The medicinal benefits of Marijuana are many. But did you know about this marijuana oil?

People have cultivated and harvested the cannabis plant for approximately 12,000 years, and throughout history, it has had a wide range of applications – from treating medical conditions to making textiles.

In recent years, it has attracted increased interest around the world due to the potential health benefits of one of its primary cannabinoids: cannabidiol (CBD). This is extracted and made into CBD oil and is recommended as a health supplement to help relieve various conditions, including seizures, anxiety, depression, insomnia, skin conditions, and chronic pain. CBD oil is widely available in the form of oils, capsules, edibles, and topical creams – among others. However, hemp oil (or hemp seed oil) – the substance traditionally extracted from hemp seeds – is still a popular supplement that provides many of its benefits. Although “CBD” and “hemp” are often used interchangeably – with some products even now confusingly labeled as “CBD hemp oil” – there are distinct differences between the two compounds that are important to note.

Hemp differs from other strains of the cannabis plant due to its lack of resin, which contains the active psychoactive compound called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is commonly associated with the “high” people experience when using recreational marijuana. Consequently, hemp contains a minimal amount of THC – by definition, less than 0.3% by dry weight.

Hemp oil – Extracted by cleaning the hemp seeds to 99.99% before pressing them – a similar method to olive oil and coconut oil extraction that requires no special equipment or solvents. Consequently, hemp oil can even be extracted at home fairly easily. Cold-pressed, unrefined hemp oil is light to dark green, while refined hemp oil is clear and colorless, with little flavor.

CBD oil – or CBD hemp oil, as it is also sometimes called – is an extracted oil containing a concentration of CBD. It can be extracted from any cannabis plant, but only industrial hemp plants will guarantee THC content of less than 0.3% and, therefore, legality across the US and in many other countries.

Due to hemp’s bioaccumulative nature – meaning it naturally absorbs whatever elements are in the soil it’s planted in – the extraction method needs to be of high quality, and tests need to be performed to ensure the absence of heavy metals, pesticides, or other contaminants that can not only counteract the benefits of CBD but also harm the body. Often, this results in a high price tag.

There are multiple methods used to extract CBD oil from cannabis plants, but the consensus is that CO2 extraction is the best because it is safe and provides a pure end product. However, the equipment required to perform this type of extraction is extremely expensive. Alternatively, a solvent, such as ethanol or butane, can be used to extract CBD oil, but this also extracts chlorophyll, which can bring on unpleasant side-effects. The chlorophyll can be filtered out, but this reduces the potency of the CBD oil significantly. Olive oil and dry ice can also be used to extract CBD oil, but these are relatively amateur methods and are not employed by large, reputable CBD manufacturers.

It is, therefore, best to stick to CBD oils extracted from industrial hemp that have undergone extensive third-party testing to ascertain the compound content and confirm the absence of contaminants.

We now list out the most important 6 benefits that CBD oil can provide.

1) Not Psychoactive

One of the major benefits of CBD oil is it is not typically psychoactive, despite coming from the marijuana plant. This is because most CBD oils do not have THC, the component in cannabis that is responsible for the psychoactive reactions. As such, those who use CBD oil can experience relief from symptoms and enjoy its benefits without psychoactive effects that would impair day-to-day functioning.

2) Reducing Anxiety

Although more research is still needed, CBD oil seems to have some excellent benefits in terms of reducing anxiety. Various clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and experimental research studies have looked at CBD oil as a treatment for anxiety. A 2015 report in Neurotherapeutics indicated that CBD oil can provide benefits for generalized anxiety disorder, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

3) Controlling Pain

Today, many people use CBD oil to control pain from a range of conditions, including cancer and arthritis. Humans have been using marijuana to treat pain since at least 2900 B.C. CBD oil is a modern incarnation of this treatment that allows for pain relief without the psychoactive side effects of using the entire plant.

4) Improving Heart Health

There is also research indicating that CBD oil can improve overall heart health. Specifically, research has shown that this oil can lower high blood pressure. This is significant since high blood pressure increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, heart attacks, and strokes. Some researchers feel that some of the reduction in blood pressure from CBD oil comes from its ability to reduce anxiety and stress. In animals, CBD oil has shown the potential to reduce cell death and inflammation from heart disease.

5) Preventing Diabetes

Although this is another area where we need more research, CBD oil shows the potential to prevent diabetes. Studies have shown that treating diabetic mice using CBD reduced the occurrence of diabetes by 56 percent in addition to a significant reduction in inflammation.

6) Overcoming Addiction

CBD oil, quite ironically, also helps people in overcoming addiction. A review published in Substance Abuse in 2015 looked at 14 previous studies; it discovered that CBD oil might have therapeutic effects on those with addiction to cocaine, opioids, and psychostimulants, as well as tobacco and cannabis. Studies in rats have shown that CBD can reduce heroin-seeking behavior and morphine dependence.

The best place to buy high-quality CBD oil locally is a dispensary because the staff will have specialized knowledge – however, you’ll have to live in a state that has legalized recreational marijuana or have approval for medical marijuana in a participating state. Alternatively, you should be able to find CBD oils in health food stores and vape shops, although the selection is somewhat limited.

An increasingly common place to purchase CBD oil, however, is the internet – almost all reputable CBD suppliers have a website and can ship products directly in a matter of days. It’s worth noting that the e-commerce platform Amazon allows the sale of hemp oil but not CBD oil – anything advertised as the latter is hemp oil being sold by a dishonest third party.