CBD Oil FAQs
Get the answers to your CBD oil questions
CBD oil’s benefits are extremely broad due to the receptors it binds to throughout the human body, but are generally tied to inflammation. Some of the science backed benefits include:
- Can reduce pain
- Can reduce anxiety and depression
- Could reduce acne
- May protect the brain
- Could help heart health
- Could have antipsychotic effects
- Could help with substance abuse treatment
- May have anti-tumour effects
- Could help prevent diabetes
You can find out more in our Knowledge Base
No, CBD oil does not have any intoxicating effects, rather it can dampen the effect of THC and help user maintain control and minimise anxiety and loss of control.
The time taken to work largely depends on how CBD oil is consumed. Vaporising and inhaling CBD oil will get it into your system within a few minutes and is the fast acting, short lasting way. Ingesting CBD oil through drops under the tongue or a capsule will take around 30 minutes
Some reported side effects of CBD include tiredness, diarrhea and change in appetite.
CBD is generally regarded as safe. As a natural plant extract made up of molecules that match up perfectly to receptors throughout the human body, it is very easy for it to be absorbed and used.
This varies largely on what type of CBD product you’re taking and their concentrations of CBD, the size of the user and the severity of the condition being treated can all play a role. CBD oil may come in a pure isolated form in which you would only take a couple of milligrams compared to a full spectrum CBD oil which is a less refined version containing a bunch of other cannabinoids and plant molecules where one would take up to 100mg daily. Unfortunately there is no one size fits all dose to give. Each product will be different and offer its own dosage recommendation.
Yes CBD oil is legal in New Zealand, but only pharmaceutical grade with a doctor’s prescription. Buying CBD oil online and importing it into the country is still ILLEGAL and you run the risk of losing it at customs.
If you want to try CBD oil, you need to start by seeing a doctor for your condition and asking them for a prescription. The doctor can either source the CBD oil or send you to a pharmacy to get it.
Currently in New Zealand you can only buy CBD oil with a doctor’s prescription. A doctor may have CBD at their clinic or refer you to a pharmacy.
If you are looking to try CBD oil, ask your doctor first. If you have no luck with them you can try the doctors at the Appearance Medicine & Wellness Centre who are offering phone or tele-medicine consultations to help people all around NZ try CBD oil.
There is a lot of confusion between the terms Hemp Seed Oil and Hemp Oil and if these contain CBD or not. Put simply, if the product does not say CBD Oil on the front of the label or give you the amount of Cannabidiol (CBD) in the ingredients panel, then chances are this is not a CBD oil product and will not contain a therapeutic dose of CBD.
Nearly all commercial CBD is sourced from hemp so you may see some CBD products label themselves as Hemp Oil but will usually give you either the total amount of CBD in the tincture or the amount per serving. Most companies selling CBD products want the consumer to know how strong their product is by showing the amount of CBD and cannabinoids to justify the price.
When it comes to picking a CBD product make sure you check the ingredients list. We’ve seen hemp seed oil priced at CBD oil prices and sold in small 60ml tinctures just like how a CBD product would be sold. Don’t get tricked, and make sure you read the ingredients list and look for ‘cannabidiol (CBD)’.
Hemp Seed based products such as hemp seed oil, hemp protein powder, hemp flour and plain hemp seeds or hearts are all legal food products that you can buy at a supermarket or health store and do not contain anything more than nothing to trace amounts CBD and other cannabinoids. However, hemp seeds in their own right are a nutrient-dense superfood, which is why you’ll find them and hemp seed-derived and infused products popping up all over the place.
You can see examples of hemp-based products and understand their benefits over at hempwellness.co.nz
CBD can impact the body in many different ways thanks to the human endocannabinoid system, a series of receptors found all over the body.
The science based benefits of CBD can be seen here in our benefits article and library of research papers.
The cost of CBD oil firstly depends on the strength or concentration and the oil and the size of the bottle.
Then depending on if your doctor sources it for you or you buy it from a pharmacy with their mark up this can also add to the cost.
As CBD oil is still in its infancy in NZ the price ranges but here are some rough prices for varying common strengths of CBD.
750 mg – $100-120
1500 mg – $200-250
2500 mg – $300-400
You can read more on our CBD Oil Buying Guide
CBD is great for relieving anxiety because it makes you feel more relaxed. I can also improve your mood by raising your serotonin level.
It can also make you feel weary and tired, which comes from the numbing effect on your pain receptors (helpful in relieving various pains like joint paint, back pain, etc.)
When it comes to CBD and how much you should take, there is no exact dose for any given situation. Certain conditions require different dosages for a therapeutic effect. Your dose will also vary depending on your size and ultimately how your body responds to the oil.
Check out our comprehensive guide on how much CBD oil you should take based on the condition and condition treated.
CBD can interfere and disrupt the processes of numerous other prescribed mediations.
Some of these prescribed medications include:
- Antidepressants.
- Beta-blockers.
- Antipsychotics
- Anesthetics
- Prokinetics
- Benzodiazepines
- Steroids
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antibiotics
Before you start buying and taking CBD, you should talk to a healthcare professional to determine whether any of your current prescription medications may have adverse interactions with CBD oil.
The time you decide to take CBD oil entirely depends on how it makes you feel.
If CBD oil makes you feel awake, centred, and full of energy, you’ll want to take it in the morning.
If CBD oil makes you feel sleepy, drowly or relaxed, you’ll want to take it at night before you go to sleep.
If you take CBD oil, you should put the drops under the tongue because the CBD will be much more effective.
It’s more effective because the CBD will get directly into your bloodstream via your sublingual veins (the veins beneath your tongue), which means that the results will be stronger and quicker.
Other alternatives like CBD gummies, lotions and creams are available if you don’t want to take CBD oil.
You can keep the CBD in a dark, cool and dry place if you want to. However, if you buy a lot of CBD, you might want to keep them in the fridge, so they keep for longer.
If you use high strength CBD, storing it in the fridge can thicken the liquid and make it difficult to administer.
Generally, CBD oil has a shelf life of around twelve to eighteen months.
However, it depends on two variables:
- Storage: You should store the CBD in a dry place (below room temp if you can) like a cupboard.
- Quality: You’ll want to use CBD from a company with a ood reputation. Cheaper CBD often doesn’t last as long.