How to choose the right CBD products for you and how to go about using it.

von Elisabeth P. Mehl

Artikel auf Deutsch: www.hanf-magazin.com/em5

We all know, the CBD market place is big and sometimes confusing to navigate in. What are you really looking for and what can you ask the producers about? Many use a lot of fancy wording to sell you their product, but do they really matter? Well, let’s see if we can make it a bit easier to track down what you are looking for and what you can expect from your product.

So you have decided to try CBD to help with an issue you have. It may be to relieve stress and anxiety, or for aiding Crohn's. Or maybe fibromyalgia or epilepsy? We all know there is a long list of conditions that can benefit from CBD. We encourage people to visit the web page of ProjectCBD to read about the latest in science and CBD and any condition they are interested in. ProjectCBD are on top of their game and a more reliable source of info than the info on a CBD sellers page in general. It's always good to double check the claims presented to you.

CBD products are everywhere now, what can we learn from the labeling of a product?

Does the product contain CBD or CBDA, would be a good place to start.

Some oils will say CBD oil, but the oil might be only containing CBDA. Witch is not necessarily a bad thing. Cannabidiolic acid or CBDA is the acidic precursor to CBD. Just like THCA is the acidic precursor of THC. CBDA can be found in the live or raw form of cannabis. CBDA converts to CBD through decarboxylation, which occurs when cannabis is exposed to heat or sunlight over a certain time. Both CBDA and CBD have their medical benefits, but we have more literature on CBD so far than CBDA. And it seem to have a broader usage so far and therefore most people seek CBD. Some CBD products have both CBDA and CBD in many of their products. So that people can benefit from both compounds.

How do you find out what really is in your CBD product?

You need to look at the Lab Results. There should be lab results easily visible in the descriptions of the products. If you are visiting a CBD shop, they might not have all the lab results there, so it’s good to do some research at home before going to buy. But if you are buying from an online company, you should be able to easily find the lab results next to each product. You want to see the actual lab reports, not just a illustration made on their product info. But a lab result with the name of the laboratory on it. And you want to see the % of cannabinoids on the products, not just how many mg that is in the bottle. If they don’t have that available, which they should, you can always use a CBD calculator to calculate the % of the product.

Mg per bottle can be very misleading and sometimes confusing. More sounds better right? But we also have to take in consideration how diluted the CBD is. While 600 mg in a 10 ml bottle gives you 6% CBD, 1000mg in a 120 ml bottle gives you under 1% CBD in the liquid. From getting ca 30 mg of CBD in just 10 drops, you will need over 70 drops from the 1000ml bottle. Over a period of time, you will consume a lot of unnecessary carrier oil.

On the lab results you will also see if it’s CBD or CBDA in the products.It will also show how many other cannabinoids can be found in the products. If a product only contains CBD or CBDA and no other cannabinoids, it’s most lightly form a single molecule CBD extraction. One study from Israel showed that single molecule CBD could serve what is referred to as a bell-shaped dose-response curve, meaning that when the amount of CBD exceeded a certain point its therapeutic impact declined dramatically. In other words, it may lose some of its effect after a while of use. This is one of the reason many seek a CBD oil with a broader spectrum of cannabinoids, as that will provide more of an Entourage Effect and the cannabinoids will work on the body at a more stable level over time.

Ethan Russo, M.D., a neurologist who has long studied cannabis compounds and their role in the body. In his study “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoidterpenoid entourage effects,” he details how cannabis compounds influence each other’s mechanisms. We aren’t just talking about the well-known THC-CBD tag team here – even small amounts of terpenes (fragrant oils that give cannabis its smell) can make a difference.

