CBD oil

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil has become very popular as a hemp supplement in recent years. The active compound is cannabidiol, CBD for short: a compound that occurs naturally in hemp. CBD is not psychoactive, unlike THC, the compound that can get you ‘high’. CBD is obtained from hemp; that process first produces CBD paste, to which a carrier oil is added to turn it into an oil. It is a precise process that takes a lot of knowledge. Every batch is tested both internally and externally, and the oil is legal throughout the EU.

Full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD

At Dutch Balance you choose from two kinds: full spectrum (also called RAW) and broad spectrum. Full spectrum contains other compounds from the hemp plant alongside CBD, such as CBG, CBN, CBC, terpenes and flavonoids, plus a fraction of THC (always less than 0.05%). In a full spectrum oil those compounds complement one another; that is called the entourage effect. Broad spectrum also contains several compounds from the plant, but without THC. Which one suits you is personal. Not sure? Try both.

How do you use CBD oil?

You take CBD oil by putting drops under your tongue. Let it sit for a minute, so it is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Would you rather put the drops on a spoon first? That works too. For the dose you can start from about 1 mg of CBD per 5 kg of body weight a day, spread over two to three moments. Build that up calmly, to about 6 mg per 5 kg, or until you find the dose that suits you. Do you weigh 75 kg, for instance? Then keep to around 15 mg a day at first. The number of mg of CBD per drop is in the product information.

Frequently asked questions about CBD oil

What does CBD oil do for you?

This is the most asked question about CBD, and at the same time the only one we may not answer. No health claims have been approved for CBD in the European Union. If you come across a webshop that tells you exactly what CBD is good for, that webshop is overstepping the mark. What we can tell you: what CBD is, what is in it, how you dose it and what to look out for. What you do with it is up to you.

How many drops of CBD oil a day?

Drops on their own say little, because it is about the amount of CBD per drop and that differs per strength. So work in milligrams. A usual starting point is about 1 mg of CBD per 5 kg of body weight a day, spread over two or three moments. If you weigh 75 kg, you start at around 15 mg a day. Build up calmly to a maximum of about 6 mg per 5 kg, or until you find the amount that suits you. The number of mg of CBD per drop is in the product information. Not sure which strength you need? Then read how strong your CBD oil should be.

Is CBD oil legal in the Netherlands?

Yes. CBD oil is legal and is sold as a food supplement. The limit is THC: that is the compound covered by the Dutch Opium Act. Our full spectrum oils therefore always contain less than 0.05% THC, and our broad spectrum oils contain no THC at all. Every batch is tested internally and externally. Do you drive and use CBD? Then read CBD and driving.

Does CBD oil get you high?

No. CBD is not psychoactive, unlike THC. The fraction of THC in a full spectrum oil is too small to give any intoxicating effect, and broad spectrum contains no THC.

Who is better off not using CBD oil?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use it. If you take medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist first: CBD can influence the way your body breaks down certain medicines. We have written a separate article about that, CBD and medicines. Otherwise, stick to the recommended dose and build up calmly.

What is the difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum?

Full spectrum contains the other compounds from the hemp plant alongside CBD, such as CBG, CBN, CBC, terpenes and flavonoids, plus a fraction of THC below 0.05%. Broad spectrum contains those same plant compounds but is THC-free. Which one suits you is personal. If you definitely do not want to take in THC, because of a test at work for instance, choose broad spectrum.

Not yet sure which CBD oil you are looking for?

Unsure about the strength? Read how strong your CBD oil should be. Would you like to compare the types side by side? Then have a look at full spectrum or broad spectrum. And if oil is not your form: CBD also comes as capsules, cream and crystals. Is your question not here? Ask it through customer service.