You’re asking the right questions!
Curious about CBD? We don’t blame you. Here are the answers you’ve been searching for.
What is CBD?
CBD, officially known as cannabidiol, is one of the most prominent cannabinoids present in the Cannabis genus of plants. Cannabinoids extracted from Cannabis plants can affect the endocannabinoid system in our bodies, which controls many crucial processes including motor learning, appetite and pain sensation among other cognitive and physical processes. CBD is well-known for its medicinal properties and positive influence on our endocannabinoid system. Wanna learn more? Check our Complete Guide to CBD.
Is CBD a placebo?
It is understandable why some scientists, as well as many in the general public, are sceptical about the effects and benefits of CBD oil. Although not unique in the world of medicine, it certainly doesn’t work the same for everybody, leaving many people to think that the reports, evidence and tales of its therapeutic benefits are overblown and what effects it does have, is due to placebo. However, although CBD is by no means a cure-all, an ever-growing body of scientific research and evidence from clinical trials are showing that CBD has real effects in the body and that its benefits are very real.
What is THC?
One of the most well-known cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation. It can be consumed by smoking cannabis. It’s also available in oils, edibles, tinctures, capsules, and more. Similar to CBD, THC interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system and can offer many health benefits but due to its intoxicating properties. More info about THC here: THC: healing effects, use, dosage.
What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
Hemp and marijuana are broad classifications of cannabis adopted by our culture but they are not legitimate biological names for cannabis. Hemp is a broad term used to name cannabis plants containing less than 0.2% (0.3% in the USA) of THC (by dry weight). In other words, hemp is the term used for not-intoxicating cannabis plants. Marijuana is a popular term used to classify varieties of cannabis plants that contain more than 0.2% of THC (by dry weight) and have intoxicating properties.
How can CBD help me?
In a number of ways. Studies show CBD can be effective in treating a range of ailments and health issues, including:
- Anxiety/stress
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Inflammation
- Childhood epilepsy
- Chronic pain
This said, more research needs to be done to understand how CBD can help a larger portion of our population feel better and lead happier lives. Also if you wanna know more, take a look on our blog post 5 Common Conditions Made More Manageable with CBD.
How do I choose the best CBD product for my health?
The answer to this question largely depends on you: your age, weight, genetics, symptoms... the list goes on. To understand which product is the best fit, we recommend starting with a low dosage and working your way up.
Is CBD safe?
According to a preliminary WHO report published in 2018, naturally occurring CBD is safe and well-tolerated in humans (and animals), and is not associated with any negative public health effects. The fact that cannabidiol is generally safe and well-tolerated by humans is confirmed by many studies. Side-effects associated with CBD intake are rare and usually have a fairly mild course. We are talking primarily about nausea, diarrhoea, changes in appetite or fatigue.
Will CBD make me high?
Nope. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. It will still make you feel good, but without the “high” associated with THC. We made a full article about it, check it out: Does CBD Get You High.
How should I take CBD Oil?
It's quite easy but we believe that video says more than 1000 words so just take a look:
Why I should choose Full Spectrum CBD?
Full Spectrum CBD Oil contain all of the naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant, not “just” the CBD. When all of these compounds work together, they create a comprehensive, synergistic effect known as the entourage effect—magnifying the therapeutic benefits of each individual component. We made a full article about it, check it out: The Entourage Effect.
Can kids take CBD oil?
It's a pretty complex case fo we decided to write a dedicated article about it, take a look on our blog post: Cannabinoids & Kids: What Does CBD’s Future Hold?
What happens if I take too much CBD?
Nothing bad. There are no known cases of fatal overdose from CBD, and there’s a very low chance you’ll experience negative side effects. If side effects do occur, they’re limited: in one study, too much CBD led to a few upset stomachs and some fatigue.
Can you mix CBD with alcohol?
In general: yes. There are a handful of animal and human studies showing that CBD may reduce some of the side effects of alcohol, but still it’s better to act on the side of caution. For now, and until we know more, it’s probably wiser not to rush out to your nearest bar and overindulge in a bunch of CBD cocktails. But if you do decide to mix the two up, play it safe and stick to low amounts of both.
Is CBD addictive?
No, at least not on the physical level. Of course, you can get used to positive effects it can have on your body, but it’s the same as with many other factors like for example addiction to the sport.
Can I take my CBD with me on holiday?
It all depends on your destination. While many places around the world consider cannabis an illicit substance, CBD is legal in most countries. However, because CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant — and there are more than one species in this family — its legality isn’t unconditional everywhere. For example, you can safely pack it in your hand luggage while travelling around the EU (except Slovakia) but you need to leave it home if you are planning a trip to Qatar, Singapur, Indonesia and Asian countries in general. There are some exceptions like Hong-Kong or Japan where you can legally buy and possess only CBD isolates.
Can I drive after taking CBD?
