What Is CBD? A Simple Guide to Benefits and Uses

CBD (full name: cannabidiol) is a chemical compound extracted from the cannabis plant. While recreational use of cannabis is still illegal in the UK, CBD is approved for medical use, as it does not contain the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from the cannabis plant that causes the consumer to become high.

You don't need a prescription from the doctor to access CBD, as the element is available for over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies that can be purchased in several UK-based retailers.

Most commonly, CBD comes in the form of:

• oils
• gummies
• supplements 
• creams, lotions, and balms
• e-liquid in vapes.

It should be noted that although CBD is consumed via a vape pen by many consumers, recreational vaping is not recommended by the NHS, as the long-term effects of its use are still unknown.

CBD has legal approval due to its consistent, scientifically backed benefits, as shown in countless studies. These include (but are not limited to):

• reduced pain and inflammation
• improvement in duration and occurence of migraines
• anxiety relief
• reduction in frequency and severity of epileptic seizures
• acne improvement
• improved digestive health
• cardiac wellness
• nausea relief
• improved quality and duration of sleep

CBD's strong links to relief for sufferers of anxiety and chronic pain can help improve the quality and duration of sleep for many who use CBD products, helping them to achieve a full night's rest with fewer disruptions.

The Sleep Foundation reports that 65% of CBD users in a study found its use "immediately" improved their sleep, but others reported more negative side effects that lessened the quality of their sleep, including

• diarrhoea
• indigestion and other gastrointestinal issues
• drowsiness and disruption to circadian cycle

CBD became legal for purchase and sale in 2016, when the UK Government's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recognised it as a medicinal aid. This brought forth the now-widespread availability of CBD gummies, vapes, and daily supplements found in various retailers and even on supermarket shelves. 

Recreational cannabis use is still technically illegal in the UK, and the sale of THC is still prohibited, although the majority of Brits now support the decriminalisation of the drug to some degree. Additionally, the use of CBD in vapes is considered recreational to an extent.

What should be understood, however, is that CBD cannot be legally described as a medication in and of itself. Instead, as stated in the guidelines shared by Cancer Research UK, the compound is considered a food supplement thanks to its health benefits, and there is "no evidence to support its use as a medicine". 

As stated above, the NHS does not recommend CBD as a medicine on its own, nor does it recognise it as a medicine in any legal or medical way in its practices. If you have a serious health condition, such as cancer, speak to a medical professional before incorporating CBD into your lifestyle. 

According to the NHS website, cannabis-based medicine "can only be prescribed on the NHS by a specialist hospital doctor, or under a specialist's supervision." The institution also states it is only used "for a small number of patients," with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, and during certain instances of chemotherapy.