Best CBD Oil for Relaxation

We understand that choosing a CBD oil for yourself as a therapeutic agent can be a stressful job because of its immense medical relevance and its correlations with other pharmaceutical drugs. A person with no knowledge whatsoever can never purchase the right type of CBD oil for themselves.

So, we are here to help you guide through the process. After scouring the internet for countless hours, we have formulated this list of features that are necessary for a good quality CBD oil. All you have to do is to go through these features thoroughly, and you will be best prepared to purchase a CBD oil that fits your needs without needlessly wasting your money.

How CBD induces relaxation 

The human brain has a complicated system set in place to deal with everyday life. The system in place to control our mood and emotions is called the endocannabinoid system. It performs many other functions as well, including controlling our perceptions and sleep-wake cycle. 

All of the problems concerned with the mechanism of relaxing are majorly dependent on two receptors known as CB1 and CB2. Cannabidiol is the element that resembles the chemical makeup to fit these two receptors exactly. 

When our reserves run low for neurochemicals, CBD takes their place and gives the perception that all of the needs are fulfilled. In this way, it makes our brain assume that it is relaxed and swimming in the pool of the necessary serotonin.

Moreover, when we are stressed, our body releases reactive oxidative species or ROS. They are oxygen species with just one electron in the outermost shell, so they tend to look for electrons to fill their outermost shell. 

ROS doesn't ask nicely for the electrons from other atoms; they tend to destroy other cells to fulfill their own needs; thus, they are destructive species that can cause grave diseases and put our bodies in a great deal of stress. 

In their scavenger hunt to look for astray electrons, they tend to create more reactive oxidative species, essentially starting a chain reaction. Cannabidiol and the other members of the cannabinoid family are natural antioxidants, which means that they have an electron to spare in their outermost shell. 

So, they give off their extra electron to reactive oxygen stopping the chain reaction. In this way, CBD relieves our body of the unnecessary stress conditions created by reactive oxygen species. 

Things to Look for in the Best CBD Oil for Relaxation

• Potency 

In pharmaceutical terms, potency means the strength of chemicals in a drug, which essentially translates to the power of effect it is going to produce in your system. As the manufacturer label changes, so do its range of strengths of CBD oils. 

Most commonly, you will view potency range from 200 mg to 5000 mg. But generally there are only two strengths available in CBD oils. First is the one that is usually called low strength and provides 25 mg of CBD concentrate per dose, while one does constitute about one ml of CBD oil. On the other hand, the high-strength CBD oil provides 80 mg of CBD concentrate per one dose, which is again one ml of the CBD oil. 

As the quantity of the CBD oil increases or, in simple words, as the content increases, so does the amount of total CBD it holds; this does not mean that the strength of the CBD changes. Essentially there are only two important potencies one is 750 mg, which is considered low strength and the other being 2400 mg, which is considered high strength. 

In simpler words, even the 5000 mg CBD oils have the same strength as 2400 mg, which is providing 80 mg CBD oil per one dose. Just the quantity of the product varies as it may carry 60 ml instead of the standard 30 ml.

• Method of CBD Extraction

A crucial step to ensure the utmost quality end product is the method of extraction used in the production process of CBD oil. Several methods have been adopted over the ages to extract CBD concentrate from its plant sources. 

The advancements in this field as well have been revolutionary, but these advancements also come at a high cost. 

• Solvent extraction method

This one is the simplest and least expensive method to extract CBD from the hemp plant. It involves running alcohol derivatives, commonly ethanol, through the collection of hemp plant leaves, flowers, and trimmings. 

The solvent collects the cannabidiol and other cannabinoid elements and is then evaporated to retain a concentrated form of these elements. As it is a cheap and pretty simple method, it comes at the cost of its own, which concerns the purity and quality of the CBD concentrate.

 Firstly, it strips many beneficial nutrients from the hemp plant during the process, which later goes to waste-reducing the quality of CBD concentrate. Secondly, if the evaporation process is not thorough enough, it can leave a residue of alcohol derivatives in the CBD concentrate, which are not only highly flammable but can be toxic for humans, thus making the CBD impure and unfit for consumption.

