How Do I Get a Genuine CBD Product with the Money I Spend?

Do you often wonder how to get a genuine CBD product? Decide the form and the reason you want to use CBD, check for third-party testing and CBD product ingredients, look for products listing CBD amounts, know the meaning of the other terms on the label, avoid products that make a health claim, are low-cost CBD oils safe, how CBD helps.

Despite the abundance of CBD merchandise on the market, not all of them are made equal, and this is especially true when it comes to CBD oils. Unlike pharmaceuticals, cannabidiol products are not officially cleared and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the efficacy, quality, and safety of CBD products vary widely. Costs are all over the map. Is low-cost merchandise worth the money? The following sections explain whether CBD oil is safe and how to find low-cost CBD oils. A handful of our favorites are also included.

Decide the Form and the Reason You Want to Use CBD

Ayers et al. (2020) stated that the primary factor to consider is why you want to consume CBD. It has a wide range of potential health benefits. It might assist with everything from pain and anxiety to multiple sclerosis and opioid addiction, although it treats only two uncommon but severe types of epilepsy.

Cannabidiol products—such as drops, creams, or pills—might be helpful. However, experts may provide some guidance.

According to Breibarth et al. (2018), inhaling CBD may work best for immediate treatment of things like muscle cramps or anxiety, either through a vape pen (like an e-cigarette) or cigarette-style. Oil drops under the tongue may be helpful for benefits that appear within a few minutes. Some people may feel the effects of topical lotions immediately, while others may not feel them for several hours. The time it takes for CBD in food products to be absorbed into your system is more likely to take longer—at least 30 minutes.

Check for Third-Party Testing

Hudalla et al. (2020)  explained that the FDA does not guarantee the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter CBD oils and other products. Companies may mislabel their goods or make unsupported claims because CBD products aren't subject to the same regulations as pharmaceuticals.

Companies that make outrageous, unsupported health claims may receive warning letters from the FDA. An up-to-date COA from a reliable third-party lab attests to a product's purity and the accuracy of the labeled CBD and THC concentrations. If a CBD oil product doesn't have a COA, it's best to move on to another option.

CBD Product Ingredients

Companies should be open and honest about where their hemp is grown or sourced. A warning sign is raised if a corporation withholds information regarding how and where its products are made. Choose cannabis that is grown organically in the United States. Some CBD oils may include extra components, such as flavoring or essential oils. However, adding more additives could make a specific oil more expensive.

Look for Products Listing CBD Amounts

Treese et al.(2020) advised that you could look for products that list the amount of cannabidiol (or cannabidiol, as it is officially known) contained in the entire container and each dose. Depending on the form of the substance, dosages, which are expressed in milligrams, or mg,  change significantly. Experts frequently advise beginning with medications that have relatively low doses. Consider a tincture, for instance, that has only 10 milligrams per dose.

That does not state how much CBD they contain; only the total amount of "cannabinoids" should be handled with extreme caution. Along with CBD and THC, these cannabinoids may include dozens of additional closely related substances. Companies may utilize that labeling strategy, hoping the Food and Drug Administration won't scrutinize it.

Some of those goods, whose labels exclude the CBD content, advertise themselves as "whole-plant" or "full spectrum" hemp products or as a good source of other plant-based chemicals such as different fatty acids. It's yet unclear whether those other substances offer any further health advantages. You might verify it in those circumstances if they have a COA indicating how much CBD or THC they contain.

Know the Meaning of the Other Terms on the Label

Teräsvalli et al. (2020) stated that in labeling CBD products, "CO₂extraction" is sometimes the production method. This implies that high-pressure carbon dioxide gas rather than chemical solvents are used to extract the CBD and other components from the plant. Depending on the type of CO₂ extraction employed, additional cannabinoids in the plant may also be able to be extracted in addition to CBD. That strategy is not better because it is unknown whether those substances have any additional health advantages. Some methods of CO₂ extraction continue to employ solvents, but they might not be safer.

