What is CBD oil good for and are there downsides to using it?

While the benefits and risks of cannabidiol, or CBD, are well known and include upsides such as pain relief and inflammation reduction and potential downsides like upset stomach or irritability, some people aren't aware of the different forms the chemical compound is available in. It can be taken as an ingestible edible via foods, pills, beverages and gummies, or absorbed through the skin by way of topical applications like creams, lotions or ointments. 

But one of the most popular forms of CBD is CBD oil. "What is commonly referred to as CBD oil is often hemp oil, which contains CBD," explains Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RDN, FAND, holistic cannabis practitioner at Jannabis Wellness. Though CBD oil and other forms of CBD share many health benefits, there are also ways in which products differs. 

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil is derived from the cannabis (marijuana) sativa plant; but like all CBD products, it is not impairing − meaning it does not cause a "high" like marijuana does. To manufacture CBD oil, it has to be "extracted from the plant and diluted with a carrier oil, such as hemp seed oil or MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil," explains Josh Redd, NMD, the founder of RedRiver Health and Wellness and author of "The Truth About Low Thyroid." That carrier oil combination is vital because raw CBD oil is a thick, oily paste, but the carrier portion "helps to dilute the CBD extract and enhance its absorption," says Redd.

CBD oil can be manufactured into tinctures, powders, capsules and topicals. It can also be added to foods or beverages and is often placed under one's tongue in powder or tincture form to be absorbed into one's bloodstream via mucus membranes in the mouth. 

Of the three main types of CBD − CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum CBD, Redd says that most CBD oil is part of the full spectrum group, "though you can also find CBD isolates free of other cannabinoids or compounds," he explains. Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the beneficial compounds naturally found in the cannabis plant, but CBD oil "also contains other cannabinoids, terpenes and compounds naturally present in the hemp plant," he adds. 

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What is CBD oil good for?

Like other CBD products, CBD oil "interacts with our own endocannabinoid system to promote balance in the body," says Bissex. One's endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors densely packed throughout one's brain and body, per Harvard Medical School. 

Interacting with one's ECS this way, many people find that CBD oil "helps with pain, anxiety, depression, autoimmune disorders, insomnia, inflammation, neurogenerative disorders, traumatic brain injuries, seizures and other debilitating conditions," says Bissex. 

Redd says he's seen CBD oil help with such symptoms in many of his patients, but adds that that the chemical compound also aids with stress reduction, sleep deprivation and brain support. "Although CBD still needs more research, it has good studies to back it up in these areas," he explains. 

What is the downside of CBD oil?

While it's usually well-tolerated, CBD oil can cause side effects similar to other CBD products. These include symptoms of dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue, per the Mayo Clinic. The medical institution also notes that CBD can negatively interact with some other medications (especially blood thinners) and that another potential cause for concern is the unreliability of the purity and dosage of CBD in some products.

Beyond such concerns, another obstacle CBD oil still has to overcome is affordability. "The biggest barrier to good quality CBD oil is the price," Redd says. "A good quality product can cost more than $100 a month. For some people, it does not make enough of an impact to be worth the price, but others prioritize the cost because they find it provides substantial relief." 

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