CBD For Dummies

Blair Lauren Brown

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781119674801
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicina
• Subtopic: Medicina alternativa e complementare

An informative, easy-to-understand resource that unveils the mysteries of CBD

CBD has emerged as a popular health product, but what's all the fuss about? CBD For Dummies reveals the reasons for the surge in interest about cannabidiol (CBD) and explains how to buy and use this remarkable product safely and responsibly. In an accessible, no-nonsense manner, author Blair Lauren Brown lays out the facts about CBD and outlines the many health conditions that may be helped by using CBD oil.

This book covers topics that people new to CBD have questions about. Highlights include:

• What CBD oil is and how it works in the body
• How to buy CBD from a reputable source and understanding a product's potency
• Knowing what conditions can be eased with CBD, including muscle pain, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, eating disorders, mental health disorders, and neurological conditions
• Preparing your own CBD edibles

Perfect for anyone interested in understanding the therapeutic potential of CBD, CBD For Dummies introduces you to everything you need to know about this cool compound.

Part 1

Looking into CBD

IN THIS PART …

• Beef up your CBD knowledge, vocabulary, and technique.
• Define CBD and become familiar with the different parts of the hemp plant.
• Dig into the four pillars of CBD relief and the pros and cons of CBD supplementation.
• Investigate the different layers of CBD extraction and the different products it can yield.

Chapter 1

Updating Attitudes toward Cannabis and CBD

IN THIS CHAPTER

Separating CBD fact from fiction

Trying out a couple of treatment methods

Recognizing some of CBD’s medical benefits

Understanding the history and future of CBD laws and acceptance

CBD is one of hundreds of naturally occurring chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. Because that plant has long had a sordid history in the Western world, CBD carries a perception of danger and illicit behavior. The reality is that CBD offers many potential therapeutic benefits in and of itself without the inebriating, or “high,” effects that give cannabis its reputation.

The everyday consumer and even some of the canna-curious find themselves butting up against myths that are a function of the times. In this chapter, I unpack the differences between the different types of cannabis and how CBD got its (not entirely fair) reputation. I also delve into its practical uses and medical benefits, as well as legality issues surrounding CBD. After reading this chapter, you’ll become a pro at separating CBD rumors from realities. (For a deeper dive into what CBD actually is, flip to Chapter 2.)

Debunking Myths about CBD

The list of rumors and myths about CBD is long because the cannabis plant is new in Western applications and the research is young. You may have heard that CBD is illegal because it comes from the cannabis plant. Or perhaps you’ve heard that it comes from hemp, but you’re only familiar with hemp as a source of fabric. You may have heard that CBD is a snake oil, made popular only by the placebo effect. On the other hand, maybe you’ve been told that CBD really can cure it all.

Table 1-1 provides a quick overview of some common myths surrounding CBD as well as the actual facts. In the following sections, I talk about some of these myths in more detail.

TABLE 1-1 Separating Common CBD Fact from Fiction

Fiction	Fact
CBD is a Schedule 1 narcotic drug, so there is no research.	Formal, government-sanctioned research, as well as a host of anecdotal evidence, does exist. It is also “descheduled.”
CBD is snake oil and a scam.	CBD has plenty of legitimate applications.
CBD as an industry is chock-full of discrepancies and is thus unsafe.	CBD hasn’t been shown to physically harm anyone.
CBD can cure anything.	CBD has been shown to help some conditions; like anything, results vary.

CURE: A LOADED WORD

The myth of all myths is that CBD can cure anything. Cure is a word you don’t often hear in any kind of medicine because it implies that whatever caused the symptoms is no longer there. That’s a hard threshold to reach. Results inevitably vary from body to body, so claiming a cure is difficult. Anecdotal evidence and the FDA’s new approved CBD anti-seizure medicine, Epidiolex, indicate that CBD has provided a lot of relief to a diverse group of people. And as a recognized figure in the space, I have heard of plenty of successful applications of CBD across individuals and with companies developing products.

