If you are reading this article, it is more than likely that you have heard of and are curious about cannabidiol (CBD). You are not alone. Many people have started to turn their attention to this interesting compound. Many people have questions about CBD. One of the biggest ones is what they can expect if they take CBD. This is perfectly reasonable as you should always strive to understand anything that you put into your body. We here at Panacea Life Sciences want to be sure that you are comfortable with CBD and understand what may happen if you use it. So, this article is dedicated to helping you know what is coming when you start your CBD journey.
CBD: the basics
Let’s start with defining CBD itself.
CBD is a chemical compound that is found in the cannabis plant and its variations (marijuana and hemp). It is not just any chemical compound though. It is a member of a large diverse group of compounds that are all found in cannabis. This group is collectively referred to as cannabinoids. It is truly a large group, with over 113 cannabinoids discovered so far, and more likely on the horizon.
CBD is, believe it or not, not the only cannabinoid that you have heard of. You have also probably heard of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If that cannabinoid sound familiar that is because it is has a bit of an unsavory reputation. THC is psychoactive. This means that it creates the intoxication that is colloquially called a “high.” There are many who assume that because CBD is also a cannabinoid and is also found in cannabis, that it is also psychoactive. However, that is a wrong assumption. CBD is not intoxicating in any way.
You can find CBD in both hemp and marijuana. However, the concentration of CBD in hemp is much higher than it is in marijuana. On top of that, marijuana has very high concentrations of THC, but hemp only has 0.3% THC concentration. This means that CBD manufacturers use hemp to make their products much more than marijuana. It also is part of the reason why hemp is federally legal (with exceptions in some states) and marijuana is federally illegal (with exceptions in some states).
Now that we have hit the main basic points of CBD, let’s move on to the main question. What effects does CBD cause?
Potential benefits of CBD
Let’s start with the more positive potential effects, the benefits that CBD may offer. An important thing to note about what we know about CBD is that this is all still relatively new. Studies exist, and in great numbers, but they are still considered preliminary. This means that there is still much that we are trying to understand about the cannabinoid, things that we are not likely to learn until more studies are published. In the meantime, the results of the studies we do have are incredibly promising and encouraging.
One common area of study in connection with CBD is how it affects those who struggle with a nervous disposition. One study did this by using public speaking to induce anxiety in subjects with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder. The researchers had some of the participants take CBD before speaking, while others only got a placebo. Those who had the CBD reported feeling more confident when facing the trial and scored better than those who were given the placebo.
Another area that is often looked at by researchers interested in CBD is how it could support joint health. In one study, the researchers induced arthritic symptoms by injecting mice with collagen. Then the researchers recorded how well the mice moved. Afterwards, some of the mice were given CBD, while others were not. The ones that were give CBD saw an improvement in their movement. Those who were not given CBD did not see an improvement.
It is also common for researchers to look at how CBD may help calm epileptic seizures. One study had parents of epileptic children who had tried giving their child CBD fill out a survey. This survey was aimed at trying to see if any of these parents saw improvements in their children’s number of seizures. The researchers concluded that many of the parents noted an improvement in the number of seizures their child had.
These studies are just a few of the many that are out there. They among others suggest that you may experience some real benefits from CBD use. These benefits could include potential help with a nervous disposition, potential support for joint health, or potential help in soothing epileptic seizures.
Potential side effects of CBD
Unfortunately, CBD does have its side effects, much like almost anything you may take. Generally, these side effects are experienced by those who take too much of the cannabinoid. So, the best way to avoid them is by figuring out the amount of CBD that is right for you. But because there is no set amount that works for everyone, it will take some experimentation.
Before we can get into what that experimentation should involve, let’s talk about what those side effects are like. The side effects of CBD are usually along the lines of nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and change of appetite. While these are not the most serious side effects, they are still not something that you should be experiencing when you take CBD. So, now let’s talk about how to avoid them.
The best advice that we can give for taking CBD is to start with a low amount and increase, if necessary, slowly. Meaning start with the smallest amount of CBD possible. Then wait for a little while to see how it sits with you. Remember that some CBD products take longer to start working than others. If you do not feel any side effects, then you try taking more. However, we do not recommend taking CBD until you feel the side effects. Once you find the lowest amount that gives you the positive effects that you are looking for without any side effects, then you will know that have found a good amount of CBD for you.
An important thing to remember about CBD is that it has a similar effect on certain medications as grapefruit. That is, it could cause certain medications to stop working. So, if you want to try CBD but are on medication, be sure to talk about it with your healthcare provider first.
Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of what you could expect from taking CBD. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns that were not addressed, please contact us. You can do that by emailing us at [email protected] or through our contact page.
