There is good and bad to every product because like people, products aren’t perfect or made for specific individuals. This is why we here at Panacea Life Sciences want to give the best information possible to our customers and future customers. This article will explain the good and the bad effects that CBD (cannabidiol) may or may not produce. CBD is a compound that has been around for centuries but is just now taking up a large presence in the health and wellness community. There are many reasons that this is, and we will explain why in this post. At the end of this article, we hope that you have a better understanding of CBD and what it may do to help you overall. But, first, let’s start with definitions.
CBD: the definition
CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plants. The Cannabis sativa plant comes in a few different forms. The two you have likely heard of are the hemp and marijuana plants. These are both technically under the Cannabis sativa umbrella, but they are quite different from each other. The hemp plant contains high amounts of CBD and at or lower than 0.3% of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is a popular topic as it is the cannabinoid that is found to give users a ‘high’ and therefore has been and continues to be a topic of discussion. Because hemp does not contain high amounts of THC it was federally legalized in 2018 by the Farm Bill. This bill allows farmers across the states to grow and sell the hemp plant and therefore hemp derived products are legal. Some states have decided not to legalize the use of hemp and CBD, but most have. Marijuana, the other type of Cannabis sativa you have likely heard of, contains a high amount of THC, and is therefore not legalized throughout the U.S. However, there are a handful of different states that have decided to legalize the marijuana plant and THC for recreational as well as medical uses. Now that you know the definition of CBD, what does it do? The good? The bad? The neutral? Read on to find out.
Good CBD effects
To understand what CBD is capable of, we need to understand what people use CBD for. Here are a few reasons that we’ve found that people choose to use CBD. Keep in mind that there is still little research on CBD but there will surely be more in the future.
Promote a sense of calm: Promoting a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness may be quite helpful to some. In this study, they used brain imaging to test subjects who have SAD (social anxiety disorder). Those who were given the CBD showed a decrease in their social anxiety disorder via brain scans. Those who did not receive the CBD did not have any decrease.
FDA approved medications: There are several FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved medications that contain CBD. Epidiolex is the most well-known. This medication helps those with two severe types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. There are also a handful of others that assist those going through anti-cancer treatments and the nausea it may cause. These are called Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone). These medications can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Anti-inflammatory properties: CBD has been researched for the possibility of joint health benefits. Panacea Life Sciences has done our own research regarding this aspect. We looked at dogs who are older and have joint health issues. During this study, we asked pet owners to administer CBD to their dogs two times a day for four consecutive weeks. The owners provided weekly assessments to show if anything had improved. At the end of the four weeks pet owners described their dogs to be more mobile. Therefore, the CBD may have helped with their joint health!
Skin health: Although CBD topicals usually never reach the bloodstream this does not mean that they cannot assist in skin health. In this study they concluded that those with and without skin conditions had improved skin health after the use of CBD topicals. They used several tests to test before and after the use of a CBD topical. Their evidence was enhanced by photographic evidence.
Bad CBD effects
There is no perfect product and therefore each product made may or may not work for you. So, you may experience a few negative effects or maybe you won’t. Like every product, you must try it to see if it works for you. Here are a few negative effects that people have experienced when taking very large doses of CBD
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Reduced appetite
- Diarrhea
There also may be effects if you are currently taking a blood thinner. It is important to speak with a healthcare professional before using CBD to ensure that it won’t cause negative effects with other medications you are taking.
To ensure that you have a positive experience with CBD, we suggest starting with a small amount of CBD and slowly increasing the amount until you feel the effects you’re looking for.
CBD: the products
There are many different CBD products available for you to choose from. Here is a list of some popular ones you may way to try:
Softgels: A softgel is a capsule that contains CBD oil and looks similar to a pill or vitamin supplement. Once the capsule is swallowed it goes through esophagus and then ends up in the stomach. Once there the CBD is absorbed as the capsule is broken down. The CBD is then absorbed through the digestive tract and enters the blood stream. This is an easy way to get CBD into your system daily and is easy to take along with other pills you may take.
Edibles: Edibles come in all sorts of different types. Gummies, cookies and even chocolate any treat that you can think of, there is probably one full of CBD. These are fun and yummy ways to get CBD into your daily routine. Edibles are absorbed the same way a softgel capsule is.
Tinctures: This type of CBD gets into the bloodstream quickly similar to vapes but without inhalation. When the dropper full of CBD is placed in the mouth it’s absorbed into the bloodstream through the surface of the cheek or veins on the underside of the tongue. A tincture is a substance that is added to carrier oil like coconut or avocado oil. Some tinctures come flavored to mask the earthy Hemp taste that some don’t particularly enjoy. People often add tinctures to their morning coffee or tea!
Topicals: CBD topicals are a bit different than the others as they usually don’t ever reach the bloodstream. With that being said, you may be able to reap benefits from the pores of the skin like other skincare products. These are best used frequently and in the same area as the face or a patch of skin. They come in lotions, creams, salves and even hand sanitizer for antibacterial purposes.
Whichever product you choose we hope that you end up having a positive experience with CBD that leaves you coming back for more. Again, start with a small amount and slowly increase so that the effects you’re feeling will be as positive as possible.
