CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant.  Historically the best-known compound from the cannabis plant was THC which is what makes people “high.” This should not be confused with  CBD which also comes from the plant, does not have a psychoactive effect, and has been found to have many benefits. 

CBD comes from the least processed form of the plant which is hemp. 

Let’s look back at history for a moment.  During the 1970’s and the war on drugs, cannabis plants became demonized in the United States.  When the Controlled Substance Act took effect at that time, the law did not distinguish between THC and CBD.  All cannabis was illegal to produce in this country.  However, In the 1990’s scientists discovered something very interesting that keeps our bodies in balance.

Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system (ECS).  Our bodies produce cannabinoids of their own!

The CB1 receptors in the brain affect our mood, pain, appetite, and memories.  The CB2 receptors are part of our immune system and affect inflammation and pain.  Research is showing that CBD oil works by directing our body to use our own cannabinoids, rather than what we actually consume which I thought was interesting.  The studies on the benefits are hard to ignore as they show improvement in:

          – inflammation and chronic pain

          – seizures in children

          – high blood pressure

          – anxiety, stress and depression

          – mood and sleep disorders

          – addictions

          – epilepsies

          – cancer

          – weak immune systems

You may be wondering…Is CBD oil legal?

CBD oil as a dietary supplement is legal in all states.  CBD with THC is not.  If you live in a state that hasn’t legalized marijuana, and you are seeing CBD oil being sold in your local health food store, compounding pharmacy, or chiropractor’s office…you know it’s just CBD and it’s legal.

Similar to supplements, CBD products are not regulated by the FDA.  This mean that quality counts, and buying a trusted brand is important.  For instance, cheap vitamins are regularly found to not have the amount of vitamins in them that they claim.  This holds true for CBD oil too.  Also, sketchy processing methods can be used.  Therefore, please seek out a health care professional with knowledge of the purity of the product you are interested in and dosage recommendations for the condition you want to treat.

As with all supplements and dietary aides, some side effects have been identified, including:

Light-headedness

Drowsiness

Stomach upset

Interaction with other medications

Low blood pressure

Dry mouth

So, being your guinea pigs so to speak, Kristin and I have both tried CBD oil.  Here’s what we’ve found:

Kristin has been using it for the last couple of weeks for anxiety related issues.  She purchased hers from a reputable pharmacist who researched the product for purity and quality.  It has brought about a sense of calm.  She does sleep better and is able to handle stress in a more balanced way.  However, she did experience some stomach discomfort in the first week. 

The best way to take CBD is to start out on a low dose! 

I have been using it for the past two months based on a recommendation from my doctor.  While we are working though heavy metal and thyroid issues, I experience small feelings of anxiety during the day.  I also have some chronic upper back pain.  The CBD oil seems to be helping the upper back, but I’m not sure about the anxiety.  I am still working to figure out what dosage is right for me, as I started out slow.

All in all, we do think it is helpful for many people, and I personally look at it as just another essential oil.  Once again, God has given us a plethora of “medicines” through His plant kingdom that we are still discovering today. 

There are many resources, but if you would like to do more research on cannabidiol oil here is one option:

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/cannabidiol

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