Ultimate Guide to CBD Products

Ultimate Guide To CBD Products

Say “CBD” and you can bet that someone will tell you what CBD they currently use.

Search for CBD products online or in a physical store and you’ll find a dizzying range, with everything from pet products to coffee and tea.

Why the hype about CBD?

If you’re new to the CBD buzz, you might wonder why CBD is so popular. CBD, or cannabinoids, isn’t just a trend – these compounds are considered to be filled with many health benefits.

Even athletes and celebrities are putting their names to CBD products and swearing that they work.

Maybe you’re interested in trying some yourself, but you’re just not sure where to find the right products or which ones are best to use.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our ultimate guide to some of the most popular CBD products.

Contents

CBD Oil

CBD Oil

CBD oil, otherwise known as cannabidiol, is a popular CBD that’s been getting a lot of attention lately for its health benefits.

Currently, researchers are looking into how CBD oil can be used to treat conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease, since CBD oil is said to reduce inflammation that can cause neurodegenerative symptoms to be more intense, however more research is needed.

Features

When CBD oil is made, it undergoes the following process: the CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant and then it’s watered down with a carrier oil.

This carrier oil could be hemp seed oil or something else, like coconut oil.

When you buy CBD oil, you might be intrigued by how it appears in various colors, and the type of carrier oil that’s used in the CBD oil will effect its tinge.

For example, if olive oil is used, then the color of the CBD oil will be gold or slightly green.

There are two types of CBD oil: isolate and full-spectrum.

Isolate oils mean that the product only contains CBD, while full-spectrum oils mean that the product contains cannabidiol as well as other cannabinoids from the plant.

Full-spectrum is considered to be better and purer, plus it’s loved for its “entourage effect,” which is when using more than one cannabinoid in a product increases the overall effect on the user.

Benefits

You’ll find many CBD oils that come in dropper form, giving you the chance to put the drops underneath your tongue when taking it.

This ensures fast delivery of the cannabinoids into your bloodstream because they don’t have to first be digested by your stomach.

Research has found that CBD oil can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and promote calm.

In one study that was published in Frontiers In Psychology, when 37 Japanese teenagers who suffered from social anxiety disorder were given 300mg of CBD oil or a placebo every day for a month.

When they were later assessed it was found that the CBD oil had reduced their symptoms, and it was said to offer the same relief as a common drug that’s used to treat the health condition.

Drawbacks

Although CBD oil is well tolerated by most people who use it, it can present with side effects in some, and these include changes in weight and appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea.

This is why it’s always recommended to start with a small dosage instead of starting with a large one.

Some people don’t like the taste of CBD oil, which can be quite strong and sometimes bitter.

CBD oil can be expensive – you’re looking at up to $100 per bottle, if not more. This can be a disadvantage, especially if you’re a regular consumer of it.

Where to get it

You can find CBD oils online or in physical stores. For example, hemp CBD oil can be bought over the counter as a supplement.

Some of the leading manufacturers of CBD oil include cbdMD and Joy Organics.

In some U.S. states, you can only buy CBD oil if it’s requested by a doctor for a health condition, though, so it’s essential to check your state laws.

CBD Gummies

CBD Gummies

These are basically candies, sometimes that look like jelly babies, with CBD in them.

They’re perfect for you if you like the idea of CBD edibles and want to sweeten the taste of CBD oil.

One of the most important things to check for when purchasing CBD gummies is whether they contain broad-spectrum CBD or isolate.

Many cheaper gummies will contain isolate, as Foria Wellness reports.

Here’s what to know about broad-spectrum versus isolate:

Broad-spectrum CBD is cannabidiol plus other compounds that are naturally found in the marijuana plant, except for THC (the ingredient that makes people high) which has been removed.

In comparison, CBD isolate is when just the cannabidiol is extracted and nothing else. This prevents the experience of having an “entourage effect.”

CBD isolate usually comes in the form of a powder and doesn’t have a taste.

Features

CBD gummies look bright, colorful, and playful, but they can offer serious benefits.

Studies have shown that CBD attaches itself to the cells in your gut as well as an immune system where they can reduce inflammation and pain in your body, as Joseph Maroon, a clinical professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center tells Cosmopolitan.

Benefits

CBD gummies are easy and fun to consume because you can eat them anywhere you go without feeling self-conscious about putting CBD oils underneath your tongue when in public.

You might feel more comfortable eating gummies because they look like regular sweets.

Edibles such as gummies make CBD dosage much easier to regulate.Product packages and bottles will specify exactly how much CBD you’ll get in each sweet, down to the milligram, so you can take exactly what you need.

