CBD sparked a lot of controversy back then, but is now considered a well-accepted movement in popular health culture. The amount of anecdotal evidence is astounding, so should you try it out for yourself? What is the best CBD oil to buy in the United Kingdom?
As someone with anxiety issues, I did find CBD very intriguing as I read more about in online. I was optimistic about it being a natural remedy to my condition, but I was at a loss. I didn’t know where to start. Aside from the general confusion over its legality, there are so many ways to consume CBD. Not to mention its different strains and strengths.
As I was starting out, I knew that there was going to be a lot of research and some trial and error involved. I’m going to take out most of the guesswork to help you make an informed decision about buying CBD products. Of course, it’s better to go into this knowing the basics, so let’s get to it.
What is CBD oil?
CBD (Cannabidiol) oil is extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and stalks of the hemp plant. These parts of the plant contain high amounts of cannabinoids. Scientific studies prove that cannabinoids help reduce anxiety, pain, and inflammation. Trace amounts of CBD even occur naturally in the human body.
CBD oil shouldn’t be confused with Hemp Oil, which is obtained by cold-pressing hemp seeds. It’s rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it a superfood, but it does not contain cannabinoids.
Because CBD oil comes from the cannabis plant (hemp), it’s associated with marijuana. While they are technically the same genus, their difference lies in their THC content. THC is a psychoactive compound that can get you “high.” CBD oil has extremely little to no amount of THC, so it has no mind altering side effects.
The UK’s 5 best CBD oil brands in 2020
1. Blessed CBD
Blessed CBD takes the first spot on this list simply because it’s the most trustworthy CBD brand I’ve come across. They’re a family-run operation that sources their hemp from Colorado where farms strictly adhere by anti-pesticide regulations. Their oils are produced in small batches, and each one is thoroughly tested for quality.
All the manufacturing and testing of their products are done here in the UK, and they are not available anywhere else. One of the things I absolutely love about Blessed CBD is their commitment to educate their customers. All the information about their products from farm to shelf are openly disclosed on their website. Their organic full spectrum CBD oils come in 500mg, 1000mg, and 1800mg potencies.
2. The Original Alternative
One thing that’s noticeably different in TOA’s CBD oil Blue Edition is its consistency. It’s much thicker and strong-tasting that the others on this list. I don’t know if that has something to do with potency, but it did allow me to fall into the most peaceful sleep I’ve had in years.
The Original Alternative grows their own hemp in farms all over Europe. They also use CO2 extraction only on the buds and flowers of the hemp plant to make sure their oils come out as pure and effective as possible. The Blue Edition CBD oil comes in 500mg, 1500mg, and 5000mg potencies.
3. Bud & Tender
Bud & Tender is a small new company from Britain. Their CBD oil, available in 500mg and 1000mg potencies, is obtained through C02 extraction and ethanol filtration. The result is a light extract that’s more palatable than your average oil. I tastes a little floral, which makes it a nice addition to juices and smoothies. On their website, you can find third party lab results from tests conducted on their products.
4. Hempura
Hempura is a budget-friendly CBD product company that uses supercritical C02 extraction and winterization to refine their oils. Their CBD oils come in 250mg, 500mg, and 1000mg potencies. All of the hemp used in their products are grown in East Europe. I’ve tried putting a couple of drops of their 250mg tincture to one of my night serums, and it dramatically evened out my skin tone.
5. Love Hemp
Love Hemps oils are produced in the US. They’re vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, with no other harmful additives. The hemp is grown in BIO soil in stringently controlled conditions. They use C02 extraction, which ensures that the oil that you’re getting is rich in terpenes and phytonutrients, among other goodies.
Their oils comes in 300mg, 1000mg, 2000mg, 4000mg, and 10000mg potencies. Their company also offers CBD-infused cosmetics, E-liquids, sprays, capsules, and edibles.
The benefits of CBD oil
CBD oil is a relatively new product and it has only recently gained the attention of the medical industry. Even though there aren’t a ton of conclusive studies that illustrate the positive effects of CBD, many reputable scientific sources prove that CBD does, in fact, have substantial therapeutic properties.
