Best CBD Oil For 2023 – Our Top Picks For Pain
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Best CBD Oil For 2023 – Our Top Picks For ...
Which CBD Oil Works Best?
What if there was a product that could help alleviate your pain without creating dependence or side effects? Some research shows CBD could be this product, as long as you find the product that works best for you.
For seniors, CBD could be your answer to chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Even though more research is needed to fully evaluate all of CBD’s properties, customers and scientists alike have noticed its benefits.
To find the CBD oil that works best for you, you’ll need to think about the symptoms you’re trying to help, your budget, and your individual preferences. We’ve selected 11 of the best CBD oils below and reviewed them for a variety of uses.
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2023’s Best CBD Oil Products
If you haven’t already had a friend or family member rave about the benefits of CBD, get ready to hear about it soon. Though there’s much research to be done, customer testimonials assert the variety of benefits and lack of side effects for most users. To fully understand the market, the best you can do is try some products for yourself. Luckily, hundreds of companies have already jumped on the bandwagon to figure out the best way to extract and package CBD oil.
We’ve rounded up 12 of our favorite oils from different CBD brands. Get started using CBD for a variety of uses and find out if it works for you.
Highlights:
- Non-GMO
- Two ingredients
- 4.5-star rating out of 1,000+ reviews
- Contains Omega 3, vitamins, and amino acids
- Comes in 5 different dosages
Price: $60-$70
Size: 1 fl oz
Dosage: 1000 mg per bottle/ 33 mg per serving
Full-spectrum CBD is more common than broad-spectrum since federally legal CBD can only contain trace amounts of THC. With full-spectrum CBD oils, you’re getting CBD, other cannabinoids, and any naturally occurring minerals and vitamins that are in hemp.
CBDistillery offers our best pick for full-spectrum oil because it provides your perfect daily dose of CBD. At 33 mg per dropper, a single bottle will likely last you a long time, especially if you’re a first-time user. We also like the CBDistillery is transparent about receiving third-party lab tests for their oils.
Keep in mind that the average recommended CBD dose for most adults is 20 mg, though many doctors will recommend that you start at a lower dose. For many seniors, you may want to start at an even lower dose of 2-3 mg. However, the CBDistillery 33 mg option is great for users who already know they need an average dose. If the 33 mg isn’t right for you, you can also opt for the 8 mg, 17 mg, 83 mg, or 167 mg options.
CBDistillery is known for its transparency in offering recommended doses for different customers and providing their third-party lab results for every product. Their products are sourced through natural farming practices, non-GMO plants, and come packed with vitamins and amino acids.
We recommend using CBDistillery oils at any time of the day by placing a serving size under your tongue. Be sure to hold the product for a few seconds before following. If you’re using the product for the first time, you may want to start with a portion of the tincture before using a full dose.
Highlights:
- 5-star rating from 80+ customer reviews
- Customizable dosage
- Non-GMO and zero pesticides
- Two ingredients
- 30 servings per bottle
Price: $34.99 – $132.99
Size: 1 fl oz
Dosage: 50 mg, 1000 mg or 3000 mg per bottle
MedTerra’s CBD Oil Tincture has a five-star rating according to about 80 customer reviews. When it comes to CBD oil, experiences can vary from person to person, but a high rating shows that many people enjoy the price point, effects, and benefits from the CBD oil.
The MedTerra tincture is 99%+ CBD with MCT coconut oil and comes in three different dosage concentrations. With this tincture, you only get two ingredients (the CBD oil and MCT oil), so you know you’re getting a pure, quality product.
With the MedTerra oil, there is no THC present in the product. This is a unique offering, whereas the majority of CBD oils on the market today have at least .3% THC (the maximum amount a CBD oil can contain by law). The desire for a zero-THC product can come from a variety of reasons. If you’ve already tried THC and you didn’t like it or have had adverse effects, a zero-THC oil will confirm that any affects that you feel are only from the CBD oil. You may also wish to abstain from THC for personal reasons. Either way, the MedTerra CBD oil means you’re getting pure CBD without any THC left behind.
MedTerra oil can be taken in the morning or night by using the CBD tincture to drop a single dose under your tongue. Customer reviews online mention that they had success using the CBD oil for skincare and noticed a difference with acne or imperfections on their face.
