Very quickly, let’s dispel the first assumption you might have had after reading the title of this article - this is not an article suggesting you become a stoner. In fact, it isn’t about marijuana at all. Instead, it’s about something called cannabidiol (CBD), and how to use a CBD tincture every day.
Cannabidiol is a therapeutically powerful compound found in the cannabis plant. But CBD tincture is not a THC tincture, which is going to make you high. CBD has no psychoactivity at all.
Both CBD and THC come from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, and some strains contain higher THC levels than others. Importantly, CBD is legal in most countries, including the United States - if derived from industrial hemp. There is a legal grey area federally regarding marijuana and its derivatives, but for the purposes of this article on how to use CBD tincture, just know that individual states are starting to clarify the legal status of CBD use.
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CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
There are dozens of different cannabinoids found in cannabis. The most popular and well known are THC and, increasingly, CBD. Scientific study has shown both these cannabinoids to have significant health benefits through their interaction with the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is an integral part of the human body, regulating many processes including mood, appetite, pain perception, and memory. You can find cannabinoid receptors from head to toe, but there are some areas with higher concentrations. First, there are many receptors in the brain, which are called CB-1 receptors, and secondly, there are concentrations of receptors to be found in the digestive tract, nervous system, and immune system. These are called CB-2 receptors.
Cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, can interact with this system because they mimic cannabinoids that are naturally produced by the human body. This is why cannabis preparations, like CBD tincture, are an increasingly popular alternative therapy.[1]
The Difference Between A THC Tincture and A CBD Tincture
There is a notable difference between the effects of THC and those of CBD. All users will know the euphoric and perception-altering effects of THC (usually through marijuana use), but these effects are not in any way associated with CBD.
THC's psychoactive effects can make it pretty challenging to consume marijuana (either medically or recreationally) in high doses, and maintain a regular lifestyle. Cannabidiol, and indeed every other cannabinoid, is non-psychoactive, however. This means that when you use CBD, even daily, you are still able to function normally, feel normal, and have no unwanted effects like anxiety. Research is increasingly demonstrating that CBD has many powerful therapeutic benefits.
The Research On CBD Tincture Benefits
While many people turn to CBD oil as an alternative therapy for treatment of very specific health issues, CBD tincture may also be an effective method to boost general health and wellbeing. This is because researchers believe CBD is safe to use (even in high doses) and has many generalized health benefits perfect for daily use, just like other daily supplements.[2]
RELATED: The 8 CBD Benefits That Will Blow Your Mind
CBD Tincture for Pain Management
The endocannabinoid system is responsible for managing pain perception, which is why some people take CBD tinctures on a daily basis to help reduce chronic pain. Some users report such a profound experience with CBD that they can avoid or minimize prescription opioids for pain management.[3][4]
RELATED: How Useful Is CBD Oil for Pain Management?
CBD Tincture for Inflammation
In conjunction with its ability to reduce pain, CBD tincture also targets inflammation. Scientists believe it does so because of its interaction with the CB-2 receptors present at the source of the inflammation, as well as throughout the rest of the body, mitigating the receptors’ inflammatory response. Many studies are actively pursuing CBD as a novel anti-inflammatory medicine, for issues as diverse as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders.[5]
CBD Tincture for Anxiety
A quick review of the research shows the potential of CBD as a novel approach to anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people take CBD tincture and oil today. For them, it seems to reduce general daily anxiety if taken on a regular basis. People report it allowing them to function normally, and with less stress in their daily lives.
One often-cited study demonstrated that in two groups of people tested for stress levels before and after a public speech, CBD oil reduced stress and anxiety in the group given CBD oil before the event. Not only did it reduce their self-reported stress levels, but it also reduced their physiological stress indicators like blood pressure, skin conductance and heart rate.[6]
RELATED: Doing It Wrong? How to Dose CBD Oil for Anxiety
CBD Tincture for Diabetes
A new wave of CBD research has come out showing promising results for its ability to reduce the risk of adult-onset diabetes. A preliminary animal study has shown that in obese mice, the risk of diabetes was reduced by 56% when treated with CBD. The cannabinoid also helped regulate their blood sugar and reduce the size of their waistline. Considering diabetes is a gateway to many more pressing issues like heart disease, any reduction in risk is hugely beneficial.[7]
How to Use CBD Tincture for Daily Benefit
Every brand and every product will come with general guidelines on how to use CBD tincture. Unlike other conventional pharmaceutics, there are no industry-wide guidelines for dosing. Thus people have been diligently performing self-experiments to find out how much CBD tincture works best for daily use.
Anecdotal and scientific evidence gives us a rough idea of how to use CBD tincture for general health. However, it’s important to note that everyone is different and therefore doses will affect everybody differently. Note that CBD oil for medicinal purposes isn’t federally regulated (yet). So, take things slow, and always start at the minimum suggested dose.
How To Use CBD Tincture Safely
As one final note, experts have widely affirmed that the safety profile of CBD, especially in comparison to comparable pharmaceuticals. Taking CBD tincture on a daily basis is thought to be safe, and have relatively few low-risk side effects.
Even so, it's also a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider before combining CBD with any other medicines. Some evidence suggests that CBD increases the potency of other hepatic (liver metabolism) drugs, and if combined properly, may actually help patients reduce dosage for these other pharmaceuticals.
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Sources:
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6126753_Cannabidiol_-_Recent_Advances
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820295/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/
[7] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08916930500356674
