Herbal tea, dried flowers, oils… CBD-based products are enjoying growing success. Rightly so?
The CBD experience
Magali, 45 years old, was very anxious during the first confinement: “Working at home with the children increased my anxiety. A friend told me about a site that sold oils based on CBD (cannabidiol).
I tried and it worked for me. Like Magali, many of us have indulged in CBD oils, herbal teas, and flower teas. “During the confinements, many people were stressed, insomniac or depressed, confides Patrick Bédué, creator of CBD Expo France, the first French exhibition dedicated to professionals in the sector, which was held in Paris last October. As all the shops were closed, they ordered products on the Internet”. If the sites have spread, the stores have quickly followed suit.
Beneficial effects
We lend to the CBD, derived from hemp flowers, has many beneficial effects: it helps fight stress and insomnia, it relieves pain, soothes nausea… Where do these virtues come from? Knowledge about cannabidiol is quite recent. If we isolated the molecule in the years 1940, the discovery of the endo-cannabinoid system dates back to the years 1990.
However, when we consume CBD, it interacts with these receptors. Hence the occurrence of beneficial effects: it has anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, analgesic and anticonvulsant actions. Small problem: for the time being, we do not have sufficiently solid scientific studies to validate these different benefits. So, does CBD work for everyone? Not always. Because each endo-cannabinoid system is unique. Jérôme, 52 years old, often has headaches. He tried taking a CBD oil. “I swallowed three drops of an oil dosed at 10% for a fortnight. But I haven’t seen any change. While my cousin, who also suffers from headaches, has really benefited from it”. The question of the “right dose” is legitimate.
How much to consume?
The oils display a percentage of CBD oscillating between 5 and 25%. Some brands provide a grid to assess the number of drops to consume according to the type of disorder (stress, pain, etc.) and weight. For his part, Dr. Douek advises starting with low doses (1 to 2 drops of an oil of 5 to % ) and observe what happens. “If we have no effect, we gradually increase the doses. Every three days, add a drop until the benefits are obtained.
And keep this dosage. » Is there a dose of CBD that should not be exceeded? “There is no consensus on this point, but it is accepted that for a well-being indication, it is necessary to limit oneself to 150 mg of CBD per day”, specifies Pascal Douek.
Like any active ingredient derived from a plant, it can induce drug interactions (with anticoagulants, antidepressants, etc.). Ask your doctor for advice before consuming these products if you are on long-term treatment or if you suffer from a chronic illness.
And the applications local?
As CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, the creams and balms that contain it can be useful for relieving the muscles of athletes during recovery. Ditto for cosmetics targeting acne.
Read also What do CBD products really contain?