Highlights:
- Two sizes
- Six different dosage concentrations
- Four flavors
- Organic
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
Price: $29.99 – $239.99
Size: 1 or 2 fl oz bottles
Dosage: 300 mg up to 5000 mg per bottle
With so many CBD brands on the market, it can be hard to figure out what you need. Finding one company with a wide variety can help you experiment and find the right dosage, taste, and the right size bottle that you’ll need. cbdMD offers the best variety in CBD oil because of its choices in all of these categories.
Sort through concentrations ranging from 300 mg up to 5000 mg, and flavors like berry, orange, and mint. cbdMD only uses two ingredients in all of their oil tinctures, which are CBD oil and MCT oil. Their tinctures also have excellent customer reviews with five-star ratings.
cbdMD customers say they use the products to help relieve anxiety and stress as well as chronic pain management for some conditions like spinal stenosis. To use any of cbdMD’s options, determine the best dose for your needs and take it once to twice per day. With cbdMD, you can easily start with a small dose and work your way up if you feel that you need it.
One great feature about cbdMD is that they offer an easy-to-use chat feature on their site. By speaking with a cbdMD representative, they can help you sift through all the options and choose the product that should work the best for your individual needs. Take the cbdMD oil orally by dropping a full tincture directly under your tongue or mix the oil in with a food or beverage of your choice.
Highlights:
- Four flavor options
- Two different size options
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- Save 10% with a subscription
- 4.5-star rating from customer reviews
Price: $74.99 – $188.99
Size: 30 ml or 100 ml (1 fl oz or 3.38 fl oz)
Dosage: 17 mg per 1 ml dropper
If you’re new to using CBD, a low-dose option is best so you can monitor any effects or symptoms. We chose Charlotte’s Web hemp extract new CBD oil as our best pick for low dosage. At only 17 mg per serving, it’s a good standard dose to see if you experience benefits. From there, you can always up your dose by taking more servings per day or upgrading to a higher-dose option.
The CBD tincture comes in four different flavor options, including natural olive oil flavor, since it’s the carrier oil. Charlotte’s Web offers a subscription plan to save money if you plan on purchasing again, as well as a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Charlotte’s Web produces their CBD to help with stress-relief, inflammation relief, and sleep management. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA, though several customer reviews online show that users do experience similar symptom relief. One five-star review showed that the CBD oil helped their nerves calm down after taking a dose, while another wrote about improved mood and overall less agitation throughout the day.
To use Charlotte’s Web CBD, choose the flavor that you’ll enjoy the most. Take the recommended dose morning or night and monitor the effects. If the 17 mg option doesn’t seem to be helping your symptoms, try the Charlotte’s Web 50 mg or 60 mg options.
Highlights:
- CO2 extractions
- Organic
- Zero additives, pesticides, preservatives or fertilizers
- Lab tested
- More than 15,000 customer reviews
Price: $29.99 – $1,953.40
Size: 5, 15, 30, 50, and 100 mL bottles
Dosage: 300 mg up to 5000 mg per bottle
NuLeaf Naturals offers Colorado-made hemp and CBD products. Their oils come in a variety of bottle sizes, which is a unique offering that many companies don’t offer. If you use CBD daily, you can opt for a bigger bottle size, while a smaller bottle is good for the times you need CBD the most, like after exercise or while you’re traveling.
Each bottle contains 100% organic, pure CBD oil. From the farming of their hemp plants to bottling and manufacturing, NuLeaf focuses on purity and quality. You can count on a simple CBD product free from pesticides, fertilizers, preservatives, or any additives. It’s as close as you can get to harvesting the hemp plant in your own back yard.
To use NuLeaf oil, you can customize your preferred dose by filling the CBD tincture to your desired amount. The dose will also vary depending on which bottle you choose to purchase. By rule of thumb, start slow before moving to a high potency option.
Customers use NuLeaf to help manage long-term anxiety and pain, including conditions like fibromyalgia, panic attacks, insomnia, inflammation, and more. Keep in mind that CBD effect may vary from person to person, and no company’s supplement claims have been evaluated by the FDA.
