Starting out with CBD - A Beginner's Guide

How to find the best CBD quality?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a natural product that has to be carefully extracted from the leaves of the hemp plant. Therefore, you should not make any compromises when it comes to the quality and origin of your CBD products.

Laboratory testing & certification needed

At a minimum, besides natural ingredients, CBD should be certified by a third-party laboratory. Independent laboratories are making sure that the product you are just up for to purchase really is what the company is saying.

Certificates of the analysis show you the exact concentration of all the ingredients and ensure that you are buying CBD from a transparent and trustworthy seller. Certificates are usually found in the product details. But not only this. Even the certifiers need to be of high quality if it comes to their standards since there is no unification for them. Watch out for ECOCERT or NATRUE for example to make sure that you can trust which are certifying the ones you want to trust.

The extraction method

Additionally, CBD should ideally be isolated with a CO2 extraction method to preserve all major cannabinoids, fragile terpenes and flavonoids. They shouldn't be any traces of solvents in the final product. At HERBLIZ we are of course reaching for the highest quality so we are only using this type of extraction.

Ingredients are Queen or King

We all know this from the food industry: A quick check of the ingredients list is enough to find out more about the product’s quality. Since it is crucial to know exactly what we put in or on our bodies, the ingredients should always be viewed with a critical eye and never sound synthetic. If they are not visible at all you better keep your hands off.

However, pure natural additives can be beneficial for the quality and effect of CBD oils. This is why some CBD oils also contain terpenes, flavonoids and other natural compounds of the hemp plant. They are interacting with CBD and other cannabinoids to increase the positive effect of CBD. This is the so-called Entourage Effect.

As a CBD newbie, reach out for the best

A good product not only contains high-quality CBD but also natural carrier oils and other ingredients. This is necessary because essential oils are potent and can cause irritation when applied directly to the skin or into your mouth. 

The most frequently used oils are hemp seed oil, olive oil and MCT-coconut oil - out of sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture only. All of these healthy oils can add even more benefits to your CBD product of choice.

There is little risk of side effects

According to existing research studies, CBD does not have any known major side effects and is perfectly safe - no matter if you prefer using an oil, inhaling via CBD Vape to using at for topical treatment. 

How does CBD work?

Cannabinoids are natural compounds of the cannabis plant. CBD (short for cannabidiol) is one of those and can be extracted separately or in combination with other important plant compounds. In contrast to the oftentimes better-known THC, CBD is non-psychoactive and therefore will not make you feel “high”.

Due to its versatility and ease of use, CBD has gained popularity beyond medical professionals, yoga teachers and nutritional experts. Once you have discovered the benefits of CBD, you will probably find yourself wondering about the reasons. The secret lies mainly in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Your body naturally produces cannabinoids - just like the hemp plant - that regulate a variety of body functions.

Cannabinoids like CBD can interact with the ECS through your natural cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, CB3). This important milestone in research led to many more scientists and medical experts getting involved in CBD studies.

This interest in the professional and medical community has created a steady stream of news from scientific studies on the benefits of CBD.

How to apply CBD best?

The wide range of CBD products can make it difficult to pick your favourite. You can apply CBD internally as an oil right under your tongue, inhale it with a vape or even use it as a topical skin treatment. 

For beginners and non-smokers, it might be easy to start with a CBD oil while others might find it more convenient to get effects faster by inhaling. In the following, we will discover the 3 most popular ways to apply CBD.

1. As a CBD Oil - for Beginners, use low percentage

   It is the best known and most 'easy-to-apply' type of cannabidiol product: CBD oil or CBD mouth spray. A bottle with a dropper or pump dispenser ensures a precise amount of oil that can be adjusted individually. There are many CBD oils in different aromas and concentrations. HERBLIZ offers CBD oils that contain either 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% CBD concentrations using a spray applicator. Beginners are advised to start with 5% to 10% and increase that amount slowly if needed.

   We recommend applying full-spectrum oils to benefit from a unique combination of all the important cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. While making use of the entourage effect you will get a pure and natural aroma by applying a full-spectrum CBD oil.

   CBD oils usually come in drops or sprays depending on the country you are in. Apply a few drops or pumps directly underneath your tongue and let absorb it there. The effect can usually be felt after 30-60 minutes.

2. CBD Vaporizer - Inhale & Relax

   The inhalation of CBD via vape undoubtedly provides the quickest effects. Most people already can feel the effects after 1-3 minutes. By inhaling CBD, the active ingredients get directly into blood circulation through your lungs. For this method, a special blend of CBD, terpenes and flavonoids is filled into CBD oil cartridges that can be vaporized with a dedicated CBD vape pen.

   Former smokers or e-cigarette users might choose this option to get rid of the unhealthy habit of smoking. Vaping is much healthier than smoking cigarettes since it contains no nicotine and due to other factors. For people facing stressful daily challenges, vaporizing CBD might provide quick stress relief.

3. CBD on your skin: Wellness products & cosmetics

   The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of CBD is widely used in skincare products. Also, athletes and active people, like to use CBD cosmetics to relax after training sessions and workouts.

   The application of topical CBD products is not any different from common lotions or creams. Just apply a thin layer on your skin and massage gently after.

   CBD body & massage oils also provide an optimal effect for your skin. You will find them in the form of bath bombs or bath salts and, in combination with essential oils (e.g. lavender or ylang-ylang). Topicals are also able to provide relaxation after a stressful day. All CBD wellness products and CBD & hemp cosmetics at HERBLIZ are suitable for all skin types.

How much CBD should you apply?

• For CBD oil: If you are a CBD first-timer, it is advised to start with a small amount, to explore your body’s individual reaction. For starters, we recommend using 1-3 pumps of  5% or 10% CBD oil in the morning and the same amount at night. If you want to increase the amount later on, you can either change the number of pumps or increase the CBD oil concentration to 15% or even 20%. However, high amounts are not always necessary for getting fast results. While the relaxing effect can be achieved relatively quickly, some effects might take up to 2 weeks until you notice them. For some CBD beginners, there might be the necessity of regular application.
• For CBD Vapes: 4-5 puffs a day can already be enough for starters. Other than that you have to find out yourself as usually.
• For CBD topicals: It always depends on the type of topical. For our products, you will find the recommended application directly on the product, the packaging or the corresponding webpage.

At the beginning of your CBD journey, ask yourself which effects you are hoping to achieve. Apart from that, there are no general restrictions on recommended amounts of CBD  - testing is above studying, in this case. However, we always recommend not to use more than 70mg of CBD per day.

Is it legal to apply?

Yes, CBD is sold legally in the UK and most other European countries under the following requirements:  Each CBD product must contain less than 0,2% of THC. Always check the seller’s third-party lab certificates, as well as their quality guarantee and the origin of the hemp plants. Transparency is the key in CBD.

We really hope that we could give you an understandable introduction to the world of CBD. If there are any questions uprising in your personal CBD journey don't hesitate to contact us.