Some CBD products also advertise that they contain or originate from "hemp oil." Manufacturers occasionally use the word to refer to CBD oil, an oil with a high CBD content mainly derived from hemp plants' leaves, resin, or flowering tops. However, "hemp oil" more frequently and accurately refers to oil derived from the plant's seeds, which contains very little CBD. This oil is frequently used in hemp-based cosmetics, soaps, and other items.

Avoid Products That Make a Health Claim

Only prescription medications that have undergone thorough testing for efficacy and safety are allowed to make health claims, even the ability to treat relatively minor issues like migraines. You should be extra wary about claims that seem more extreme, such as the capacity to heal cancer or heart disease. The FDA has taken action against hundreds of businesses selling CBD products online since 2015 for claiming unapproved health claims.

Are Low-Cost CBD Oils Safe?

There is no assurance that the CBD products you purchase are created with safe, high-quality ingredients because they aren't subject to the same regulations as prescription pharmaceuticals. You typically get what you pay for with CBD. A product's potency may also be affected by its price. It's crucial to do your homework on the brands you purchase from.

Heavy metals and other potentially dangerous chemicals that could appear in lab reports, even firms that offer inexpensive CBD oil should make certificates of analysis (COAs) readily accessible to demonstrate that CBD oil is free of pesticides.

A warning sign is if a corporation doesn't use third-party testing. These goods could also include other heavy metals and pollutants, as well as more CBD and THC than what is being promoted.

Benefits of CBD

The cannabis plant contains the cannabinoid CBD. It is not psychotropic when taken, unlike THC. As a phytocannabinoid, CBD is a cannabinoid only present in plants. Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are produced naturally by our bodies.

Britch et al. (2021) showed that numerous possible health advantages, such as reduced pain, enhanced mental health, lowered blood pressure, and others, are associated with CBD. This is because it binds to our CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are part of the body's endocannabinoid system. Many fundamental processes, such as pain, immunity, stress, and others, are regulated by the endocannabinoid system, and CBD is thought to support this system.

Producers produce a flood of CBD products in various forms due to the increase in popularity. One of the most popular is CBD oil, which combines CBD extract with a carrier oil to be ingested beneath the tongue.

Conclusion

The cannabinoid known as CBD has been linked to various possible health benefits, including reducing pain, anxiety, and inflammation. Since the FDA does not regulate CBD products sold over the counter, you must do your homework before utilizing one of these products. Reputable brands can give evidence of testing conducted by a third party and indicate the quantity of CBD in each serving. It's simple to walk into whatever CBD store is closest to you and buy whatever product catches your eye first, thanks to the proliferation of these businesses. However, since cannabidiol, often known as CBD, is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the quality of different brands and products might vary significantly from one another.

References

Breitbarth, A. K., Morgan, J., & Jones, A. L. (2018). E-Cigarettes—An Unintended Illicit Drug Delivery System. Drug And Alcohol Dependence, 192, 98-111.

Britch, Stevie C., Shanna Babalon is, And Sharon L. Walsh. "Cannabidiol: Pharmacology And Therapeutic Targets." Psychopharmacology 238, No. 1 (2021): 9-28.

Dredze, M., & Ayers, J. W. (2020). Self-Reported Cannabidiol (CBD) Use For Conditions With Proven Therapies. JAMA Network Open, 3(10), E2020977-E2020977.

Leas, E. C., Hendrickson, E. M., Nobles, A. L., Todd, R., Smith, D. M., Wakshlag, J. J., Cital, S., Eaton, S. J., Prussin, R., & Hudalla, C. (2020). Cannabinoid, Terpene, And Heavy Metal Analyses Of 29 Over-The-Counter Commercial Veterinary Hemp Supplements. Veterinary Medicine: Research And Reports, 11, 45.

Teräsvalli, H. (2020). Extraction And Purification Of Cannabidiol.

Treese, N. M. (2020). Pharmacist's Guide To CBD Oil. US Pharm, 45(3), 20-23.