On August 8, we are hosting a community talk called ‘CBD Demystified’ by co-founder of The Chillery, Floriane von der Forst. To give you a taste of what’s in store, we sat down with Floriane to find out more about CBD, its benefits and whether it can get you high! You’re in for an interesting read…

1. What is CBD and how did you discover it?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is an amazing compound that can be found in the Cannabis plant family. It is extracted from the Hemp plant, has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to reduce stress and sleep better but also to relax sore muscles and combat skin issues.

My co-founder Marisa and I both came to CBD in our own ways. We first met while we were in business school together in Barcelona in 2009. But the real story starts 8 years later in London when we found ourselves living together in a flat in Notting Hill. The grind of our stressful jobs in a big city was really taking its toll so we decided to go on a fasting retreat to slow down. It was here that we found we could use natural ingredients to find balance and re-center our minds and bodies. After that, I discovered CBD at a café in the form of a latte with CBD oil inside. When I excitedly tried to tell Marisa about it, I found out she had already been using it for two years to help her sleep. She’s from Los Angeles, so she’s been far ahead of the growing CBD trend.

2. What is the difference between CBD and marijuana?

CBD and Marijuana come from the same family of Cannabis Plants. Marijuana is an actual plant inside of this family, famous for it compound called THC - this is the psychoactive ingredient. CBD is a compound from the sister Marijuanas sister plant, the Hemp plant - which is not psychoactive. CBD and THC are arguably the most well known compounds of these plants - the following drawing might help clarify the difference.

3. What are the benefits of using CBD-infused products? How do you feel during/after using them?

There is still a ton of research being done to test all of the purported health benefits that CBD seems to contain. The main things that people seem to love using it for are stress, sleeplessness and pain management. The secret to its apparent success lies in its interaction with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. This important system regulates many different systems in your body, from appetite to reproduction, stress, inflammation and even temperature control.

I always like to describe it as sinking into a comfortable couch and taking that first sip of red wine after a long day, without the next day headache. For me, it’s just that comfortable relaxed feeling you have when you can finally let go and feel calm.

4. Are there any risks associated? Can you actually get 'high'?

Though it’s a compound that can be found in the Cannabis plant, CBD will not get you high. THC is the compound in Marijuana that is psychoactive, it’s a common misconception that CBD contains those same properties. It is also non-addictive; so it can work all it’s reported magic on you without you worrying that you’ll get hooked on it. But we can’t promise that you won’t love it so much you’ll want to use it all of the time anyways. Though it’s been reported that there are little to no risks associated with CBD, it’s not recommended to be taken by children under 18 or by anyone who is pregnant. And of course we also recommend that you should check with your main physician if you would like to begin using it to help with any existing medical conditions.

5. Which products would you recommend for daily use?

We offer five main areas of use on our website: stress, sleep, pain, beauty and intimacy. We tend to recommend our tinctures as a great place for people just starting out.

Tinctures are the most famous way to take CBD, as they can be used in several ways. A few drops under the tongue will make you feel the relieving effects fastest (after 20 min as it goes directly into the mucus membrane and blood stream). Adding a few drops to your coffee or turmeric latte is a nice way to feel slightly softer effects (after 30 minutes as it goes through the digestive system). You can also use the oils topically, on your achy back or belly (normally then the oils are mixed with some other potent ingredients), or - for the ladies among you - even on a tampon to relieve period pain.

How much to take? This one is important, depends on your need and is different for everybody. Please see our dosing guide for reference.

We also love our CBD balms and Salves. Our customers love to use the Ohana Prasanta Lavender Soothing Balm for soothing tired and achy muscles. It has antiseptic and anti-fungal properties which encourage healing and fights inflammation. We also recommend our Hemp and Turmeric Salve from YuYo Botanics. It contains not only CBD and Turmeric, but also cayenne, menthol, aloe and other essential oils. It tingles as it sinks into your skin and people swear by it for post work sore muscles or aching joints.

Interview by Stephanie Cusack - marketing/events manager and yoga teacher at BECYCLE.

The Truth Behind CBD