All About CBD Oil [The Comprehensive Guide]

Thinking about purchasing CBD oil? It’s likely that you’ve heard of this substance by now, even if you’re not considering an investment just yet. You might have seen posters for it plastered to the glass windows of pharmacies, or just noticed it written across a label in any health food shops. But what is it?

CBD oil isn’t really talked about much in the UK, making it quite a niche supplement to add to your healthy lifestyle. If you’ve heard about it and are wondering what exactly it is and what it does, well, you’ve definitely come to the right place!

We’ve put together this all-in-one, easy to understand guide to answer all the questions you might have about CBD oil. So, sit back, get comfortable, and get ready to learn everything there is to know about CBD oil.
So, what is CBD oil?

First, it’s necessary to know what CBD is. Cannabidiol, abbreviated to CBD, is a compound found within the cannabis plant. It occurs completely naturally alongside dozens of other cannabinoids, the most infamous of which is THC. Doubtless, whenever you hear about cannabis, you’ll think of a drug that makes the user ‘high’ – this is due to the THC content. CBD, on the other hand, is a substance which is completely non-psychoactive.

In essence, both CBD and THC are important compounds within the cannabis plant, and they both have some sort of effect on the human body. However, there are major differences between these two compounds – for starters, CBD doesn’t get you high.
Is CBD marijuana?

It would be factually to incorrect to say that “yes, CBD is marijuana”, because it’s actually just one part of it. CBD is an active chemical compound found within the cannabis plant, but it isn’t the whole thing.

Instead, CBD has been extracted from the plant and is usually mixed with oils to create CBD oil. There are other ways to ingest CBD rather than just using an oil, but no matter the method, the CBD has been separated from the rest of the marijuana plant – so you can rest assured that it wouldn’t get you high.
What are the effects of CBD?

Since, as we have mentioned, there are no intoxicating effects of THC, it is reasonable to wonder why people take it at all.

Well, there are a number of reasons. Usually, people use it as a food supplement when they are interested in leading a healthy lifestyle. Research is still ongoing into the effects of CBD on the human body, but it is generally used as an antioxidant and a means of relaxation, as well as promoting everyday wellbeing.

Since it is an all-natural ingredient, many people are finding that it is a great addition to their daily routine!
What is the endocannabinoid system?

Before we get into a discussion about how CBD oil does what it does, you need to have a basic understanding of the body’s endocannabinoid system, often referred to simply as the ECS.

The ECS is a naturally occurring biological system that everyone has. It is a network of neurotransmitters and receptors found throughout the human body, and it is the reason that the body reacts to cannabis at all. Believe it or not, the body produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, which are very similar to the ones found in marijuana!

Endocannabinoids work with the ECS receptors throughout the body and interact with various cell and tissue types. As a whole, the ECS is vital to survival, because it helps to mediate, regulate, and control a huge array of bodily functions, including inflammation, immune system function, neurogenesis (new cell production), apoptosis (programmed cell death) and even psychological behaviour. This means that the ECS plays a key role in homeostasis – in other words, it keeps our bodies in balance.

Cannabinoid receptors are so widespread throughout the body that some doctors have labelled this system as perhaps the most “central component of the health and healing of every human being.”

So why haven’t you heard about it before? Well, the ECS was only discovered fairly recently – in the 1990s to be precise, by an Israeli scientist called Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. This means that it is still being researched, and more things are being discovered and understood about this system every day.
How does CBD oil work?

CBD oil interacts with the endocannabinoid system in order to trigger certain effects. The two primary endocannabinoids that the body produces are anandamide and 2-AG (a shortened form of 2-arachidonoylglyerol – but 2-AG is a lot easier to remember!). These compounds bind to corresponding receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, namely the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found predominantly in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are abundant in organ tissues and the immune system.

Generally, in a person who has a healthy, well-functioning body, there is a well-maintained ratio of endocannabinoids to their receptors: This is what allows for homeostasis. In fact, in an educational article produced for NORML, endocannabinoids are responsible for ensuring homeostatic regulation on “every level of biological life – from the sub-cellular, to the organism, and perhaps to the communities and beyond.” This serves to demonstrate just how important the ECS is to a healthy life.

However, it is quite common for the human body to tilt off-balance sometimes. Disruptions in the ECS arise when the body experiences sickness of any kind, including physical injury, disease, inflammation, or even hormone imbalances. When this happens, there are not enough endocannabinoids present to bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, and thus the body struggles to maintain homeostasis.

This is where CBD oil comes in. By ingesting the oil, you can restore the natural ratio by adding natural phytocannabinoids (those that come from plants) into your body, thus promoting your overall wellbeing.
Is it safe to take CBD oil?

A lot of medications or food supplements that are prescribed nowadays have some pretty adverse side effects. It’s important to always read the label of any products you buy to find out whether you are risking your health by taking them. Of course, some products that claim to be ‘healthy’ even contain toxic ingredients that will only harm you further!

Luckily, CBD oil seems to be very safe to take regularly. In fact, in 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement to governments worldwide, proclaiming that CBD is effective and is not associated with any adverse side effects. In an official statement released at the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence in November of 2017, they said:

“[…based on evidence from studies, it has been determined that CBD oil is] safe, well tolerated, and not associated with any significant adverse public health effects.”

They also said that the compound is “not associated with abuse potential, does not induce physical dependence, [and is] generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

Clearly, this is astounding news. In other words, if a trustworthy source such as the WHO deems CBD oil to be safe, then the quick answer to this question is a resounding yes!