CBD products are very on-trend and a lot of buzz surrounds them. Although the excitement’s well deserved, all the noise makes it difficult to know how to start effectively incorporating CBD products in your wellness routine. But getting the facts on this trend pays off as CBDs have loads of science backed advantages for wellness and vitality.
At Mission C, we want to cut through the hype surrounding CBD. In this article we’ll explain what CBD is, where it comes from, and how you can use it as part of your wellness routine. Our 4-step guide to CBD has everything you need to know about cannabinoid products, so you can decide if they’re right for your lifestyle.
STEP 1: An Introduction to CBD
What is CBD?
CBD is one of 120 naturally occurring cannabinoids inside the cannabis plant. Emerging research has shown CBD products are safe, aren’t addictive, and have benefits for wellness. Recent scientific studies have further linked CBD consumption to lifestyle benefits like better heart health and memory. Using CBD may even reduce the symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression.
To make CBD products, the cannabinoid CBD is isolated and extracted from the rest of the Cannabis plant. CBD is usually taken from the hemp variety of the Cannabis plant, rather than the indica plant (which is used recreationally as a drug).
Does CBD Get You High?
The short answer is no. THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient in recreational marijuana and the one that creates the high. Cannabis indica plants contain THC, so they’re the ones harvested for recreational drug use. In contrast, CBD is typically extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as hemp, which contains barely any THC, but is full of CBD. For thousands of years, people have made food, cloth, paper, and more from hemp. Today, it’s used to make CBD products.
So that we’re clear: none of our CBD products contain any psychoactive THC. At all.
THC and CBD are similar in that they both impact the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. But where THC creates a high feeling, CBD blocks those receptors from being simulated. The result is increased feelings of calm and relaxation.
Where Does CBD Come From?
CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, which is otherwise known by its scientific name Cannabis sativa. Cannabis sativa is a member of the Cannabis family, and the other common variety is Cannabis indica – which gets you high. Whereas Cannabis sativa originates in Europe and is a tall tree-like plant, Cannabis indica originates in India and is more like a dense shrub or bush.
Hemp has always been used industrially, whereas Cannabis indica is only used for recreational marijuana. Marijuana contains lots of THC and has low levels of CBD, but hemp is the opposite. Hemp has high CBD levels and low THC levels, which is why hemp products are often legal in countries where marijuana isn’t.
To make CBD products, CBD is extracted for hemp as pure isolates or as a concentrated oil.
What is the Difference Between Full-Spectrum CBD, Broad-Spectrum CBD, and Isolate CBD?
You’ll often see CBD products advertised as including Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, or Isolate CBD. We’ll explain what these terms mean here.
First, there’s Full Spectrum CBD. Full Spectrum CBD contains all the compounds that naturally occur in the cannabis plant including terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids, like CBG, CBD and THC (although only trace amounts of THC, to stay below the legal limit).
Broad Spectrum CBD is like Full Spectrum CBD in that it contains most compounds of the cannabis plant. However, in Broad Spectrum products, each compound is individual isolated, and then recombined in specific ratios. Manufacturers use this method to remove undesirable ingredients like THC. New scientific studies suggest that when CBD is combined with individually isolated compounds found inside Cannabis, like terpenes and minor cannabinoids, its therapeutic properties increase.
The purest form of CBD is Isolate CBD. Only CBD is extracted from the Cannabis plant, to guarantee absolute purity. Usually this guarantees 99% condensed CBD products with only trace levels of other cannabinoids. Products that are topically applied, like oils, and those used by athletes usually are made from Isolate CBD as it contains so little THC, the levels are undetectable.
The Endocannabinoid System
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a natural biological process, but science has only recently begun to fully investigate how it works. The system is named after cannabinoids, from the Cannabis plant, which interact with this system when ingested, and because many substances inside our body behave like cannabinoids.
Everyone’s body naturally produces endocannabinoids, which are similar compounds to CBD. Endocannabinoids are one part of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a network which also includes chemicals and receptors. The ECS is why CBD products are so effective at improving wellness. When you ingest CBD, it connects with your (ECS) receptors CB1 and CB2 which then conduct it throughout the body.
The ECS is a biological system like the immune or cardiovascular system. However, unlike other biological processes, your body only activates the ECS when it needs to create balance; a state that’s known as homeostasis. For example, the ECS is activated to regulate your hormones only if your hormonal system isn’t functioning properly. Sleep, mood, brain function and emotional regulation all benefit when the ECS is in harmony.
STEP 2: Is CBD Safe and Legal?
