What is CBD? The Complete Guide.

• Guide to cannabinoids, Terpenes and Flavonoids

Heard great things about CBD? Looking to get hold of some products but don’t know where to start? The world of CBD (Cannabidiol) can at times be a confusing one if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Check out this quick guide to CBD to get an understanding of the variety of products that are available for you to consume and enjoy on a daily basis.

What Is CBD?

Let’s start from the top. The CBD that is available for sale in the UK is always extracted from Cannabis plants which have specifically low traces of the psychoactive compound THC, the bit that gets you high, for which the cannabis plant has become infamously known for. These particularly low dosed plants are best known to you and me as Hemp.

Both CBD and THC are just two of hundreds of known cannabinoids that exist within the cannabis plant. These cannabinoids interact with our very own endocannabinoid system and its receptors CB1 and CB2. It has been discovered that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in the balancing of our homeostatic functions and that we ourselves produce our own internal cannabinoids. 

Cannabinoids such as THC interact with CB1 receptors which are typically found on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These CB1 receptors correspond to things like coordination, movement, pain, emotions, mood, appetite, memories and more.

CB2 receptors are usually found in white blood cells, tonsils, spleen, and throughout the immune system and have an affect inflammation and pain.

Scientists are now working on the empirical fact that CBD directs our bodies to use our own endocannabinoids rather than attaching itself to either of the CB1 or CB2 receptors. 

Here in the UK and throughout the EU, we can’t make any medical claims about the potential benefits that you may reap from using CBD products. Furthermore, the only health claims that can be made must be registered and approved on the EU Community Register for food supplements. We would however advise that you seek knowledge from the results of continued research being conducted outside of the EU. 

By examining the research available, you’ll be able to form your own opinions about using such products. It is important to remember that when doing your own research, Medical Marijuana is not the same as CBD as it will generally be a mixture of both THC and CBD. 

At this time, countless studies are being carried out pertaining to CBD and the effects the compound may have on a long list of ailments including;

What does CBD Help with?

Alzheimer’s ALS Anxiety Disorders Arthritis Bone Health Cancer: breast, lung, prostate, colon and some cancers of the brain Cardiovascular disease Cirrhosis IBC (Crohns Disease) Depression Diabetes Epilepsy and seizure Disorders

Leukaemia Migraines Multiple Sclerosis Nausea Obesity Pain Parkinson’s PTSD Schizophrenia Sickle Cell Anaemia Spinal Cord Disease Strokes Traumatic Brain Injury

Remember that the effect CBD may have on these ailments is very much at the research stage with no specific or definitive conclusions reached as of yet.

Whilst we wait for research and due diligence to be concluded and completed, CBD oil is legal here in the UK which means that you can use the product on a daily basis. Useful for a number of reasons, CBD can create a calming, therapeutic effect which is great to help with your relaxation times.

CBD users will often report the calming effect the product has as well as improvements in their overall wellbeing. One user commented;

“I would highly recommend this oil. Apart from the obvious health benefits (google it). You sleep wonderfully when you are taking it.” 

Should you regularly use CBD you may need to schedule in an extra weekly work-out session, as a resulting consequence of using CBD is known to increase your appetite. 

WHAT CBD DO I NEED?

To help you find the right products, find more information about each below.

Available as an e-liquid CBD Vape Oil is designed to be used with a vaporizer or within a refillable cartridge in a vaping device. 

Depending on your experience with CBD and the nature of your needs, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of strength concentrations ranging from 50 – 1000mg of CBD per 10ml of vape oil. We would always recommend starting with the lower strength and gradually increasing it depending on the nature of your use, and the tolerance your body will naturally build in the process. 

If you want to feel the effects of CBD quickly then vape oil is ideal. By vaping you’ll begin to notice the effects of the product from within 30 seconds to up to 2 minutes, and this will last for around 2 to 6 hours. 

It might sound obvious, but by vaping a low concentration CBD vape oil like 50mg you’ll feel less of an effect compared to if you vape a higher concentration of something like 500mg. 

One thing to take into consideration when using CBD vape oil, compared to using CBD Drops (we’ll come to that next), is that the concentration of CBD will ultimately be lower which means you’ll need to vape more throughout the day in order to keep it in your system. 

It is okay to use both these products in tandem – use 1 or 2 drops under your tongue 2 to 3 times a day and vape to top up as you see fit.

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Available in a range of strengths and concentrations, between 300mg – 1500mg of CBD per 10ml bottle, you can use CBD Drops either directly under the tongue or as a supplement to your food or drink. 

The key difference between CBD Vape Oil and CBD Drops is the time it takes for you to feel the effects CBD Drops take longer at between 30 and 45 minutes, though importantly the effects will last for longer, from anything between 8 to 12 hours. 

