A Beginner’s Guide To CBD

First of all, what exactly is CBD?
“In a nutshell, CBD (or cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis family of plants – hemp and marijuana. It is used for many therapeutic benefits, but importantly does not have psychoactive effects, unlike its cousin THC, so it will not make you high. From better sleep and reduced stress to powerful anti-inflammatory properties for pain relief and skincare, CBD is showing real staying power through its numerous applications for common ailments.”

How does it work?
“There’s a biological reason why CBD has such far-reaching applications. This lies in CBD’s interaction with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a series of receptors and enzymes throughout the body that regulate homeostasis, or balance, in the body. The ECS helps fine-tune most of our physiological systems, including sleep, appetite, pain, inflammation, memory, mood and more.”

Are any of the benefits of CBD male-specific?
“We are continually amazed at how men and women of all ages are responding to CBD. Whether it’s a father that comes to The Chillery to buy a topical CBD cream for joint pain or an overworked 20-something looking for a CBD oil to manage stress levels more naturally, CBD speaks to a wide audience. Most men come to us for CBD tinctures for improved sleep – I always recommend Kiki Health’s 10% CBD Oil. Wunder Workshop’s Turmeric CBD Oil is also popular with athletes for its impressive anti-inflammatory properties. In terms of topical creams, we see many men look to Dr Kerklaan’s Natural CBD Relief Cream, which works wonders on localised muscle pain after workouts or age-related joint pain.”

How much should I take?
“The golden rule of CBD dosage is recognising that everyone is different, and experimenting slowly and steadily to find your sweet spot. Your body weight, the condition you’re treating, your individual body chemistry and the concentration of CBD in each product all have an impact on adequacy of dosage. It’s best to start with a smaller dosage (20-40mg per day) and gradually increase from there. Stick to the same dosage for about a week and then increase slowly (about 5mg a time) until you reach your desired effect. The UK Food Standards Agency has advised a healthy adult can consume a maximum of 70mg of CBD a day, so it’s best to stay within that range.”

There are so many different CBD products out there – any advice for finding a brand that’s reputable?
“Not all CBD products are created equal. With all the hype and marketing out there, it can be confusing to know where to look for quality products. It’s important for consumers to work with brands that ensure their products are made of quality ingredients because there is a lack of regulation in the industry. Read labels carefully and ask for independent lab reports to ensure quality standards are where they should be. At The Chillery, we do the heavy lifting so you can rest assured you’re getting the best CBD available. What’s more, we provide education along with quality products so customers don't feel intimidated by the buying experience.”

What should you be looking for when buying CBD?
“Firstly, think about what area you want to target. Is it stress? A better night’s sleep? Pain? Then look at your preferred delivery format – ideally this will be something that slots into your routine. For milder symptoms of stress, CBD edibles might be preferred as it’s easy to control their dosage. It also pays to know your terminology: for example, hemp seed oil is not the same as CBD, and full spectrum CBD is different from CBD isolate. It’s also important to find your dosage, especially when buying a consumable (like a CBD tincture or gummies). Tinctures bypass your digestive system, since they are absorbed under the tongue, so you would need less mg per dosage and see a faster time to onset than edibles. On the other hand, when consuming an edible, you will want to look for a higher minimum dosage like 20mg to ensure a baseline effect.”

Does timing matter?
“There is no hard and fast rule here as it all depends on what symptoms you are treating and how you are consuming CBD. If you are using a CBD tincture for sleep, it’s best to take it in the evening around 30 minutes to an hour before bed. If you’re using a CBD tincture for stress, it’s common to take some in the morning. And, of course, CBD topicals can be used throughout the day as and when needed for localised pain relief.”

How long do you have to stick with CBD to see results?
“This all depends on the delivery format or how CBD is consumed. Each method will have a different concentration of CBD, and some act faster than others. For example, tinctures are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream while edibles must be metabolised first, resulting in a longer time to onset. It’s important to stick with your dosage for a few weeks as CBD builds up in your system. Once you’ve nailed your sweet spot, you won’t look back.”

For more information, visit TheChillery.com

*Features published by SLMan are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programmes.