What is Cannabidiol?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of many cannabinoids produced by cannabis products. CBD is different from THC due to the fact that CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning that it won’t have such a strong effect on brain activity or give the high that THC would. CBD actually makes up 40% of the cannabis plant’s extract.

Some History Behind CBD

CBD was first discovered in the 1940s by Roger Adams, a Harvard graduate. He actually didn’t even realize what he had done until years later, which then immediately he and other scientists began searching for what they could do with it.
Around 1946, Dr. Walter S. Loewe began doing tests on animals with CBD that gave proof that the chemical didn’t alter any mental activity.
Also in 1946, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam identified CBD’s three-dimensional structurer, which is why he is the man who gets the credit for most of the findings of CBD. In the 1960s, there was some research done on CBD involving primates, and only after that did the first CBD oil gets released for therapeutic use. In 1980, Mechoulam found that CBD could be used for treating epilepsy.

Benefits of Cannabidiol

Epidiolex, the only FDA-approved medication with CBD, which the FDA deemed useful for the treatment of some types of epilepsy. While the agency so far has only found it useful for just that, people have found many other uses for it, such as helping certain conditions for some things.

What Is CBD Used For?

While people have a general idea of what CBD is used for, there isn’t enough hard evidence for it to be given out from doctors yet. It’s very hard for people to say exactly what they could get from it. Most pharmacies will say that it does or doesn’t work for a certain thing, but they’ll usually also say something along the lines of “but we’re not really sure.”
There is one thing that a lot of people can agree on- CBD helps you keep homeostasis or biological balance in your body. It does this by adding a few extra cannabinoids into your immune system (the body actually makes its own when you feel happy), but not too many to where you’ll feel the high you get from THC.

How Can I Use CBD?

There are several types of ways to use CBD, and there isn’t a “best” way to do it. It really just depends on your condition or your preferences. Here are some of the most popular uses:

Topicals
CBD topicals aren’t very complicated. Most brands won’t even call them “topicals,” and instead just go with “ointment” or “lotion.” There are even bath salts and soaks to give you full-body relief. Basically, CBD topicals are applied to the skin, and because of this it only really affects the area that you applied it on.
The procedure for applying topical CBD products is really simple, as all you have to do is get your product, then rub it onto where you want it. Make sure that you pay attention to how much you put on, as the skin is specifically designed so that nothing enters the body. Read the instructions on what you’re buying before you use it for how much you need to apply.
Tinctures
CBD tinctures are parts of CBD dissolved in ethanol. This type of CBD product will get the chemical into your bloodstream the fastest, as it has ethanol in it, and of course, ethanol gets into your bloodstream fast. This one is a more confusing one to take, though, so here’s how:
When taking CBD tinctures, you’re going to want to take a dropper full of the mixture, put it under your tongue, then hold it there for about a minute. Even though it sounds weird, this is the absolute fastest way for the oil to absorb into your bloodstream.
Edibles
It’s obvious what edibles are because of the name, of course. They’re food infused with CBD. Now, these foods aren’t just limited to one type. It’s more than just sweets, and people are even putting CBD in their everyday meals, like burgers. However, the foods will usually tend to have some sort of fat in it, as CBD can bind to fats extremely easy. It’s obvious as to how you’re gonna take it, and that is to just eat it. However, there are actually some rules behind this seemingly simple procedure.
Before anything is said, you must be warned on how much CBD you put into homemade CBD foods. Make sure to check how much you should use. With purchased CBD edibles, the CBD will already be put in your food so you won’t have direct control over the amount.
Either way, the only other concern you have is when you should take your edibles. While there’s never a bad time to take it, it’s good to spread out when you eat them as the effects usually wear out within a half-day. You could just take it during breakfast and dinner, or whenever you think would be most helpful.

Capsules
With CBD capsules, you’d just take it how you normally take one. Take it with water, and you’re done.

In What States Is CBD Legal?

Since CBD is federally-approved, states can still decide whether or not they decide it should be allowed in their state. Luckily the majority of them allow it, and only some states don’t. Be sure to check your state laws regarding CBD, as some states don’t allow it in some forms, at all, or sometimes are experiencing controversial debates over this natural product.