The widespread availability of CBD in neighborhood outlets translates into a huge market with massive sales. In 2019, consumers spent $845 million on CBD products, and that number is projected to double over the next two years.
But there are major problems with being able to walk into your local CBD shop to make a purchase. Chances are the shop can’t verify the quality of your CBD product, so you don’t really know what you’re using. And you sure can’t get qualified medical information.
We can help with both concerns at Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center. In addition to determining if CBD is safe for you and likely to improve your symptoms, we offer high-quality CBD products.
Call Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center any time you have a question about CBD. In the meantime, we wrote this blog to dispel the top five myths about CBD oil.
Myth 1: CBD has a psychoactive effect
The first myth to dispel is that CBD causes the same mind-altering impact as its close relative marijuana. Hemp and marijuana both belong to the same family. But their parent plant, cannabis sativa, contains more than 80 biologically active compounds, and the two plants have different ingredients.
The primary ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is psychoactive. By comparison, the main component in CBD, cannabidiol, doesn’t make you high. Instead, it affects other systems in your body that lead to the health benefits.
Myth 2: CBD is a scam
There’s no doubt that CBD contains active ingredients with the power to affect your body. Need proof? Consider the fact that the FDA approved a medication called EPIDIOLEX® which consists of CBD and is prescribed to treat seizures.
Your body produces its own cannabinoids that impact your emotional and physical health. For example, your natural cannabinoids relieve pain, fight inflammation, reduce anxiety, boost your mood, and improve your sleep.
When you consume CBD, it interacts with your endocannabinoid system. As a result, CBD may be especially beneficial for reducing inflammation and relieving conditions such as chronic pain, neuropathic pain, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia.
However, it’s important to remember that CBD research is in its early stages. As more studies are published, we will learn more about the specific health benefits of CBD.
Myth 3: CBD oil doesn’t cause side effects
Virtually all products you consume, even some vitamins, can cause side effects or become toxic in high doses. CBD is the same. It’s generally considered to be safe, but it can cause side effects such as diarrhea, sleepiness, and irritability.
Little research has been published to define the exact side effects of CBD. During the approval process for EPIDIOLEX, however, the FDA discovered it could cause liver damage.
The most worrisome side effect of CBD is its ability to interact with medications. CBD can slow down the liver’s metabolism of certain medications, leading to unsafe, high blood levels and side effects.
Since CBD may interact with many different medications, protect your health by talking with us before purchasing CBD products.
Myth 4: CBD products are all the same
Nothing could be further from the truth. The quality of CBD varies widely between products. The potency and amount of the CBD contained in any product depends on the source.
Additionally, CBD products often contain more than pure CBD oil. When CBD is extracted from hemp, it comes along with numerous plant-based ingredients. The full spectrum of ingredients work together to affect your health.
The bottom line is that you need to know the source of your CBD and make sure they reveal all the active ingredients in their CBD products.
Myth 5: CBD produces fast results
Though marijuana produces a rapid psychoactive response, you won’t experience the same results with CBD. Most people find that their results appear gradually over days or weeks of consistently using the recommended amount of their CBD product.
We carefully screen your health and medical history before recommending CBD. To learn if CBD products may improve your symptoms, call one of our offices in Orange or Laguna Hills, California, or book an appointment online.