 So, any CBD product that is produced from this process should be strictly avoided even if the cost is extremely low.

• Olive Oil Method

The oldest, simplest, and safest method of extraction is the olive oil extraction method, yet it doesn't cost a hefty amount as well. The only drawback of this method of extraction is that the final product is not as concentrated as compared to other methods, and it is highly perishable as well. 

The process involves heating the desired parts of the hemp plant for the activation of chemical components, the addition of olive oil, and then heating again so that all chemicals are mixed with the oil. The mixture is strained, and CBD concentrate with an olive oil base is procured. 

• CO2 Extraction Method

The safest, complex, expensive, and the most revered method of CBD extraction is the CO2 extraction method. This method involves an expensive set of machinery and a trained individual to engineer the entire process carefully. The machine includes three tanks; the first one includes pressurized CO2, which is run through the second tank containing Hemp plant materials. 

The CO2 changes into supercritical CO2 and collects CBD extract from the hemp plant. In the last chamber, the CO2 rises as gas again, leaving concentrated CBD extract at the bottom of the barrel. 

The only drawback to this method is that it is expensive and requires quite a bit of investment from the manufacturer. But due to the quality of the end product of this method, it is the most-trusted method yet discovered for extraction of CBD.

• Legality 

The reason behind the ban placed on the consumption of hemp and marijuana plants is due to its ability to produce an intoxicating effect on the human brain. The element behind the intoxication is tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC. 

The rest of the members of the cannabinoid family are fairly innocent and have been facing the grunt due to their trouble-causing relative THC. The legal ban was imposed based on the characteristic of intoxication, or in simpler words, the ban was placed on elements that cause a high state. 

If the concentration of THC is carefully tailored to a level where it no longer holds power to cause such high or buzz conditions, then it becomes safe and legal for consumption under US federal law. According to research, the safe and non-intoxicating level of THC in a cannabinoid related product is 0.3 percent or less. 

So, for a product to attain the legal status, the level of THC must be either less than 0.3 percent or virtually zero. At this concentration, THC only creates the entourage effect and is practically rendered defenseless thus; it cannot cause a high psychoactive condition. If you are wondering about the entourage effect, it is explained further below in the blog.

• The Entourage Effect 

The entourage effect is a concept that explains how different elements of the cannabinoid family act together to produce an enhanced response. It has been reported through various studies that in the presence of THC and other members of the cannabinoid family, cannabidiol performs some of its best work. 

The idea behind this concept is that all of the components of the cannabinoid family act synergistically to produce a combined and magnified response. This concept and studies related to the entourage effect prove that full-spectrum CBD products work drastically better in improving patient conditions than CBD isolate or broad-spectrum. 

This is because it highlights that each element of the cannabinoid family holds its significance and performs unique functions that act only in a beneficial way for the human body. In the case of using CBD as a relaxation agent, we humans need all the strength it can provide under the entourage effect to deflate from our exhausted condition. 

So, it is best to purchase full-spectrum CBD oil to attain maximum benefits. There is more information on a different spectrum of CBD oil below.

• Cannabinoid Concentrations 

There are three variations in terms of cannabinoid concentrations in most common CBD oils present in the market. These variations exist to exclude particular elements of the cannabinoid family from the mixture of CBD oil. Here is the information about the three spectrums of CBD oil:

• Full-spectrum

The full-spectrum CBD oil contains all of the elements of the cannabinoid family in different proportions. The full-spectrum CBD oil is expected to ensure the entourage effect. Thus, it is supposed to create a magnified response to CBD in the human system as all of the elements of the cannabinoid family act synergistically in the circulatory system. 

It is the most recommended spectrum of CBD oil. 

• Broad-Spectrum

Broad-spectrum CBD oil was only created for people who want to avoid THC altogether due to many reasons, but one of the main being a positive drug test. 

The broad-spectrum CBD oil includes all the elements of the cannabinoid family except THC. It is positioned as the second-best option in CBD oils after full-spectrum CBD oil. Even though it does not contain THC, the rest of the cannabinoid elements act synergistically to produce an enhanced effect. 

