For many people who are struggling with pain, CBD oil is a familiar product. CBD or cannabidiol is obtained from the cannabis plant. Hemp-derived CBD oils are a natural approach to treat common pain conditions like back pain, arthritis, and inflammation. The low content of THC makes it non-psychoactive, which means it will not make you high.
How Does CBD Work?
The human body has a regulating system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that regulates different bodily functions such as our sleep, appetite, pain, and immune system response. The body produces endocannabinoids, similar to cannabinoids. The function of these molecules is to help bodily functions run smoothly.
These Endocannabinoids bind to the Endocannabinoid receptors. CBD attaches to the Endocannabinoid receptors on entering the body, just like endocannabinoids, and affects the body and mind. This way, it helps reduce chronic pain and inflammation. Some of the conditions where CBD oil is beneficial are:
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Neuropathic pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Low back pain
- Multiple sclerosis pain
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
If you want to get the most out of CBD oil, you should buy a quality-tested product from a reliable source. But many people tend to ignore some basic things. Here is a list of common mistakes that you should avoid when buying CBD oils.
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying CBD Oils for Pain Relief
Going For Cheap Varieties
It’s not at all difficult to find affordable CBD oils. But the question is, are they good in quality? You should know that there is a reason why they are cheap. It’s because they use low-quality ingredients and have lower CBD content than claimed.
Good quality CBD oils are expensive because of the extraction method used in their manufacturing. CO2 extraction is considered the best way to produce a potent, pure and safe CBD oil. But it’s relatively expensive, so many manufacturers use cheaper alternatives like olive oil extraction, dry ice extraction, and solvent-based extraction.
Olive oil and dry ice are rather economical, but the quality of the CBD is pretty low. Solvent-based extraction uses butane and hexane chemicals, so the oil extracted is inferior in quality and unsafe for use.
Not Checking the Hemp Source
If your previous experience of tasting hemp was terrible, then it’s probably due to the low-quality hemp used in it. A poorly grown hemp can contain toxic ingredients such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, solvents, mold, or fungus. So, it’s necessary to pay attention to the source of the hemp in your product.
Hemp is a bio-accumulator that means it absorbs everything present in the soil. So, if it’s grown using harmful pesticides or chemicals in poor-quality soil, then the hemp will also be toxic and low-quality. European and American hemp are organically grown and are considered the best for high-quality CBD oil.
A third-party lab report on the product website will help you know whether it has cleared all the quality parameters or not.
Not Doing Research About CBD Oils
Many people who buy CBD oil have no idea that there are different qualities and types available. CBD is popular due to its psychoactive properties, meaning you will not get high after taking it. But, you probably don’t know that it can make you high if derived from the marijuana plant.
Hemp-based CBD oils have a lower THC, less than 0.3%, due to which they don’t have any intoxicating effects. So, it’s essential to check if your CBD oil is derived from hemp or marijuana. You should also check the THC content.
You must have noticed some oils being sold under categories like Isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum. Many people mistake isolate CBD oil as the purest as it has no THC and additional compounds. But this is not true. Isolate is cheaper than other variants, but it is less effective than the full and spectrum oils.
Full-spectrum oil consists of all the natural compounds present in the hemp plant. These compounds work together to give a more potent product. It contains 0.3% THC, which is the recommended level. However, if you want the same benefits of full-spectrum without THC, you can go for broad-spectrum oil. It contains almost all compounds present in the Full spectrum except the THC.
Finally, when you buy CBD oils, it’s necessary to be realistic in your expectations. You have to understand that it is not a magic potion that will cure all your problems in one go. It is like a supplement that will help reduce your pain gradually. Many studies have supported its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation if taken over a period.
So, you have to be patient with the results. It will not provide instant relief from your pain but definitely help you manage it effectively. Don’t go overboard taking higher doses in the beginning. Allow your body to get used to it, and then increase the dosage.