This is especially useful for people trying CBD for the first time.

Drawbacks

Consuming CBD gummies will delay CBD’s effects on your body because it has to get digested.

So, these products are not something you can take for immediate and fast relief, such as if you have pain or intense anxiety.

Sometimes these gummies are packed with sugar, which makes them a less-than-healthy treat. That’s why it’s essential to scrutinize the product ingredients.

Where to get it

You can purchase CBD gummies online from various websites or directly from manufacturers. In some states where CBD is legal, you can even find CBD gummies at gas stations.

CBD Capsules

CBD Capsules

CBD in capsule form seems to be the most known type of CBD.

These capsules are easy to take as well as regulate dosage with because of how many milligrams of CBD will be in each pill.

Features

CBD capsules can be taken for specific conditions or taken in a similar way to a supplement that gives you greater overall balance. You simply pop them like regular pills.

There are many CBD capsules that contain extra ingredients that can be beneficial, such as antioxidants and omega-3 that reduces inflammation.

Benefits

They’re easy to remember to take because you can take them with your supplements or vitamins in the morning.

They won’t leak in your bag, which makes them more convenient when traveling as compared to items like oils. 

They don’t have a taste, so they could be better than oils in this regard.

Cons

It’s harder to find CBD capsules as they’re not as widely available as CBD oils.

They have lower bioavailability, which means that they won’t get absorbed by your body as quickly as other products, such as oils.

Just like edibles, they have to be digested.

However, some capsules will contain MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil that helps them get absorbed, so that’s something to look out for when shopping for CBD capsules.

Where to get it

You can find CBD capsules online or at CBD dispensaries. But, be careful when purchasing them from brick-and-mortar CBD stores.

As LA Weekly reports, these often only carry low-quality capsules that are ineffective and potentially unsafe to consume.

CBD Creams

CBD Creams


The use of topical CBD creams is becoming popular as an alternative way to take CBD. 

Features

These CBD creams come in a jar or bottle and are simply applied to the skin like a regular cream.

Benefits

It’s been found that topical CBD products can work quickly and effectively as compared to other products. Experts back this up.

As Matthew Halpert, an instructor of immunology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston tells U.S. News, topical CBD creams can actually send pain away for longer due to the high concentration of cannabinoid receptors that are found in your skin.

When the cream enters the skin, its CBD content will interact with these receptors to create various effects, such as offer pain relief.

Using creams is an easy and convenient way to get fast relief that lasts longer, meaning you don’t have to keep upping your dosage throughout the day.

This is especially useful if you’re on the move a lot and don’t have time to treat your pain.

Drawbacks

One of the biggest cons associated with using CBD creams is that it’s not always easy to know what dosage to use.

In some topical cream studies, the products are tested on rats, but this is problematic because it’s still unclear what the dosage should be for humans to receive a beneficial effect from the creams, as Self reports.

Where to get it

You can find CBD creams online. Look for creams that are free of harmful toxins while containing extra pain-relieving ingredients such as lemongrass or menthol, such as Mary’s Nutritionals Muscle Freeze.

CBD Coffee (And Tea)

CBD Coffee

This is another innovative product that aims to make taking CBD regularly much more convenient.

Imagine putting it in your morning cup of tea or coffee! Now you can with the use of CBD beverage.

Features

These beverages usually contain CBD oil that’s been added to them to provide calming relief. They’re a fantastic way to consume CBD oil in a convenient, pleasurable way.

However, there are some important things to bear in mind.

Benefits

When it comes to drinking coffee with CBD oil, it’s a great way to balance out the caffeine effects of coffee because it will help you to relax.

Tea has other healthy ingredients that can give you extra benefits, so you get CBD and a lot more, such as antioxidants.

Drawbacks

You’re never guaranteed of knowing the exact dosage of CBD oil that’s in a cup of coffee you purchase from a coffee shop, so it’s better to buy the CBD oil yourself and then add that to your hot drinks.

Adding CBD oil to beverages or cooking can be tricky because it doesn’t dissolve in water.

The American Journal of Translational Research has found that taking CBD oil with fatty acids can help it be better absorbed, so make sure you put a bit of milk or butter in your coffee!

Drinking CBD tea might be easier than coffee if you love to drink your coffee without milk.

Where to get it

Some coffee shops will offer CBD coffees, but you can also buy the CBD oil and make it yourself at home.

Alternatively, you can buy coffee and tea bags that are already infused with CBD oil. Try Flower Power Coffee for a CBD coffee treat or Buddha Teas if you’re more of a tea drinker.

CBD Patches

CBD Patches

CBD patches might seem like a new product, but the technology behind them has been around for decades.