• CBD Isolate

Just as the name suggests, this type of CBD oil only contains cannabidiol in the oil. It only provides this isolated element in the circulatory system of humans. It is thus the least reactive of all three spectrums of CBD.

• Enhancers 

Many companies add various substances to enhance the functionality of CBD oil or to make its flavor slightly bearable. The natural flavor of CBD products is very bitter due to the presence of chlorophyll in the plant, which then seeps into the original CBD concentrate during processing, imparting not only green color but an extremely bitter taste. 

Because CBD oil is meant to be taken orally, there is no way that the consumer can avoid the bitter taste. So, to enhance the taste, most CBD manufacturers add bearable flavors such as sweeteners or natural fruit extracts. 

It is quite imminent that a plant derivative such as CBD and a fractionated oil base product cannot possibly smell good enough or convincing enough to be consumed. Some oils have additional scents added in them to enhance their smell and make it slightly bearable for the consumers. 

Essential oils are a bit of a rare addition to CBD products, but some manufacturers add them to their CBD products to enrich the CBD oil with additional benefits. As we all know, many essential oils such as lavender and chamomile are well known for their relaxing effects.

So, their addition cannot possibly impose any harm. Sometimes just a small addition such as essential oils can lift the experience of consuming CBD oil to a greater degree. One of the most beneficial enhancers ever to be added to CBD oil is a terpene compound. 

Terpenes are organic compounds naturally found in most plants and known to impart a distinct aroma according to each plant. Terpenes are especially associated with CBD products because they release special scents according to each CBD plant and cannabinoid element. 

In addition to the aroma, terpenes also mimic the functional properties of CBD products. So, mere inhalation of these terpenes can have therapeutic benefits. Moreover, due to there property of sharing functional ability with all of the elements of the cannabinoid family, their addition to the CBD oil can induce the entourage effect as it can enforce all of the elements to act synergistically and produce a magnified response. 

Note that any addition to CBD oil limits its capacity to hold CBD concentrate, so only low potency oils can hold flavors. The high potency oils which exhibit full strength CBD cannot be laced with flavors. 

• Quality of Ingredients 

Just like all other consumable materials in the market, the quality of ingredients of CBD oil also matters the most. First of all, the agricultural practices of farmers which are employed to grow CBD are the most vital. 

It is at this step only that most contamination can occur. Avoid any CBD product that does not ensure that their CBD was grown without pesticides as they can have devastating health effects. Secondly, look for CBD oils that ensure the absence of any heavy metals and GMO's in their product. If these three things check out, then the raw hemp plant was grown in an optimum environment.

The second ingredient is the oil base; there are many types of oil bases used for CBD oil. The most popular option is the hemp seed oil due to its magnifying properties on CBD itself. The other options include coconut oil and olive oil, which are also good options as long as they are organic and high quality.

Most companies add MCT oil, which is medium-chain triglycerides; this means that the oil has been fractionated and has its benefits, such as boosting energy and aiding in weight loss. 

• Side-effects 

CBD is a completely natural element as it grows in nature; simultaneously, it can also be created synthetically. As long as the CBD source is organic, we can ensure that it will not pose any horrific side effects, unlike other relaxing medication or drugs. 

However, there have been some studies where participants experienced slight discomforts such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Still, it is limited for people whose own system did not bode well with CBD. 

Otherwise, it is perfectly fine for people who are generally tolerant of exotic substances. A problem does occur when the consumer also follows other medications for some serious chronic conditions. As we all know that our liver is responsible for elimination purposes, and any drug taken can alter the rate at which metabolism occurs in the liver for these drugs. 

Some drugs are known to enhance the metabolism of CBD, making it exit our system faster and without performing its due action. Other drugs are known to slow their metabolism, making it stay longer in the system and reinforcing its effect. 

Or the case can be another way around where CBD can either have a reinforcing effect on the metabolism of certain drugs. So, it is best to consult your doctor if you are on some prescription medication to avoid any medical problems.