CBD Myths Busted by an Expert

The CBD industry has taken over the world as one of the hottest wellness trends, and it’s not going away. As a result, many people are reaping the benefits of an abundance of high quality CBD oil products. But, unfortunately, as with anything that rises in popularity not everything you’ll hear about CBD is true.

Because of this, it can be tricky to find your way to a CBD product that suits your needs – or indeed brave trying CBD oil products at all, if you’ve heard a myth that makes you think this supplement isn’t for you. But, as ever, Dermactiva is here to clear things up! We’re all about transparency and honesty, and our end goal is always to ensure our readers and customers are clued up with all things CBD and cannabis, so you can make informed choices.

We’ve asked CBD consultant, Ruby Deevoy, to take a look at 5 of the most common CBD myths and set the record straight once and for all!

One of the most common CBD myths is that CBD oil can get you high. But, if you’re buying a legal CBD product in the U.K. that’s not going to happen.

This is because the main molecule that produces that infamous ‘stoned’ feeling, THC, is only legal without a prescription in very small amounts. Miniscule in fact – 0.3% to be precise. But, this is only in ‘full spectrum’ CBD products. Many CBD oils don’t contain any THC at all.
 
If you were to buy a CBD product in a country where cannabis is available to buy legally, like many states in the US, these can contain higher levels of THC and as a result can get you high.

You’ll see this written all over the place in informative articles about CBD and on brand websites, but it’s not actually true. Although CBD doesn’t get you high, it is psychoactive – because it has an effect on your mind through its wide array of mechanisms. 
 
One example of this is how CBD oil supports the endocannabinoid system to increase levels of internally produced endocannabinoids in your body. The two we know most about (Anandamide and 2-AG) both directly activate receptors in the brain and have an effect on the way you process stress. 
 
Another example is how the CBD molecule directly activates serotonin receptors, providing a boost in this neurotransmitter which affects the mind through its regulation of mood, anxiety, happiness and even sexual arousal.

When you take CBD oil, or any other kind of CBD product, it does get to work pretty quickly (a few minutes for an oil, vape or up to an hour for edibles and drinks), and some people do feel the effects right away. However, others don’t and it can take some time for the cannabinoids to accumulate in your body before you notice anything. 
 
We’re all different, and some people are likely to have an endocannabinoid deficiency, which is thought to be caused by lifestyle factors such as chronic stress, poor diet, lack of quality sleep and more. If your endocannabinoids are lacking, it might be a while before you start feeling the effects of those increasing, which is why it’s so important to take CBD oil regularly and consistently, for at least a month, before you decide whether or not it’s working for you.
 
Once you’ve been taking CBD oil for a while, you may feel something when you take it. Usually this manifests as a wash of calm, a pick me up, or a sleepy sensation. 

A lot of CBD oil is derived from ‘industrial hemp’, but higher quality offerings (like the Dermactiva range, which is made from premium Colombian cannabis plant material) will go the extra mile and source cannabis plants which include THC, but then go through the process of removing it to a legal limit. But whether it’s hemp or cannabis, it makes no real difference to the fact that BOTH are cannabis, just different varieties. 
 
Hemp tends to naturally have little to no THC present in the flowers and leaves and, until the CBD industry exploded, was more commonly used for its fibrous stalks to make rope, fabric, food, building materials and even fuel.

Many CBD newbies are dubious about whether or not topical application of a CBD product could really do much good for internal issues, like joint complaints, but studies so far demonstrate that topical application can be very effective.
 
One study demonstrated that direct, topical application of a CBD gel to an arthritic knee for four consecutive days resulted in significantly reduced joint swelling and reduced spontaneous pain. So results are very promising! 
 
However, this only applies if the CBD oil is in a ‘transdermal’ formulation or patch. This means it’s been blended with other ingredients to enhance permeation of the skins multiple layers and a number of natural cannabis terpenes will act in this way.

The more you learn about CBD and CBD myths the better equipped you’ll be to find the right product for you. Take a look at our other CBD and cannabis articles, for expert advice.