What Does CBD Do?

Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is one of over 100 compounds found naturally in the Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica (marijuana) plants.

Unlike its popular sibling, THC, which is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, CBD does not cause a ‘high’. Research links THC to increased anxiety, paranoia, and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile for CBD, studies show that it may work to counteract the negative effects of high doses of THC.

CBD is very popular in recent years due to its potential health benefits. Scientific research suggests that CBD may provide a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals in the treatment of a range of health conditions. In particular, CBD research suggests it can play a role in reduced anxiety, pain relief, improved sleep, and reduced risk of heart disease.

You can take CBD in a variety of forms, including oil, gummies, capsules, creams, and sprays. Another common way to take CBD is through edibles. It’s easy to do, and you can add it to your favourite recipes for brownies, cakes, cookies, and lollies.

There are three forms of CBD – full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD as it contains no other cannabis plant compounds. Full spectrum CBD is an extract that contains other compounds from the cannabis plant. For example, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and up to 0.3% THC. Broad spectrum CBD may contain several other cannabinoids but does not contain any THC.

What is CBD Oil?

The cannabis and hemp plants contain CBD, which is the original source to make CBD oil. A lab extracts the plant compounds and dilutes it in a carrier solution, such as hemp seed oil or coconut oil. Then, the lab pours this golden liquid of CBD and carrier oil into darkened bottles with a dropper. We call these tinctures. The most common size is CBD oil in 30 ml bottles.

CBD is available in a variety of strengths to suit people’s personal needs. The stronger the dose, the more powerful the effects of the compound will be. The most common concentrations of CBD oil in the UK are 300 mg, 600 mg, 1000 mg, and 3000 mg, or even 6000 mg CBD oil. But, you can get other options depending on where you shop for your CBD in the UK.

Note that it’s important not to confuse the different dosages of CBD. Generally, dosages lie between 5 mg to 25 mg. It can get tricky trying to figure out what the correct dosage of CBD in the UK is for you. If you’re stuck, this online CBD dosage calculator will help you out!

Despite what many people believe, CBD is not the same as hemp. Hemp and cannabis plants are very similar, but CBD is an extract from these plants. When it comes to hemp seed oil, there is usually only trace levels of CBD unless there is added CBD extract. This is because CBD is only found in the leaves, flowers, and stems.

What are CBD gummies?

Instead of taking CBD oil from a dropper each day, there are other options. One very popular one is to take CBD gummies. We recently reviewed the top five CBD gummies in the UK, too. They are easy to dose, and you can bring them with you anywhere and take on the go. And even better, CBD gummies taste delicious too! It’s a very good alternative to a tincture or a capsule.

What is CBD Oil Used For?

The exact mechanism by which CBD acts on the body is currently unknown by scientists. But some exciting studies show that CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system in the body and this is how it exerts its effects.

The human body produces natural endocannabinoids, which are molecules that bind to certain receptors on the cell membranes. They may help to relieve pain, boost immunity, enhance memory, and enhance mood. CBD could bind to the same receptors as the body’s natural endocannabinoids and cause similar effects.

CBD is used to treat a range of different conditions, including the following:

• Anxiety and depression
• Chronic pain
• Drug addiction
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Insomnia or troubles with sleep
• Muscle spasms
• Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease
• Skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis

What are the potential benefits of CBD oil?

There are many potential health benefits of CBD oil. Here are the most common ones which have supporting scientific research.

#1 Reduced Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are two very common mental health conditions. They can severely impair people’s quality of life.

Doctors often prescribe a range of medications to treat these conditions, including SSRIs, beta blockers, and benzodiazepines. However, none are natural.

These medications can also bring a lot of negative side effects. Examples include insomnia, fatigue, headaches, and low libido. However, CBD shows promising results in a number of human and animal studies as being a natural option to reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The research community widely recognises CBD oil for its anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects and these benefits are seen at a range of doses. They act as an agonist to the natural endocannabinoids in the body, which causes the same anxiety-relieving and mood-lifting effects as neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

If taken in very high doses, CBD can over activate your endocannabinoid system, causing the opposite effects.

#2 Reduced Pain

Throughout history marijuana is surprisingly common. However, it’s only recently that CBD could be one of the main compounds responsible for the pain-relieving effects of the plant.

One of the main functions of the body’s endocannabinoid system is pain regulation. When CBD binds to the endocannabinoid receptors in your nervous system, it can reduce pain signals. Scientists believe that CBD interacts with the glycine receptors in your brain, which function to speed up the transmission of nerve impulses.

The pain-relieving effects of CBD may be attributed to its ability to reduce inflammation in the body and increase the body’s natural pain-killing neurotransmitters. Because CBD can reduce pain across the whole body, it can be beneficial in treating both chronic and acute pains.

Animal models show that CBD oil could reduce sciatic nerve pain, inflammation, and pain around surgical incisions. Human studies also confirm that a combination of CBD and THC may be effective in the treatment pain associated with arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS).

#3 Better Heart Health

Regular use of CBD oil can offer better cardiovascular health. It can reduce blood pressure and improve stroke volume, which is the volume of blood pumped out of the heart during systolic contraction in a heartbeat. In turn, it can lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome.

The ability of CBD to reduce blood pressure may partly be due to its anxiolytic and stress-reducing effects, as well as its ability to decrease inflammation in the body.

#4 Improved Acne

Acne is a skin disorder that affects around 9% of the population worldwide. A lot of different factors can cause it, including hormones, bacteria, inflammation, and genetics. Over-production of sebum in the skin may also be the cause. Sebum is an oily substance that glands in the skin produces.

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil, it may help to treat acne and reduce sebum production. Scientists believe that CBD can reduce inflammation in the skin by decreasing the amounts of proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines.

#5 Neuroprotective Effects

The endocannabinoid system may have a role in regulating nerve signalling. Since CBD acts on this system when it enters the body, it may help to protect the neurons in the brain.

Another one of the widely recognised benefits of CBD oil is its ability to reduce seizures in epileptic children. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, a CBD oral solution that children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome take. These are two rare forms of epilepsy. There is little evidence to confirm the benefits of CBD for other forms of epilepsy.

A combination of CBD and THC can also decrease muscle spasms by 75% in people with MS. This included those whose muscle spasticity was resistant to usual MS medications.

CBD oil can offer other promising results in reducing neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. It seems to do this by reducing inflammation in the brain.

For individuals with Parkinson’s, the benefits of CBD oil include improved sleep, reduced tremors, and enhanced quality of life.

#6 Alleviation of Cancer-Related Symptoms

In some parts of the world, cancer treatments are exploring the addition of CBD. This is to relieve some of the common side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including pain, nausea, and vomiting.

A combo of CBD and THC may reduce these effects in cancer patients whose other pain medications were not effective. It can also reduce some of the anxiety caused by cancer and cancer treatments. The CBD is in the form of a mouth spray to reduce nausea and vomiting during long-term chemotherapy treatment.

CBD oil has some very early signs of bringing anti-cancer effects in the body. Studies show that CBD induced death of human breast cancer cells and may reduce the spread of breast cancer cells in mice.

Where Can You Get CBD Oil?

Here at GreenBox, we specialise in high-quality health and well-being products.

If you need to buy  CBD in the UK, we’re the brand for you! We have a huge range of CBD oils in a variety of dosages and flavours so you can find the perfect option for your needs and preferences!