CBD Oil: Its Benefits, Side Effects, and Manufacturing Process

Cannabidiol oil, more commonly known as CBD oil, is found in hemp and marijuana plants.

12:41 05 November 2020

However, CBD does not cause hallucinations and is known to be non-psychoactive, meaning that it does not make you high.

 

The reason why marijuana makes you high is because of THC (also known as tetrahydrocannabinol). Hemp and marijuana plants both contain CBD and THC, but the amount of these components varies in the two plants. CBD oil is extracted from hemp plants, which are composed of around 0.3% THC. This minuscule amount of THC does not make you high. On the contrary, it has several medicinal properties.

 

Benefits of CBD oil

 

There is a lot of research going on regarding the health benefits of CBD oil. However, the following science has proven the benefits given below. Hence, people have been using CBD oil for treating various ailments.

 

1. Pain relief

 

One of the main reasons why people use CBD is to alleviate pain. Pain (sensory) receptors in the body respond to a stimulus by forwarding messages to the spinal cord, which then transmits the message to the brain. The brain registers the stimuli as pain. CBD prevents a person from feeling by binding to neurotransmitters. These inhibit the transmission of signals and messages to the brain. Hence, a person doesn’t feel pain.

 

People suffering from chronic pains, such as arthritis, back pain, and muscle pain, find CBD oil beneficial to prevent pain.

 

2. Treating acne

 

Various factors cause acne, including genetics, bacteria, sebum production, emotional health, hormonal issues, and other underlying problems.

 

Since CBD oil has anti-inflammatory properties, it can treat acne as well. Moreover, it affects the cells that produce sebum. Overproduction of sebum causes a thick layer of oil to remain on the skin. Over time, this layer of oil can cause breakouts on the skin, leading to severe acne. CBD prevents excessive secretion of sebum by interfering with the activity of cells that produce it.

 

3. Treating side effects of chemotherapy

 

According to some claims, CBD oil can help in treating cancer. However, this claim is unfounded and required further research. But it can help improve the side effects of chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that CBD oil can help prevent nausea, vomiting, depression, anorexia, and insomnia in some individuals.

 

Despite these claims, large-scale testing is essential to determine whether CBD oil has long-term effects or not. As we will see later in this article, CBD oil also has similar side effects as those caused by chemotherapy. So there is a little ambiguity regarding these studies.

 

4. Treating depression and anxiety

 

CBD oil can help in alleviating mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and others. It can help improve mood and reduce stress.

 

Serotonin is a hormone responsible for a person’s mood. While it doesn’t increase the serotonin level in the bloodstream, research has shown that CBD has a positive effect on serotonin receptors.

 

5. Treating neurological disorders

 

One of the popular uses of CBD oil has been to treat neurological disorders and the pain brought by it. People suffering from neurological disorders, including sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s diseases, strokes, and others, face many health issues. They face muscle spasms, chronic pain, and inability to perform everyday functions. CBD helps by reducing pain and improving motor functionality by relaxing the muscles. It also helps in reducing fatigue, a common symptom found in almost all neurological disorders. Hence, it allows a person to live a regular life.

 

6. Treating heart diseases

 

Heart diseases, such as high blood pressure and a high pulse rate, can benefit from CBD. According to research, CBD leads to lower blood pressure. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even diabetes. Although CBD oil proves to be beneficial for the heart, there is a need for research to find how it has this effect.

 

What side effects should you know about CBD oil?

 

Despite providing several benefits for improving health, CBD oil is not without its side effects. Some of the side effects of CBD oil include vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, fatigue, agitation, etc. Hence, when you decide to take CBD oil, please consult your doctor or physician on the amount and the dosage that you need to take.

 

How is CBD oil UK produced?

 

The process starts with CBD oil UK extraction from a hemp plant. There are three methods used for extraction. These include using a solvent, such as ethanol, butane, propane, and others. Many commercial CBD oil producers also use olive oil for extraction. The third method uses carbon dioxide for removing CBD from hemp plants.

 

Manufacturers then refine raw CBD oil by removing solvents and other chemicals. In the solvent method, the leaves are left in the solvent as it extracts the CBD oil. The CBD oil is separated from the oil through boiling. It results in a concentrated form of CBD. 

 

CBD products include tinctures, oils, and gummies. CBD tincture is highly concentrated and extracted using the solvent method using alcohol and water.

 

To produce CBD gummies, most manufacturers use full-spectrum extracts. In addition to CBD, this extract contains other chemicals as well. Since CBD oil doesn’t taste good, CBD gummies also have ingredients such as sugar, artificial flavor, citric acid, and gelatin. All of these ingredients are mixed before being melted. The gummies are then poured into a mold and allowed to cool. The gummies are then passed over sieves to remove excess starch or sugar. Throughout the production process, the gummies are tested for quality control.

 

Manufacturers, such as ZenBears, produce CBD gummies locally. The benefit of doing so is that it can be tested within the country. Moreover, CBD supplements have approval from the authorities.

 

Conclusion

 

As we have seen, CBD oil has many health benefits, but it also has several side effects that you should know. Even though CBD oil has been in use for many years, there is little that we know about it and how it affects our bodies. No matter what the case is, consult your doctor before using it.