What Is CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound naturally found in the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa). It belongs to a class of 113 different compounds called cannabinoids, of which THC – the one that gets you high – is best-known [R+].

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the flowers and upper leaves of cannabis and dissolving it in a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil. With the growing interest in researching its effects and the legalization of medical marijuana in many countries, CBD oil is emerging as a new investigational therapeutic agent mainly used for [R+, R+]:

• Seizures
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Anxiety and depression
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Glaucoma

Here’s where it gets tricky: both hemp and marijuana are cannabis. However, marijuana and hemp are completely different varieties. Marijuana is much higher in THC, while hemp is low in it. CBD oil is usually made from hemp to meet strict regulations about low THC content.

In June of 2018, the FDA approved a medicine with pure CBD oil (Epidiolex) for the first time. Epidiolex is used in children over 2 years old for seizures caused by two rare types of epilepsy [R].

While CBD oil is being studied for a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, research supporting its benefits is still limited. Talk to your doctor if you plan to use CBD oil.

Snapshot

Proponents

• Approved for two types of epilepsy
• Can be used legally for several conditions in many countries
• Won’t get you high

Skeptics

• Insufficient evidence for some uses
• May be illegal to transport across borders
• Banned in some countries (or if its THC content is above a threshold)
• THC traces may show up in a drug test
• Poor quality of some supplements (less CBD than stated on the label)

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

Although both THC and CBD belong to the same family of chemicals (cannabinoids), they work in different ways.

THC binds and activates two types of cannabinoid receptors on brain cells (CB1 and CB2). This is how it causes

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The Reason You’re Confused about Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil

People are becoming increasingly curious about cannabis, especially with the recent legalization of medical cannabis in many countries.

Understanding the Basics

The cannabis industry is experiencing a huge boom, but many people aren’t sure how all these new products are different. Among the available products, you will most frequently come across two oils: CBD oil and hemp oil.

Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably (either by ignorance or for misleading marketing purposes), they have totally different compositions. Their only common point is the fact that both are obtained from the cannabis plant – although from different parts.

Hemp oil is the oil obtained from hemp seeds. Very rich in proteins, fatty acids, and vitamin E, this oil has long been used as a food supplement and as an ingredient in cosmetic products. Hemp oil, however, contains little or no CBD [R, R+].

CBD oil is a potentially therapeutic oil that contains non-psychoactive cannabidiol or CBD as the main ingredient. CBD is extracted from cannabis flowers, leaves, and stalks and then dissolved in a carrier oil (such as coconut oil). CBD oil is a relatively new product mainly used to improve chronic pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and epilepsy [R].

Importantly, note that the FDA doesn’t approve hemp oil for any conditions while the only approved use of CBD oil is to reduce seizures in two rare types of epilepsy [R].

Ignorance and Inaccurate Branding

The first reason for the confusion is the inaccuracy of the term “hemp oil.” It doesn’t clearly specify that the oil is obtained from the seeds. Therefore, it seems reasonable to use it for hemp-derived CBD oil, which is also an oil obtained from hemp plants. Uninformed consumers and manufacturers may unintentionally make this mistake.

Conversely, some brands use misleading marketing tricks to pass their hemp oil off as CBD oil.

Why would they do that? The reason is that CBD oil is more expensive to produce, has more potential health applications, and is currently more popular than hemp oil. This means consumers are willing to pay higher prices for this product.

These companies may use ambiguous names (such as “Cannabis sativa oil”), adorn the label with marijuana leaves and flowers (remember that hemp oil is obtained from

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What is CBD?

Overview

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa, the marijuana plant. CBD and THC are the two main active compounds found in the cannabis plant. They are also the best-studied and -recognized [R, R].

Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. It cannot cause the negative mental effects linked to THC, like paranoia, anxiety, and memory problems. Instead, some research suggests that it may naturally protect against the marijuana high [R, R].

In early studies, CBD has shown promising benefits for people with a variety of hard-to-treat conditions [R].