These transdermal patches are filled with beneficial CBD, usually in the form of a gel, and they get placed on your skin wherever you feel you need pain relief.

They work in a similar way to nicotine patches.

Features

CBD patches contain an adhesive and a strip of gel that contains either CBD oils or isolates. They offer a slow release of cannabinoids through the skin and into the bloodstream.

Patches usually contain an additive that’s known as a permeation enhancer. These work by making the patch unpleasant for the CBD molecules so that it spreads out into the skin.

This smart technology can increase how well the CBD is absorbed into the skin, and it’s important if we remember that the skin is a strong barrier to chemicals and other substances.

Benefits

You can take better control of your pain by using CBD patches.

Simply put them on a painful area and let them get to work. They often also can be used in conjunction with other pain-relieving treatments, which makes them versatile. 

CBD patches can offer you relief from pain for a long time. You can find patches that work for up to 48 hours and longer!

This also makes them convenient to use because you don’t have to worry about taking another pill or edible when your pain flares up.

You already have the patch and it will give you relief over a certain amount of time.

It’s said that you should put the transdermal patches on venous areas of your body so that the CBD can enter the bloodstream faster.

However, different products will give you different tips for how to use them for the best results.

Drawbacks

You have to be patient when using CBD patches because they usually take about half an hour to work.

However, that’s probably worth the wait because you’ll get relief for many hours at a time when using them.

Sometimes absorption is a problem. This is because it’s been said that the CBD molecules might be too big to get absorbed by the skin.

This is why some companies have patent applications to develop pain patches that use microneedles so that these can penetrate the skin, as Green Flower reports.

Where to get it

You can purchase CBD patches online, but depending on the laws in your state you may or may not need a doctor’s prescription for them.

CBD Cosmetics

CBD Cosmetics

These days, you can even find cosmetics that contain a dose of CBD in them. These can turn your morning makeup sessions into a blissful experience.

CBD skincare and cosmetics also have some health benefits that can take your skin from average to gorgeous.

Features

CBD cosmetics usually make use of CBD oil in their ingredients, and this is gaining popularity for its anti-inflammatory and soothing effects.

That means that if you’re suffering from skin that’s sensitive, prone to irritation, or prone to acne, a product containing CBD can help you to treat it.

Benefits

CBD alleviates skin inflammation because of how it interacts with the body’s receptors and regulates inflammatory cytokine production.

Cytokines are proteins that work with the immune system and regulate inflammation in the body. By taking over how they work, CBD oil can help to reduce your experience of skin inflammation.

Thanks to how it can decrease inflammation in the body, CBD in cosmetics can be an excellent way to naturally treat acne.

As Allure points out, studies have shown that CBD prevents breakouts from occurring by regulating how much oil the sebaceous glands produce.

Based on the above, CBD can prevent the use of drugs to eliminate acne and/or other skin conditions.

CBD is also appearing in cosmetics such as mascara, which might seem a bit strange at first glance. You might be thinking, “Why would I want cannabidiol on my eyelashes?”

However, it’s said to nourish the eyelashes and provide moisturizing effects. Sometimes these products also contain other ingredients, such as fatty acids, to increase their moisturizing benefits.

Drawbacks

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that any beauty product that’s marketed as having CBD is the real deal, when it could actually contain hemp oil.

These are not the same thing. CBD oil contains cannabidiol, but hemp seed oil only has trace amounts (if any) of this compound.

The ingredient has to be clear that it contains cannabidiol, so always check for that.

Where to get it 

You can find lots of CBD cosmetics online.

There’s also been an increase in beauty and skincare brands that sell CBD products, and examples include St. Jane and Milk Makeup. You can purchase these at shops such as Sephora.

You might be wondering if CBD cosmetics are legal.

Well, to be allowed to legally market beauty products that contain this compound, manufacturers need to state that their product is taken from the hemp plant and doesn’t contain more than 0.3 percent of THC, as Cosmetics Design reports.

CBD Pet Treats

CBD Pet Treats

While you’re finding delicious and healthy CBD products for yourself, don’t forget about your furry friend!

There’s been an increase in pet products that contain CBD, and one of these is dog biscuits.

Features

Why the hype, you’re asking?

Many of these CBD dog chews are promoted to help pets feel more relaxed.

If you’ve ever had to take a stressed dog who hates being in the car somewhere, or you’ve witnessed how freaked out dogs can become during bad thunderstorms, then it makes sense that these natural products should be available for pet owners.

Benefits

If you want to give your dog CBD oils, it’s much easier to give them treats that contain CBD instead.

These have a variety of flavors that your dog will be attracted to and want to eat, such as turkey or bacon.

