Medically reviewed by
Dr. John Rackham
Written by Michael Wright
Updated on August 15th, 2023
Over the past decade, CBD (cannabidiol) has grown from a fringe supplement, only used by those in the know, to one of the most popular health products on the market today. From major grocery and pharmacy chains to local specialty shops and, of course, online stores, it seems like CBD products for pain, sleep, calming, and other applications are popping up everywhere. A 2020 report showed that six million people in the UK have tried CBD, and over 1.3 million Brits use cannabidiol regularly. The reason CBD has become so popular is that it has proven, time and again, to have shown several health benefits for millions of users.
Let’s take a look at what people who take CBD say about its benefits. But first, let’s see what our friends in the MHRA say about cannabidiol.
What Does the MHRA Say About CBD?
Though the cultivation, production, and sale of cannabis hemp-related products (such as CBD oil tinctures) has been approved on a national level, the UK government has been slow in approving its medicinal use, even for sleep or pain management. This is, in part, a result of longstanding restriction of the use of all cannabis products, inexplicably lumping hemp in with marijuana. This was done despite the fact that hemp-derived CBD oil has none of the intoxicating effects associated with THC-heavy marijuana.
CBD Research and Legalities
With hemp production placed on the sideline for decades, the study of its medicinal properties and effects fell by the wayside. The discovery of the body’s endocannabinoid system kick-started scientific study of the effects of CBD in earnest during the 1990s. But despite promising studies, such as a 2006 study in Current Neuropharmacology on the role of cannabinoid system in pain management and the potentially beneficial effects of CBD, the MHRA has lagged behind in its own studies and approvals regarding the benefits of CBD. As a result of current UK regulations, CBD companies are not allowed to make any claims about CBD oil in regard to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. This includes the effects of CBD oil on issues like pain, anxiety, sleep, and the use of CBD for pets.
So, let’s make this very clear: nothing you read here or anywhere else on this site should be construed as medical advice regarding the use of CBD.
Fortunately, we are able to relate what CBD users are saying about the effects and benefits of CBD. And this anecdotal evidence is overwhelmingly positive, with raves on everything from CBD for pain relief to CBD for more restful sleep. Here are some of the most commonly noted benefits of CBD.
CBD for Pain Relief
Hemp has a long history of use as a pain reliever, dating all the way back to ancient China. The reason that CBD oil has long been used for the treatment of aches and pains is that, when CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, it activates receptors in that system, which trigger support for both the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as other systems and organs throughout the body. The peripheral nervous system, in particular, helps the body to manage pain and inflammation. Studies — including a recent one in Frontiers for Pharmacology — have shown that, due to their beneficial effects on the nervous system, cannabinoids present a promising therapeutic strategy for pain treatment.
CBD Creams and CBD Balms
Some of the most popular applications of CBD for pain relief include CBD topicals, such as CBD Creams and CBD Balms, which may provide localised relief for aches and pains in the muscles and joints. Simply rub your CBD cream or balm into the area where you’re experiencing pain or achiness, and feel the therapeutic effects of soothing CBD oil as it works its way through the layers of your skin, down to the affected tissues.
These CBD pain products have become a gym-bag must for many runners, hikers, and workout warriors, as well as folks with everyday physical discomfort.
CBD for Stress
Life in the 21st century is a buzzsaw of pressure from work, family, and the post-pandemic world around us. Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. Studies, such as a recent paper from the Journal of Cannabis Research, show the potential of CBD in dealing with stress and sleep problems. So, it’s no surprise that many people are turning to CBD for its relaxing effects on their nerves, helping them to negotiate the stressors in their lives with a better ease of mind.
CBD Calming Products
CBD calming products come in a variety of forms. For quick relief, when a stressful situation pops up out of nowhere, we recommend a CBD oil tincture or CBD vape product. When CBD is taken sublingually, as with CBD oil drops, it enters the bloodstream quickly and you can feel its effects within 20 minutes or so. CBD vaping products are even quicker, with calming effects perceptible within just a few minutes (sometimes, even seconds).
For more general stress relief, we recommend edibles, such as CBD gummies, CBD capsules, and CBD cookies. These CBD products take a bit longer to work their way into your bloodstream (ranging from 20 minutes to two hours), because they must first pass through your digestive system, but their effects are longer lasting. And, as a bonus, many of our edibles just happen to also be tasty treats!
Using CBD for stress relief has helped many people to lead a more calm and peaceful life.