Highlights:
- Vegan
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
- 80 to 160 servings per bottle
- Eight ingredients
- Fast absorption
Price: $22.95 – $67.95
Size: 1 fl oz or 2 fl oz
Dosage: 100 mg or 500 mg per bottle / 1 mg-3mg per serving
You may have realized by now that CBD isn’t a cheap buy, nor should it be. Good CBD should be sourced through a fault-proof extraction process with quality hemp. However, prices may vary depending on where the hemp was farmed and how much the company can afford.
PlusCBD Oil is our best CBD oil on a budget. Though the 100 mg option is cheaper than many other oils, PlusCBD Oil is a reputable brand in California known for using quality CO2 extraction. The great price on this oil comes from the company’s ability to deliver high-quality products at a lower price.
The CO2 CBD extraction process means that pressurized carbon dioxide is used to extract cannabinoids from the hemp plant. This process is safe and conventionally used in other industries, including essential oils.
PlusCBD is very transparent about their products, even offering supplement information for each type of CBD oil they offer. Out of 41 reviews for the Gold Formula option, many users said their own doctors recommended PlusCBD or were pleased with the results that users showed after using the product. Though we can’t assert any medical claims associated with PlusCBD, we recommend trying this product if you’re seeking options for mental clarity and minor pain relief.
Highlights:
- Unflavored
- Full-spectrum CBD oil
- Customizable dosage
- Organic
- Vegan and gluten-free
Price: $39-$269
Size: 1 fl oz
Dosage: 2,400 mg / 80 mg per dropper
15% off and free shipping with code AGINGINPLACE
Though it might seem pricey, Spruce Max Potency CBD Oil is our pick for the best high strength because of its potency and the ability to customize your dosage. Each full dropper is 1 ml and contains a dose of 80 mg full-spectrum oil. You can easily take only a fourth of the dropper for a smaller dose of 20 mg and go up from there depending on your individual needs and metabolism.
The oil is flavorless, which many customers prefer so they can eat or drink after using it without any aftertaste. Spruce uses high-quality ingredients and makes their oil organic, vegan, and gluten-free without artificial flavors or preservatives.
If 2,400 mg seems like too much for your needs, Spruce also carries a 750 mg option that customers have said provides the same type of relief in a lower dose.
On the Spruce site, customers are eager to send in video testimonials, with many saying that Spruce is their go-to CBD oil for pain management and anxiety. When you buy Spruce, you’re receiving a great product as well as excellent customer service. In many cases, customers said that Spruce representatives emailed back and forth with them to help determine their needs and recommend the best dose.
Use Spruce orally in the morning if you’re trying to go through your day with more symptom relief or take it at night to help ease your sleep.
Highlights:
- 5 flavors
- 100% organic USA grown hemp
- Double Lab tested
- Clean CO2 Extraction
- Less than 0.3% of THC
Price: $69 – $129
Size: 1oz (30mL)
Dosage: 750mg and 1500mg
Kanibi is a brand committed to perfection in all of their products and using only the best methods to bring their customers a product that meets the highest of standards. Kanibi CBD oil tinctures are the complete package with organically grown Kentucky hemp that is complete with a full spectrum of cannabinoids for the maximum effect and premium MCT oil as the carrier.
There are five different flavor options including Skittles, Lemon Lime, Choco Mint, Cinnamon, and Unflavored for those who prefer to add their CBD oil to food and drink without any after taste. Kanibi only uses natural flavors to create their selection so there are no additives in their products. They also offer two different concentrations, 750mg and 1500mg, to suit a variety of CBD users’ needs.
Kanibi customers have left 78 five-star reviews for the product giving praise on how well the product works for them and all the benefits the receive from taking the CBD oil from sleeping better to helping migraines and arthritis. Keep in mind that the effects of CBD vary from person to person and the FDA has not evaluated any company’s supplement claims.
Highlights:
- Comes in 3 unique flavors
- 4.8-star rating out of 50+ reviews
- Three ingredients
- 30 servings per bottle
- Organic
Price: $59.99 – $119.99
Size: 30 ml (1 fl oz)
Dosage: 500 mg, 1,000 mg or 1,500 mg per bottle
Sometimes the natural, earthy taste of CBD isn’t everyone’s favorite. To make your CBD a better experience, you can find delicious flavors of oils. We picked CBDFx as our best picked for flavored CBD oil because of its unique and exotic flavor options.
