CBD 101 Guide

Cannabis is considered one of the oldest cultivated plants. Hemp and marijuana are the two types of cannabis. Hemp is especially high in CBD and low in psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Marijuana, the other type of cannabis, is high in THC and low in CBD.

CBD, or cannabidiol, and THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, are both major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

THC and CBD both interact with the endocannabinoid system through its two receptors CB1 and CB2. CBD and THC have different effects on the endocannabinoid system, THC activates the receptors while CBD blocks them and can indirectly activate them (confusing, I know). The point is, THC and CBD have very different, often opposite, effects on our system. But they also have similarities between them and often work in synergy together.

Before we talk about CBD further, let’s bust some common myths about CBD Oil!

MYTH #1: CBD IS ADDICTIVE.

CBD is not only non-addictive, it actually is being studied for potentially being a treatment for addictions. CBD is thought to modulate various neuronal circuits involved in drug addiction.

There are preclinical and clinical animal and human studies that suggest that CBD may help with opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addictions, as well as there is some preliminary data suggesting that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addictions. We need more studies before CBD can be used as an intervention for addictions, but one thing is for sure, CBD is definitely non-addictive.

MYTH #2: CBD IS PSYCHOACTIVE

CBD is non-psychoactive and it can potentially help counteract the THC effects of feeling high. CBD can also reduce psychotic episodes and can overall help with mental health.

Some CBD oil contains THC and that’s when it is psychoactive. Make sure to get CBD oil made with CBD crystalline or isolate like ICARIA’s oils which contain 0.00% THC to avoid any unwanted side effects.

MYTH #3: CBD MAKES YOU SLEEPY AND TIRED

CBD can make you sleep better and help you relax, but only when your body needs it. CBD brings your body into balance. So in the morning it will help boost your energy, manage anxiety and even help you focus. While in the evening it will help you rest and relax after a busy day. CBD works with your natural processes and helps your body regulate them.

MYTH #4: CBD IMPAIRS YOUR COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS

There are numerous studies that show that CBD can help you focus and learn better, as well as it improves your memory, attention and brain function. So taking CBD before working or studying will definitely boost your productivity and learning capacity.

So what are the health benefits of CBD?

CBD is most commonly used for the following reasons:

• CBD helps lower stress and anxiety
• CBD is a powerful analgesic, so it reduces pain
• CBD fights insomnia and helps you sleep through the night
• CBD improved focus, memory and attention
• CBD boosts your mood and helps with depression
• CBD has anti-seizure properties

… to name a few.

CBD health benefits are really endless due to its ability to bring balance into our system. It even works in animals for the same things! CBD can help us in so many different ways, such as:

• CBD alleviated cancer-related symptoms and symptoms linked to treatments like chemotherapy
• CBD is a strong anti-inflammatory so it helps with any inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, arthritis, colitis, autoimmune conditions, asthma, and many more.
• CBD has neuroprotective properties which could help treat conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s.
• CBD is an antioxidant which means it protects our cells and tissues from free radical damage.
• CBD has antipsychotic properties which may help people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
• CBD can potentially help with modulating any hormonal imbalances and even possibly assist with weight loss.

There are more and more studies coming out with new findings of the amazing health benefits of CBD. So stay tuned for updates!

CBD is considered to be a very safe substance to take. Our body has an endocannabinoid system that produces its own cannabinoids, thus making CBD, a phytocannabinoid, very easy for our bodies to absorb and utilize.

There are many studies that show that consistent long-time use and high doses of CBD are well tolerated by humans. There are studies that show that dosages as high as 1500 – 2500 mg a day are safe.

However, while there is no denying the amazing health benefits from taking CBD, there are a few things one should be cautious and aware of when taking CBD.

QUALITY

First and foremost, make sure that you are getting your CBD from a reliable source and there is no THC in it. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid and even though it does have its own health benefits, it also can have some side effects if not taken with caution.

You also want to ensure that you are not using a product with synthetic CBD as these have not been properly tested for safety. Look to see if the brand that you are buying from does third-party lab testing to guarantee their products, just like we do at ICARIA.

In addition, check the concentration of the product that you are buying. If the CBD amount is low, you will not get the results that you are looking for.

PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING

There are relatively few studies and records of taking CBD while pregnant and breastfeeding. The more popular CBD becomes the more historical data we are going to have, which will give us a better understanding of how it affects the mother, the fetus, and the baby.

