A Beginners Guide to CBD
A Beginner’s Guide to CBD
The CBD market has seen an explosive growth in the last couple of years, and that doesn’t look set to stop any time soon.
There are millions of people in the UK taking CBD supplements and that is increasing daily.
If you’re interested in trying CBD oil for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions on how to use CBD oil? How to take CBD oil? How much CBD oil should I take?
hapihemp have a great FAQ section on their website which answers many questions that you may have.
While CBD is growing in popularity, there is still a lot of confusion, and it may be overwhelming to someone who has never tried it before.
In this blog we have put together this easy-to-follow CBD guide to help you understand CBD and the benefits of CBD.
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the cannabis Sativa plant, which is also known as cannabis or hemp and has been known throughout history to have a wealth of proposed health benefits. First discovered in 1940, it is one of over 100 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants and accounts for up to 40% of the plant’s extract.
The cannabis plant is made up of two main players: CBD and THC. CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, so what that means is you won’t have any effects like euphoria. CBD is not psychoactive and won’t make you ‘high’.
CBD is a naturally occurring substance that’s used in products like oils and edibles.
How Does CBD work?
Our body has an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that translates signals from cannabinoids through thousands of receptors in our brain, central nervous system, and immune system. The ECS is responsible for regulating many our body functions. The ECS produces cannabinoids of its own, which are called endocannabinoids.
When cannabinoids from plants (phytocannabinoids) enter the body, they interact with our ECS receptors in the same way our internal cannabinoids do. These phytocannabinoids activate responses and provide a host of benefits for our mind, body, and soul.
There are three main types of CBD oils extracted from the hemp plant. These include Full Spectrum CBD, THC CBD, and CBD Isolate.
Full Spectrum CBD
Refers to the whole plant hemp extract, including up to 0.2% of THC.
THC Free CBD oil
Starts as full spectrum CBD that goes through an additional process to remove the trace amounts of THC. It offers the “entourage effect” associated with full-spectrum CBD, without any chances of THC being ingested into the body.
CBD Isolate
Contains pure CBD only, and none of the other cannabinoids, terpenes or other natural compounds found in the hemp plant.
How to Take CBD
With so many people in the UK turning to CBD, there are many different formats for taking CBD - such as tinctures,capsules, topicals, vapes, and edibles. There is no best way to take CBD oil, however there are some pros and cons to each and at the end of the day it’s down to your personal preference, lifestyle, what works best for and your personal goals.
Here are the most common ways to take CBD and the pros and cons of each
CBD oral drops/Tinctures
Pros:
- Fast absorption and high bioavailability taking sublingual CBD as the capillaries under the tongue lead directly to the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system
- Versatility (can be consumed sublingually or added to food and beverages)
- Flexible dosing (fill the dropper to the desired dose and can also be split into multiple doses throughout the day)
Cons:
- Some people don’t like the ‘hempy’ taste.
- Many people feel that the process of holding the oil under the tongue for 60-90 seconds is inconvenient and unpleasant.
CBD Capsules
Pros:
- For some - the most convenient way to consume CBD
- Tasteless and odourless
- Exact dosage – no measuring
- Taking a CBD capsule doesn’t feel different or intimidating if you’re used to taking vitamins, supplements or other medications
- Additional ingredients can be included in a capsule. Our hapihemp capsules also include Turmeric, Ginger and Black pepper.
Cons:
- Effects may take 1-2 hours to work as the CBD needs to go through the digestive system first
- Ingesting CBD may be less effective for some people as the CBD must pass through the liver.
Topical CBD
Pros:
- Targeted relief for anywhere on your body.
- Useful for skin repair and skin conditions.
- Simple to use – CBD topical products are popular for a reason! They can be used as often as you like and are found to be very effective.
- Can be formulated and combined with other essential oils and beneficial ingredients which can then create a really powerful topical CBD product.
Cons:
- Can be messy before fully absorbing into the skin.
Vaping / Smoking
Pros:
- Effects can be felt almost immediately, usually within minutes
- Easy to carry around and use on the go
Cons:
- Effects will last a shorter time vs ingesting CBD orally
- Additional vaping apparatus is required
- Stigma around vaping/smoking.
- Not enough research on the health benefits connected to vaping.
CBD drinks and edibles
Our hapi gummies are completely natural and are vegan friendly.
Pros:
- Fun and convenient way to consume CBD.
- Can be a tasty treat
- Everyone likes to eat and drink.
- A great intro to CBD.
- A super way to compliment your current CBD supplements.
- CBD drinks can be very soothing – our CBD tea has been created for this purpose!
Cons:
- Typically contains low doses of CBD vs other methods
- Some edibles include artificial ingredients and sweeteners
- Not all edibles adhere to dietary restrictions such as coeliacs or vegans.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Take?
Finding the ideal dose is an individual process as each person is different, as well as the method of ingestion, so it may take a bit of trial and error to find the right dose of CBD for you.
Several factors influence each person’s effective dose of CBD including weight, diet, metabolism, sleep patterns, stress levels and genetics. Also, some individuals are just more sensitive to CBD than others.
We always advise to start with a low dose and see how you react. You can slowly increase the dose over the next few days to find the most effective dose for you and your goals.
Most people stick to somewhere in the 10-80mg of CBD per day, with higher doses for relaxation, therapeutic effects and “flare ups”.
Where Can I Buy CBD?
There are many places to buy CBD now, you will find an array of CBD products in all the major high street stores now.
We always recommend that you do your research first – CBD is an investment for YOU. We do not recommend you buy solely on price from a random shop! You get what you pay and with CBD you need to be able to see transparent lab reports and reviews. You cannot go far wrong with purchasing from a CBD specialist online store and of course it’s convenient as it’s posted directly to you!
