Cannabidiol oil, also called CBD oil, is an oil produced from extracts of the hemp plant. The product has spiked in popularity all around the world. You might have heard of celebrities using it, heard about on the news, or maybe a friend told you about it.

Perhaps you’ve heard changes to the law in Australia allowing certain low-dose CBD products to be sold over the counter.

Or maybe you’ve just seen it advertised so much, but you don’t actually know really what is or much about it at all. Does CBD oil in Australia really live up to the hype?

Let’s take a step back and clear the air. It’s always good to know a little more about the product before take the plunge and start using it yourself. Below, we’ll outline just exactly what is CBD oil.

Cannabinoids: what do they do to the body?

Cannabidiol itself doesn’t exist in just a vacuum. It’s actually one of the many molecules – known as cannabinoids – inside the hemp plant. They have quite a long history of consumption.

Different cannabinoids can make human beings feel a whole range of different sensations. They can make us feel sleepy, hungry, happy, forgetful or any combination of those.

The science is not exactly clear on just exactly how all cannabinoids work. We do know that these compounds interact with certain receptors in your endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays the role of regulating the body’s functions such as mood, sleep, appetite and memory.

One of the most infamous cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This has a psychoactive effect, and is the chemical found in marijuana that produces a ‘high’ effect.

But CBD is not like this, and can’t alter a person’s state of mind in the way that marijuana does. We’ll outline more about CBD specifically below.

Is CBD oil safe?

Yes, CBD oil is generally a safe product to use. In fact, the World Health Organisation has stated exactly that.

CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. Reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications.
World Health Organisation, June 2018

This is an important topic, so below, we will go in detail about how CBD can interact with your bodily systems.

How does CBD affect your body?

CBD has the potential to produce a wide range of beneficial health effects to your body.

The compound is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is is believed that these properties interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors on immune cells.

According to Jennifer Martin, director of the Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence, CBD is “likely to have effects on cells of the immune system such as macrophages to reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which cause pain”.

We’ll outline some of the potential benefits and side effects of CBD oil below,

Benefits of CBD oil

There are a range of health benefits that you can potentially experience when taking CBD oil including:

Pain relief. Some studies indicate the possibility of CBD to reduce pain across the body. This is because CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system which directly regulates import functions in your body such as pain.

Anxiety and depression relief. There is evidence indicating that CBD can assist with treating social anxiety disorder, and even symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Use as a sleep aid. Anecdotal and some medical evidence suggests that CBD oil can help you sleep better. As CBD oil can assist with anxiety and depression, the indirect consequence may very well be improved sleep.

Alleviation of autism symptoms. Some studies indicate that CBD can have a positive effect on autism symptoms, including people who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Alleviation of arthritis symptoms. A recent Arthritis Foundation poll found that 67% of arthritis patients surveyed reported improved mobility when using CBD, while 30% reported reduced fatigue.

Cancer symptom relief. CBD can’t cure cancer, but some evidence suggests it can help slow the growth of cancerous tumours and slow the spread (and even induce the death) of cancer cells.

Side effects

CBD oil is not without its side effects. While adverse impacts of CBD oil are rare, it is important to understand that the research into this product is limited, and much is yet to be tested.

So despite what you may hear elsewhere, it’s important to understand that some consequences may flow if you use the product. Some of these effects include:

Dry mouth. CBD oil may have a role to play in decreasing the secretion of saliva in your mouth, making you feel as though cotton balls are in there.

Increased tiredness. There is no strong evidence that CBD oil makes you sleepy, but it can place you into a more calmer mind (which perhaps indirectly causes you to have a better sleep). But you shouldn’t feel drowsy when taking CBD.

Mood changes. A small number of people have reported experiencing mood changes, but this may not necessarily be a negative. CBD is known to be neuroprotective at certain concentrations and may actually place you into a better mood.

Appetite changes. Some studies have indicated that CBD oil can possibly make you hungry. But other studies have also showed the opposite. More research is required.

Diarrhea. Some people have reported experiencing gastrointestinal intolerance and diarrhea from using CBD oil at certain higher dosages. Make sure you take the dosage recommended by your doctor.

Where to buy CBD oil in Australia

If you’re looking to buy CBD oil in Australia, then you’re in the right place. The Little Health Company produces high-quality, organic CBD oils, free from pollutants and alcohol.

We extract CBD from the hemp plant using the CO2 method (using carbon dioxide to isolate CBD in a cold temperature), which can result in no harmful compounds being left behind in the final product.

Browse our online store today and take a look at our extensive range of some of healthy CBD oils.