Choose from flavors like blueberry pineapple lemonade, lemon-lime mint, and lychee lemon kiwi. The fun flavors ensure that the oil tastes great by itself, or you can also drop it into a drink for some added flavoring.
All of CBDFx’s options are organic CBD oils that include MCT oil. In addition to the enjoyable flavor, customers also say the oils work to promote pain management and everyday stress relief. To use CBDFx effectively, use the recommended dose only once per day. It may take a little while for the CBD to absorb and take effect, so don’t use too much to start.
Once you determine the dose that works for you, you may experience a more restful sleep as well as the alleviation of minor aches and pains. Keep in mind that these benefits and claims haven’t been evaluated by the FDA.
Highlights:
- Two ingredients
- Colorado-grown hemp
- Also comes in 3.38 fl oz bottle
- Never sourced from isolate
- Third-party lab tested
Price: $39.99 – $199.99
Size: 1 fl oz
Dosage: 250 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg, 1,500 mg, or 2,000 mg per bottle
If you’re planning to use CBD oil multiple times per day, you may not always want it to have a flavor. An unflavored option will allow you to mix the oil in food or beverages of your choice without combining flavors.
Veritas Farms offers our best unflavored pick because of its high-quality and simple ingredients. If you’re picking an unflavored option, you’ll likely see fewer ingredients, and these should all be natural and potent. Veritas Farm’s unflavored bottle only uses full-spectrum hemp extract and organic fractionated coconut oil as a carrier oil.
The Veritas Farms CBD Oil does also come in some flavor options if you’d like some variation, including citrus, peppermint, watermelon, and strawberry. To use the CBD oil, use the tincture to drop the recommended dose under your tongue. Hold the product there for a moment before swallowing. You can also mix the product in any food or beverage, though it won’t dissolve.
Since this CBD oil is full spectrum, that means it contains other cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, and CBN, as well as natural flavors and terpenes from the hemp plant.
Highlights:
- 100% THC-free
- Mint flavored
- Organic
- Three ingredients
- Non-GMO
Price: $99
Size: 2 fl oz
Dosage: 1,000 mg
Unlike full spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum has completely removed any amounts of THC. Federally legal hemp can contain THC, but only trace amounts, so full-spectrum oils will likely contain .3% or less of THC.
When you’re shopping for CBD oil, a zero-THC option could be beneficial if you may be taking a drug test in the near future. Though all CBD oil is required to have .3% or less of THC, an option without any THC isn’t always common to find.
Onyx & Rose offers our best pick for a broad-spectrum CBD oil that has completely removed any amount of THC. The oil comes in one flavor, which is mint, and it’s a 1,000 mg, 2 oz bottle. Overall, you’re getting a slightly larger quantity than most oil tinctures, as well a more concentrated dosage.
Like many other companies, Onyx & Rose also offers their CBD lab results online, which gives you a trustworthy and transparent view of the product. CBD lab certificates mean that the oil has been tested by a third party, and the certificate should show that product contains everything it says it does without any additives.
The Onyx & Rose CBD oil may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress, insomnia, and pain. These claims haven’t been evaluated by the FDA, though customer reviews online say the product helped alleviate their chronic anxiety and even helped them reduce their use of pharmaceutical medications. Keep in mind that CBD effects may be different for everyone, and you should always consult with a doctor before stopping taking any medication.
Highlights:
- Colorado-farmed hemp
- 12-month shelf life
- All-natural ingredients
- Organic
- Non-GMO
Price: $59
Size: 1 fl oz
Dosage: 300 mg, 600 mg or 1,200 mg per bottle
When it comes to ingredients, most companies are using a similar combination of CBD oil and a carrier oil. However, it’s common to see added ingredients for flavor or freshness. We picked Fab CBD as the oil with the best ingredients because of its pure, short list and organically grown hemp.
In each bottle, you get organically grown hemp extract, full spectrum cannabinoid blend, natural flavors, terpenes, and medium-chain triglycerides. They break down their ingredient list into each breakdown of CBD oil rather than assuming that you’ll know what’s inside it.
With more than 300 customer reviews online, Fab CBD is known for effective results. Most customers have repurchased the oils multiple times, and they say that the effects help them carry on with everyday activities by easing limited pain. Fab CBD recommends using their products for everyday stress, exercise recovery, and for promoting calm or focus. These recommendations are not evaluated by the FDA, though many customer reviews agree.
