What is CBD?
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About CBD Oil & CBG
Want a morning coffee or post-workout smoothie boost to relieve post workout burn and improve concentration?
Welcome to the “green rush,” aka the “cannabis craze.” We’re living in an era that is turning the reputation of ganja on a dime. It’s no longer just the skunk that gets you high. Every day, scientists and consumers are discovering more about its cure-all compounds, including CBD.
Many people are making CBD oil, gummies, and tinctures a routine part of their day. And for good reason––it’s not just scientific evidence that’s revealing a smashing number of health benefits of CBD oil. People all over the world are hailing the experienced advantages of CBD oil for pain, anxiety, and inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
CBD, a cannabis compound, is a hot topic and a source of controversy for both pundits or politicians. Given its well-known, mind-altering effects, the cannabis plant is notorious for being used recreationally to get high or stoned. Indeed, many of us know and love cannabis and its cousins (pot, Mary Jane, marijuana, hashish, bhang, weed––got another one for the list?!) for that reason.
But wait––what’s the difference between all these terms out there: marijuana, cannabis, hemp, CBD, and CBG? Are they the same? Well in Thailand, we might say they’re “same same, but different,” meaning there are multiple species of the same plant.
Across the Internet, the term cannabis is used interchangeably with marijuana and distinguished from hemp. But actually, cannabis is the overarching family name for hemp and marijuana. The primary difference, in botany and legal status, is the concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. That jaw-breaker of a term is the long form name of THC.
So, what exactly is CBD and where does it derive from? We’re going to unpack everything CBD, piece by piece, in terms that won’t cause you to squirm with confusion. We’ll also dig into CBG, a similar compound recently coined “the new CBD.”
This article takes about 15 minutes to read. If you’re short on time, use the contents list below to skip ahead to a specific section.
Contents
Where To Buy CBD Oil In Thailand?
What is CBD Oil Made From?
Cannabis is one of the oldest known drugs in the world (1). According to experts, there are over 700 strains of cannabis, producing a variety of subspecies, each with a different combination of cannabinoids and other compounds.
The term cannabinoid covers both cannabidiol, also known as CBD, and THC, the intoxicating component of marijuana (click here for a definition of cannabinol).
CBD comes from the cannabis sativa plant, a subspecies of the cannabis plant. Cannabis sativa has two primary species, hemp and marijuana. While both species contain CBD, there's a much higher percentage in hemp, which has very low levels of THC compared to marijuana.
HEMP: High CBD, low THC
CBD products can derive from both hemp and marijuana, but because of its higher contraction, hemp is the more lucrative origin for it––it gives proprietors of CBD products more bang for their buck––or Baht––so to speak.
Does CBD get you high?
Let’s get a major misconception out of the way up front here: THC gets you high; CBD doesn’t.
It’s one of the main reasons so many people are turning to CBD as a natural way to relieve pain and anxiety. Not everyone digs the mind-altering effects of THC.
But many CBD products, full-spectrum CBD oil for example, contain trace amounts of THC, less than 0.3%, to boost the effectiveness of CBD, what is known as the entourage effect. However, that trace amount of THC in most cases isn’t enough to have any intoxicating effect.
CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD, achieved by extracting all unwanted substances and compounds, such as THC.
Full-spectrum, on the other hand, is the au naturel version of CBD. It contains all the naturally-occurring cannabis plant extracts, including essential oils, terpenes, and other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD).
Broad-spectrum CBD contains some of the compounds found in full-spectrum, and may also have trace amounts of THC.
We’ll also have a look at CBD’s sassy “new” cousin, CBG, later on.
What Is CBD Oil Good For?
Research on CBD is still in its early days, and hard-cord claims about its health benefits are shaky at best. However, there is enough scientific evidence out there to glean from. At the very least, we can extract some choice bits of information on the experienced benefits of CBD oil and its sister products.
According to a study of cannabidiol users, people take CBD oil and CBD gummies for many reasons, including: migraines, nausea, allergies, asthma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, and more (6). There is some evidence to support CBD’s benefits for such conditions.
