Susannah Taylor: The lowdown on CBD, nature's little helper
Cannabis-derived CBD products are everywhere these days. From balms to patches, tinctures to face creams, the choice is baffling, so I spoke to some experts to bring you the basics…
Styling: Sairey Stemp. Dress, Wyse. Boots, Hobbs
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active derivative of the hemp plant which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. There are over 100 powerful naturally occurring antioxidant compounds in the hemp plant. CBD is said to be the superstar of them all.
Is it legal?
Yes, because it is the non-psychoactive part of the hemp plant. Think of it as a supercharged botanical.
Will I get high?
The biggest misconception of CBD is that it will get you stoned or addicted. To be clear, CBD is not marijuana, which contains the psychoactive component THC (tetrahydrocannabidinol) and is the one you need to avoid.
What conditions can CBD help with?
There are cbd gummies federally legal many human research studies on the beneficial effects of CBD for anxiety conditions. Many people say it helps with insomnia and relieving stress, but it has also been suggested that it may aid appetite regulation, the digestive system, motor skills, pain and pleasure, immune function, temperature, mood and memory. Others find that CBD relieves headaches and period cramps. Used topically, it can ease inflammation, which is why sports brands use it in muscle balms. A good friend who has terrible arthritis in her fingers says it is the only thing that eases the pain.
What does ‘mg’ mean on the packaging?
The ‘mg’ is an abbreviation of milligrams, which is how CBD is measured. So the mg on the front of your product represents the amount of CBD in it, which can be anything from 10mg pills to 2,500mg for a bottle of drops. Lucy Stride of CBD brand The Mindful Muscle says, ‘Brands often bamboozle customers by selling different-sized bottles with varying strengths and prices, leaving customers unsure just how much benefit they will be getting for their money. I believe 1,500mg in a 30ml bottle is the sweet spot.’ In other words, 50mg of CBD per 1ml is a strength she recommends.
How much is safe to take?
The Food Standards Agency says you can ingest up to 70mg of CBD per day. Kim Smith, director of CBD brand Kloris, says, ‘Anything in the region of 15mg per dose is helpful to most people. This can be in different formats and multiple doses throughout the day.’
What does ‘broad spectrum’ mean?
You’ll see these words on some CBD products, especially ingestible ones. They mean the CBD retains natural chemicals from the plant such as cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes which some believe will maximise the product’s effectiveness. Other brands use the term ‘CBD isolate’, which is CBD in its purest form with all other chemicals removed.
What is the best way to take CBD?
According to many experts, sublingually (under the tongue). Lucy Stride says: ‘When liquids are placed under the tongue, they cross the thin membrane and enter yo