CBD Hemp Oil / What's it all about?
Information
here from an article in Men’s Journal by Gordy Megroz
CBD is an acronym. It stands for cannabidiol, a chemical
compound that can be extracted from Marijuana and Hemp plants, two kinds
of Cannabis.
WILL IT GET YOU HIGH?
No. Unlike Marijuana CBD is a non-psychoactive compound
found in Hemp Cannabis and is said to cure just about anything, from pain to
depression to insomnia. CBD is being added to just about everything now:
tinctures, salves, lip balms, toothpicks, skin creams, lotions and yes Shampoos
and Conditioners. Last year, CBD sales in the U.S. surpassed $600 million. And
is estimated by 2022 will hit 20 billion.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
How it interacts with the human brain and body is a bit of
a mystery. One theory is that CBD increases the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter
that influences a host of human functions including mood, appetite, and pain. Another
possibility is that CBD helps regulate inflammation, a culprit in hundreds of diseases.
Whatever the mechanism, CBD does seem to help relieve certain ailments.
WHY IS IT SHOWING UP EVERYWHERE?
Until 2018 Cannabis, along with heroin and other drugs was illegal
to produce use or sell. But last December, President Trump signed a bill
legalizing industrial Hemp farming. The new law allowed for the nationwide sale
of CBD extracted from Hemp, as long as it contained less than 0.3 percent THC. As
a result, within months, CBD products appeared on shelves in CVS, Walgreens,
Rite-Aid, Nordstrom and GNC, as well as on hundreds of online retailers. Even
Carl’s Jr., the fast-food chain, sold a CBD-infused burger. And celebrity endorsements
have made CBD infused cosmetic wildly popular.
IS CBD SAFE?
Good question. Because
cannabis was banned for so long, CBD extract hasn’t undergone enough testing to
know if taking it regularly might be good for you or bad. “There is no data on
toxicity when ingested over a long period of time,” says Danial
Piomelli, director of the University of California Irvine for the study of Cannabis.
Studies show that it takes between 600 milligrams to a gram
of CBD to have any biological effect. Beauty aids applied in a cream,
lotion or oil has been shown to be helpful in relieving sore muscles and skin
conditions when used daily. Another concern is quality control. Hemp farmers often
use pesticides. Colorado is one of a few states with firm quality-control
guidelines. (If you do buy CBD products, look for the label from the Hemp Authority
showing that it complies with strict guidelines.)
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CBD?
Much of the CBD hype is based entirely on anecdotes –
people say it helps to overcome insomnia, clearing up their acne, and even managing
their pain. None of this is rooted in science yet, but you’ll have a hard time
convincing people otherwise.
Nearly 100 clinical trials are currently underway,
including an in-depth look at how CBD affects pain control when applied
topically and ingested. The FDA is considering whether to approve CBD as a dietary
supplement and food additive. And because of the money to be made with CBD many
pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers have the motivation to do favorable
research.
