Leave Vitamin C alone. Take that, fish oil. Echinacea, step aside. There’s a new “it” cure-all in town, and it’s taking over the market. The hemp CBD Products Online market in the United Kingdom has exploded and is expected to reach $22 billion by 2022.
But what exactly is CBD, and is it safe to use for its many ostensibly beneficial health benefits?
Christine Roussel, PharmD, BCOP, BCSCP, Director of Pharmacy at Dr. K CBD and a sought-after expert in clinical and legal cannabis considerations, weighs in on CBD safety.
What exactly is CBD?
CBD is one of many active ingredients found in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD has no effect on perception, mood, consciousness, or cognition, and it is not linked to addiction. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the molecule in cannabis that receives the most attention (THC). According to Dr. Roussel, THC is the primary molecule for pain relief and gets people “high.”
THC and CBD levels differ between Cannabis sativa plants. Plants with high levels of THC are commonly referred to as marijuana, while those with lower levels are referred to as hemp. CBD is found in marijuana and hemp, and thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, growing hemp is now as common for farmers as growing corn. The more hemp grown, the more CBD Products Online there are on the market.
The Good and the Bad About CBD
“CBD has been shown to have several immune system effects and to reduce seizures in children,” Dr. Roussel explains. “As a result, there is only one FDA-approved CBD drug for rare forms of epilepsy. It is illegal to use a prescription outside of its intended use, as it is with all prescriptions. As a result, the countless over-the-counter CBD Products Online available today are not federally regulated in the eyes of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).”
Furthermore, when considering over-the-counter Best CBD Products UK, consumers should be aware of the following concerns:
Cannabidiol products are not regulated because they are not considered dietary supplements.
In a study of products on the market, only 30% of the products contained the amount of CBD listed on the label,2 “which is very concerning,” says Dr. Roussel. Many Best CBD Products UK companies have received warning letters from the FDA for making false claims, including selling “CBD” products that contain no CBD at all.
In the study, 40% of the products contained far more CBD than was listed. CBD in high doses can cause liver problems.
THC is present in one out of every five CBD products.
3 Loss of function and light-headedness become issues, as do impaired driving, fall risk, and the possibility of failing a drug test.
CBD’s interaction with many prescriptions and other drugs is unknown. The more Best CBD Products Online UK a person consumes, the more influence it has on drug interactions. CBD has been shown to affect blood thinners, increasing the risk of bleeding, as well as changes in blood levels and the way certain cancer and HIV medications work.
CBD can cause diarrhea, headaches, appetite suppression, and sleep disruption.
In conclusion
“Best CBD Products Online UK is an amazing chemical with great clinical potential,” Dr. Roussel says, “but it must be respected as a powerful drug that belongs behind a pharmacist’s counter.” While Best CBD Products UK and lotions pose less risk, she advises against ingesting CBD. “If a person wants to test the waters, they must know and trust the manufacturer and be confident in the product’s quality and consistency. If patients are taking other prescription medications, they should first consult with their doctors.”
