Cannabidiol (CBD) oil seems to be the new buzz word. People are waking up to cannabis infused coffee pods, swallowing capsules and loading it into their vape mix, claiming it relieves  anxiety and depression, masks chronic pain  and arthritis symptoms and helps with insomnia  and reduces frequency of migraine's amongst many other things.  Although CBD oil is often derived from marijuana plants, it won’t get you high.

But what is CBD oil, exactly?

CBD oil is typically extracted from the resin glands on cannabis (marijuana) buds and flowers. It can also be extracted from hemp, which is an industrial, fibrous form of cannabis, that has small buds and very low concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) , which is the chemical compound that is responsible for making people 'high'. Because hemp oil  is almost pure CBD, there is no psychoactive components and therefore safe for use and 100% legal in South Africa. CBD oil is usually diluted with another type of carrier oil, like coconut  oil or pure olive oil , which helps  absorption within the body.

So, what’s the deal with CBD oil?

There are more than 113 active cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis plants  (sativa, indica and ruderalis)  and their effects on us stem from their interactions with the endogenous endocannabinoid system within our bodies. THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in the plant and it produces euphoria by interacting with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). We also have CB2 receptors located in our peripheral nervous system throughout the body and this lock and key mechanism regulates many functions within our bodies.