CBD Guide for Beginners

CBD or cannabidiol is a naturally occurring chemical compound or "cannabinoid" that is found in marijuana and hemp. In addition to CBD, the hemp plant contains between 70 and 100 other cannabidoids. Most people have heard of THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the psychoactive cannabinoid that causes a state of intoxication. CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid after THC and is usually considered a non-psychoactive substance.

Cannabinoids work within the endocannabinoid system - a complex network of chemical compounds (endocannabinoids) and receptors in our body that are constantly working to maintain homeostasis in our body and ensure its optimal functioning. This system regulates everything from mood and memory, through the immune system, to pain signaling and inflammatory reactions of the body.

In the opinion of the National   Cancer   Institute, cannabinoids may be effective in combating the side effects of cancer treatment. Other possible effects of cannabinoids include anti-inflammatory effects, blocking cell growth, preventing the development of blood vessels that supply cancer, antiviral effects, and relieving muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. Research indicates that CBD may bring particular benefits to people suffering from numerous conditions such as neuropathic pain, depressed mood or anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Is CBD considered safe?

CBD is considered safe to use, but more research is still needed to see if its use causes significant side effects.    Therefore, clinical trials are needed before it is legalized as a worldwide remedy. GW Pharmaceuticals has published preliminary results of their clinical trials, according to which "CBD has shown a particularly satisfactory profile.   safety, without serious harmful effects, and the overall incidence of side effects was very close to placebo. The most common side effects (observed in 5% or more of patients and resulting from all/all causes.....) are diarrhea, nausea and headache."

A review of the scientific literature (Bergamaschi, 2011) published in Current Drug Safety found that CBD is a non-toxic substance that does not affect physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature), does not affect the flow of food through the digestive system and does not interfere with psychomotor or psychological functions. CBD in high doses up to 1500 mg/day is supposedly well tolerated by humans.

Is CBD legal in my country?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question; it all depends on which part of the world you live in and from what part of the plant the CBD oil you are using was obtained.

A good rule of thumb in practice is that while CBD oil is derived from industrial hemp, which is legal in most countries in the world, it can be assumed that this is legal. If, on the other hand, it is obtained from medical marijuana, which generally contains a higher content of the psychoactive substance THC, it is classified as illegal unless you live in a U.S. state or other country where the use of medical marijuana is allowed.

In any case, no matter where you live, it's important to know where CBD was made, what plant it comes from, and, if it contains THC, how much exactly.

WARNING (If your CBD-based product does not have the appropriate lab test reports and batch numbers, you may be exposing yourself to legal risks as you are not sure what exactly the product contains.)

Absorption and administration

The first step is to decide which type of product will be most suitable for our needs.  The vast majority of us want to receive the highest quality for the money spent, which in the context of CBD means buying a quality product that will ensure maximum absorption. 

Absorption is sometimes referred to in relation to bioavailability. Bioavailability means the degree of absorption of a medicinal substance by our body. According to the definition, when the drug is administered intravenously (directly into the blood), the bioavailability is 100%.

Thus, an important factor in deciding which CBD product to buy is such a method of administration that will allow you to absorb as much CBD as possible into the bloodstream.

With regard to the method of administering CBD, we have a choice of 3 basic methods: orally, by inhalation or rectally (vaginally).

Oral
Many people taking CBD for the first time don't particularly like its taste, so if you don't like putting CBD oil or paste under your tongue, it's worth trying another method.  For many people, it's good to use CBD capsules or chewing gum. If you opt for flavored oil, make sure it contains 100% natural flavors.

Inhalations or vaping
If you use CBD oil to treat medical conditions or mental disorders, you can try CBD in the form of an inhalable oil in the form of steam. It is inhaled and absorbed from the lungs directly into the bloodstream.  Make sure you only buy high-quality oil in steam form, because cheaper oils to inhale may contain propylene glycol, which can be dangerous for the lungs.

Rectal/vaginal administration
One of the most effective methods of administering CBD is through the mucous membranes.  We suggest trying CBD suppositories.  Your body absorbs much more CBD through the mucous membranes of the vagina and anus.

WHEN CHOOSING CBD PRODUCTS, KEEP IN MIND:

- Are you using CBD for the first time?  It's a good idea to start with an oil with a lower concentration.
- What CBD product provides maximum absorption into the bloodstream?
- Which method of administration do you prefer?
- Why do you use CBD?

Some medical conditions may require products with higher concentrations, such as CBD extracts or pastes. It is a form of CBD oil with a high concentration:

Which company produces the best CBD oil?

Okay, now you know more about what CBD product you're interested in.  It's time to figure out which sources are reliable to make a purchase and which are trading in dubious magic potions.

Do not buy the cheapest
Be careful not to fall into the trap of choosing the cheapest offer: it is very likely that such a product comes from low-quality industrial hemp that is not grown using organic methods and contains pesticides and other contaminants.   It is not worth risking your health by using CBD oil that does not meet the standards.

Online Reviews
The best starting point when deciding whether a CBD manufacturer can be trusted is to quickly search for information about this company available on the Internet. Find out what others think about them on independent review sites like Trustpilot and other reliable sites associated with them.

Customer Support
Look at the company's website, see if it's professional, if it has an email address or phone number where you can contact customer  support, and call the number provided to see if anyone can answer the phone. Check the company on the who.is. If they are hiding information about the owner of their website, perhaps they have something else to hide?

to be continued...