To use Fab CBD, only fill your tincture about half-way full for the recommended dose. You can drop the oil directly in your mouth and under your tongue, your mix it into your food or drink. Make sure you aren’t touching the dropper while it’s out of the bottle, so you aren’t compromising the quality of the CBD. When it isn’t in use, store your bottle in room temperature away from heat or moisture.
What is CBD?
CBD is a seemingly new supplement that’s gained immense traction in recent years. With mysterious promises for better sleep, pain management, headache relief, and more, it’s often described as a miraculous cure-all. Especially for seniors, it’s gained popularity for helping to alleviate temporary symptoms of chronic pain and other medical problems. Given more research, it could possibly help people turn away from pharmaceuticals and toward a more natural solution for symptom management.
But what is CBD? It’s full name, cannabidiol, has been appropriately shortened so you don’t have to get your tongue-tied. Scientifically, it’s defined as a type of cannabinoid, or molecule, derived from the cannabis plant. In layman’s terms, it’s an extraction that comes from the same species of plant as marijuana.
How is it legal, then? Despite laws and marketing efforts that negatively target cannabis, CBD has been able to enter the mainstream because it’s a very different substance from its cousin, marijuana. Though both are derived from the same cannabis plant, CBD doesn’t contain the psychoactive ingredient that marijuana is known for, which is tetrahydrocannabinol – THC. THC and CBD are very different. The latter may have physical and mental effects that many users stand by, but it can’t get you high like THC.
The hemp plants that CBD is extracted from only contain trace amounts of THC. Because of this, they’ve been made fully legal across the United States. The same plants that produce CBD are harvested for other hemp materials, such as rope, clothing, and paper products. Though the marijuana industry is beginning to grow in legalized states, it is still federally illegal and classified as a Schedule I drug. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, however, hemp plants can now enjoy legal status across the entire country and full contribution to a booming industry.
CBD for Seniors – Is it Safe?
To date, there have been no reported overdoses or deaths from CBD products. It is a non-toxic molecule that is not addictive, and users have reported very minimal side effects. However, research is underway to determine its long-term safety and benefits, and the FDA has yet to implement regulatory guidelines.
If you choose to use CBD, it’s always best to consult with your doctor first. The only claim that CBD companies can make now is that their products may aid in the relief of temporary symptoms. There are no current studies or research that support CBD curing or providing long-term relief for illness, disease, or disorders.
If you’re a senior interested in using CBD, consider your health and any medications you’re currently taking. It is known that CBD can increase a natural blood thinner in your blood and increase the effects of certain medications that are already in your blood. Talk to your doctor about any medication you’re taking and if they’re known to interact with CBD, especially if you’re taking prescription blood thinners.
Other issues with CBD may arise when products aren’t labeled correctly. Since the FDA isn’t cracking down on clear guidelines, companies can create counterfeit CBD products and fly under the radar. Always look for a company’s Certificate of Analysis before purchasing a product. This certificate is an official document from a third-party lab that has tested the product for quality and quantity of cannabinoids. The presence of a COA means the lab has tested for quality product and no contaminants.
What Dose Should I Take?
When it comes to CBD dosage, the amount will vary from person to person. Like caffeine, it’s metabolized differently. Some people may feel effects from 5 mg, while others use 500 mg or more. The effects are determined by your weight, overall body chemistry, and other individual factors. You should always consult with your doctor first and start slow, especially if you’re using a highly-concentrated product.
When you first start, it’s important to pay attention to the effects of CBD and the amount of CBD that you’re using. Try a low dosage like 2-5 mg and work your way up if needed. An average single dose of CBD will usually range from 10 mg to 50 mg, while the recommended daily use is 30mg to 60 mg.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is most commonly sourced by using a CO2 extraction method. With this method, the CO2 is used to pull CBD, other cannabinoids, and nutrients from the plant. This process is safe and has been used for other food and oil extractions well before the CBD market began to grow.
After the oil is extracted, it can be bottled as pure CBD oil or may be placed into a carrier oil. When you’re looking for CBD oil tinctures, you might find it mixed with ingredients like MCT coconut oil or olive oil. Many times, these oils are chosen because they pair well with CBD and may offer additional benefits. For instance, MCT oil has shown evidence that it may support cognitive function.
