1. What Does CBD Stand For?

CBD is a shorter, easier way of saying ‘cannabidiol’, which likely brings you to your next question: ‘what is cannabidiol?’ Put simply, it’s a chemical compound produced by the Cannabis sativa plant, which is the most common of all the cannabis plants.

This natural substance is something of a secret weapon in the wellness world, with the ability to interact with your body’s built-in endocannabinoid system. This is how CBD helps to promote homeostasis – the sense of internal balance that all of us strive for.

2. What's the Difference Between CBD and THC?

When people hear about cannabis, they often assume it’s going to make them feel ‘high’, but this is only true when THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is involved. THC is responsible for the psychoactive states associated with taking cannabis, but Cannaray’s CBD is entirely THC-free – meaning our products are all non-psychoactive.

3. What Does Hemp Have to Do with CBD?

The words ‘hemp’ and ‘cannabis’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but hemp is actually just one type of Cannabis sativa plant. Its leaves are abundant in CBD, so it’s a great natural source for the supplement. However, its seeds are not, meaning if you see ‘hemp oil’ or ‘hemp seed oil’ for sale, you shouldn't confuse it with CBD oil.

4. Why is CBD Getting So Much Attention?

“CBD is getting a lot of attention right now because unlike THC, it is not intoxicating,” explains Gregor. “It doesn't produce the high that is associated with THC, but studies to date show it may have similar therapeutic effects as THC. However, the ways that CBD and THC actually work in our body are very different.”

7. What Does Taking CBD Feel Like?

Now you know that CBD doesn’t cause you to feel ‘high’, what does it feel like? “Taking CBD doesn't change your consciousness,” explains Gregor. “You can still function fully and totally normally”

There have been plenty of other drugs available on the market before to help treat anxiety and depression and these drugs can sometimes come with unwanted side effects, such as headaches, nausea, lethargy and lowered libido, as well as addictive properties.

CBD has risen in popularity as a natural remedy for managing anxiety and depression, particularly due to its lack of unwanted side effects or addictions. “This is one of the areas where CBD is showing great promise in the treatment of anxiety-related conditions” continues Gregor. “Other pharmaceutical drugs often have the unwanted side effects of making you feel a little nonresponsive and zombie-like. CBD doesn't have these side effects, so it's really fascinating to hear what patients who are using CBD are reporting.”(1)

In fact, a recently published case series looking at the effect of cannabidiol on anxiety and sleep concluded that CBD appeared to be better tolerated than routine psychiatric medications in all but 3 patients out of the 72 participants. Controlled clinical studies are needed to validate the true effects of CBD and we look forward to the further research to come.

8. What Can CBD Be Used For?

There are a host of reported use cases for CBD, with studies indicating it may help with everything from stress and anxiety to inflammation and sleep disorders. One of the most commonly discussed uses is CBD’s impact on pain, and Gregor explains, “CBD is an analgesic, meaning that it may be useful for pain relief, especially when there is pain due to inflammation.”

He adds: “We can categorise inflammation into two types: acute, which lasts for a short time; and chronic, which lasts for a longer period of time. Chronic inflammation often also causes chronic pain, which can affect long-term health.”

“Inflammation is a part of the reaction of the immune system that's extremely important in the healing process. That's why it's a good idea to have something to mitigate the inflammation. Studies have shown that CBD may have beneficial anti-inflammatory properties, especially in cases where pain arises from some sort of inflammatory process.”(2)

9. What Else Can CBD Help With?

“CBD may also help with a lot of other less detrimental problems,” says Gregor. *“Some skin conditions can be very problematic and more than just a nuisance. There is preliminary evidence that CBD may also help with certain skin conditions because of its anti-inflammatory properties, and inflammation is present in the majority of skin conditions."

A 2014 study looked into the effects on CBD on human sebocytes - the cells in the skin that create sebum. It revealed that CBD has the potential as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne. Gregor explains,“as an analgesic, CBD may help to prevent the pain, but it is also antipyretic, which means that it may help against the itchiness of many types of skin conditions. It can also be very useful in the treatment of acne. Initial research has shown that CBD can prevent the over-stimulated production of sebum, which is one of the major causes of [blemishes].”

While the results of this initial study are promising, controlled human studies are still lacking, and further reseach is necessary to understand the true impact of CBD on a variety of skin conditions.

10. How Long Does CBD Stay in the System?

One of the many benefits of CBD is that its results are long-lasting, namely because it takes a while for the enzymes in your body to metabolise it. Typically, the compound stays in your system for three to five days after use, but this timespan can vary from one person to the next. There are a number of factors that affect how long it stays in your system, including the amount of food you eat, how much CBD you use, how often you use it and, of course, your genetic make-up.