In the meantime, even though there are no documented side-effects, it’s best to be cautious about taking CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding as you would be with any other new supplement.

LIVER METABOLISM

There are studies that have shown that CBD can inhibit the activity of some liver enzymes called cytochrome P450 which metabolize a lot of pharmaceutical drugs. It’s a similar effect to eating a portion of grapefruit which inhibits the same family of enzymes. If you are taking certain pharmaceutical drugs and want to take CBD oil, you should consult with your doctor and/or pharmacist.

We recommend taking CBD oil sublingually, which means under the tongue. This way of taking CBD supplement allows CBD molecules get absorbed effectively and quickly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and resulting in its maximum absorption.

It’s important to hold it under the tongue because it takes some time for CBD to get absorbed by the blood vessels. Try holding it for at least 2-3 minutes.

Taking CBD in a tablet form forces the CBD to go through the entire digestive process and only in small intestine it gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Due to the foods that we eat and the environment that we live in, we often experience compromised digestion, and it gets even worse if we are stressed. So it takes some time to get absorbed and also most of the CBD will NOT be absorbed into your system.

There are many other forms of CBD you can use, the two most common after tablets or capsules and oils or tinctures are vaping pens and topicals like lotions and creams.

Vaping can be very effective when it comes to absorption of CBD, however the safety of vaping can be debatable due to the various quality of vaping pens and the oils they use.

Topicals are quite safe to use on the other hand. However, the effectiveness of lotions and creams vary greatly depending on the quality of the product and the your specific issue. If you are struggling with a skin condition or a centralized pain, it might be worth trying, but at the end of the day, the most effective way to heal our body is from the inside.

There is no straightforward answer to this question because everyone is so different and is taking it for different reasons. However, there are a few things you need to consider to help you figure out your perfect dosage.

YOUR DESIRED EFFECT

What results are you wanting to get from your CBD? Different goals will require different amounts. If you’re looking for pain management or a more severe condition like epilepsy, you’ll find that a higher dose of CBD will yield greater effects.

Conversely, if you’re looking to manage your anxiety, stay more focused at work and feel better equipped to manage the typical day-to-day stressors of life, you won’t need as high a dose as those dealing with chronic ailments.

THE TYPE OF PRODUCT

Another thing you’ll want to consider is how you’re ingesting your CBD. Refer back to the “How to Take CBD” section for more details.

THE CONCENTRATION OF THE PRODUCT

Various oils, pills, topicals have various concentrations of CBD, some of them substantially higher, and others substantially lower. Look at the overall concentration of CBD within the entire product and how much CBD you’re actually getting within each dose.

If you are taking CBD oil, an easy way to calculate the amount of CBD you have in each drop is to divide the total amount of CBD in mg by the number of drops. For example, in APHRODITE and THEIA there are 500 mg of CBD and 400 drops (20 drops per 10 droppers), so 500/400= 1.25 mg of CBD per drop. If you want to take 5 drops it equals to 6mg of CBD. Very easy to calculate! The calculations are next to the product on the Shop Page as well.

HOW TO ANSWER “HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I BE TAKING?” FOR YOURSELF

One of the best ways to figure out how much CBD you should be taking is to experiment. Start with a small dose; if you’re consuming ICARIA’s CBD oils, begin with 5 to 10 drops. Hold the oil under your tongue for at least 2-3 minutes and then wait 20 mins to see if you feel the desired effect. If so then it’s a good dose for you, if not, take more by repeating the process for as many times as needed. You might need ten times the amount, don’t think it’s high, it’s very normal.

Figuring out how much CBD oil you should be taking can take some time, since some days or certain times of the day you might need a higher or lower dose. Through this process, however, you’re able to become much more conscious of how you’re feeling on a daily basis, both physically and mentally.

Please use our Dosage Journal to help you figure out the dosage (download it and print it out).

The most common question people ask is: “How do you feel taking CBD oil?”And the answer is that you feel completely NORMAL.

There is no difference between how you feel on a good, calm, productive day and how you feel on CBD oil. CBD doesn’t alter your mind or your consciousness, there are no psychoactive effects and no chance of your reality. CBD just makes you feel like you.

The main function of CBD is to bring your body into homeostasis, which is a state of balance within the body. Your mood, your feelings, your appetite, your pain – wherever you are looking for more balance in your life, CBD can help you achieve it.