CBD is most popularly used as an aid for anxiety and chronic pain. It also helps minimize the symptoms of the following conditions:
- Acne
- Alzheimer’s
- Cancers
- Depression
- Diabetes and Obesity
- Insomnia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
While CBD can help manage the symptoms of certain diseases, it can also be taken as preventative medicine. With CBD, you can improve your cholesterol profile and be less at risk of cardiovascular diseases. It helps regulate your brain functions to improve your body’s overall resistance and ability to heal itself.
What is the best way to consume CBD?
Answering this question depends entirely on the individual. That being said, here are the common ways that CBD is ingested.
- CBD oils or Tinctures
You can simply put a couple of drops of CBD oil under your tongue or mix it in with food and drink. Oils and Tinctures also make it easy for you to adjust your dosage over time.
- Edibles
You can take CBD in the form of sweets like chocolates, gummies, and lozenges. Some people prefer this method because they don’t like the taste of CBD oils and won’t say no to a snack.
- Smoking and Vaping
Some folks like to go the traditional route and smoke hemp buds. Others use CBD vape juice (doesn’t actually contain oil) and cartridges to use with their vaporizers. While this is the fastest way to feel the effects of CBD, the safety of vaping is still in question.
- Capsules
Taking CBD in capsule form is a quick and easy way to ingest it. You don’t have to taste it, but you are restricted to a fixed dosage.
What is the proper dosage of CBD oil?
Your endocannabinoid system may be wildly different from the next person’s. That’s why there has to be some experimentation when identifying the perfect type and strength of CBD oil for you. If it’s your first time with the product, you want to start with a low dosage and work your way up to let your body acclimatize to it.
A healthy dose of CBD can be anywhere between 5-75 mg. a day. It’s worth noting that you can’t get addicted to CBD and you would have to take vats of it to overdose on it. However, you may feel slight side effects if you take it too often.
To regulate your CBD dosage, you have to find the most pure and potent oils. While those can be more expensive, you will only need a few drops a day to get its full effects.
The correct way to take CBD oil
Use the dropper to put droplets of CBD oil under your tongue. Let it sit there for 2-3 minutes before swallowing. This method makes the CBD get into your system much faster. If you can’t stand the taste, you can mix it in with more palatable stuff.
How do you find the best CBD oil?
I’ve bought a couple of ineffective bottles of CBD oils in my day. Lesson number one: High-quality products are worth high-quality prices. Here are the key things to look for when buying CBD oils so you can avoid making the same mistakes that I did:
- Super critical CO2 extraction
This method is widely considered the most efficient way of extracting CBD from the plant. From it, you get the purest, most potent CBD oils. Because it yields an excellent product, it can also hike up the price.
- Non-GMO and Organic
At the end of the day, you’ll feel better using a product that is free from chemical fertilizers, solvents, herbicides, and pesticides. It’s also better for the environment.
- Full Spectrum CBD
Full spectrum means that the oil carries an extensive range of cannabinoids. You would get fatty acids, terpenes, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and protein. When you have all these elements in the mix, the oil becomes much more effective at reducing pain and inflammation. Remember, full spectrum mixtures are generally more effective than isolates.
- CBD Concentration
Make sure that the company discloses the percentage of CBD in their products. It’s better if they have an analysis of this available, either on their website or included in the package. The lowest concentration is 3%, which I personally find ineffective. Depending on the health issue that you want to address, I advise starting out with 6% (600mg) to 8% (800mg).
And, as always, do your research! In this case, I’ve done it for you. Below are the most reputable CBD product brands that have stellar reviews.
Takeaway
It’s commendable that you’d want to know as much about a product before purchasing it. CBD oils are increasing in popularity and it’s high time you experience its benefits for yourself. Blessed CBD gets the top spot as our main recommendation. The company’s rigorous quality control, transparency, and high-quality output makes it well-deserved.