What Is CBD Oil?

You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying, “desperate times call for desperate measures.” It’s sort of how I felt a few months ago when, after trying nearly everything I could think of diet-wise, I couldn’t get my migraines under control. I accidentally happened upon an article that spoke of using CBD oil for seizures. Interestingly enough, my doctor had prescribed a seizure medicine for me for migraine control. I hated the way it made me feel (very foggy, doped up kind of feeling), so I stopped taking it after a few doses. I began wondering — if a seizure medicine can help with migraines, could a natural product that has promising results with seizures also help them? 

I’ve combed the internet trying to find that answer, but I’ve come up short. So my experience with taking CBD oil for migraines is purely anecdotal, however, for 3 months while taking it, I had only one migraine. That’s one migraine after months of having 1-2 per week. When I ran out of CBD oil, the migraines returned to a pattern of increasing frequency. Money was a little short (and as you will discover, CBD oil is on the pricier side), so I’ve just started taking it again. But I am hopeful.

Why CBD Oil?

There are so many illnesses out there that are stealing our joy and keeping us from enjoying life to the fullest. Conventional medicine is the best we have right now. The cycle seems to be the same. You go to the doctor, describe the symptoms to the best of your ability and before you know it, you’re leaving the office with a prescription in hand. Problem solved, right? Well, not exactly. So often, the cure can be as bad as the original illness (take the Topamax I was prescribed, for example).

Many of the medications we take leave us with side effects that are very unpleasant. When you find yourself caught in this cycle, you wind up searching for answers to your problems that will take away the side effects. Sometimes this leads to more medication, and frustration. By that time, you’ll find yourself taking matters into your own hands. The internet is always abuzz with the latest holistic and natural treatments. The latest remedy making the rounds is cannabis. For so many people, for a variety of reasons, cannabis doesn’t work for them or they have a moral objection to using it. For those people, there is CBD oil.

What is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol can be extracted from marijuana or hemp plants by pressing them to extract the resin. The properties of the oil have been suggested to relieve a variety of illnesses, including chronic anxiety, chronic pain, depression, ADHD, PTSD, seizures, and more. Unlike cannabis itself, it either has no THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana) or only trace amounts. For people who cannot tolerate or prefer not to use THC, CBD oil gives them a way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis use without the side effects of cannabis. Think of CBD as a win-win scenario. You can receive the effects you need without having to deal with the ones you don’t.

Is CBD oil legal?

Unlike marijuana, CBD oil derived from the marijuana plant with 0.03% THC or less is legal in many states. CBD oil derived from the hemp plant (what I use) is legal in all 50 states. As always, it is best for you to get acquainted with the laws of your particular state before attempting to use any product that may be illegal. Many states have passed laws allowing the use of CBD oil from marijuana with a prescription to help with conditions like epilepsy or to reduce nausea in cancer patients. You can learn more about the legality of CBD oil over at CBDOrigin.com.

Will CBD oil make me high?

IF you are looking to get a buzz, you will not get it from CBD oil. This product is simply there to give you the benefits of cannabis use, but there is no high associated with it. For people with anxiety, it is said to give a sense of calm. For those with depression, it can help to give their mood a boost. Whatever benefits you would be able to receive from cannabis use, you can receive those from CBD oil, without the high.

For so many of us chasing the symptom cycle, CBD oil is there to possibly put an end to it. Whether your problem is anxiety or insomnia, depression or pain, CBD oil may be the answer to help you find relief from those symptoms. As always, you’ll want to speak with a doctor before beginning any course of treatment, and it is important to remember that CBD oil has not been proven to cure or treat anything, although there is much anecdotal evidence and many studies are being done.

Where can I buy CBD oil?

I have used CBD oil from two different companies. The first bottle I used was pure CBD isolate with no THC from Kat’s Naturals. It’s organic, made from hempseed oil, and backed by third party testing. Kat’s offers several formulations in their oral drops. I used the one called, Heal. Heal is flavored with peppermint oil and had a fresh flavor I didn’t mind at all.

My current bottle is from CBD Drip. They also sell several formulations. The one I have is called Relief, and while it’s tolerable, the flavor is not as good a Heal. I switched to this brand for a couple of reasons. Research about the “entourage effect” in which the effects of the CBD oil are potentiated by the trace of amounts of THC led me to believe that it may work even better than the isolate. I also wanted to try a couple of different brands to compare how well they work. CBD Drip’s oral drops are also hemp-based, non-GMO, and grown without pesticides or other chemicals.

Just like vitamins and , this is another tool in your arsenal that can help to supplement alongside your medical treatment. If you’re ready for something different, you may want to consider giving CBD oil a try.