Snapshot

Proponents:

• Prevents seizures in rare forms of epilepsy
• Reduces inflammation and may kill pain
• Potential for autoimmunity and neurological disorders
• Potential for some mental illness
• Reduces nausea and increases appetite
• Many possible benefits currently under investigation
• Well-tolerated with few reported side effects

Skeptics:

• Not enough research in humans
• May cause drowsiness
• May be unsafe for people with compromised immune systems
• Potential drug interactions

Potential Health Benefits of CBD/Cannabidiol

Do not attempt to use CBD as an alternative to treatment by a medical professional. If you want to include CBD in your health management or treatment plan, talk to your doctor before doing so.

A prescription CBD oil is considered an effective anti-seizure medication. However, further research is needed to determine CBD’s other benefits and safety [R].

Likely Effective For

1) Seizures

Many people claim that CBD helped them with seizures even when nothing else worked. The research backs them up: CBD may help reduce seizures in people with epilepsy who do not respond to drugs [R, R].

In fact, in 2018, the FDA

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Why Is It Difficult to Determine How Much CBD You Need?

It is not certain whether CBD oil is effective in treating many medical conditions. Medicinal use of this product for most conditions has not been approved by the FDA. CBD oil should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor [R]. Remember to speak with your physician before taking any supplements.

First-time CBD oil users may feel a bit overwhelmed by the wide variety of available products and brands. Even people who have been using CBD for years often need to keep optimizing due to the lack of information about effective doses.

Coming up with the right dose is trickier than it may seem at first glance.

On the one hand, the FDA has only approved one medicine with pure CBD oil so far (Epidiolex, used for seizures in two rare types of epilepsy). This means there will most likely be no official dose for the health issue you are trying to improve with CBD oil [R].

Instead, we recommend consulting with your physician and diving deep into the clinical research in addition to taking your individual factors into account to find the doses that are likely to help.

However, many users blindly accept the dose recommended by CBD oil manufacturers, natural health blogs, or even friends.

The truth is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all dose; different factors such as your weight, health condition, type of product, or delivery method will determine what amount may work.

Below is a comprehensive list of steps to help you get there.

Steps to Finding the Right CBD Oil Dosage

1. Set Your Goals

CBD has many targets in the body, meaning the oil may have several therapeutic effects.

The first step is to ask yourself what you want to achieve by taking CBD oil. Do you want to relieve chronic pain? Curb your anxiety? Sleep better? Improve your mood? Your optimal dose will not only depend on the condition you want to improve but also its severity.

2. Find the Right Dosage (CBD Dosage Chart)

The following table summarizes the doses of CBD (alone) successfully tested in clinical trials for different conditions:

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CBD Oil Side Effects

First, it is important to remember that CBD oil is considered experimental and investigational and far more clinical studies are needed before we can make any firm conclusions about its supposed benefits [R].

Similarly, it’s an insufficiently investigated supplement with a relatively unknown safety profile. The list of side effects listed in this article is, therefore, not a definite one.

So, make sure to speak with your doctor before starting on a CBD oil regimen.

With the recent legalization of CBD oil in many states worldwide, its popularity is booming and people are taking it for not only its FDA-approved use for seizures, but also conditions such as [R]:

• Arthritis
• Migraines
• Chronic pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep disorders

An advantage of CBD oil is that it’s considered generally safer and causes fewer adverse effects than the drugs typically used for these conditions. Chronic doses of up to 1500 mg/day were tolerated well in multiple studies [R+, R].

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t cause behavioral and psychological side effects. What’s more, it may even reduce some of them such as anxiety, psychosis, and memory loss [R, R, R, R].

Nevertheless, there are some potential side effects of CBD oil that you should watch out for. Below is a detailed overview of the most common ones.

1) Dry Mouth

Whether you use them for recreational or medicinal purposes, cannabis products will often make your mouth feel as if it were stuffed with cotton balls. Almost 12% of 1500 people responding to a survey about CBD use experienced dry mouth, making it the most common adverse effect [R].

Stimulation of the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the salivary glands reduces saliva secretion, which makes the mouth feel dry. The well-known cannabis compound THC activates these receptors directly. In turn, CBD raises the levels of an activator naturally produced in the body – the cannabinoid anandamide [R, R, R, R].

