The UK market for cannabidiol will soon be worth over £1bn per year. Link 

CBD is everywhere at the moment and there are lots of anecdotal stories from people living with chronic pain, anxiety or poor sleep who have had tremendous results after taking CBD after just 7 days and sometimes right away. But is there any truth behind it all?

In this article we want to address the facts. If you are interested in what science has to say about CBD products then read on as we present some commonly asked questions with in-depth answers and practical information for getting started with CBD. 

What is CBD?

If you haven’t yet heard about this natural plant derived supplement it is currently making waves in the wellness and fitness market, and for good reasons. We make no claims about the medical benefits of CBD but new scientific studies indicate the potential of CBD products which may help millions of people across the UK who suffer from aches, pains 1, anxiety 4 or poor sleep 4.

CBD is one of many cannabinoids, or molecules produced exclusively within the cannabis family of plants. CBD oils scientifically extract these beneficial compounds from organically grown and harvested crops to give you a pure, quality product - providing you with the best nature has to offer.

Is CBD legal?

Yes. CBD is legal in the United Kingdom, United States and most countries within the EU. It must also be harvested from an EU approved industrial-grade hemp strain. All of our CBD products are independently lab tested to ensure that you are getting a pure product with less than 0.02% THC content which complies with UK regulations. We source only the finest premium industrial-grade hemp which has been approved by the EU. It’s also just enough to give you the therapeutic benefits without giving you a ‘high’.

Cannabis? So does CBD make you high?

No. CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning that it does not come with the ‘high’ associated with marijuana. The negative stigma that people have one of the great things about CBD is that it is reported to not be addictive or habit forming.

How does it work?

It has been common knowledge since the 1940s when it was first discovered, that CBD has an effect on the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for the process of homeostasis within the body which regulates bodily functions, i.e., pressure, appetite, sleep and pain.

Hemp contains around 545 phytocompounds of which 113 are considered cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. CBD accounts for roughly 40% of the plant resin extract. 

Understanding what is happening on a cellular level may help. Cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors (mainly CB1 and CB2), which play an important role in the central nervous and immune systems, by reducing the production of enzymes that break down your body’s own naturally occurring cannabinoids, helping to regulate various hormones within the body, facilitating a more balanced endocannabinoid system, (ECS).

There are at least 12 sites of action in the brain, with receptors responsible for memory, cognition, sleep, reward pathways and more. CBD may elicit therapeutic effects by activating multiple pathways at once. Studies and anecdotal evidence also suggest that CBD offers therapeutic value in the treatment of chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and other ailments. 

Who is CBD best suited for?

CBD is a naturally derived dietary supplement anybody can take which offers people a viable alternative to mass produced pharmaceuticals that come with exhaustive lists of side-effects that you do not want. 

There is not a lot of research on CBD but the results that the scientific research community have published to date are extremely promising. 

Healthy Sleep

The endocannabinoid system (the receptors which respond to CBD) controls our homeostasis (the balance of physical and chemical conditions in the body) - CBD may improve sleep quality 4. Improved sleep is crucial to muscle recovery because at night your body produces a hormone called Melatonin, which facilitates muscle recovery. Studies have found that those suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness were experiencing a notably higher quality of sleep 4. 

When taking CBD to improve sleep oil or CBD capsules are generally recommended as they have a slower release into the bloodstream, which is more helpful when going to sleep.

Anxiety Relief

More research is needed on the effects of CBD oils on anxiety, however early studies suggest that it may hold a benefit for anxiety sufferers 4. The most abundant of the cannabinoids is cannabidiol (CBD), which is thought to have anti-anxiety effects 7. More clinical studies are needed. 

Wellbeing

CBD works in a similar way to most anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain. Which means there’s more of it available in the synaptic cleft (where nerves are transmitted). So serotonin signals can be transmitted, boosting mood levels. This boost in serotonin reuptake may make it an ideal anti-stressant. Primary studies have found that CBD has a similar effect on the receptor in question, 5.

