CBD or cannabidiol has been used for medicinal purposes for decades, and in recent times it has been rapidly growing in popularity, particularly within the UK. On 31st March 2021 however, the CBD market will be drastically changing in the UK, upon the advent of new guidelines from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). Come April 1st 2021, these new guidelines will mean that any ingestible CBD product in the UK must be covered by a valid novel foods application. This application can indeed be incredibly costly and complex to acquire, resulting in many smaller companies being left with an inventory of illegal products. Conversely, this does offer a specific opportunity for those companies who are totally committed to adhering to food safety standards criteria, as outlined by the FSA. With the CBD market expected to be worth £1 billion by 2025, it is expected that a host of CBD companies will be frantically scrabbling around at the start of 2021 in order to ensure they are compliant with the new standards.
From a more general standpoint, CBD’s use has increased dramatically for therapeutic purposes over the last few years. A growing body of research supports the arguments in favour of CBD as researchers have found that CBD can help treat a varied and increasing number of ailments and diseases. This article will explain some basic about CBD and clarify to readers how CBD capsules specifically can improve your quality of life.
What is CBD
CBD or cannabidiol is a substance derived from cannabis or hemp that is among more than 100 phytocannabinoids found in cannabis. CBD is considered a close cousin of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, another substance derived from cannabis that is known for providing the “high” that one experiences after smoking or consuming cannabis.
Fortunately, CBD does not have any intoxicating effect, as is the case with THC, and is entirely safe to use. Indeed, several jurisdictions including the UK have stringent legal regulations in place that specify that the CBD used in CBD oils, CBD capsules, CBD creams, and CBD tinctures is derived only from cannabis strains that have low extremely low THC content to minimize any chance of intoxication.
UK laws state that CBD can be derived only from those strains of cannabis that have less than 0.2% of THC content and anything above this limit will be deemed illegal and could not be sold in the UK.
Benefits of CBD
CBD has been used for various medicinal and therapeutic purposes for decades, and it is a well-known fact that CBD can help with several health issues and conditions. So, now let us have a look at some of the main benefits of CBD.
Acne
Acne is usually caused due to inflammation, and due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD is perfect for treating acne and other similar skin conditions. Indeed, CBD has been used to treat various skin conditions over the years, such as acne, psoriasis, and other itchy skin conditions. A study published in 2014 by Attila, Balász, Istvan et al, investigated the effect of CBD on human sebocytes that are specialized cells whose function is to secrete sebum. An excess of sebum is the main reason of acne outbreak. Like many others, this study’s conclusion was positive, and research unanimously agrees that CBD can help with excess oil build up in the skin and thus prevent acne outbreaks.
Insomnia
CBD is known to have a soothing effect on our nervous system, and due to this, it can be used as a sleeping aid. Unlike other sleeping tablets, CBD is entirely natural and is not known to cause any side effect as is often the case with other sleeping pills.
Painkilling Properties
CBD is also an excellent choice for reducing pain as it is known to have painkilling properties due to its interactions with the human nervous system. If you suffer from chronic pain due to a particular health condition, then CBD can help you relieve the pain and improve your quality of life.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are two conditions where researchers have high hopes of finding a treatment using CBD. Several studies have investigated the effect of CBD on patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
CBD binds with CB1 and CB2 receptors that play an essential role in our endocannabinoid system and helps regulate the level of serotonin in our body and brain. For those who are not aware, serotonin is a chemical compound in our brain, that plays a vital role in happiness, anxiety, and overall mental health. Persons suffering from depression are known to have low serotonin levels, and CBD is known to increase serotonin production. Several studies such as Crippa, Derenusson, Ferrari et al (2010) and Bitencourt and Takahashi (2018) one have analysed the role of CBD in helping people suffering from a wide variety of mental issues, and the conclusion is generally positive and most medical practitioners nowadays believe that CBD can help people suffering from anxiety.
Lower Blood Pressure
Jadoon, Tan and O’Sullivan (2017) found that a single CBD dose is enough to lower blood pressure levels in healthy participants. Other similar studies have also suggested that CBD can help lower blood pressure levels and can be a lifesaver to those suffering from high blood pressures or hypertension. This condition is known to cause millions of deaths each year as hypertension is considered a precursor of heart disease and other fatal ailments.
Help Treat Cancer
Due to its pain-relieving properties, CBD has also been touted as an ideal drug for someone who suffers from chronic pain caused by various cancers. Although there are no studies to back the claim of CBD being a cancer treatment, there is some preliminary evidence to suggest that CBD can help relieve the pain associated with cancer.
Why choose CBD capsules?
A question oft asked by consumers and potential consumers of CBD is ‘why choose CBD capsules?’. Ultimately, there is no black and white answer to this and it is entirely dependent on the individual. There are so many delivery methods that are coming to light in recent years and so many in the pipeline, that is impossible to make a blanket claim for which is the ‘best delivery method’. It is very much down to the individual.
Although the bioavailability of CBD capsules is slightly less than that of sublingual CBD oil, there are many other reasons why one may choose capsules over oils.
For starters, the main reason is likely convenience. Being a simple capsule, this can easily be incorporated into your daily routine – much like any other daily supplement. CBD capsules are also far more portable than CBD oil. This makes them more convenient for anyone who lives life on-the-go. There is also the absence of worrying about your bottle leaking and staining everything within its vicinity – as has been the case for many users of sublingual CBD oil in tincture form!
Taste can also play a part in the decision-making process when it comes to deciding whether to purchase CBD capsules or sublingual CBD oil. Many people tend to dislike the earthy flavours that inevitably come with CBD oils, whereas CBD capsules are more often than not taste free. Additionally, dosing can be far easier when using CBD capsules. This is because it is clearly advertised how much CBD is in each capsule and this will be a strictly controlled amount. On the contrary, dosage of CBD oil is very much down to the user themselves, as you control how many drops and the size of the drops that you place under your tongue. This can often be problematic – especially without the aid of a mirror!
Conclusion
CBD has been used for treating various ailments and health conditions for decades. Due to its increased popularity, more and more studies are being conducted to see if it can have other benefits for human health. While it may not be the silver bullet for every disease, there is conclusive evidence that CBD can help with minor conditions such as insomnia, pain, anxiety, hypertension, and acne. There are also huge amounts of anecdotal evidence that can be used to spark further medical research. This research will allow companies to create more efficient and more effective CBD products in the future.
Most of us face at least a few of the conditions listed in this article at least once during our life. In contrast, some conditions such as acne, insomnia, anxiety affect millions due to our lifestyles today. CBD can be an excellent alternative to other medicines for these conditions. It is 100% natural and does not have any major known side effects if used in the right quantity. It is very important to note before we finish, that it is imperative to check the lab reports before buying any CBD product. Any self-respecting CBD company will have lab reports that clearly outline exactly what is in each product that they are selling. Take special caution to note the absence of heavy metals, fungus, pesticides, bacteria and other residual solvents!