2) Digestive Issues

Both CBD oil supplements and the FDA-approved CBD medicine Epidiolex have been reported to cause digestive issues such

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What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a therapeutic oil made from the cannabis-derived compound cannabidiol or CBD. Unlike THC, CBD won’t get you high.

The only FDA-approved use of CBD oil is for reducing epileptic seizures. However, many people take CBD oil for other investigational, non-proven uses. Among them, the most common one is for pain relief [R].

People commonly take both CBD and THC-containing medical cannabis for this purpose. In 2 surveys on over 3.5k people using them, over 50% reported suffering from different painful conditions. The ones most commonly managed with CBD – and other cannabis products – include [R, R]:

• Arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Headaches (migraines, cluster, and drug overuse)
• Low back pain
• Cancer pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Nerve pain
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Hemp-derived CBD oil is legal in the US and many other countries, while oil derived from marijuana may contain higher THC levels and is more strictly regulated.

A mouth spray supplying similar amounts of CBD and THC (nabiximols or Sativex) is approved in Canada and several European countries (but not in the US) for the involuntary and often painful muscle contractions caused by multiple sclerosis. It has also been widely investigated worldwide for other painful conditions [R].

CBD Oil for Pain Relief

How Does It Work?

Interaction with the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is made up of two receptors: CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoids naturally produced by the body, including the “bliss molecule” anandamide, bind to them. CB1 is mostly found in brain cells, while CB2 is most abundant in immune cells [R+, R+, R].

Cannabinoids in general – including anandamide and THC – reduce pain by activating these receptors. In fact, anandamide deficiency is linked to painful conditions such as migraines, fibromyalgia, and IBS [R, R].

CBD is less likely to bind to CB receptors and blocks rather than activates them. However, CBD indirectly increases cannabinoids in the body: it stops anandamide from being broken down and removed. This probably explains why it seems to enhance the pain-relieving effects of THC [R, R,

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CBD Oil for Anxiety: Does It Work?

The only FDA-approved use of CBD oil is for reducing epileptic seizures. However, many people take CBD oil for other investigational, non-proven uses [R].

Anxiety comes right after the number one CBD oil use for chronic pain. In a survey on almost 1.5k medical CBD users, approximately one third reported doing so to cope with anxiety [R].

Similarly, almost 60% of medical cannabis users reported reduced anxiety in a survey on almost 12k people. The best results were reported after smoking varieties rich in both CBD and THC. According to another survey on over 400 people, cannabis varieties viewed as most effective had high THC (but not CBD) levels [R, R].

This leaves us with the question: does CBD oil alone relieve anxiety or do you need to take cannabis strains with a mix of CBD and THC to experience the benefits?

Let’s look at the science of CBD first to figure it out.

Effects of CBD on the Body

Research has revealed several mechanisms by which CBD may help curb anxiety. Because most of the studies used animals or cells, CBD may not act by the same mechanisms in humans.

1) May Enhance Serotonin Activity

CBD activates the same serotonin receptors (5HT1A) as some anti-anxiety drugs. In fact, CBD and a 5HT1A activator (ipsapirone) reduced anxiety with similar effectiveness in a clinical trial [R, R+, R].

In rats, CBD injection into several brain regions (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, stria terminalis, and dorsal periaqueductal gray) reduced acute anxiety and panic attacks. 5HT1A blockers prevented these effects in all cases [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

2) May Boost Natural Cannabinoids

The endocannabinoid system is made up of two receptors: CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoids you naturally produce, including the “bliss molecule” anandamide, bind to them. CB1 activation is important for reducing anxiety, especially during periods of high-stress [R+, R, R, R].

Unlike THC, CBD is unlikely to directly bind to CB1 and

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CBD Oil for Depression: Does It Work?

Although CBD oil is only approved by the FDA for reducing epileptic seizures, more and more people take CBD oil for other investigational, non-proven uses [R].

Right after relieving chronic pain and anxiety, the third most common use of CBD oil is to improve depression. In a survey on 1,500 medical CBD users, almost a third reported suffering from depression. Of these, 62% felt that CBD worked “very well by itself” [R].

Similarly, out of 12,000 medical cannabis users, half perceived cannabis reduced their depressive symptoms. Here’s the interesting part: those smoking CBD-rich varieties were most likely to experience improvement [R].