Understanding where some of the uncertainty about CBD comes from

The CBD molecule is found largely in the cannabis plant. However, new evidence suggests that it also appears in an invasive species of pine tree. Early research suggests that many plants contain a host of other molecules that mimic the functions and properties of CBD.

From a federal standpoint, cannabis containing THC is illegal. Hemp cannabis, which contains 0.3 percent or less THC content by dry weight, has been allowed for use with various FDA disclaimers on use practices. CBD is derived from hemp cannabis. (Head to the later section “Looking at the Legality Surrounding CBD” for more on legal specifics.)

CBD used to be lumped in with THC-dominant cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic drug. Because of that classification, research was limited to federal institutions (or abroad) — no private studies. So much of the existing research available is limited to the interests of the federal government; relevant information isn’t very accessible, leading to the widespread fear that CBD is unsafe.

CBD was actually isolated and discovered as far back as 1940.

The declassification of hemp cannabis cleared the way for the allowance of CBD in products. Retailers clamored to get their hands on the new “it-girl” ingredient. This frenzy incited a rush to the marketplace with everything from tinctures and balms to CBD-infused pillows. Little regulation on the natural and supplement market in the United States meant few barriers to entry.

As knowledge of CBD’s uses as a supplement grew, companies began churning out long lists of claims about its supposed benefits: pain relief, better sleep, reduction of wrinkles, cell turnover — the list goes on. Some of these claims were merely that — claims. Some were and are based on private studies and years of experience. Ultimately, some CBD products may be scams; as with any new industry, companies with little integrity try to make a quick buck.

But it’s not all smoke and mirrors. CBD has lots of legitimate uses as natural medicine. Interestingly enough, the United States even holds patents (almost 40, in fact) on cannabis. One of the most acknowledged and talked about is on cannabis as a neuroprotective as well as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agent.

HOLDING CBD PRODUCTS TO A HIGHER (DOUBLE) STANDARD

Consumers today are more knowledgeable and empowered in their ingredient knowledge than ever, but they don’t necessarily hold all plant-derived ingredients to the same standard. Take tea tree oil. It first came to the Western product market as an antibacterial; soon, it was in everything from soaps to toothpaste to honey. People took it at face value and consumed it in abundance. Now compare that approach to the hoops consumers want CBD products to jump through. They want to look at certificates of analysis (COAs) and know the location of the farm. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know exactly where the tea tree in my toothpaste comes from, and I’m an over-the-top kind of principled buyer of products. Most consumers didn’t even know what a COA was before the cannabis market opened up. The difference? Tea tree oil doesn’t come with the stigma of having been classified as an illicit substance.

CBD is not a cure-all, but neutralizes many difficult symptoms

The early phases of CBD in the consumer marketplace have led to a host of one-size-fits-all forms of CBD. The most common offering is full-spectrum tinctures. Other varieties include capsules, powders, balms, and salves. Some companies are creating very targeted ingredients with CBD, and still others are creating products with CBD and other ingredients designed to address specific conditions.

Research and anecdotal evidence for the many uses of CBD continues to expand. Broad applications showed success in inflammatory relief, and evidence indicates CBD can address topical conditions like eczema, scarring, and acne. Now researchers are testing extra functions such as antimicrobial and antifungal qualities.

More than 50 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain, sleep, and anxiety conditions, and CBD can help there as well. The reported internal benefits of CBD range from help with chronic and acute pain to stress reduction and relief from depression and sleeplessness. Other applications include gut health, mental fog, arthritis, exercise fatigue, and more. The formal medical uses are limited because of CBD’s novelty, but they’re showing incredible promise.

The most significant medical applications to date are related to epilepsy and seizures. A pharmaceutical company created the drug Epidiolex, which is designed to treat a severe seizure condition and has been proven to limit the severity, duration, and frequency of condition-related seizures. Researchers are exploring other pharmaceutical uses in more depth, including a host of neurological conditions that have stumped the drug industry and healthcare professionals for generations.

If you don’t know what you’re treating, quantifying results is hard. In Chapter 7, I cover how to know the difference in form, ingredient, and condition to ensure CBD produc...