You could also ask the company if they have a terpene profile of their products, to search for the broadest spectrum product possible of both cannabinoids and terpenes. Maybe you are looking for any terpenes in particular you have read about as well to be a part the products you choose. Terpenes in their simplest definition are the aromatic oils that provide unique taste and smell of the cannabis plant (and other plants) that also have different benefits for us. So both several cannabinoids and terpenes should be available in your CBD product for the broadest spectrum possible and a good Entourage Effect. Many companies will use full spectrum as a part of their marketing and although that tells you it’s more than just CBD in the product, it does not tell you what cannabinoids and terpenes are actually in the product. No product will have all the cannabinoids and terpenes existing in them, they only have the cannabinoids and terpenes that came from the specific plant they used to make their extracts from. Different strains have different cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

Since each strain of all types of cannabis contains a certain combination of cannabinoids and terpenes, some strains are more popular for medical use and some for recreational use. The cannabis we have been cultivating for generations for recreational use has a lot more cannabinoids and terpenes than industrial hemp, since most of cannabinoids and terpenes are abundant in the flowers of the plant, which are used to smoke. Industrial hemp growers have trough history been focusing in the fiber of the plant, not the flower, when cultivating. So full spectrum just means you use all the cannabinoids you can get out of the plant and what survives the processing. It does not say how many cannabinoids and terpenes really are present in the finished product.

As some plants produce more cannabinodis and terpenes than others, the end result of the full spectrum extraction will differ from plant to plant. And different extraction methods will also have an effect on the end result of the extraction. So the full spectrum products do vary in content from each other and therefore you need to ask for the specific lab results of the product to be sure what is actually in the product you are looking at. If you contact a supplier and they can not easily provide you with a real lab test, as it should be with the item description, move on to the next company. A factor that is important for many, is how the plants being used for the CBD extractions are cultivated. Did the extract come from a crop that has been using toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Or has it been grown fully organic with only ecological pesticides and fertilizers?

When we are concentrating the whole plant material, it’s good to know that it has not been treated with much toxic chemicals during its growth. As the certifications for being ECO can be quite costly, many smaller companies will not have that. But that does not necessarily mean that they use any toxins in the production. So you can always send them a mail and ask if the raw material has been grown with or without artificial pesticides and fertilizers if there is no mention of that on their web pages. Another factor to your CBD product is the carrier oil used to dilute the CBD. A lot of CBD products have the taste of grass and have a dark green color to them, many find them hard to use due to the flavour. Also many pets seem to not be too keen on this flavour ad that can present a challenge when you are trying to feed it to them. CBD companies use different carrier oils to dilute their CBD extracts nowadays. In the beginning everything was made with olive oils, but most have gone away from that now due to different reasons. Now you can find CBD oils diluted with many types of carrier oils, and since you are taking more of the oil, than the actual cannabinoids, it’s good to know that the carrier oils used are also ecologic, clean and healthy oils with fats that are not damaging to the body in high concentrations. All companies should have a certificate on the quality of the carrier oils they use, as they normally don’t produce that themselves. A good carrier oil, like ecologic sesame seed oil, will also allow you to use the oil as a topical for the body, adding fast absorption into the skin. In ayurvedic medicine sesame oils are widely used and known as on of the best carrier oils to use. Which makes it great for rashes, psoriasis, muscular pain and such. To target the problem area directly. Some producers will also add the plants naturally occurring terpenes to the product to enhance the flavour. Like Shifa Oils, where plants from the crop are taken aside just to do steam distillation to get the terpenes from the plant. Then it’s added to the finished CBD extraction, as the extraction methods often kill a lot of the terpenes during the processing. This provides a broader full spectrum for the CBD product with both an abundance of cannabinoids and terpenes. Some companies add other natural flavourings or terpenes to their products to make them appeal more to the public. Some even use artificial flavourings. So this can also be good to ask a producer about if this is something you are interested in knowing. The good thing with going to CBD trade shows and such, is that this will give you a chance to taste the oils from the different vendors, so that you can be sure you like the product flavour before buying it. Ok, so you have now found a product you want to try, now what? How much should you take? Is there such thing as too much? Well that depends on what you are taking CBD oils for and how potent your product is. And if the cannabinoids occuring in the product are the ones your body needs. Normally it's recommended to take about 20-30 mg pr day. Preferably over 2 or 3 times a day. Depending on the strength of your CBD oil, that can be from a few drops, up til to a spoon a day. Some people feel energized from the CBD, so for them it can be smart to not take a dosage to close to bedtime. But rather in the afternoon, so the CBD has been in the system a few hours before bed time. But most people don’t have any problems sleeping even right after a CBD dosage, some even say they sleep better than ever and are really enjoying the benefits of a good night sleep on a daily basis. To find out how many drops you need from your product, you can use a CBD dosage calculator online.