These preliminary data suggest that CBD improves depression. But what does the science say? Let’s look at the research in detail to figure it out.

How Does It Work?

1) Enhances Serotonin Activity

CBD activates the 5HT1A receptors for serotonin, popularly known as the “happiness neurotransmitter” [R].

According to the “serotonin hypothesis,” low serotonin activity in the brain causes depression. Indeed, most antidepressant drugs increase serotonin. SSRIs, for example, prevent its removal from synapses, the clefts brain cells use to communicate via neurotransmitters [R, R+].

In mice, CBD worked similarly to antidepressant drugs that block serotonin removal and even enhanced their effects. It quickly increased serotonin and glutamate levels in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s hub for thinking and making sense of emotions. 5HT1A blockers prevented these effects, which suggests that activating 5HT1A improves mood [R, R, R, R].

2) Boosts Natural Endocannabinoids

The endocannabinoid system is made up of two receptors: CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoids naturally produced in the body, such as the “bliss molecule” anandamide, bind to and activate them. Though CBD blocks CB receptors, it increases anandamide by preventing its breakdown [R+, R, R, R, R, R].

In animal studies, anandamide reduced depressive symptoms by activating both the endocannabinoid and serotonin pathways. Blocking the enzyme that breaks anandamide down (FAAH), which is what CBD does, had the same effect

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What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a therapeutic oil with a non-psychoactive compound of cannabis: cannabidiol or CBD.

CBD has grown in popularity for a number of health conditions in humans. Its recent legalization in many countries sparked a keen interest in dog owners. They normally seek an alternative remedy for their dog’s [R+, R]:

• Pain and inflammation
• Anxiety
• Seizures
• Arthritis
• Nausea

Although the research on its effects on dogs is scarce, several CBD oil products have been formulated specifically for dogs (mainly liquid tinctures, tablets, chews, and treats). In fact, over 50% of vets recommend and prescribe them based on experience [R].

Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs

Insufficient Evidence for:

1) Seizures

CBD reduced seizures caused by electric shocks and drugs in old studies in mice and is even approved for some types of epilepsy in humans [R+, R, R, R].

In the only clinical trial in epileptic dogs, infused CBD oil reduced seizure frequency slightly better than the placebo. The therapy was most effective when blood CBD reached high levels. Thus, we’re in need of a method that can accurately measure CBD blood levels to allow dosage adjustment [R, R].

On the other hand, CBD oil safely reduces seizures in people with some types of epilepsy. It helps both children and adults who don’t respond to anti-seizure drugs. CBD oil might work in a similar way for dogs with seizures, and anecdotal reports back this up [R, R, R, R].

However, more trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness and establish its therapeutic use. Consult your vet if you plan to give your dog CBD oil for seizures.

2) Pain and Inflammation

CBD oil is often given to dogs with painful and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and terminal cancer. CBD probably improves these conditions by blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-a, IFN, and IL-1) and increasing those with anti-inflammatory effects (such as IL-10 and IL-12) [R,

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What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a therapeutic oil made from the cannabis compound cannabidiol or CBD. It’s usually derived from hemp (not marijuana) and unlike THC, it won’t get you high.

The only FDA-approved use of CBD oil is for reducing epileptic seizures. However, many people take CBD oil for other investigational, non-proven uses [R].

Although CBD oil is most commonly used for chronic pain and anxiety, ~25% of the 1,483 people who reported that they used CBD oil for a medical condition responded that they used it for insomnia and other sleep disorders in an online survey [R].

According to another study on almost 100 people using medical marijuana for sleep disorders, most preferred CBD- over THC-rich varieties. This was especially the case in people with insomnia, taking longer to fall asleep, or using marijuana frequently [R].

CBD Oil for Better Sleep: Does It Work?

Cues from Studies in Healthy People

A series of small clinical trials from the 70s on 40 healthy people given CBD found increased drowsiness as an occasional side effect [R+].

A moderate dose had no effect on the sleep-wake cycle in a recent clinical trial on 27 healthy people, but twice this dose promoted sleepiness in another trial on 11 people [R, R].

