Extracted from hemp flowers, CBD oil (cannabidiol) is a trendy product. Can it help sleep? To calm stress? Does it have pain relieving effects? How is it produced? What effects? Discovery and instructions with a specialist pharmacist.
Natural molecule extracted from hemp, cannabidiol or “CBD” is marketed in France in the form of oil. Anti stressanti painto improve the sleep… What is hiding in this trend oil that we find more and more on the shelves of pharmacies ? Is there a risk habituation ? Of the contraindications ? Discovery with Alison, Doctor of Pharmacy and co-founder of Kaya.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is an oil infused with cannabidiol. “You can use all vegetable oils such as coconut oil which has a neutral taste or olive oil” explains Alison. Why use oil? “Because CBD is lipophilic, that is, it mixes with the oil and not with the water. The oil here plays the role of a carrier.” The percentage of CBD can vary from one CBD oil to another.
The cannabidiol present in CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant which belongs to the botanical genus “cannabis”. This variety of hemp contains less than 0.3% THC and is legal in France. “You have to distinguish cannabis or “marijuana” plants from hemp plants, they are not the same plant, insists the pharmacist. It’s a bit like tomatoes, you have the cherry tomato and the beefsteak which come from two different plants but belong to the tomato family.” It is in the upper parts of the plant that is extracted the CBD. “We can choose to put this extract in an oil, a candy…” continues our interlocutor.
What are its effects ?
“CBD has two effects: soothing on the nervous system, he calms, fight against stress, and a second anti-inflammatory effect. He can thus to be used in case of pain” Alison replies. As a reminder, according tostopped validated by the European Commission in July 2021 and the de facto French authorities, products containing CBD cannot, under pain of criminal sanctions, claim therapeutic claims, unless they have been authorized as medicinal products by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) or the National Agency for Veterinary Medicines (ANMV) or by the European Commission on the basis of a marketing authorization application file, assessed according to scientific quality, safety and efficacy criteria.
One can take CBD oil to reduce stress, anxiety or sleep better. “It absorbs very well in the oral mucosa. Concretely, you use the pipette to suck up the quantity of oil and you put it under the tongue. It’s more effective and quick to act.” For the dose, “it depends on the person, we are not all receptive in the same way”. A dosage is indicated on the packaging. It is advisable to respect it. There are pure 100% CBD formulas or combined with other plants.
Can you find it in pharmacies without a prescription?
CBD oil is available in pharmacies, parapharmacies and in certain supermarkets, over the counter without a prescription.
What are the contraindications?
“CBD oil is not recommended for under 18sat the house of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Before testing, you should seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. It’s a natural molecule but it has real effects” emphasizes the pharmacist. Containing less than 0.2% THC, the CBD sold in France cannot (a priori) cause dependence and addiction and is not considered a drug.
Thanks to Alison, Doctor of Pharmacy and co-founder of Kaya.