CBD oil can be taken by itself where all you need to do is drop it on your tongue, or you can drop it into food or drink of your choice. Keep in mind that CBD oil is not water-soluble, so it won’t completely dissolve in your beverages, though many companies offer separate water-soluble options.
When your shopping for CBD oil, prices range depending on the size of the company, where their hemp is sourced, which extraction methods they use, the ingredients they use, and the amount that you’re purchasing.
Where Can I Buy CBD Oil?
CBD oil is legally sold in physical stores and online. No matter where you live in the U.S., dedicated hemp and CBD stores are popping up nationwide. It’s also easy to find CBD products in smoke and vape shops that have been able to start carrying CBD since the 2018 Farm Bill was enacted.
All the products we’ve linked to online are legal to be sold within the U.S. By purchasing online, you have the added benefit of reading thorough guides like ours as well as analyzing dozens of customer reviews to see what will work best.
What are the Supposed Benefits of CBD Oil?
Ever since CBD oil and its derivative products have entered the market, it’s been hailed as an excellent option for green therapy (meaning it’s supposed to be an all-natural product with therapeutic benefits). Some of these touted benefits include relief for pain, inflammation, insomnia, anxiety, and seizures.
Physical Benefits
Pain Relief
Google “CBD oil” and a lot of the results will describe its ability to provide pain relief. Some studies have shown that CBD interacts with receptors in our bodies to limit the compounds that produce both pain and inflammation. This ability has been tested in the case of chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis, scoliosis, cancer, and more. A recent study on rats with arthritis showed that topical application of CBD did help reduce inflammation in joints and overall pain without any additional side effects. Scientists worldwide agree that studies like this one shows promising results, though there is much more that needs to be done to verify that CBD is an entirely safe method for managing pain.
Separate studies have shown similarly promising results for CBD treatment of seizures and forms of epilepsy. Most recently, scientists found that children with Dravet syndrome given 10 mg of CBD per day had their number of seizures reduced by half. In the same study, however, a portion of children given 20 mg per day experienced some adverse side effects. There is currently one FDA-approved drug on the market used to treat seizures that uses CBD as one of its main ingredients.
People with multiple sclerosis have also reported an enhanced quality of life after starting any treatment with CBD. Since multiple sclerosis has many effects on the body, including muscle spasms, cramps, and headaches, it’s thought that CBD successfully inhibits inflammation of the brain and has effects on the cells that cause the autoimmune disorder.
For everyday use, the properties of CBD that have been shown to help with chronic disorders can also fight common concerns like muscle pain and headaches. Many companies have dedicated their businesses to re-purposing the oil into a salve or lotion that can be topically applied to aging joints or onto your temples for migraine relief.
For senior citizens especially, some users are finding CBD to be helpful for joint relief. A recent study showed that 42% of baby boomers are using CBD to help with joint pain.
Skin Care
When it comes to enhancing your skincare, CBD has also shown encouraging results. Some studies have opened the door to its possibilities in treating acne, while most skin care products with CBD ingredients market its antioxidant properties. Outside of CBD, antioxidants in other products have already been known to help with aged, dull, or textured skin.
Antioxidant serums and lotions are already widely marketed for signs of aging, and CBD has positioned itself as another option on the market. The antioxidants in CBD could help minimize free-radical damage to refine skin texture and make it brighter. It has also become known for its soothing properties that re-hydrate tired skin and can provide the moisture it needs. Keep in mind that positive first-hand reviews of these effects are available online, though further human studies are still required to verify CBD’s topical safety and effectiveness in skincare. With any skincare product, you should implement testing on yourself before fully incorporating a product into your routine. What works for one person may irritate your skin, so it’s important to do your research.
Mental Benefits
Anxiety Relief
If you’re burnt out from the essential oil revolution, CBD could be an excellent alternative for finding peace of mind. Unlike other oils and creams, the chemical compound in CBD may be capable of truly getting to the root of stress and anxiety.
Instead of making you feel good for a few moments because of a pleasant smell, the cannabidiol may be successful in affecting receptors that control the serotonin in your brain. Since this chemical is such a contributor to wellbeing and happiness, the hypothesis is that CBD relieves anxiety and stress by rerouting the direct effects of chemicals in your brain.