To use the CBD Drops, simply place a few drops under your tongue and hold for 90 seconds before swallowing. By holding the drops under your tongue, the mucous membranes in the mouth have time to absorb the CBD and deliver it straight to your bloodstream

By swallowing CBD, which is especially true if you plan to mix it with your food and drink, the effects of the cannabinoid will take longer for you to feel, as the CBD has further to travel via your stomach. Stomach acids will gradually break down the compounds of the cannabinoid before eventually reaching your bloodstream which is why; 

1. a) You should keep the drops under your tongue for as long as you can.
2. b) If you’re mixing CBD drops with food or drink, increase your dosage.

Using 100% organic olive oil, unflavoured CBD Vape Oil is completely natural and contains no additives or ingredients except for the Hemp Plant itself. Containing only CBD, the flavour you will experience is a distinctive hemp flavour, which can be a herbaceous, nutty and bitter flavour to taste. 

If you’re concerned from a moral, religious, ethical or medical point of view about the relationship of Hemp, Cannabis and the cannabinoid THC, then the Unflavoured CBD Vape Oil are the ones for you.

Whilst vaping CBD provides a great delivery system for the cannabinoids to reach your bloodstream, as mentioned, due to the concentrations compared to CBD Drops, you will need to vape more during the day ensure your body stays topped up with CBD. 

Because you are essentially simulating the smoking experience, you may find that taste and flavour will play an important part in the process of using CBD daily. If you’re not too keen on the flavour of hemp, then you may choose a flavour that your palate may be more accustomed to. 

Available in concentrations of 100mg, 300mg and 500mg of CBD per 10ml bottle, why not choose one of VSAVI’s fruit flavoured CBD vape oils that have been chosen specifically to complement the natural flavour of CBD.

The family of cannabis plants contain a plethora of different strains and will subsequently produce different flavour profiles and aromas. You can choose CBD e-liquid infused with terpenes and aromas typically associated with the cannabis plant.

These flavours are produced by natural aromatic essential oils found within the plant also known as terpenes which act with the CBD to amplify the effects of the cannabinoid on your body. Terpenes are found in many herb, fruits and flowers and are essentially responsible for what you smell. 

Inducing feelings of sleepiness and tranquillity, choose from VSAVI’s authentic, rich and tasty Lemon Haze with terpenes or OG Kush terpene infused CBD Vape Oils. Available in concentrations of 300mg and 500mg of CBD per 10ml bottle, find your favourite flavour or switch it up depending on the day.

Full Spectrum CBD Vape Oil is generally considered to be the most effective of CBD products available. 

Full Spectrum refers to the fact that nothing has been left out in the extraction process, which means that in addition to CBD, you’ll also experience additional cannabinoids such as THCV, CBCVA and CBL.

On top of the cannabinoid content, you’ll also benefit from Hemp’s naturally rich source of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fibres, terpenes and flavonoids which is great if you may be nutrient deficient in some way. 

This altogether more natural form of CBD Oil provides a boost which is known as ‘the entourage effect’, the name given to a complex group of compounds that work together to produce an overall greater calming effect as well as potentially providing more pain relief due to the presence of the extra cannabinoids. 

If you find that do not need to use Full Spectrum CBD Vape Oil on a daily basis then it’s best to stick to a CBD isolate product. Keeping Full Spectrum CBD for the times when you need it most will give you the boost you need when you most need it.

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Similarly to the vape oil, Full Spectrum CBD Drops provides you with the whole plant, rather than the isolated cannabinoid CBD. This means you’ll enjoy the added cannabinoids of THCV, CBCVA and CBL as well as a whole host of hearty nutrients, minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, fibres, terpenes and flavonoids. 

Perhaps more suited to those times when you feel you need the full effect of CBD. Due to the contents found within Full Spectrum CBD, you will experience the entourage effect of these compounds working together. Most users of Full Spectrum CBD maintain there is more potential benefit when compared to that of CBD isolate products.

CBD Oil Natural Drops from isolate crystals are derived via an altogether alternative extraction process. The oil initially extracted from the hemp plant is left to cool until crystals are formed. These crystals, containing nothing but CBD are blended with high grade organic olive oil. CBD drops can either be ingested orally or administer as a topical oil for massage. 

Free from any other compounds found in the cannabis plant, CBD Oil Natural Drops from isolate crystals are a great choice for your everyday CBD use, especially if you don’t want to experience the aforementioned entourage effect associated with Full Spectrum CBD products.

Current debate and research would suggest that the lack of other natural ingredients, thus the lack of an entourage effect, makes CBD isolate a less effective product. With this in mind, if you feel that Full Spectrum CBD may be a bit too much for your day to day needs, CBD oil derived from isolate crystals is a great foundation for you to build from regarding tolerance levels.

Did you know that your pets might also benefit from CBD? Whether anxious or suffering from aches and pains, try giving your fluffy friends lower doses of the CBD isolate, as opposed to the potentially overpowering effect the Full Spectrum products.

USEFUL TO KNOW

STRENGTHS

Taking higher strengths can be more a more cost-effective option to consider if you plan to use CBD on a regular basis as you will essentially require less in the way of product to feel the desired effects. This is especially true in the case of the CBD Drops.