Yes, CBD is non-intoxicating and there are no regulations against driving after taking CBD. Your driving skills should not be influenced by CBD in your blood. Still, you should always be a responsible driver so if you feel dizzy or have problems with concentration. If so, it’s better to take a taxi or pick public transport.
Can I take CBD with other medication?
It depends on what kind of medication you take. If your drugs are metabolized by Cytochrome p450, you should consult taking CBD with your doctor. CBD, in general, doesn’t interact with other medications but is metabolized by cytochrome p450 and can influence the way other meds are absorbed by your body. To learn more about it, visit mydosage.com.
Does taking CBD have side effects?
Usually not but in case of very high dosages, some limited side effects might be observed. In one study, too much CBD led to a few upset stomachs and some fatigue.
What kind of CBD is best?
Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains all of the naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant, not “just” the CBD. When all of these compounds work together, they create a comprehensive, synergistic effect known as the entourage effect—magnifying the therapeutic benefits of each individual component. We made a full article about it, check it out: The Entourage Effect.
What is the difference between isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum?
Isolate contains only CBD diluted in a carrier oil, broad-spectrum usually contains also other cannabinoids but no THC. Full Spectrum contains all of the naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant: cannabinoids (CBD, CBDa, CBC, CBG, THC under 0.2% and other), terpenes, natural waxes and all other natural compounds. For general use, we highly recommend choosing full-spectrum products. If you are a professional athlete or work for uniformed services, isolate should be your go-to product.
I'm 100% healthy and train a lot, can I still benefit from CBD?
Yes, probably more than you expect :) CBD oil has been adopted by athletes all around the world, so perhaps you’ve heard about its effects in reducing exercise-induced inflammation or achieving better quality sleep. If you’re still skeptical about the things you’ve heard, then the explanations from this article should help you understand how CBD is actually working for athletes and what effects you can expect from taking it.
Can I give CBD to my dog or cat?
Yes! Scientists are exploring the various ways cannabidiol can ease pets’ pain symptoms and lessen conditions that negatively impact their quality of life. We wrote a separate article about it, check it out: CBD for dogs: Should You Give Your Dog CBD? How Cannabidiol Affects Pets.
Does you product contain Omega 3 & 6?
Nope, and non CBD Oil does. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids can be find in hemp seeds while CBD oils are made of hemp flowers.
Is CBD legal where I live?
Well probably yes, but if you want to be 100% sure, please visit our legal section and check the article about your state or country here: CBD legal status around the world.
Myth busting
There is no scientific evidence that CBD works
Medical use of cannabinoids is widely promoted within many health care systems. There are hundreds of completed studies on CBD’s influence on human bodies, with many more studies on-going. In 2018 the first pharmaceutical drug containing only CBD was introduced on the market as a new and extremely effective solution for severe and intractable epilepsy. It’s true that we still need to learn more about how to properly and widely benefit from CBD, but there is no doubt that cannabinoids, in general, allow many people to live better lives.
CBD is just a marketing gimmick / another wellness fad
CBD is literally a medicine, sold also as a pharmaceutical product under the name Epidolex. Of course, some marketing claims are absurd and CBD is not a miracle drug but it can truly be a game-changer for many. If you are looking for science-based info about using CBD in your condition, check the library section on mydosage.com, you will find there great quality and honest articles written by scientists and healthcare professionals.
All CBD oils are the same, buy the cheapest
CBD is sold as a food supplement and is not highly regulated and tested as drugs. Because of that, there are many shady companies selling cheap, low-quality products on amazon, eBay etc. If you are looking for high-quality CBD there are few things you should look for:
- Choose companies that grow their own hemp in the EU - it will help you avoid white-label brands and products made of Chinese hemp
- CO2 extraction is the best extraction method used to produce CBD oils
- As food supplements are not tested, some of the top brands like Eir, send their products to 3rd party labs to get the independent lab results checking the ingredients, cannabinoids profile and purity of the products
- Avoid companies making impossible claims
CBD converts to THC in the stomach
No, CBD and THC are two separate cannabinoids, in fact, they are quite opposite to each other.
High dosages are better than low dosages
It depends. The right CBD dosage is a very personal thing. Some will feel benefits after 20mg a day, others will need 100mg or even 1000mg a day (in case of epilepsy). The dosage depends on your gender, weight, condition, activity of your endocannabinoid system and a few other factors. Just make sure to not follow some internet myths about taking 2-3 drops per day - there are no studies supporting such micro-dosing.
It doesn’t work, I took it for a week and felt nothing
Yes, that might happen. There are a few scenarios when you might not feel any results:
- CBD might not be a solution for your health problem
- You didn’t observe your body and just took CBD without any concrete reason - we often call it the “Ibuprofen paradox”. If you don’t have a headache and you will take a pill, you will feel nothing. Does it mean ibuprofen doesn’t work? No, it simply means you don’t need it
- The dosage you took was too small to see any health benefits
- You took low-quality CBD product or a false labelled one - make sure to pick some with 3rd party lab results and check what’s inside