In contrast, low doses of CBD suppressed the sleep-promoting effect of THC in a clinical trial on 8 healthy people [R].

Hints from Early Animal Studies

In an old study in rats, injected CBD increased the duration of the highly restorative deep sleep and reduced wakefulness after 5 hours but had no effect on REM sleep [R].

In a longer study (48 hours), CBD increased total sleep at various dosages. At high doses, it also increased deep sleep. But there’s a downside: giving the rats high doses during daytime increased their REM sleep latency – the time it takes to go into the dreaming phase of sleep [R].

Other studies in rats found that CBD promoted wakefulness.

Moderate IV doses at the start of the day increased levels of the wake-promoting neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine and its cholinergic activity

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Disclaimer: This post only summarizes the reviews of users, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. We cannot attest to the accuracy and trustworthiness of the compiled reviews, which do not represent the opinions of SelfHacked. We recommend choosing CBD oil based on scientific evidence, preferably under medical guidance. Remember to discuss this with your physician before trying any CBD oil.

Why Compile CBD Oil Reviews?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the only approved use of CBD oil comes in the form of prescription anti-seizure medication and further research needs to be done to decipher its benefits in other conditions. But that has not stopped many people from using it for a myriad of conditions.

In fact, more and more people are using CBD oil for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and depression.

In addition to learning, if there is any scientific validity to its supposed benefits, an important part of the research is getting to know the first-hand experiences of other users. While personal experiences don’t translate into efficacy, these experiences might provide some warning on potential side effects you should be aware of.

The main questions you should ask before choosing a specific brand usually revolve around the following:

• How effective are different products?
• What side effects did other people experience?
• What’s the best oil for your budget?
• Which products are the easiest to use?
• How reputable is the company you’re buying from?

Navigating CBD oil reviews can feel like going through a pitch-black maze, especially if you’re a first-time user. That’s why we decided to review hundreds of user experiences and compile the answers to all the important questions in one post. Remember, we encourage everyone to discuss with their physician before taking any supplements, let alone something like CBD oil which is a relatively new product on the market and has not had years of clinical research to back up its supposed benefits to health.

What Do People Use CBD Oil for?

The effectiveness and health benefits of CBD oil varied depending on the health conditions people used it for. We summarized user experiences for the main CBD oil uses below. Remember that these are just user experiences and your results vary. That is why it is very important to discuss CBD oil with your

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The Science Behind Using CBD Oil for Arthritis

The only FDA-approved use of CBD oil is for reducing epileptic seizures. However, many people take CBD oil for other investigational, non-proven uses [R].

The main medical use of CBD oil is, indeed, not to improve epilepsy but to relieve chronic pain. Among the various painful conditions people use CBD oil for, inflammatory joint disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis rank first. In a survey of 1500 medical CBD users, almost half reported suffering from arthritis [R].

Similarly, many people smoke medical cannabis to relieve arthritic pain. In 2 surveys on 5k people, 20% did so for this purpose. They often reported good results, but most of them used cannabis types with higher THC than CBD levels, such as indica strains [R+, R].

This leaves us with the question: does CBD alone relieve arthritic pain or is THC the main cannabis-derived compound responsible for the benefits? Unfortunately, the question remains unresolved because no clinical trials have tested CBD in people with arthritis and the only studies carried out so far have been done in animals.

How Does It Work?

Arthritis Types

The term ‘arthritis’ includes a group of joint diseases with inflammation, pain, and cartilage damage. It can be caused by repeated mechanical damage (e.g., osteoarthritis), autoimmunity (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), or by other diseases (e.g., psoriatic arthritis) [R, R].

While there is no cure for arthritis, therapies can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and slow the progression of the disease. Let’s take a look at how CBD can help.

Activating the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is made up of two receptors: CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoids naturally produced in the body – such as anandamide and 2-AG – bind to and activate them. Though CBD blocks CB receptors, it increases anandamide by preventing its breakdown [R+, R, R, R, R].

Two studies in humans and dogs found that animals with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis had higher levels of both CB receptors and several cannabinoids in the joints. This suggests that the body activates the endocannabinoid system to fight arthritis. In line with this, increasing cannabinoids may be a good therapeutic strategy [R, R

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