DRUG TESTS

Should be in the kind of career that requires you to attend random drug tests, we would always recommend using a lower strength concentration of CBD product to avoid any unwanted or unwarranted attention – avoid Full Spectrum CBD Vape Oil or Drops.

THE EXTRA CANNABINOIDS IN FULL SPECTRUM CBD

Tetrahydrocannabivarin Acid (THCV)

The sports car of cannabinoids, THCV shares structural similarities with its close cousin THC, though in reality produces very different effects. If you’re using a vaporizer for your Full Spectrum CBD Vape Oil and THCV is included in the ingredients you may wish to increase the heat setting ever so slightly to ensure the best effects. 

Worried about getting the munchies when you vape CBD? In contrast to isolated CBD products that may increase your appetite THCV actually has the potential to suppress it which means no unscheduled stops to the biscuit tin. 

Current research on the compound Tetrahydrocannabivarin Acid shows promising signs pertaining to regulating blood-sugar levels as well as reductions to insulin resistance. 

In addition, research also points to the ability of those that suffer from PTSD to manage panic attacks without inhibiting and numbing their emotions – a common consequence of taking the regular medications available. 

Quite the cannabinoid, THCV also shows signs of helping those that experience tremors, aiding motor control, and even promoting bone growth.Cannabichromevinaric Acid (CBCVA)

The presence of Cannabichromevinaric Acid helps aid the entourage effect, which according to some medical studies appears to encouraging pain relief.Cannabicyclol (CBL)

Cannabicyclol is not considered to have any psychoactive potential and no harmful effects, just an added benefit of using Full Spectrum CBD.

Update 2021: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cripple the world in multiple ways, especially economically. Depending on where you are reading this from, you may be out of lockdown now and trying to get on with life as much as possible. For example, as of September 2021, the UK is out of full lockdown after challenging times at the beginning of the year cooped inside homes, unless for urgent medical care or to pick up food supplies.

An unimaginable experience on a global scale – work, family life and all other pressures were contained inside four walls for months on end. In stressful situations, anxiety naturally increases while millions suffer pain mentally and physically.

From people using CBD as a daily supplement, to others using the hemp extract to help alleviate a range of niggles and pains, people using CBD in lockdown has seen the industry hit new heights and sent sales soaring. Let’s look at why more people used CBD in lockdown and why, now more than ever, you should consider using the supplement to support your general health and wellbeing.

Why Did People Use CBD in Lockdown?

2020 and coronavirus will go down as one of the most surreal times in recent world history. It’s an indirect effect on the mental health and wellbeing of billions of people struggling to cope with a new way of life, after losing simple freedoms previously taken for granted. Leaving the haven of your home became a stressful experience for many. This is still the case today, even with masks no longer mandatory in the UK. One such coping mechanism that it seems many have turned to is by using CBD in lockdown. 

Estimates suggest that UK customers have spent over £150m on CBD products in 2020, with a 50% increase in CBD sales from 2019. Since lockdown began, around 8.5 million people have bought CBD products or were intending to buy CBD products soon. This increase in customers using CBD in lockdown has been primarily attributed to the stress, anxiety and insomnia that people have faced during the uncertainty of COVID:19. But can CBD help with the woes we continue to experience? 

What Are The Effects of CBD?

While the medical benefits of CBD are somewhat of a grey area in the UK, there are a growing number of studies as to how the high-grade hemp extract can help ease a variety of symptoms from a variety of diseases. Studies suggest reasons for taking CBD during the pandemic included addressing issues of insomnia, attempts to relieve anxiety and managing pain inflammation, which can occur from reasons such as stress.

There are now countless products that are infused with CBD and the time it takes for you to feel the effect will differ depending on the product. Any effects your body experiences, whether positive or negative, will vary from person to person. Always consult your doctor before taking, starting on a lower dose and seeing how you feel.

Ultimately, the impact of using CBD may feel like a gentle wave of calm that travels through your body. If used topically, it may help ease any inflamed muscles or soothe any dry and cracked skin patches. 

One thing that can be said is that the relationship cannabinoids such as CBD have with the body are complex, and continue to be researched for medical purposes. Be it its anti-inflammatory properties or its antioxidant qualities, CBD and hundreds of other cannabinoids are being studied to determine how they can help a variety of diseases and conditions, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep deprivation
• Increasing the appetite of those undergoing treatments for cancer
• Anorexia
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Heart disease
• PTSD
• General pain management

The pandemic has changed the way we feel and act as a society. Working from home has become second nature, wearing masks a familiar sight as well as keeping a distance from others. This level of social separation would of course lead to uncertainty, which in turn creates anxiety and added stress. Therefore, with the properties of CBD allegedly relieving these symptoms, it’s apparent that the food supplement with supposed multiple benefits physically and mentally are here to stay, whether we enter another lockdown or carry on as we are in society.

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