be legally found across the country…
And CBD oil is certainly the latter – a perfectly legal hemp product. CBD is a completely different cannabis compound than THC and has none of the same psychoactive properties.
What all this means is that you probably won’t experience any “high” from taking CBD oil in any form…
And now that you know what CBD is, let’s examine whether it has any REAL health benefits or not…
Is It A Trend or Is It Healthy?
I’m going to cut straight to the chase here and tell you that CBD oil definitely has some important health benefits…
And that there are varied ways in which the oil can help with common conditions and health problems.
First up, and likely the most famous effect of CBD, is…
Natural Pain Relief
Studies have clearly shown that CBD oil does act as an analgesic for both muscular and skeletal pain, which means that it works for conditions like sciatica and arthritis.
In both cases, the oil reduces your inflammation, thus putting less pressure on your body’s pain points.
But how does it stack up against standard painkillers like Tylenol and Aspirin?
So far, early reports show that CBD is equally as effective, with some users reporting even better than what they get from OTC products, with less of a risk of side effects…
And that anti-inflammation mechanism also makes CBD oil…
An Excellent Choice for Your Healthy Heart
Lowered inflammation and better blood pressure go hand in hand, so it stands to reason that CBD oil would be effective for heart concerns as well…
And the science checks out.
In a recent double-blind study, a group of subjects was given CBD before undergoing typical stress tests. When the reports were published, they revealed that those who had taken the CBD instead of a placebo had lower blood pressure after the stress tests…
After a single dose.
So yes, CBD oil gets the stamp of approval for heart health as well.
Lastly, CBD also has a profound effect on…
Treating Mental Health Issues Like Anxiety And Depression
Now, here’s where I think CBD oil truly earns its stripes.
If you’re currently dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders, then most doctors will start you on pharmaceutical drugs that can be addictive, can have tons of side effects, and may not even be effective in treating your symptoms…
On the other hand, CBD oil has been shocking the medical community with its ability to stop insomnia, relieve anxiety, and help patients with a wide range of mood and mental disorders, including PTSD and panic attacks.
It’s thought that the way CBD oil works is by allowing your brain to bind more serotonin – a brain chemical commonly linked to happiness.
In addition to mental health, heart health, and pain relief, there are many other studies in the works that point to CBD as a treatment for acne and both cancer and diabetes prevention.
If you ask me, I believe CBD oil is more than just a passing trend – it’s an effective solution to a wide range of conditions…
The only issue – there are tons of forms of CBD oil and it can be hard to choose between them.
The Different Types of CBD Oil Products
With the rapid popularity of CBD, you’ve probably noticed that the oil is popping up all over the place in seemingly a million different forms, from simple oils to be ingested to swallowed capsules to even gummy bears that contain CBD.
And to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure that one form offers a significant advantage over any other…
That’s why my advice is to select your CBD oil of choice by paying close attention to the label and following three easy steps:
CBD Oil Product Evaluation
- Look for the percentage of CBD. It’s a good idea to start small – a good beginning percentage would be 5% or less. Once you’ve determined that the oil will work for your needs, you can increase the percentage to a higher amount.
- Be aware of other ingredients in the mix. Most CBD oils will be a combination of CBD extract and a carrier oil like coconut or hemp, but some producers will add other ingredients as fillers. In general, remember the golden rule – if you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s better to leave it on the shelf.
- Investigate to find the source. A CBD extract can come from any number of countries, but I trust local, American-grown hemp more than what comes in from foreign shores due to better quality control procedures.
As always, I’d love to hear your opinion on CBD oil, so write in the comments what you think about it and if you ever tried it!