What Does CBD Do?
How is cannabidiol different from marijuana, cannabis and hemp?
Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is found in the cannabis plant. For clarity, marijuana is considered a cannabis plant that has more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). According to the CDC, hemp is used to describe any part of the cannabis sativa plant that has less than 0.3% THC, “the mind-altering substance in marijuana.” CBD does not cause a psychoactive effect, or a “high.” Shah Saffron CBD tinctures (commonly referred to as CBD oil) use CBD isolate and therefore do not contain any THC. We test each batch of tinctures to verify this purity, which you can find here.
Cannabidiol health benefits?
Research on CBD has shown many possible benefits, such as helping pain symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, according to GoodRx Health. It may also help with substance use disorder and depression. There isn’t an exact dose recommendation for most symptoms, which makes it more of a trial method to find that “sweet spot,” as we call it. When I first started using our 33mg tincture (traditionally labeled 1000mg and this is April writing), I was using a quarter of a dropper every night as I was one of our original guinea pigs. I have a hard time getting my brain to shut down (Type A personality) and noticed it started to get easier after a few weeks. As I increased my dose over several months, I noticed my cognitive thinking was sharper when involved in a team building activity at work. We had to solve 10 riddles and I solved 6 out of 10. I hate riddles and I’m terrible at them but convinced CBD has helped my brain power and my reflexes.
How to take cannabidiol
CBD comes in several different dosage forms. They all work differently and have different absorption rates. The most common forms:
· Sublingual (under the tongue)-can be most effective if you need quick results, which may last longer once they take effect. This may be a better option for ongoing symptoms that need long-lasting support, such as chronic pain.
· Oral (capsules or food-based edibles)-may take longer to feel effects as they have to be digested and processed by the body but may last several hours.
· Topical (cream or lotion)-most topical CBD products are best for skin-related conditions or symptoms close to the surface of the skin. Depending on the base of the cream or lotion, it may be absorbed quickly to help with joint pain. We are currently reformulating our pain relief cream and hope to have it back on the market before the end of the year.
· Inhaled (vaping or smoking)-works the fastest but effects do not last long. Inhaling can be harmful to your lungs, so it’s not our ideal choice.
What’s the best dose of cannabidiol?
Our most popular product is our 66mg (2000mg in the bottle) tincture. If you’re using any tincture for the first time, you should expect to be experimenting with your ideal dose the first few weeks. Start low and go slow for best results. If you take too much, you’ll probably feel tired. We suggest micro-dosing, which is taking smaller doses several times a day, but you may find a bigger dose works better for you. There’s no right answer as everyone metabolizes CBD differently. If you find the current tincture isn’t giving you enough support, try a stronger one next time. If you have questions, contact us any time and we can troubleshoot together. Talk to your health care professionals as they should be your partner in good health too.