For example, a cannabis market research firm called Brightfield Group, conducted a survey involving 5000 people and found that more than 60 percent of people who use CBD take it for anxiety (as published in the New York Times) (3). Indeed, it does have a mellowing-out effect on the nervous system, which may account for its positive effect on sleep too (4, 5).
There is a range of research studies revealing the antidepressant benefits of CBD, as well as its benefits for children suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (7, 8 & 9). Such effects may be linked to CBD’s action on serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behaviour.
Many people swear by it for relieving insomnia, improving mental concentration, reducing back pain, osteoarthritis, and even treating cancer. However, CBD is not a catch-all solution. Figuring out how much to take, what type to take, and what form to take it in depends a lot on what your goal is and why you’re taking it in the first place.
While CBD may be a promising option for managing anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, far more rigorous research on human subjects is necessary to make conclusive claims about its benefits.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
CBD impacts the body’s endogenous cannabinoid system, a network of neurotransmitters and their receptors found throughout the body: in the brain, glands, immune cells, connective tissues, and organs. They’re a literal bridge between the mind and body and a promising mechanism for the treatment of pain and various diseases, according to some experts (1). One researcher notes, “the endocannabinoid system helps us deal with traumatic life experiences as a part of a normal coping mechanism—to forget it and leave the past behind” (1).
There is some evidence to suggest that CBD oil helps relieve anxiety, although it’s not clear how exactly it works. Researchers believe it may have to do with the interaction between a receptor in your brain called CB1 and CBD that alters serotonin signals.
In the case of depression, CBD may be instrumental in the formation of new neurons in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. This area, which helps regulate our emotions, doesn’t function well in someone with depression, and CBD oil may help.
Cannabinoids have a documented analgesic effect, which results from the binding of cannabinoids to cannabinoid receptors in the body. CBD then, may help reduce various types of chronic pain and inflammation through its interaction with those neurotransmitters (2).
How To Use CBD Oil
There is no shortage of CBD products out there: oils, tinctures, gummies, coffee, vape pens. So, what’s the best way to take CBD?
Choosing the right weapon, so to speak has a lot to do with what you need it for: Why are you taking CBD and what is your goal with it? Some people don’t want to ingest it, so they prefer topical ointments and creams. However, consuming CBD is the more common approach, and may have the highest benefit.
The difference between CBD oil and CBD tincture is the carrier. CBD oil uses just two ingredients: CBD oil and a carrier oil. CBD tincture has an alcohol base, and may also have a flavour component added, such as peppermint, to mask its earthy taste.
CBD oil and tinctures, edibles, and vape pens differ in their rate of delivery and endurance. Vape pens will provide faster relief but it wears off within a couple of hours. Oils, tinctures, and edibles, such as gummies and baked goods, take a little longer to kick in––about 30 minutes. They typically last four to five hours.
See our CBD Dosage article to learn more about safe and effective doses for different CBD products.
Research indicates that CBD oil is safe and few to no side effects (10). However, we always recommend consulting a health expert before taking any supplement.
How is CBD Made?
The CO2 extraction method is the only consistently reliable and safe method for making CBD. While past methods used butane or other liquid solvents to extract oil from cannabis, they’re largely considered unsafe now.
So, how does CO2 extraction work? It pulls out plant compounds from the raw hemp plant using pressurized carbon dioxide. Cannabinoids, terpenes, and other extracted phytocompounds contribute to the “full-spectrum” of benefits and result in an attractive, naturally-occuring golden colour.
Carbon dioxide is a versatile substance. At a specific temperature and within a pressure range, it acts as a solvent without producing any dangers associated with synthetic extraction methods. The benefit is a clean, pure, premium-quality product.
Even better is the supercritical CO2 extraction method, which is the gold-standard as far as CBD products go. Supercritical denotes the change from CO2 in its gas form to its liquid form when exposed to higher temperature and pressure. Simply put, it’s like the regular CO2 extraction on steroids, without the steroids.
CBD isolate, however, goes through more processing to isolate and produce pure CBD, without any other phytocompounds. Because it’s void of other phytochemicals, CBD isolate is a suitable option for first-time users.
What Is CBG? Meet The Mother Of All Cannabis Compounds
Meet cannabigerol, aka the new CBD.
CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid because it’s present in low levels in most cannabis strains. It’s not as well known as CBD, but that doesn’t mean its effects are less beneficial. CBG interacts with the body differently than CBD, but evidence is thin on exactly how.
Early research is revealing that CBG may be even more powerful than CBD given it’s the precursor to CBD and THC. That is, CBG helps produce CBD and THC, which is why cannabis breeders are attempting to crossbreed different strains to produce a higher yield of CBG, or to pinpoint the optimal extraction time, which is six weeks in an eight-week flowering cycle.
Does CBG get you high?
On its own, CBG does not make you high. In isolate form or when derived from the hemp plant, it contains no THC.
However, CBG appears to increase a neurotransmitter called anandamide, also known as a bliss molecule. Indeed, ananda literally translates to bliss in Sanskrit. In short, it makes us feel happy because it helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.
Some people report more positive dreams when they take CBG oil before bed. Indeed, knowledge of the suspected health benefits of CBG, like CBD, are enough to induce a kind of anticipatory high. After all, relief from pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic inflammation, and cancer seems like a dream for many.
As with CBD, CBG may be useful in treating various conditions, including inflammation, depression, and anxiety. Some studies have also shown that CBG may block receptors that support the growth of cancer cells.
Is CBD Oil Legal In Thailand?
It’s a grey question with an equally grey answer. CBD isn’t illegal, but that doesn’t make it fully legal either, primarily because that legal status comes with a lot of limitations.
In 2019, the Ministry of Health in Thailand delisted CBD as a narcotic. But before you get too excited, here are the cole’s notes on the caveats:
- CBD extract must not contain more than 0.01% THC by weight.
- Extracts with CBD as the main ingredient should not have more than 0.2% THC by weight.
- These allowances only apply to CBD produced in Thailand (for now).
Where To Buy CBD Oil In Thailand
A few private enterprises produce and sell CBD products in Thailand. However, because there is currently no FDA requirement, anybody can make anything they want and slap a label on it.
It’s critical that you source CBD products from a reliable vendor that is transparent about its extraction methods, ingredients, and storage.
Also too, given the conflicting information on how to take CBD oil and what to use it for, a good supplier can assist you. Because CBD is unregulated in Thailand, ensure your source for CBD oil can answer your questions about type and dosage as clearly and comprehensively as possible. In short, you should feel comfortable with whom you’re buying from.
At CBD35.net, all our CBD and CBG products are sourced with integrity from the USA and carefully selected for quality and potency. They’re also third-party tested and stored in optimal conditions that maintain their purity and potency.
Got a question about our CBD products or how to use them? Contact us on LINE.
While there are still a lot of unknowns, CBD’s potential seems far-reaching, and some studies have confirmed that CBD oil has health benefits. With few side effects and only positive reviews from people about its effects on pain and anxiety, CBD oil is a sensible natural alternative or supplement for conventional treatments.
FAQs
Is CBD oil addictive?
There is no evidence showing that CBD is addictive. In fact, studies have shown that CBD may be useful in treating and preventing addiction to certain methamphetamines.
According to the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
Can CBD help with depression?
Evidence suggests that CBD may alleviate depression in the way it interacts with serotonin signals and the hippocampus in the brain.
Can CBD cause headaches?
Due to its analgesic effect, CBD shouldn’t cause headaches. However, incorrect dosage or poor-quality CBD products may produce an adverse reaction, such as a headache. Start with a low dose and work your way up, observing your body’s reaction. Also, ensure you buy CBD oil from a trust source.
Does CBD have side effects?
While high-quality CBD product is considered safe, some people may experience side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Sleeping problems
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Increase in liver enzymes
Are there interactions between CBD and other medications?
There is always potential for adverse reactions when mixing any medications, natural or synthetic. We recommend consulting with a doctor before taking CBD, especially if you are currently on medication.
Are CBD oil and hemp oil the same?
While they both come from the cannabis plant, hemp oil is made from the seeds of the plant. It has little to no CBD or THC content. CBD oil derives from the flowers, leaves, and stems.
Can I give CBD oil to my pet?
Many people who buy CBD oil give it to their pet for inflammation and pain. Keep in mind that CBD will affect your pet differently than it affects you, so we recommend starting with a mild dose and observing their reactions.