Cannabidiol or CBD, is one of the more than one hundred phytocannabinoids present in the Cannabis plant. It is  a molecule with the ability to interact with our endocannabinoid system, and through it, influence the functions that regulate various systems of our body, such as the Central and Peripheral Nervous System, the Immune System, the Digestive System, among others.

These properties of CBD, added to the absence of a mental effect linked to its use, have allowed the scientific community to take advantage of its interaction with the body for the treatment of a wide variety of pathologies.

That is why today I explain everything you need to know about CBD oil , the most widely used presentation of this cannabinoid in the medical field.

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil is an extract of the cannabis plant, used mainly for medicinal purposes, which has CBD as its main active component.

Its route of administration is sublingual, allowing a relatively rapid absorption and a long-lasting effect.

Benefits of CBD

CBD, by not producing the high effect , offers the user the opportunity to benefit from its therapeutic qualities without the risk of an alteration of the state of consciousness, something very important when trying to treat children, adolescents or simply people who are not looking for this kind of effect.

Similarly, CBD offers an alternative for those who seek to alleviate their ailments in a natural way, but must be subjected to frequent drug tests, which only detect the presence of THC and its metabolites. 

One aspect that is highly valued by doctors who prescribe CBD and its users is its wide therapeutic window, that is, the range between the effective concentration and the minimum toxic concentration. CBD is non-toxic, and requires very high doses to feel its side effects. This facilitates its safe dosing.

Types of oils derived from Cannabis:

Currently there are various types of cannabis derived oils on the market, the differences of which are mainly due to the range of compounds of the cannabis plant that it contains and the part of the plant from which they are extracted.

We can meet with:

Seed Oil

This oil is extracted directly from cannabis seeds and has been shown to be rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 (protectors of the cardiovascular system), as well as the presence, in lower concentrations, of biologically active molecules. However, there is a complete  absence of cannabinoids .

Currently, the therapeutic properties of its biologically active molecules are under study, but it is believed that they could function as an adjunct in pain treatments.

Isolated CBD oil ( isolate ):

This oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, especially hemp, given its low THC content. It only has the presence of CBD in its composition, so it requires various chemical extraction processes for the selective isolation of this cannabinoid.

Oil CBD spectrum ( broad spectrum )

This oil, like that of isolated CBD, is extracted directly from the cannabis plant, with the difference that, in addition to CBD, it has the presence of other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, but with the total absence of THC in its composition.

This allows it to be subjected to fewer chemical extraction processes, but having terpenes (molecules associated with the taste and smell of the plant) can have a strong taste and aroma.

Oil CBD full spectrum ( full spectrum )

This oil, like the previous two, is obtained directly from the plant, with the particularity that in this, if we find all of the components present in the strain of cannabis that we are using (cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids) .

As it does not require the specific isolation of any compound, its extraction process is the simplest. As with broad spectrum oil, its taste and aroma can be a bit strong.

Which is better? Consider the Entourage Effect

In the last decade, various scientific studies have shown that the joint use of the different components of the cannabis plant could represent an advantage compared to the isolated use of its elements, in an effect known as the entourage effect.

This effect suggests that by using cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, THCA, CBDA, CBGA, etc.) together with the terpenes and flavonoids present in the cannabis plant, a synergistic effect (mutual increase) will be achieved that improves the therapeutic properties of each compound. 

In addition to this, it has been proven that the joint use of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, in addition to enhancing the benefits of both, reduces the adverse effects associated with the use of THC.

Comparison of oils: 

Seed

✅  –   Abundant presence of fatty acids- Simple extraction processes❌

–   Absence of cannabinoids

CBD isolate (isolate)

✅

• It is not psychoactive
• Easy dosing
• Tasteless and odorless

❌

• Absence of entourage effect
• Requires complex extraction processes

CBD broad spectrum (broad spectrum)

✅  

• It is not psychoactive
• Easy dosing
• Partially benefits from the entourage effect

❌

• Requires moderate extraction processes
• Taste and smell can be strong

CBD full spectrum  (full spectrum)✅  

• Take full advantage of the benefits of the entourage effect
• Therapeutic benefits exclusively associated with THC
• Less complex extraction process

❌

• Potentially psychoactive
• Requires careful dosing
• Taste and smell can be strong

For which diseases is the use of CBD oil recommended?

