Author: Tracey McAlpine Category: Health, Supplements & Vitamins
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Dr Sarah Brewer explains about CDB Oil and its benefits

There’s been a great deal of hype around cannabis oil recently and I’ve had numerous conversations about its benefits, but there still seems to be a great deal of confusion around the different types of Cannabis Oil, and how it may help.  I’ve asked Dr Sarah Brewer to answer a few questions and to explain the latest findings.

Are hemp and marijuana the same plant?

The ‘hemp’ plant and the ‘marijuana’ plant are both types of cannabis. Confused?  What makes them completely different is their ingredients – specifically ‘CBD’ and ‘THC’.  ‘CBD’ (otherwise known as cannabidiol) is a natural extract of the hemp plant that’s non-intoxicating and void of any psychoactive inducing properties.  It’s also the ingredient that’s been widely researched in the States for its health benefits.  ‘THC’, that is plenteous in the marijuana plant, is responsible for the so called ‘high’ that’s associated with cannabis.
 
Unlike marijuana plants, industrial hemp – despite being a plant from the cannabis family – does not contain detectable levels of the psychoactive substance, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and is legal to take.  Cannabidiol is increasingly used as an herbal supplement to promote general feelings of well-being.

How does Cannabidiol (CBD Oil) work?

Cannabidiol oil has direct effects on the brain to reduce pain perception, relieve anxiety and stress, improve sleep and lift mood.  The way it does this – though – is completely natural, and extremely clever.  CBD enhances the effects of other brain chemicals like serotonin (often descried as the happiness hormone) without stimulating the parts of your brain that marijuana would because of its THC contents.
 
Cannabidiol extracts from industrial hemp plants provide health benefits without causing a ‘high’ and are, unequivocally, not addictive.

What are the benefits of taking CDB Oil?

 

CDB Oil

Joint Pain

One of the biggest motivators for taking CBD oil is for help with muscle and joint pain –  problems that, if left untreated, can greatly affect your quality of life.  Although there are plenty of other remedies for joint pain, people often assume they cannot continue with hobbies that benefit their mental and physical health, like walking or running.  Exercise is actually beneficial for maintaining joint flexibility, building muscle strength and supporting the oiling and regeneration of joint cartilage. Unfortunately, getting going when you’re struggling against joint pain can leave you unmotivated.
 
CBD hemp extracts are antioxidant and have anti-inflammatory effect on joints, to help improve pain and stiffness.  They also have pain-relieving effects due to their interaction with certain parts of the brain.  You can take CBD oil capsules in addition to other joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric or omega-3 for additional pain relief.  

Anxiety

Anxiety is an increasing problem in modern life.  Whether it’s associated with an addiction to social media that encourages young people to compare themselves to others on a daily basis, or down to the pressures of modern life such as finding the perfect work/life balance.  There’s no escaping the 8.2 million cases of anxiety that were reported in 2013 (and that statistic has likely risen by now).
 
“Cannabidiol helps to reduce muscle tension, restlessness and fatigue.  In a study involving people with social anxiety, taking CBD supplements before a public speaking engagement reduced anxiety, muddled thoughts, social discomfort and anticipatory anxiety significantly more than placebo.  CBD may also help with the anxiety that can occur when stopping smoking”, says Dr Sarah. 

Panic Attacks

“Cannabidiol is being investigated as a promising treatment for panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder”, says Dr Sarah.  Post-traumatic stress is a result of a stressful event that is outside the realms of normal human experience and is otherwise known as PTSD.

Sleep

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular treatment for insomnia and promotes refreshing REM sleep to help reduce excessive daytime sleepiness.  CBD is particularly helpful for sleep disorders in people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease”, says Dr Sarah.
 
REM sleep means Rapid Eye Movement and is essentially a term for deep sleep, when you dream you experience REM sleep and this is the kind of sleep you hope to get into nightly! Only recently has it become clear that our circadian rhythms, internal body clocks that control the times of day you feel sleepy or wakeful, have a huge impact on the entirety of our health, as opposed to just the low energy levels you might experience after a bad night’s sleep.

General Well-Being

Dr Sarah says, “CBD oil helps to lift mood and promotes general feelings of well-being, which often suffer in a world of hectic social and work schedules”.
 
We were talking about a rise in anxiety and stress has seen a rise in recent years, too.  The Mental Health Foundation states, ‘Research shows around 12 million adults in the UK see their GP with mental health problems each year. Most of these suffer from anxiety and depression and much of this is stress-related.  13.3 million working days are lost per year due to stress’.
 
“While CBD oil is by no means a cure for any form of stress, anxiety or depression, it can assist with symptoms and provide support to improve mood and wellbeing”, says Dr Sarah.

How to choose the right CBD Oil  

There are a number of ways to take CBD Oil, e.g. in a dropper form which is distasteful or in a new supplement which Healthspan the UK’s online vitamin and wellness brand has just bought to market.  What is extremely important is to purchase it from a reputable supplier such as Healthspan whose products I’ve know from years of working with them adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice which means all the products are traceable and made to a very high standard.
 
Healthspan CBD Oil is made from 100% natural, EU whole, organic hemp plants, grown legally under license and cultivated without the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides or herbicides.  The oil is gently extracted from the plant using non-toxic CO2, which is a pure extraction process that harnesses the full phytocomplex present in the hemp plant.  It is then purified and independently batch tested, resulting in a high-quality oil with top levels of CBD and no impurities or THC (tetrahydrocannabinol the psychoactive element) to ensure they are non-GMO and certified free of psychoactive ingredients.

Available in two strengths, a High Strength CBD Oil 6.4mg capsules containing a total of (30 capsules) 192mg and (60 capsules) 384mg CBD oil per pack.  A Higher Strength CBD Oil is available in either (30 capsules) 450mg to (60 capsules) 900mg.  The recommendation is to start low and slow, the lowest dose, then build it up and find the right dosage to suit your needs.  A typical dose for a high strength CBD oil is 6.4mg per capsule, taken one to three times daily and a typical dose for a Super Strength CBD oil is 15mg per capsule, taken once or twice daily and only suitable for those over 18 years. 

Healthspan High Strength CBD Oil* – 30 capsules 192mg £13.95
Healthspan High Strength CBD Oil* –  60 capsules  384mg £26.95

*Affiliate link