When it comes to stress and anxiety, CBD calms the monkey brain and makes you feel like you’ve just meditated – relaxed, focused, at peace and ready to take on the world.

A few other commonly asked questions…

HOW DOES IT TASTE?

APHRODITE has a pleasant hemp seed oil taste, which is often described as being a nutty and earthy flavour.  THEIA and HARMONIA have no taste at all.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

APHRODITE has a light greenish-yellowish colour like hemp seed oil and THEIA and HARMONIA are clear with no colour.

WHAT IF I DON’T FEEL ANYTHING?

Just take more! If you are taking it for pain management, you can take it until the pain is gone. If you are taking it for stress, it’s quite often that a person feels calm and just assumes they calmed down and it has nothing to do with the oil (you don’t feel any different from when you feel relaxed and at ease). Only after a really stressful situation is handled well do people realize that it is after all CBD oil working.

DO I TAKE IT EVERY DAY?

It’s up to you! There are positive health effects from taking it every day, however you can also take it only when needed.

So, what should you expect when taking CBD hemp oil?

CBD is a health supplement, not a drug. Don’t expect fireworks, a skewed reality, or a magical overnight solution to your problems. But do expect to feel healthier and more balanced in mind, body and soul.

Here are a few tips on how you can make your bottle last longer!

RECORD HOW MUCH YOU TAKE

It’s easy to just squirt the oil under the tongue without looking or counting how many drops you have taken. There are no worries about taking too much, so one might regularly take too many drops but get the same result as they would if they took less amount. When it comes to CBD oil, LESS IS MORE.

Count how many drops you are taking and record for the next time. You can do this by placing thew drops onto a spoon or doing it in front of a mirror. If you are consistently taking double the amount that you need, you can use up the bottle twice as fast. We also send out a Dosage Journal with every order to make this process even easier.

TAKE CBD IN THE MORNING

The best time to take CBD oil is right in the morning as we are more sensitive to supplements and foods. It also acts as prevention before a busy and stressful day. If you are taking CBD for sleep, this is obviously not an option, but if you are taking it for other condition you might need a lesser dosage in the morning than midday or in the evening.

TAKE CBD IN ANTICIPATION

If you are taking CBD oil for stress, anxiety or pain, it works better if taken in anticipation of stress, anxiety, or pain. By taking CBD oil BEFORE you actually need it, you are acting in a preventative way which allows you to take smaller amounts and get the same result.

BE PATIENT

Sometimes it takes a bit longer to feel the full effect, so try waiting for 20-30 minutes before taking more oil. Also, for certain conditions, it might take a few days or even weeks of regular usage for CBD oil be become effective. Some clients also stop taking it for a time and then realize going without it that it was actually making a big difference for them.

HOLD IT UNDER THE TONGUE

This one is very important, because you might need double the amount if you are swallowing it rather than if you are holding it for a few minutes under the tongue. CBD works best if absorbed through the small capillaries under the tongue, so the longer you hold it the more chance you give it to get absorbed.

TRY A HIGHER CONCENTRATION

We have also created a product just for clients who take CBD oil often or for the management of a chronic health condition. Our HARMONIA is the highest concentration that we offer and is the best value that you can possibly get with us as well.

 A FEW LAST WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR…

CBD oil is a health supplement, treat it like one! Don’t be afraid of it and be aware of its effects when taking it.

ICARIA brand was created with the goal of empowering women to make themselves a priority and taking care of themselves. CBD oil is just one of many ways to show yourself some love and care.

ICARIA’s CBD oil is a high-quality product that was made for a modern woman. A woman who is ambitious, driven, cares about her health, who has a big dream and… has a little too much on her plate.

ICARIA’s products are safe to use and made with your concerns and preferences in mind, ICARIA products:

• Contain no THC, so you won’t get high or addicted, no matter how much or how often you take it;
• Are made from organically grown hemp, so there are no pesticides, herbicides or chemicals and it is non-GMO;
• Have no additives or preservatives other than the carrier oil it is diluted in, which is an organic coconut MCT oil, so the product is also vegan and gltuen-free;
• Are packaged to fit into your lifestyle, so you don’t have to worry about taking it in public.

If you have any other questions about CBD Oil, you can contact us directly.

If you have questions or want to follow along on our journey, then find us on Instagram!