Forbes Health What is CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a supplement derived from the cannabis sativa plant. Once CBD is extracted from the plant, it’s mixed with a carrier oil—often olive, coconut or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil—to create CBD oil, which is then consumed orally.

How It Works in the Body

CBD works through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a cell-signaling system. The ECS is made up of cannabinoids produced by the body naturally, receptors that respond to those cannabinoids and enzymes that help break them down and put them to use. When you consume CBD oil, your body responds the same way it does to its natural cannabinoids.

Research suggests the ECS plays a role in several physiological processes, including appetite, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, fertility, immune functions, memory, neuroprotection and pain modulation^[2]. People who consume CBD oil products often report relief for a variety of ailments, from anxiety to chronic pain.

What to Look for When Choosing a CBD Oil

Because CBD oil is considered a dietary supplement and isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumers need to do their own research to ensure the quality of the product they choose to try. Here are a few criteria to consider when shopping for CBD oil:

U.S. sourcing. The FDA doesn’t regulate CBD oil products specifically, but it does regulate the cannabis sativa plants grown on U.S. soil, requiring that they contain no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. (THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most well-known psychoactive compound found in the cannabis sativa plant, and some states have yet to legalize it due to its mind-altering effects.) Buying CBD oil sourced in the U.S. ensures the product you’re using meets these legal requirements.

Third-party testing. By sending samples of a product to an independent and accredited laboratory for testing, a company can ensure safety and security standards are being met, which is important for supplements like CBD oil.

Certificate of Analysis (COA) availability. This document is supplied by the third-party laboratory to confirm whether the CBD product meets the specifications advertised on its label. It also acknowledges any presence of pesticides, heavy metals or molds, which can be harmful to human health. Look for a CBD brand that transparently provides COAs for their products on their website.

How to Use It

Experts advise newcomers to start with a low dose of CBD oil, such as 25 milligrams a day, and gradually increase their dose to a level that provides the desired effects. It’s best to navigate this process under the guidance of a qualified physician, as reactions to CBD can vary per person.

Most CBD oil products fall in one of three categories: full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate.

Full Spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD products contain all extracts of the cannabis sativa plant—CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, essential oils and other cannabinoids present in the plant. In the legal variety of cannabis sativa, THC concentrations naturally remain less than 0.3% by dry weight, so there are trace amounts, but not enough to create THC’s well-known psychoactive effects.

Broad Spectrum

Broad-spectrum CBD products also contain all extracts of the cannabis sativa plant, with the exception of the trace amount of THC. Many broad-spectrum CBD products list that they contain either less than 0.01% THC by dry weight or are completely THC-free.

Isolate

Also known as pure CBD, isolate is harvested from the cannabis sativa plant using extraction methods that leave all other components of the plant behind. CBD isolate products should contain pure CBD and, therefore, contain zero trace of THC.