Due to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, CBD has been recognized as a useful molecule in the treatment of different pathologies, such as:

• Epilepsy: Especially that refractory to conventional pharmacological treatment
• Anxiety: Being considered as a substance with anxiolytic properties
• Chronic pain : Associated with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.
• Insomnia: Usually associated with an indirect effect secondary to the relief of patients affected by chronic pain and stress.
• Cancer : One of the most recently postulated properties is antineoplastic (neoplasia = tissue formed by the abnormal replication of cells)

CBD safety

Since CBD is a cannabinoid that does not produce the effect of being blown up, and having a wide therapeutic window, its use is quite safe when compared to drugs currently available on the market for the treatment of the same pathologies.

Even so, there are two crucial issues that must be taken into account if you want to have a safe consumption of CBD oils, the quality of the product and the dose used.

Product quality is a matter of vital importance since currently its production does not have regulations and standards as strict as those of the pharmaceutical industry.

Low-quality products can bring problems to the consumer such as the presence of unwanted remnants of plant material, solvents used for the extraction of cannabinoids or higher than expected quantities of cannabinoids with narrower therapeutic windows and a greater potential to generate adverse effects.

One way to guarantee the quality of your CBD products is to look for certificates of quality standards, such as GMP (Good manufacturing practices) .

The dose used will also play a fundamental role in obtaining the expected effect when using CBD products, since if we abuse the suggested doses we could find unwanted psychoactive effects in the case of using full spectrum CBD or even mark as positive in test of THC.

• A low dose is less than 10-15mg of CBD.
• An average dose is 20-40 mg of CBD.
• A high dose is more than +50 mg of CBD.

Other ways to consume CBD:

CBD oils, despite being the most widely used products by medicinal users and those with the best dosage, are not the only way to consume this cannabinoid.

Vaporization : Which can be done through extractions or flowers of plants rich in CBD, it is a frequently used therapeutic alternative, with the advantage of having an immediate and short-lasting effect.

Edibles : They are an interesting and very useful alternative if you want to administer CBD to pets. Their drawback is that they are not easy to dose.

Creams: CBD creams have become popular for the relief of joint pain, offering an alternative to the topical administration of this cannabinoid directly to the affected area.

New research on CBD

In the last decade there has been an immense growth in the research of the medicinal uses of CBD, this has allowed the discovery of new therapeutic properties that show an encouraging outlook for medicinal cannabis in the coming years. For example:

Recent studies, carried out in animal models, have shown that CBD and its acid molecule, CBDA, has the ability to increase apoptosis (programmed cell death) of cancer cells, reduce their migration and inhibit their cell proliferation, which could make CBD an upcoming cancer treatment drug that does not have the many adverse effects of chemotherapies.

Another more relevant study with the current panorama has shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD could be useful for the treatment of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, reducing the cytokine storm (pro-inflammatory molecules) responsible for respiratory distress syndrome in adults (ARDS), the complication that causes the highest mortality of covid.

Recognition of medicinal cannabis by the UN

In 2020, an event that shocked the world was the reclassification in the list of the single convention on cannabis narcotics.

A fact that took place after, on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, the UN narcotics commission eliminated cannabis from list IV, which includes drugs such as heroin, classified as very dangerous substances and without medical value or very limited. 

Now cannabis is on List number I, where substances that require international control but whose medical value is widely recognized are located, where drugs such as morphine are found.

The recognition of the United Nations Organization of the medicinal properties of cannabis, hopes to promote the development of scientific research that manages to study and make the most of the therapeutic properties of this ancient plant.

I hope this information has been useful and interesting for you.