CBD has gained much popularity over the past few years with 1.3 million people in the UK (according to the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, 2019) taking the natural choice to embrace its benefits and qualities. Athletes, stay at home mums, dogs… people from all walks of life incorporate CBD into their lives. But what is CBD? This article hopes to answer a few of your questions.

What is CBD?

CBD or cannabidiol is a compound that comes from the hemp plant. CBD is one of many compounds that come from the plant. These compounds are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids interact with receptors in our body that are part of the endocannabinoid system. These receptors are located in many different cells throughout the body and primarily send signals to our brain which cause the release of neurotransmitters that cause changes in the body.

Simply put, CBD is a natural compound that interacts with receptors in our body to elicit change. These changes will be discussed in detail in future articles.

How is CBD oil made?

The process is fairly simple. It begins by extracting the CBD oil from the plant through a process called CO2 extraction. Multiple cannabinoids can be extracted using this process. After extraction, the product is diluted with a ‘carrier’ usually MCT oil derived from coconut oil.

Is CBD safe to use?

Medicinal cannabis has been used for centuries in many cultures including India, China, and even Ancient Egypt! It was first introduced into the West as a pain killer even used by Queen Victoria in the UK. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported in 2018 that medicinal cannabis could be used to help treat symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and MS, as well as for pain management and complications arising from diabetes. WHO has also reported CBD to be well tolerated in people with a good safety profile, with some people experiencing dry mouth, and drowsiness. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these effects.

A common misconception is the CBD will get you high. However, this is untrue. As mentioned above there are lots of cannabinoids in the hemp plant, one of which is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is responsible for the psychoactive or ‘high’ effects and is removed during the extraction process making the products completely THC free and legal in the UK, US, and EU.