The chances are pretty big that you heard about ‘CBD’ lately. But what is it exactly? How to use it? And why should you use it? These and more frequently asked CBD questions get answered in this article, so keep on reading if you’re interested in CBD!
What is ‘CBD’?
Let’s start this post by looking at what CBD is. CBD is short for “Cannabidiol”. This is a compound of the hemp plant. Next to CBD, there are over a 100 other hemp-compounds, also called “cannabinoids”. CBD is used as a supplement and is 100% natural.
Why should you use CBD?
So, why should you use CBD as a supplement? Well; CBD has many potential benefits. A lot of people use it to reduce pain, anxiety and depression. However, CBD has many more potential benefits!
How to use CBD?
Let’s take a look at how to use CBD. CBD is available in several different products. The most common one is ‘CBD oil’, also called ‘CBD tinctures’. The oil in these tinctures needs to be taken ‘sublingual’, which means putting the drops under your tongue and let it absorb there. It’s recommended to always take CBD oil like this instead of swallowing it directly, as it doesn’t absorb very well otherwise.
Besides CBD oil tinctures, other CBD products include; orals (such as gummy bears and capsules), skin topicals (such as balm, lotion and cream) and CBD concentrates.
Each method has its own pros and cons. For example; CBD oil tinctures tend to be the cheapest in the long run. CBD edibles on the other hand are the easiest to use and convenient to take with you outside. Concentrates have the highest CBD content, and are very versatile as you can use them in several different ways. As everyone’s personal preference differs, I always recommend to look into the pros and cons of each method, to decide which one suits you best!
Does CBD can get you high?
Because CBD comes from the hemp plant, a lot of people may wonder if it can get you high. The answer to that question is no. The compound in cannabis that gets people high is called ‘THC’. CBD on the other hand isn’t psychoactive, which means it doesn’t get you high. Also; there is (almost) no THC in CBD products; 0 to max 0.3%, which is by far not enough to get someone high. Because CBD products contain a maximum of 0.3% THC, they are a 100% legal in every state of the US, and in most other countries as well.
Another often asked question is; can CBD products make you test positive? The answer to this question is sometimes. Why? Because it depends on which CBD product you’re using: CBD isolate products are made of pure CBD without any other compounds. This means that they contain 0% THC, so they won’t test you positive. However, there are also “full spectrum” CBD products on the market. These are made of a whole hemp plant. This means that full spectrum products have more potential benefits, but also the possibility to make you test positive when taking too much as they contain a little bit of THC (max 0.3%). Even though this is very little, it still could be possible that it makes you test positive. So; are you afraid of getting tested; then always take isolate CBD products, as they won’t make you test positive! Another (less common) alternative is called “broad spectrum”. These kind of products are also made of a whole hemp plant (just like full spectrum), but without THC (like isolate). So basically broad spectrum has the best of both worlds!
Good CBD products
As you may have noticed, there are a lot of CBD brands available. Amongst them are several of good ones, but also quite a lot of bad ones unfortunately. That’s why I recommend to always look for CBD reviews on the web before buying any CBD product. This way you can avoid paying too much for a bad brand, because quality is really important. Bad quality products will work less effective or even not at all.
CBD dosing
Another common question is “how much CBD do I need to take?” The answer to this question is difficult, as it depends on several factors. For example; everyone is different, so everyone reacts different to CBD. Also, every condition is different, as people use CBD for a lot of different things. To find your ideal CBD dosage, I recommend to start very low (so only a few drops). Then; wait an hour, and see how you feel. If you don’t feel anything; take a few drops more than you did the first time. Keep doing this until you’ve found your personal CBD dosage!