Do you have questions about CBD oil?

I heard on the grapevine that CBD oil, Cannabidiol, cures a multitude of sins and I certainly have a few maladies both physical and mental that I could do without. Before I dove head first into a big oily vat of this relatively new and seemingly ‘cure-all’ craze, I had a few questions about CBD oil. There is so much information available, often misleading and contradictory, that I could hardly make sense of it. I met with Catherine, the founder of CannaWell, one of the pioneers of the hemp industry that originated in Brighton in 2014, to get the scoop on all things CBD.

Let’s get the jargon out of the way so that we can get to the good stuff. CBD is a phytocannabinoid that comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, usually from a form called hemp. Cannabis has a pretty charged reputation so let me clarify one thing. If you are looking to get high CBD can’t help you. Some CBD oils may contain traces of THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, but CBD oil categorically does not get you high. The World Health Organisation recognises CBD as safe to take for humans. It is a non-addictive substance with very few risks and few adverse side-effects.

So what does it do?

It provides phyto-cannabinoids which allows our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to function more effectively. The function of the ECS is to maintain a comfortable homeostatic equilibrium in the body. Think of the ECS as an engine and CBD oil as, well, oil. CBD helps the ECS run smoothly resulting in a healthier, well-balanced body. For this reason many people are turning to CBD to improve general health and well-being.

The oil comes from a cannabis plant, so is it actually legal?

According to Catherine, who not only founded CannaWell but is also the board director of The European Industrial Hemp Association, CBD oil is made using a botanical extract from hemp – a plant. Industrial hemp is used for a variety of things including building materials, producing clothes and CBD oil. The use of CBD is not a new invention although it has gained more traction in recent years. In fact the use of CBD in cooking dates back as early as the 14th century.

Now we’ve got the technicalities out of the way let us address the various wild claims that are being made about CBD and it’s capacity for helping a variety of health conditions such as cancer, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. You might as well claim CBD can help you fly or teleport! CBD may help with these conditions, however this has not been proven by scientific studies.

This is because the CBD supplements we can buy in the High Street or online are not medicinal. It is a botanical extract that some people find improve the symptoms of these conditions. Although we cannot claim that CBD directly cures these ills, CannaWell have seen and experienced a fantastic response from the general public from the use of CBD as a daily supplement. CBD does help your endocannabinoid system function better, which in turn will help your general health and well-being.

How do you take it?

How to take CBD depends on what you seek to gain from it. There are endless hemp and CBD options to choose from so this article will outline the usual fan favourites. CBD oil comes in varying strengths and not all CBD oils are made the same way. As noted by Catherine, the quality is far more important than the quantity.

CBD that is carefully extracted from organic sun grown hemp will yield a high quality product. CannaWell makes Organic Certified Hemp CBD that can be taken to improve your health and well-being from the inside out. It is recommended that the user starts with 5 drops 1-3 times per day at a lower strength (2.5%). However it is available in higher strengths (5% and 10%).

Some people prefer to use CBD oil as a skincare product. Hemp CBD as a natural and relaxing body balm is  available via CannaWell’s website, at CBD Ethics in 2 George Street, Kemptown and Healthlink in Boundary Road, Portslade. It can be applied to the skin to soothe and soften alongside  the other benefits from CBD which were mentioned previously. As well as taking CBD in these forms you can also use CBD as a cooking ingredient. Catherine was kind enough to share her recipe for CBD Pesto (see below).

Being able to care for your body and mind whilst enjoying a tasty bowl of pasta? Sounds pretty perfect to me…

Pesto with CBD

2 cups of fresh basil (stalks removed)⠀
3 heaped tbsp of pine nuts⠀
3 large cloves of garlic⠀
2 tbsp of lemon juice⠀
Pinch of salt and pepper⠀
2-3 tbsp of oil ⠀
5-6 drops of Cannawell Hemp CBD oiL
A sprinkle of hemp seeds⠀

Put in a blender and voila!