CBD oil is a fabulous food supplement as it is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, which help to bring balance to our bodies and minds. The benefits of CBD oil are wide and varied and it is now sold legally in the UK as a food supplement. Below are some guidelines to consider before you buy or use CBD oil:

CBD oil is derived from a strain of cannabis plant called hemp sativa. Hemp sativa contains very low levels of THC, so it is legal in the UK, and is bred to contain high levels of CBD (cannabidiol) and over 100 different healthy cannabinoids. CBD and other cannabinoids are not psychoactive nor are they physically addictive.

People take CBD oil for many reasons. CBD had been used for many thousands of years until it was unfortunately prohibited in the 20th century due to its connection with THC and cannabis. CBD and hemp are now fully legal in the UK and the EU but sellers of CBD oil cannot make medical claims regarding its efficacy.

In 1992 Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University, discovered the endocannabinoid system. This important system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and balance in the body. CBD oil encourages your body to produce more of its own endogenous cannabinoids. You can read more about CBD’s effects and benefits at whatiscbd.com.

Cannabis oil contains higher levels of THC (more than 0.2%), the psychoactive compound in cannabis, and therefore is currently illegal in the UK. Some people, with certain types of epilepsy, for example, appear to benefit from taking cannabis oil with the higher levels of THC but this should only be taken if prescribed by a physician.

Various methods can be used to extract the CBD oil from the hemp sativa plant, including pure alcohol or butane extraction. We generally use CO2 extraction as it is safer, more environmentally sustainable and produces a purer, cleaner oil. The raw cannabinoid extract from the hemp plant is gently heated to around 80oC in order to decarboxylate (activate) the CBD oil. This heating does not harm the cannabinoids in the extract but converts them into more potent chemicals and increase the effects of the CBD oil. We specify the extraction method for each product that we sell.

CBD oil is sold either as full spectrum, ‘whole-plant’ oil or as a chemical isolate which is made in laboratories (sometimes known as 100% CBD). A lot of the CBD oils on the market today are made from CBD isolate crystals where valuable co-cannabinoids and terpenes are missing.

Several studies have shown that the effectiveness and efficiency of CBD oil improves dramatically once these extra cannabinoids are there, even in low doses, in whole-plant CBD oil. This phenomenon is known as the ‘entourage effect‘. As Dr. Ethan Russo states, ‘many of these ‘minor’ cannabinoids are seemingly inactive on their own but together they make this beautiful music’.

So we wholeheartedly recommend that you take full spectrum ‘whole-plant’ CBD oil as the whole-plant oil includes a full range of over 100 healthy cannabinoids, of which CBD (cannabidiol) is only one.

No. People are often told that they should take ‘indica’ or ‘sativa’ but these names are actually now fairly meaningless as there has been so much cross-breeding of the hemp and cannabis plants over the years. The important thing is finding the plant with the right amount of cannabinoids and making sure that you get whole-plant CBD oil with the appropriate level of CBD in it. Some companies charge high prices for ‘Indica CBD’ but this is of questionable benefit.

Whole plant CBD oil is usually sold with two weights:

 – Firstly the weight of the total whole-plant cannabinoid extract from the hemp which includes the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes and essential oils extracted from the plant.

– Secondly the weight of just the CBD (cannabidiol) chemical in the cannabinoid extract.

For example we sell a ‘300mg CBD 10ml bottle’ containing ‘1,500mg whole-plant cannabinoid extract, including 300mg CBD (cannabidiol)’ . This contains 300mg of CBD (cannabidiol) and 1200mg of the full spectrum of other healthy cannabinoids, terpenes and other oils from the hemp buds.

Whole plant CBD oil is a very sticky liquid which can be tricky to handle so it is normally suspended in a carrier oil such as olive oil or hemp seed oil. Do not confuse hemp seed oil with CBD oil. Our ‘300mg CBD, 10ml bottle’ for example contains 1,500mg of whole-plant cannabinoid extract which includes 300mg CBD all of which is suspended in 8,500mg hemp seed oil (carrier oil).

We like to satisfy as many people’s needs as possible. Some people want 10ml bottles while others want different sizes. Some people want spray bottles and others want dropper pipettes. The key thing to remember is that the size and type of the bottle is less important than the total weight of the CBD inside. A 30ml bottle containing 500mg of CBD (0.5mg CBD per drop) will be less strong per drop than a 10ml bottle containing 300mg of CBD (1mg CBD per drop) for example.

There are no known cases of overdoses from taking CBD oil and CBD oil is not psychoactive or physically addictive. However, before you first start taking CBD oil it is wise to consult with your doctor or GP in case of contraindications with any other medication that you may be taking.

Everybody has a unique endocannabinoid system in their body so it is hard for anyone but you to know the correct dosage. So it is wise to begin with a small dose, between 2mg to 5mg of CBD (cannabidiol) per day. However you can increase your dose after a few days until you find a dosage that feels right for you. If you start to feel excessively sleepy then this is a sign that you need to reduce the dose.

Currently The Cannabis Trade Association in the UK advise people not to take more than 200mg of CBD per day unless prescribed by a doctor. Bottles of CBD oil usually have either pipettes or spray pumps so that you can dose precisely. Our bottles specify maximum dosage levels on the label.

All CBD products sold in the EU must be laboratory tested. If you buy CBD oil from a shop or website that does not have valid lab tests then you cannot be sure of the actual amount of CBD in the bottle. Our latest lab reports can be found here.

The Cannabis Trade Association (CTA) in the UK works in conjunction with the Home Office. The CTA publish guidelines relating to CBD products and we adhere to these guidelines. We would also like to see a regulatory governing body in the UK which would govern the industry and ensures standard are met.

The hemp plant can absorb pollutants from the environment so we only sell CBD oil extracted from organic hemp sativa grown far away from main roads. No pesticides or chemicals are used in the growing of our hemp. Our growers use natural methods to nurture the soil and they hand-harvest the buds and flowers before carefully extracting the CBD oil. Our CBD oil is also suitable for vegans and is lactose free.

CBD oil has only recently been legalised in the UK and so the market is in its infancy. Because of this many vendors believe that they can charge high prices for CBD as people do not know much about it. While this may suit some people our philosophy is different. We want to make high quality CBD oil available to as many people as possible at an affordable price.

Some people sleep well on CBD, others don’t. It usually depends on the reason why sleeping is difficult. CBD can help relax the body and mind, so that sleeping becomes easier. On the other hand, some people notice an uplifting effect, giving energy which could make falling asleep a bit more difficult. Usually, once fallen asleep, the rest of the night is calm. Should you notice that falling asleep proves more difficult, then take your last drops of the day some 2-3 hours before sleeping. The energizing effect should pass, after which the calming effects should come through, aiding sleep.

Please feel free to phone us any time on 07706 031 935 or email us at info@bristolcbd.co.uk