Cannabis oil gains more attention every day. Positive experiences are shared frequently as more people begin to realize that this product not only provides substantial health benefits but is also convenient and easy to use. People who are not familiar with cannabis oil or are skeptical about its relation to marijuana may wonder, though: What is cannabis oil and how do I use it? The rest of this blog post will discuss the nature of CBD oil, how it can be used as a part of a daily health routine, and how Massachusetts medical marijuana professional Dr. Jordan Tishler can help people who are interested in cannabis oil find the right product for them.
What Is Cannabis Oil?
Cannabis oil is, to put it simply, the oil derived from the cannabis plant. There are two types of cannabis plants — hemp and marijuana — and each can have oil extracted from it. The main difference between hemp and marijuana plants is the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. THC is the psychoactive substance that creates a feeling of being high.
Hemp plants contain a low amount of THC (no more than 0.3%) while marijuana plants have a much higher amount of THC, typically between 5% and 15%. However, both plants have similar amounts of cannabidiol (CBD). Since the two varieties of cannabis plant have different THC levels, the oil from each plant will have slightly different effects on users. Talk to your doctor before incorporating cannabis oil into your lifestyle.
Types of Cannabis Oil
Different oils can be derived from the different varieties of cannabis plants, hemp and marijuana. Oils derived from cannabis plants will have different levels of the two main compounds found in cannabis plants: THC and CBD. While certain oils can have both in differing ratios, THC and CBD are the two main types of cannabis oil that are available to consumers.
In the past few years, CBD oil has begun to receive more attention and is now accepted as a mainstream option for soothing the symptoms of certain conditions. CBD is appealing to many users because, although it is derived from marijuana (and hemp), it does not have any of the psychoactive effects commonly associated with cannabis.
Since there are no psychoactive effects associated with CBD oil, it only creates a calm, peaceful effect on those that use it. CBD oil works by interacting with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which are found in the nervous system, the digestive system, the brain, and throughout the body while positively impacting the functions of serotonin receptors and the hippocampus.
CBD is popular with consumers because it has proven to be beneficial for a variety of ailments. Firstly, using CBD to treat anxiety and other anxiety-related conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety, panic disorders, or moderate depression is extremely frequent. Also, CBD for chronic pain relief is another common use. CBS oil can reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process for damages muscles. It is also known to be an effective treatment for epilepsy, as well as other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and glaucoma.
THC oil is the other type of oil that can be derived from cannabis plants. It has psychoactive effects, which means that it is responsible for the feeling of being “high” that is commonly associated with marijuana. It affects the brain by interacting with certain neurotransmitters.
THC oil can induce a sense of relaxation in users, as well as altered senses of sight, smell, and hearing, and increased levels of hunger. For these reasons, it is commonly used by people dealing with the negative side effects of chemotherapy, which include depression and anxiety, pain, and loss of appetite. THC can also be used to deal with the pain and discomfort brought on by other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, spinal injuries, digestive issues, and substance abuse disorders.
How to Use Cannabis Oil
CBD oil and THC oil can be consumed in many ways, depending on what suits the needs of the individual. The following are ways that cannabis oils can be consumed:
- Sublingual tinctures – You can take cannabis oil by placing a few drops of an oil tincture under your tongue and keeping it there for 30 seconds before swallowing. Oil tinctures are made by soaking the cannabis flower in oils or alcohol for an extended period of time.
- Ingestion – Another easy way to consume cannabis oils is to ingest them in the form of an edible or other food or drink product. There are many delicious edible products on the market (including easy-to-eat gummies, candies, and mints), though it’s also possible to make edibles at home using cannabis oils. This method takes longer to work but provides longer-lasting effects.
- Topical application – Applying CBD or THC oils in a balm or lotion is another way to consume them, though the efficacy of this method is questionable at best.
- Inhalation – Breathing in vaporized cannabis oil is the quickest way to consume it, and it produces an almost immediate effect. However, this method is also the most likely to cause irritation of the lungs.
Get in Touch with a Boston Medical Marijuana Healthcare Professional Today
If you would like to learn more about how to how can use cannabis oil or any other cannabis derivative, such as THC or THC-A, you are encouraged to contact Boston medical cannabis expert Dr. Jordan Tishler for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Tishler and the team at InhaleMD, call (617) 477-8886 at your earliest convenience.