CBD has long been used to treat anxiety, insomnia and pain; however, no definitive proof has yet been presented from clinical trials to demonstrate its efficacy; further study is therefore warranted.
CBD may interact with certain medicines, including blood thinners and antiepileptic drugs, by competing for liver cytochrome P450 enzymes and altering their breakdown process.
1. CBD Capsules
CBD capsules offer a convenient way for beginners to start using CBD, with each pill pre-measured at their dosage level. Plus, their bottles make for convenient storage at home or travel.
CBD appears to be well-tolerated with few side effects, not impacting heart rate or leading to addiction. Before trying a new substance however, always consult your physician first in order to make sure that any possible interactions don’t arise with any existing medications that you take.
CBD has been shown to alleviate anxiety symptoms, especially social anxiety. One study demonstrated this by finding that participants who took a CBD product 90 minutes prior to engaging in public speaking exercise felt less stress than those in the control group – possibly due to how CBD interacts with serotonin receptors and decreases blood pressure while at the same time decreasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity that causes inflammation within their bodies.
2. CBD Oil
CBD oil can be taken orally (under the tongue) or topically and is widely available at health food stores as a ‘food supplement’ – though, to ensure quality, make sure to read labels thoroughly for quality information regarding amounts of CBD per serving, serving frequency information and, ideally, certificates of analysis from manufacturers.
Studies indicate that CBD may help alleviate anxiety; however, most people find the most effective use is as part of professional treatment from mental health practitioners. CBD may also help relieve pain associated with MS or arthritis as well as muscle spasms and fatigue – though further investigation needs to be conducted into this possibility.
CBD may interact with certain medicines, including blood thinners, antiepileptics, and immunosuppressant drugs. Before beginning CBD use it is wise to consult your healthcare provider regarding a safe dosing plan as well as considering potential pregnancy or breastfeeding risks before making your decision.
3. CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures are liquid products that make dosing CBD easy with their dropper design, making your dosage easy to manage. The ideal way to use them is by placing desired drops directly under your tongue for one minute for maximum absorption.
Add a tincture to a drink for extra flavor and convenience. Different brands may offer citrus or coconut flavors while others have an earthier hemp taste that might not suit everyone. If you want to avoid an overly strong and bitter flavor, mix your tincture into beverages like tea or coffee.
Before trying CBD products, be sure to speak to your physician or healthcare provider first. They can assess any risks involved, determine any allergies that may exist and help find products which will be safe and effective for you.
4. CBD Edibles
CBD edibles include cookies, brownies, gummies, honey, tea and other food products containing CBD extracted from cannabis plants. When combined with other natural compounds like CBN and Delta 9, these edibles provide anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), analgesic (pain relief), orexigenic (appetite stimulant) and neuroprotective benefits.
As with any product that contains THC, when selecting CBD-only or hybrid products it’s essential to take your experience and relief needs into consideration. While CBD oil or tinctures may be quickly absorbed through your skin, CBD edibles require digestion in order to take effect – taking longer but providing longer-acting relief. When shopping for edibles be on the lookout for third-party laboratory testing on their labels; this indicates that every batch passes through this test lab to ensure quality ingredients and concentration/purity standards are met.