CBD for Good Health Benefits
As mentioned, CBD supports the body’s endocannabinoid system. Through its interaction with the ECS, CBD use may promote homeostasis, or balance, in our body’s processes, as well. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over 100 chemical compounds found in the cannabis hemp plant, called cannabinoids. When consumed, these plant-based cannabinoids (or phytocannabinoids) interact with the endocannabinoid system, bolstering its support of other systems in the body, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. In doing so, it assists the body with such crucial functions as mood, memory, sleep, appetite, pain management, anti-inflammation, motor planning, and many others. So, as general wellness support goes, it’s hard to find a supplement as effective in such a wide range of areas as CBD.
CBD Wellness Products
Many people like to start their day with a CBD multivitamin or CBD Morning Capsule. Some look to blend their daily CBD supplement with other healthful ingredients, such as turmeric and spirulina, or apple cider vinegar. Several prefer the back-to-basics approach of a good CBD wellness tincture. Whatever your preference, a boost of daily CBD has been an essential part of the morning routine in millions of households.
CBD for Sleep
One of the most popular uses of CBD is as a sleep aid. Insomnia can have a harmful, long-term effect on the body’s overall health. Lack of sleep over an extended period of time can lead to issues, ranging from weight gain and loss of libido to problems as severe as high blood pressure and heart disease. So, finding a solution to sleep deprivation is a must for your overall health.
CBD Sleep Aids
CBD sleep aids are incredibly popular because they may help the body to relax and get to sleep quickly, and then remain restful throughout the night, with little or no interruptions. Pharmaceutical sleep aids and over-the-counter sleeping pills can often have harmful side effects, including dizziness, constipation and daytime drowsiness. Many people turn to CBD as a natural way to get those crucial eight hours of shuteye, with no sleeping pill “hangover” the next day.
To make these CBD sleep products even more effective, CBD is often paired with other restful ingredients, including botanicals like chamomile and passion flower. If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, our CBD Sleep Gummies combine 50mg of calming CBD with chamomile, passion flower and other restful ingredients. Or, relax with the pure calming power of our Hemp Tincture or Soft Gel Capsules.
With these CBD sleep aids, you might just kick insomnia to the curb forever.
A Note on Quality and the Best CBD Brands
The effectiveness of your CBD in any of these areas of need relies largely on the quality of your CBD product. If you don’t have quality, all-natural, cleanly extracted CBD in your product, you just won’t see the results you’re looking for.
A recent study showed that a quarter of CBD products purchased contain less CBD than promised by the manufacturer. And a separate study showed that nearly 70% of cannabidiol products sold online are mislabeled. Clearly, there are some shady CBD brands out there, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Once hemp cultivation, production, and sales were made legal at the national level, there was a stampede of pop-up brands, all looking to grab a piece of the market pie. While a few did things the right way, with safe, all-natural cultivation and clean extraction, many took shortcuts and, as a result, there are a lot of underdosed or unsafe products out on the market.
How to Shop for the Best CBD in the UK
We understand that, when you’re shopping for CBD — be it for pain, sleep, or just a good, old-fashioned “chill session” — you expect to get what you’re paying for: a quality CBD product. That’s why, at CBDfx, we grow only all-natural, non-GMO hemp, farmed in the U.S.A., in the great state of Kentucky. As a consumer, you should insist on American-made CBD products, because the U.S. has much stricter quality guidelines than most other countries. If your CBD is imported from other countries (as is the case with many cheaper brands), there’s a good chance it will be less potent and potentially contain pesticides and other harmful substances. Because hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning it sucks up all of the substances in the soil surrounding it, it is certain to pick up harmful chemicals in the soil if they are there.
Another place where the quality of your CBD can be compromised is in the extraction process. Cheaper methods, such as solvent extraction, can be less effective in pulling all of the cannabinoids out of the hemp buds, leaves, and stalks, while leaving behind potentially harmful chemicals, like butane. Reputable companies use clean, efficient CO2 extraction. This process ensures that you get the most from your hemp oil with no possibility of contamination.
The Benefit of Having a Third-Party Lab Report
Every reputable CBD company will supply you with a lab report, provided by an independent, third-party laboratory. This report will show you the exact amount of CBD and other cannabinoids in your product, so you know that you are getting the serving amount that you have been promised. A lab report should also show you all of the things that should not be in your product, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. CBDfx believes in complete transparency and provides access to third-party lab reports on all of our products — with a link right on the front page of our website.
The Last Word on the Benefits of CBD Oil
Even though the MHRA is still reviewing the effectiveness of CBD, anecdotal evidence is overwhelmingly supportive of this natural compound’s ability to promote wellness throughout the body. We fully support and encourage further high-quality medical research into the potential benefits of CBD. We encourage you to explore further, as well, both in helpful articles from our blog and reviews from customers just like you. We’re sure that you’ll find the perfect CBD product for your needs at CBDfx.
Ready to experience the benefits of CBD for yourself? Try one of our best-selling CBD gummies!
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