Over the past few years, CBD has soared in popularity due to noted health benefits, and ease of use compared to traditional pharmaceuticals. From topicals to tinctures to vapes, CBD can be used in an abundance of forms. But with this abundance of forms comes confusion for new buyers.
Benefits of CBD
CBD is reportedly known to have many benefits, from relieving pain to helping with sleep. Different forms of CBD have different benefits.
Pain Relief
Cannabis has been documented as a pain reliever as far back as 2900 BC, which speaks for itself. CBD helps relieve pain by interacting with the endocannabinoid system. If you’re looking to target certain parts of your body for pain relief, a topical is best. You can apply the topical directly to the pain point and feel the relief. If you want all-over pain relief, a tincture or or oral spray can help, as it will help with full-body relief.
Appetite
For people who struggle with nausea and lack of appetite, CBD has shown some promising results. CBD doesn’t cause the traditional “munchies” you think of when you think of cannabis, but it can promote appetite by suppressing nausea and calming your digestive track. For appetite promotion, an oral spray, tincture, or vape will be the best.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression can have a huge impact on quality of life, and anecdotal evidence shows that CBD could help. To assist with anxiety or depression, taking CBD orally is the most helpful. This could be a tincture (drops), oral spray, or vape, whichever you’re most comfortable.
Acne and Skin Irritation
Irritated skin and acne can have a negative impact on your day, but CBD can help. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can aid in the reduction of irritation and acne for users. Topicals are the best for this, since you want to target specific parts of your skin. One study even found that using CBD oil on your skin will help prevent your skin from creating excessive sebum.
Insomnia
If you struggle with insomnia, CBD has shown promising results. One study showed that CBD helped increase sleep duration compared to a placebo. For CBD as a sleep aid, you can take edibles, tinctures, or vapes.
What to Look For
Shopping for CBD can be done from the comfort of your home, from a dispensary , or even at stores like Sephora or Whole Foods. When you’re shopping for CBD, you’ll want to make sure that it’s been tested by a 3rd party lab, to verify that what you’re purchasing is what it says it is (how much CBD it contains and whether or not it has THC). The test results should be readily available on the website or, in some cases, on packaging. You’ll also want to do some research into the company and see if they have a good reputation and check the reviews on each product.
