A rising trend in skincare, CBD can help reduce inflammation, protect against environmental aggressors and even help reduce wrinkles, however there is a lot of misunderstanding around the ingredient. Dr Michael Haslam, OTO CBD’s Anthropologist and Ethologist and author of The CBD Journey, is here to bring clarity to common CBD misconceptions and concerns.
Do CBD beauty products make you high?
"No. Although it’s often mistaken for its counterpart THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and non-hallucinogenic. The pure CBD isolate used in OTO’s products contains no other traces of the cannabis plant. CBD helps promote homeostasis, or balance, in the body. CBD’s structure is very similar to molecules naturally produced by the human body, known as endocannabinoids. CBD reacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex network of receptors that play a vital role in regulating our physiological functions, such as sleep, stress, pain, inflammation and more."
How does CBD oil make you feel?
"CBD is a gentle but incredibly powerful molecule, generally considered to return your body to its natural, ‘just right’ state. From anxiety to sleep through to pain management and skin conditions, CBD is credited for its ability to benefit almost every area of our lives. CBD has a powerful effect on the behavioural and physiological symptoms of stress. Regulating imbalances like low levels of serotonin, can be important for dealing with stress and anxiety. In OTO’s consumer trials 83% of people reported that daily use of CBD helped them control their worrying."
Can you get addicted to CBD?
"No. CBD is non-addictive. A World Health Organisation report from 2018 found that there was no evidence of ‘any public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD’."
Is it safe to use CBD oil everyday?
"Yes, CBD’s benefits are strongest with consistent, regular use. Our studies found that you need to be taking over 40mg of CBD daily for 3-4 days for the full benefits to kick in. Your body will naturally remove CBD after a few days, so it works best when you keep topping up your levels."
What are the benefits of CBD for the skin?
"CBD is an incredibly valuable ingredient to add to your skincare routine. CBD is highly ‘sebostatic’ and reacts with receptors to help balance and control oil production on the skin, which leads to fewer impurities like pimples, spots and blackheads. It is also an antioxidant, which is one of the hardest working skincare ingredients. Antioxidants help protect, prevent, and limit free radical damage, they also hydrate the skin and help to smooth fine lines. Studies have also found that CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits when applied to the skin and is able to increase the rate at which skin cells heal. Finally, CBD works to condition skin, meaning it hydrates and softens.
CBD molecules absorbed by the skin can reach the hypodermis, where they interact with the receptors that mediate pain and inflammation. CBD is highly antioxidant, and so has an anti-inflammatory effect on joints and muscles when applied topically. It can also have an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect by reducing our perception of the pain. Applying CBD topically is an effective way to benefit a particular area, as the absorption into the body is faster and more effective."
Will CBD products make me sleepy all the time?
"No, CBD is not a sedative like sleeping pills. By promoting homeostasis, balancing the body, CBD can help to regulate your internal sleep/wake cycle, ultimately making it easier to fall asleep at night and also wake up in the morning. If you use CBD at a naturally wakeful time of that cycle (for example, during the day), research suggests that taking CBD can actually improve energy levels and help concentration. OTO combines CBD with a selection of hand picked botanical extracts to enhance it’s array of benefits. OTO’s Focus range was designed with productivity in mind, OTO’s Amplify range was designed to enhance moments of shared connection, and OTO’s Balance range was designed to help you wind down before bed."
Does CBD help with anxiety?
"CBD helps with anxiety through multiple pathways. It works on some of our body’s same receptors as serotonin, the chemical that contributes to boosting mood and calming anxiety. CBD also interacts with GABA receptors, which are the main ‘inhibitory’ neurotransmitter in the brain, calming excess activity in the brain and promoting relaxation. And by keeping more of our natural endocannabinoids in our system, CBD also reinforces your body’s own defences against anxiety. Dr Esther Blessing, an assistant professor at New York University of Medicine, calls CBD "the most promising drug that has come out for neuropsychiatric diseases in the last 50 years". During OTO’s consumer trails, 86% of people who reported suffering from anxiety registered an improvement."
How does CBD help with sleep?
"CBD helps support your body’s natural mechanisms for keeping you calm and relaxed. Using CBD at bedtime, when your body’s circadian rhythm (or sleep-wake cycle) is already primed to put you to sleep, helps clear away the distractions or anxieties that may interfere with you falling and staying asleep. Remember, CBD is not a sedative, so it will not make you sleepy if your body is not at that point in its circadian cycle. Instead, CBD assists with naturally calming excess nervous activity."
Is CBD safe to use when pregnant?
"The scientific community currently doesn’t have enough evidence on the effects of CBD on pregnancy. Out of caution, we therefore do not recommend use of CBD while pregnant or nursing."
Can CBD oil go bad?
"Like all products, CBD products have a best before date. OTO only uses the highest quality carrier ingredients, such as jojoba and apricot kernel oils in our body oils, and purified coconut oil in our drops, to ensure that you get the best experience throughout the life of an OTO product. We use independent testing laboratories to verify that these remain safe and effective for you to use for at least 12 months after opening."
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