AD | This post features a product that has been gifted to me in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.
There is quite a hype around CBD oil in the wellness industry at the moment and for good reason. It has such a range of potential physical and mental health benefits that it seems almost like a magic potion. But is it worth the hype, and the often hefty price tag for even a small bottle?
Personally, I have been a user of CBD oil for around 5 years, and although I am certainly not an expert, I have some experience to share. I’ll be taking you through how to use CBD oil and how it can benefit you, with the help of my featured brand for this post, CBD Guru, who kindly sent me a bottle of their CBD oil.
What is CBD oil?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, a compound found in the cannabis plant. It interacts with receptors in your nervous system and helps to regulate your systems in many beneficial ways. CBD oil is extracted from the plant and often mixed with a carrier oil such as MCT oil, hemp oil or olive oil which helps the CBD to be more easily absorbed by the body.
Although CBD is extracted from cannabis, it doesn’t contain the psychoactive part. This means it doesn’t get you high, so it’s safe to take in situations like driving.
The health benefits of CBD oil
CBD oil has wide-ranging health benefits and people may take it for many different reasons. Although not all of the health benefits are scientifically proven at this time, there are studies showing their potential, as well as a wealth of anecdotal evidence from CBD users. These are some of the main things that CBD oil could potentially help you with:
- Reducing anxiety and depression and managing PTSD
- Pain relief
- Preventing seizures
- Improving sleep and overcoming insomnia
- Treating addictions
- Relieving arthritis symptoms
- Reducing blood pressure
- Protecting against neurological disorders
Warning: CBD can interact with some medications, so if you take any, check first before you try CBD oil.
How to use CBD oil
You can get CBD in many forms including oils, gummies, capsules, creams and vaping liquids. While capsules and gummies can be more convenient, I find oils to be the most cost-effective and last for longer.
Taking CBD oil is simple – you just put a few drops under your tongue and hold for 1-2 minutes before swallowing. This allows the CBD to get absorbed directly into your bloodstream through the thin membranes under your tongue.
It’s recommended to start with a small dose and gradually build it up until you achieve the desired effects. This way you won’t end up taking more than you need. Taking an unnecessarily large dose of CBD is unlikely to harm you but it will cost you more money!
Personally, I use around 3-5 drops of 10% CBD oil at a time, because I have been using CBD for a long time so I’ve built up the dose. If you are a first-time user, maybe start with 1-2 drops.
About CBD Guru
CBD Guru claims to be the UK’s leading CBD shop. It was founded by Neil Mumby after his friend was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2016. Neil wanted to help his friend but struggled to find high-quality yet affordable CBD brands. He decided to take matters into his own hands, starting up his own affordable CBD brand that he knew he could trust. Hence, CBD Guru was born.
CBD Guru traces its CBD carefully back to the field it was grown in, in the USA. This traceability means that CBD Guru can be sure of the quality of its products. They carefully test all their products to make sure they meet all legal requirements, and their products all come with a certificate of analysis to confirm that they really do contain exactly what’s on the label.
All of CBD Guru’s products are manufactured in the UK at a purpose-built facility in Scunthorpe, using only the finest ingredients and the latest technology.
I love that CBD Guru is so open about the origins of their company and exactly where their CBD products come from. Their website is full of informative articles about CBD and they even share lab results of all their products. From browsing their site it is clear to me that this is an honest and trustworthy company.
CBD oil from CBD Guru
CBD Guru sells CBD oil in a range of strengths from 2.5% to 50% to cater for all possible requirements. Their CBD oil comes in the following choice of flavours:
- Natural
- Citrus
- Fresh Mint
- Mixed Berry
- Orange
- Strawberry
These flavours add a little extra interest and fun to the experience of taking CBD oil. If you are a regular user, I imagine it would be fun to switch up the flavours and try different ones. The flavours also cover the taste of the oil if it’s something you’re not keen on.
I was kindly gifted a bottle of 10% CBD oil. I was able to choose my flavour and I opted for the Fresh Mint for its refreshing qualities. I primarily take CBD for anxiety and I thought Fresh Mint would provide a cooling effect as I often feel hot when I’m feeling anxious.
My experience trying CBD Guru Fresh Mint CBD Oil
I have used various brands of CBD before and the most recent one I was using was the same strength as the one I received from CBD Guru. Therefore it was easy for me to switch over to CBD Guru without needing to work out a new dosage. I have been putting around 3-5 drops under my tongue, twice a day, in the morning and evening.
In terms of health benefits, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what I can attribute to CBD oil. I have been taking it regularly for years and I think it really makes a difference in helping me not to be as anxious. However, there may well be other health benefits that I’ve been taking for granted, and I would probably only notice the difference if I stopped taking CBD. All I can really say is that I haven’t noticed any change in how I feel, or any side effects, from switching to this oil from CBD Guru.
I can comment more on the experience of taking this oil. It is a clear oil, of quite a thin consistency. The taste is mild and not overpowering, unlike some other brands I’ve tried that have a strong taste. If it didn’t have the mint flavour, I think it would be almost tasteless, which is a plus for those who don’t like a strong oily taste. The taste and consistency are down to the carrier oil which in this case is MCT oil, derived from coconut. This is a common carrier oil for CBD oil products because it is light, thin and almost flavourless.
The mint flavour was refreshing as I predicted, but it wasn’t particularly strong. It was more of a subtle minty flavour and didn’t provide much of a cooling effect. I didn’t mind this as I take CBD for its effects, not for a flavour hit!
The CBD oil comes in a 10ml blue glass bottle with a dropper lid. The label shows the ingredients, directions and advice as well as a ‘best before end’ date. I am pleased to say that the bottle does not leak – I’ve experienced leaking with some other brands and it makes such a mess! Having a bottle that doesn’t leak is a real plus point for this brand.
Have you ever tried CBD oil?
Perhaps you are a regular user of CBD oil, or maybe you’ve never tried it before. Let me know your experience in the comments below. If you are keen to give CBD a go or you need to top up your supply, I recommend checking out CBD Guru. It’s clear from their website that they are an honest, transparent company and the quality of the product I received lives up to their claims. I like that their oil is thin and has a mild flavour, while also giving a choice of different flavours. I also love that the packaging is high quality and doesn’t leak!
The 10ml bottle of 10% CBD oil is competitively priced at £44.99, which is cheaper than many other oils of the same quality and strength. CBD Guru currently has a Buy One Get Two Free offer on all of their CBD oils which is such a great deal as you can get triple the amount of oil for your money! I’m not sure how long this flash sale will last but before that, they had a Buy One Get One Free offer which may be a regular thing.
If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, pain or any other issue mentioned above that CBD oil can potentially help with, I think it’s worth giving it a try. If it gives you relief from your symptoms then that could be considered priceless!