You just write the amount of CBD in mg that is in the bottle and the size of the bottle and how many mg you want to take. Then the calculator will tell you how many drops you need to achieve the amount of CBD you are looking to get. For people with severe issues, it’s recommended to take even more CBD. Especially at first, to tackle the issue and then when it’s under control, they can reduce the dosage to maintain the results. Nowadays you can also get capsules or other edibles with a certain amount of CBD in each portion. Like the Dr.Nice Rebound Capsules that have 30 mg CBD in each capsule. Just take one capsule and you know you got 30 mg each time you eat it. Capsules and edibles can also be good for those that don’t like the flavor of oils. As there are many different flavours out there, some are better than others. And of course personal preference. Some people just don't like the taste of any oils, then capsules are a great option. Also for some people that are new to the natural way of approaching things, taking capsules is just more easy and convenient. Fore some people with spasms and such, taking drops can be a challenge. With capsules there is no mess, no oily stains on the clothes, just a pill and a glass of water. And the pill form is also a more accepted form of aid and not so unconventional This makes it easier for someone that might be a bit sceptic to all this new CBD information to give it a try. It’s important that there is an option for everybody. Products that have a broader spectrum of cannabinoids will probably help out people in general faster than a pure CBD isolate. The general rule is to try out one dosage for 14 days, if you feel the relief you were looking for, continue with that dosage. If you feel that after a while you are losing the effect of the product, it can be down to two things. You might have built up a tolerance and need more of the product to have the same effect or if possible take a few days off from the oil and start again. Or you have a product that has CBD only and you are experiencing the bell-shaped dose-response curve. If you did not get the effect you were hoping for after trying the oils for 14-30 days, with different dosages, we highly recommend you to try a different oil before giving up on CBD. As mentioned earlier, not all CBD products are equal. And sometimes, even with the best products, you might just need a bit of extra THC to get the results you are looking for, but due to the strict laws in many countries, CBD products are prohibited to raise the THC levels. Here in Spain people can easily combine the two privately, as we have associations that can help with getting you what you are looking for.

CBD Vape liquids, how about that?

There are many CBD vape liquids out there as well. As for the CBD oils, you also want to know the % of the CBD vape liquid and what the carrier liquid is. Most vape liquids are diluted with glycerine, but for many that can have a bit harsh effect on the throat over time. But there are some products that use liquid tasteless terpenes as a carrier too. With the vape oils you also have the different flavourings, some use only the plants natural terpenes, and some add other terpenes or artificial flavourings. So it’s smart to read up on all of that when it comes to buying CBD vape liquids as well. CBD Vape pens are great for bringing with you when you are out and about. They can provide great relief with stress, anxiety, spasms and even throat issues when using a good product. Many report quitting smoking cigarettes with the help of a CBD vape.

Can you take to much CBD?

Well not really, CBD and other cannabinoids are known to be non-toxic, with no known reported fatal overdose levels . But taking a lot when you might not need that much, is just gonna cost you more money unless you make the products yourself. People that need very high doses of CBD struggle with serious conditions. You can safely take 1000mg a day if needed.

How about using CBD for your pets?

CBD products are great for pets as well, and the dosage test periods are the same in them. All vertebrates and invertebrates have an endocannabinoid system, so most of our pets can benefit equally from CBD treatments like us and for the same issues. When calculating dosage for pets, we normally use the weight of the pets as a measurer. For every 5 kilo, you can give the pet 2-5 mg CBD, start out small and add more over time if needed. The dosage needed is also depending on the issue of your pet. Many old animals get good relief from their joint pains and so on with the use of a good CBD product.

Checklist before choosing your CBD supplier

1. What cannabinoids and terpenes are actually in the product? Only accept original lab report from a laboratory.

2. Are the crops grown ecologically?

3. What carrier oils do they use? What benefits do they have? Are they ecological?

4. Do you want tinctures, vape liquids or capsules/edibles?