FAQ
If you are searching for a CBD product, you will likely come across the main ones: CBD gummies, CBD topicals, CBD capsules, and – of course – CBD oils.
CBD oil has a wide range of benefits. Of course, it offers the same benefits as all CBD products, including help with anxiety, sleep, pain, and overall well-being. Another benefit – the one we would consider the main advantage - more specific to CBD oils is that you can manage your own dose (which, of course, you would need to be careful with). With CBD capsules or gummies, you get a prepackaged selected dose that you can take; with CBD oil, you can take as little or as much as you want. This can be helpful for those who want to start with a very low dose and then increase it until they find their ideal dosage. Many people enjoy having that level of control.
Before you take any new medication, including anything over the counter, you should know how it affects your body. That includes CBD oil. You likely know that CBD helps with chronic pain, anxiety, mood, and sleep disorders, but what is it doing to your system?
Research shows that CBD oil has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which is what makes it so effective at managing unpleasant symptoms. It does this through neuroprotection, which protects the central nervous system from damage. There is also research showing that CBD reduces connectivity across brain regions as well as resting-state activity, which may be why CBD oil helps so well with reducing anxiety.
Another way it affects your system is by interacting with your endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating pain. CBD oil binds to these receptors, which can help alleviate pain even further.
If you're interested in trying out CBD oil, you'll likely want to know the downsides on top of the benefits. While CBD oil is an effective way of getting CBD into your system, it's worth noting that some people find the method of taking oil to be more unpleasant than others (such as CBD capsules and gummies). That's partly because of the taste – it has an earthy, bitter flavor, which some people do not like. Another potential downside is that it's harder to control the dose with CBD oil. With capsules or gummies, you receive an exact amount prepared for you – with CBD oil, you have to manage the dose yourself.
There are also general potential downsides that come with all CBD products, such as dry mouth, drowsiness, a reduced appetite, and fatigue. However, keep in mind these symptoms are rare and usually only occur when a person has taken too high of a dose.
CBD oil has several benefits and is worth trying for those with chronic pain, anxiety, issues with sleeping, or other unpleasant symptoms that impact wellbeing. So, how do you use it?
The most common method for taking CBD oil is through a tincture. It's pretty simple – you squeeze the CBD oil directly under your tongue, hold it there for up to a minute, and then swallow. You do this rather than swallow it straight away because the CBD gets to your bloodstream quicker when held under your tongue, as that is a capillary-rich area.
There are several other ways you can take CBD oil, too. For example, you could put a few drops in your smoothie or coffee in the morning. You could put it in a vape pen if you are a vaper. Some people even use CBD oil in baking so they can enjoy a sweet treat alongside the calming and pain-relieving effects.
Yes – like most products made from natural ingredients, CBD oil will eventually go bad on your shelf.
The shelf life of CBD oil depends on the specific product and how you store it. When stored correctly – in a cool, dark space – it should last anywhere between 1 to 2 years. Once it has expired, it will have lost its potency and will not be as effective as before, so it's not worth keeping around. It may also have a more unpleasant taste.
If you have CBD oil and you're not sure if it has gone bad or not, you can usually tell by the taste or smell. If you open the bottle and it smells off, that's a clear sign you shouldn't consume it. You can also look for the expiration date on the bottle, which most CBD oils will have, and throw it out if it's past that date.
CBD oil cannot cure a cold – in fact, there is no cure for a cold that exists at all! However, CBD oil may be used to relieve some of the unpleasant symptoms that come with colds.
One example is pain. While the most annoying part of colds tends to be the stuffed-up nose, many people also experience muscle pains and headaches. CBD is proven to be a pain reliever, which means it can prevent these unpleasant symptoms, helping people get through a cold much easier.
CBD oil can also help people with sleep. It's no secret that colds can keep people awake at the worst of times, and CBD oil will help the body relax and get a good night of rest, which will, in turn, help speed up recovery. Overall, CBD oil is undoubtedly a good medication to take for those who have colds. Plus, with CBD oil (compared to capsules), you can control your dosage, so you can take more or less if need be.