There are reports that say CBD pet treats could help to relieve anxiety and pain in dogs, but the dosage has to be increased if you want to ease your dog’s pain.

Research has confirmed that CBD can be helpful for dogs. In a study (published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science) that sought to find out if CBD could help dogs with arthritis, researchers gave dogs doses of either 2mg or 8mg of CBD for every kilogram of their body weight.

They found that 80 percent of the dogs had less pain and better mobility.

In another study, this time published Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs with epilepsy that were given CBD along with seizure medication had fewer seizures than the dogs who were given seizure medication and a placebo instead.

Drawbacks

It’s not easy to know how much CBD to give your pet, so it’s recommended to start with a small dose and see how your cat or dog reacts.

It’s not easy to find CBD products that don’t contain zero THC (the substance that makes you high) and this is the case for human products.

The good news for us, though, is that THC is allowed in products we use as long as it appears as no more than 0.3 percent. This level might not be safe for pets, though.

THC is extremely toxic for dogs and cats, and it can affect them at low levels, as Healthline reports.

Where to get it

You can find lots of pet treats online but be careful. Ensure you do your homework so that you know as much as you can about the product.

You can also shop CBD pet treats from companies such as Honest Paws, which you can purchase online from their website. Another company to check out is HolistaPet.

Five Important CBD Product Facts

Five Important CBD Product Facts

Irrespective of the type of CBD product you’re interested in purchasing and buying, there are some important things to know about CBD so you can buy the products that work for you and are of the highest quality.

CBD products can sometimes be expensive so you don’t want to waste your money on ones that aren’t even healthy or beneficial. Here are some things to bear in mind about CBD.

CBD can interact with some medications

If you’re on any medications, it’s important to check with your doctor before trying CBD. This is important because CBD can interact with some drugs.

Since it gets broken down by the same receptor in the body that breaks down other medicines, CBD could increase the blood concentration of drugs such as calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, antiretrovirals, and others, as Dr. Oz reports. 

Not all CBD products have been tested

Before purchasing a CBD product, always make sure that the manufacturer clearly states that it’s been tested by a third-party accredited lab.

This is important because it will inform you of details such as how much CBD is in the product and if it contains other harmful ingredients, such as heavy metals. 

CBD should be sourced from US-grown hemp

This is non-negotiable because home-grown hemp tends to be safer than what you’ll find from overseas, such as when it comes to hemp growers having to follow specific guidelines.

In addition, sometimes imported hemp plants can contain metal or other toxins that you want to avoid because of how hemp absorbs these substances from the surrounding soil.

The soil that’s found in China is particularly dangerous as it’s known to be polluted with toxins such as lead and metal.

Choose CBD that’s extracted via the CO2 method

This is nontoxic, so it’s better for you than a product that’s had its CBD derived via butane or ethanol extraction processes.

Scarily, both of those chemicals can end up in the final CBD product, as Shape reports.

During CO2 extraction, carbon dioxide is pressurized and used to draw CBD from the plant. It’s much safer and also more effective.

Take product descriptions with a pinch of salt

Although some manufacturers of CBD products might state that their product contains CBD oil, always check out the ingredients because you might be in for a surprise, such as if you notice “hemp seed oil” there.

This doesn’t contain CBD, so you’re getting hemp seed, not any cannabidiol. CBD isn’t extracted from the stalk or seeds of the hemp plant because it’s simply not found there, as Shape reports.

Don’t get duped!

By following the above tips when purchasing CBD products, you can ensure that you choose the best quality and avoid potentially unsafe ingredients or manufacturers who aren’t being transparent about the CBD they use.

Related Questions

Will CBD products make you (or your pet) high?

WILL CBD PRODUCTS MAKE YOU HIGH?

You don’t have to worry about getting high on CBD products because they usually only contain trace amounts of THC, which is the compound found in marijuana that causes high feelings when people consume it.

Has it been confirmed that you can’t become addicted to CBD?

Yes, a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 stated that CBD doesn’t show evidence of being an abused substance and it also can’t cause people who consume it to become dependent on it.

Conclusion

Gone are the days when CBD was only found in a few products.

Currently, there are tons of CBD products that you can purchase, from edibles like candies to capsules and creams.

Choosing the right one is about considering what you need it for and how the product fits into your lifestyle.

For example, eating candies with CBD in them can be convenient but might not work as quickly as other products if you’re looking for fast pain relief.

In this article, we’ve outlined some of the most popular CBD products you can find on the market, looking at their features, pros, cons, and where to get them.

We’ve also included some important tips to follow when purchasing any CBD product so you can stay safe and make the most of its benefits.

Happy shopping! 

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