Aches and Pains

Various studies have looked into how CBD could help those who suffer from arthritis manage their joint pain. A 2016 study from the University of Kentucky found that CBD was effective in reducing pain and swelling in animal models with arthritis. 1 The study concluded there were no negative side-effects. CBD is a natural product derived from plants, meaning it has a big advantage over manufactured pharmaceuticals which come with a long list of possible side effects.

Without a doubt, more research is needed but thousands of people are talking about the life changing effect CBD is having on their lives right now. If you are considering any changes to your diet including dietary supplements such as CBD then please consult with your doctor before you make any changes.

Ways to take CBD 

CBD is available in a variety of different forms so that people can choose the use that best suits their individual needs. The most common forms of CBD are:

CBD Oils

CBD oils are placed under the tongue with a dropper. The oral mucosa is full of tiny capillaries that absorb the compounds quickly. This is the most common method of CBD ingestion.

Body Creams

CBD-infused skin care products are used to treat muscle and joint pain. They may also treat some skin conditions, like acne eczema and psoriasis. Some athletes also use CBD creams to treat a variety of conditions from muscle soreness to plantar fasciitis 6. 

Capsules and Pills

With CBD capsules and pills the time from ingestion to onset of effect can take a while due to the slower release into the bloodstream. Which is more helpful when going to sleep.

What is in CBD?

When you are buying CBD you want to make sure that you are purchasing a pure product where control of the process from cultivation to your cabinet is under strict control with quality control measures in place. 

Revivo sets the gold standard when it comes to offering UK customers the best quality CBD oil. Any manufacturer we work with has to be accountable to the quality of the product they provide. We ensure that all our CBD products are from suppliers as passionate about good, quality CBD as we are. 

We ensure all our CBD products:

• Sourced from 100% organic industrial hemp farmed in the EU

• Full spectrum extraction process which does not filter out the original plant terpenes and other cannabinoids

• Are solvent free CO2 extraction to maintain the plants natural cannabinoids

• Only contain natural ingredients supported by clinical research

• Third party tested at various stages of the production run

• Come with a QR code which links to lab tests for every batch produced

• Packaging which is child-proof

If quality is what you are after then our range of CBD products are carefully chosen and products we use ourselves. If you have any questions about what is in CBD products then please get in touch with a member of our team.

CBD for athletes

There are a lot of athletes around the globe incorporating CBD into their regimen and seeing hugely positive results. 

• Brian Shaw 4x winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition has invested his own money into a CBD company in the US after he incorporated it into his training and immediately felt the difference.
• Runner’s World have reported on athletes ditching Ibuprofen in favour of CBD treatments 6. 
• Andrew Talansky, a professional triathlete from Napa, California, who, as an elite cyclist, rode in the Tour de France is a CBD advocate, he said that his “sleep improved almost immediately when he started taking CBD daily.”

Can CBD help me quit smoking?

Part of what makes it so difficult to quit smoking is the reinforced habitual nature of it. The ritual nature of getting up from your desk and going out and putting a cigarette to your lips is a big part of what keeps people smoking. CBD Oil Vapes provide a way to ease out of nicotine addiction without having to break the physical habit of smoking. Which means you are much more likely to actually quit. We recommend CBD vape oils/juice to people who would like to quit smoking which we stock in a variety of mouth-watering flavours. 

Get started with CBD

Getting started with CBD is as easy as 1 2 3. First select a trusted, reputable seller. Second select a brand of CBD oil and flavour that you think you will like or any other products. Start taking the product following the instructions and start to feel the benefits of CBD feel better and start to live life to the fullest.

Our recommendation

We recommend that people new to CBD try our special pick ideal for beginners: Revivo CBD Oil 500mg - Full Spectrum 10ml (IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS). It is recommended that you stick to the product’s suggested usage to attain the correct dosage.

We only provide the best CBD products with independent third-party laboratory testing on every batch so you know that what you are getting is quality. Take a look at our store and order your CBD products online.

References:

1. Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/ 

2. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/

3. Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.01259/full 

4. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/ 

5. Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26711860 

6. What Is CBD and Can It Help Your Performance? https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a23506689/cbd-oil/ 

7. The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/pdf/DI/109/29/m495.pdf