CBD is legal to use in the UK and has been approved as safe by the world’s leading health organisations.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD is legal in the UK, United States and the EU. However, products must contain less than 0.2% of psychoactive THC.
All our CBD oil is high-quality and tested to ISO170025 standards, which means it comes from the world’s best performing laboratories.
Is CBD Safe to Use?
Yes. Scientific consensus is that CBD products are predominantly safe and are unlikely to cause an allergic response. The World Health Organisation’s Review Report (2018) determined that CBD is usually well-tolerated and has a good safety profile.
As well, A Trusted Source Review (2011) decided CBD consumption by humans was safe even at high doses like 1,500 mg a day. All our CBD oil products contain much less than that, as we prefer to play it safe and offer less than the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends.
Please be advised that CBD is not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have underlying medical conditions, consult your GP before using CBD products.
Is CBD World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Approved?
Yes. All our CBD-based products are THC free, and so are WADA-approved. Our professional sports products contain Isolate CBD with guaranteed 0% THC, for extra security.
Is CBD UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Approved?
CBD is not currently prohibited by the UKAD, so sports people can use it. All other cannabinoids (including cannabis, hashish, marijuana, and THC) are prohibited in-competition.
STEP 3: How Do I Use CBD?
You can ingest, apply, or inhale CBD products. Before you decide which product is right for you, we’ll introduce you to bioavailability.
What is Bioavailability?
Bioavailability is the percentage of a drug or chemical compound that’s absorbed by the bloodstream. The larger the amount of the compound that enters the blood, the higher the bioavailability. The kind of CBD product you use and how you use it, impacts how much CBD your bloodstream will absorb and then circulate throughout the body.
The Most Popular CBD Products
Here’s a rundown on the most popular CBD products available today.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is the most popular CBD product available for speed and efficacy. When you apply an oil tincture or spray directly under the tongue, CBD reaches the bloodstream almost instantly. The effects are instantaneous. All the millions of blood vessels under the tongue give the CBD compounds a direct line to the bloodstream so you can feel it working, fast.
Creams
The body is less able to absorb CBD when it’s topically applied to the skin than when orally ingested because skin has such a thick barrier. However, topical CBD balm and creams aren’t totally ineffective.
You can apply CBD body creams to the wrist and face oils to the temple as the skin’s very thin there. CBD creams or oils will penetrate thin skin and enter the bloodstream to produce soothing effects throughout the whole ECS. The skin itself also has endocannabinoid receptors. So, wherever you apply your topical CBD product, you’ll experience targeted, localized relief.
Edibles
Edibles such as CBD Gummies are a discreet way to take CBD. Unlike CBD oil, edibles are slower release and take around 90 minutes to enter your bloodstream. Edibles take more time to be absorbed as they pass through the digestive system, rather than the skin or blood vessels. Because they have a slower release than other CBD products, the effects last the longest.
Vaporizers
CBD vapes are increasingly popular. The effects are felt quickly because when CBD compounds are smoked, they’re inhaled directly into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. However, questions still swirl around the issue of vape safety. For that reason, we much prefer CBD oil under the tongue for a fast-acting, totally safe CBD product.
What is My CBD Dosage?
- The recommended daily cbd dosage from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a healthy adult is 70mg CBD.
- Everyone's personal optimal daily dosage may vary, adjust up or down if needed.
- For best results continue to use CBD every day for at least a month.
Choosing the Right CBD Strength
Always choose CBD products based on percentage concentration of CBD (%), rather than total amount of CBD (mg)
Confused? Here’s a quick walk-through.
You’re choosing between two CBD oils of similar prices. One has 3000mg of CBD in 30ml; the other has 2000mg of CBD in 10ml.
Don’t be dazzled by the larger amount of CBD in the 3000mg bottle, because the percentage of CBD concentrate is lower. You need to think about the percentage concentration of CBD in each of the bottles to get a fair comparison.
Bottle 1:
- Contains 3000mg CBD in a 30ml Bottle
- One third of the bottle (10ml) contains 1000mg
- Therefore, the CBD strength is equal to 10% CBD
Bottle 2:
- Contains 2000mg in a 10ml Bottle
- Comparing this to one third (10ml) of bottle 1, this contains 500mg more CBD!
- Therefore, the strength is higher per 10ml at 15%.
You can now see that the second bottle is better value and could last you 100% longer at the same dose. This is why when comparing bottles, you should always do so using % concentration strength of CBD.
If you want to compare strengths of bottles, between mg and %, please use the following table:
For complete clarity we have labelled all our products with both CBD mg and percentage.