Current research from small studies has demonstrated patient relief for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. However, other studies resulted in no impact on cortisol levels, blood pressure, or heart rate, which are substantial indicators of anxiety disorder.
Sleep Aid
CBD’s supposed sleep-aid property is one of the areas with the least amount of research so far. Though many users report sleeping better and longer after beginning to use CBD treatments, scientists are skeptical about which properties of CBD could be causing these benefits. In one 2019 study, nearly half of the test patients reported improved sleeping within the first months of use, though the results then fluctuated over time.
For seniors, a natural sleep aid CBD could help aid symptoms of a variety of common problems, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, and more. Many of these problems are unavoidable as we age, and we’re more prone to less high-quality sleep.
Many scientists think that CBD could potentially aid sleep, though that may be the result of its anxiety-reducing properties. When someone is more relaxed, they’re more likely to fall asleep easily and stay asleep. So far, the jury is still out on whether or not there’s anything about CBD that can put you to sleep directly, but there are sure to be more future studies as more people incorporate CBD products into their nighttime routine.
Memory
While there isn’t current research that points to CBD helping improve overall memory, there are some studies that show CBD could aid in alleviating certain memory diseases. One study conducted by the Salk Institute showed that cannabinoids might help remove plaque-forming proteins from Alzheimer’s patient’s brains. The study used laboratory-grown neurons instead of humans.
Though the effects of CBD on memory and Alzheimer’s disease still needs additional testing, these initial studies could be promising for the future of CBD and its uses for seniors.
Is CBD Legal? Updates for 2023
At the federal level, CBD is legal as long as it is derived from hemp plants (which were made federally legal by the 2018 Farm Bill). While CBD can be derived from marijuana plants as well, marijuana is still federally illegal as a Schedule I drug. Therefore, a CBD product derived from a marijuana plant is also deemed as illegal.
When it comes to state laws, we’ve been seeing the landscape change from state to state for years. Though marijuana is federally illegal, there are currently only 10 states where marijuana is still entirely unlawful. All other states have either legalized marijuana for medical or adult use, or have decriminalized adult use. Depending on the different state laws, marijuana-derived CBD may be legal for either medicinal or recreational use. Regardless of the laws that determine where and how CBD can be cultivated, the 2018 Farm Bill did allow for CBD to be sold and distributed across state lines.
Because of the legal grey areas that exist right now, it’s been easy for CBD businesses to misunderstand proper FDA procedures or skirt them altogether. According to a private market researcher, only 4% by cannabis-related companies are operating within FDA guidelines. Most other companies have a clear risk of having their products rejected by the FDA in the near future as regulations and laws are more clearly defined. It is currently illegal to market CBD products as dietary supplements, though many companies have been doing so due to a lack of fixed regulations to follow.
As we wait for regulatory agencies to catch up to the booming industry, make sure you thoroughly research any CBD products that you buy. One thing to keep in mind is that some businesses may use misleading marketing to make you think you’re purchasing a CBD product when it is only hemp-derived. Hemp seed oil and similar products do not include CBD and thus won’t provide any of the assumed benefits.
The Latest CBD News
As of 2019, there have been a couple of new, exciting developments for the CBD industry. As a sign of its growing acceptance and popularity, the NFL recently announced that it was creating a Joint Pain Management Committee tasked with looking into cannabis and CBD products as options for athlete’s pain management. Before this initiative, cannabis and CBD products were known to be off-limits to players, even while some suffered from opioid addiction directly related to their search for pain management.
Researchers are also looking into new CBD uses for the general public. One promising study shows that CBD could eventually be used as an antibiotic due to new antibacterial effects that scientists were able to verify.
Final Considerations for Seniors
As you’re considering using CBD, take note of any symptoms you’d like to relieve and any conversations you’ve already had with your doctor. Doing this may help you determine how to choose the CBD oil that works best for you.
For instance, aches and pains may benefit from a low-potency oil you can use throughout the day; however, for sleep, you may be better off using higher potency at night to ensure the CBD works quickly to help relieve anxiety or restlessness. No matter what you choose, pay attention to how you feel while using CBD. Your own body can help you decide what dosage to take, and whether you’re taking too much or too little.
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