Choosing Safe CBD Products
1. Buy CBD from a licensed retailer or dispensary.
CBD products are still not well regulated in many areas. To reduce your risk of getting low quality or contaminated products, try to purchase CBD oil from a state-licensed dispensary or clinic that specializes in medical cannabis. The staff at the dispensary or clinic can give you advice on which products to try and how to use them.
- If you’d like to purchase CBD oil online, you can find reliable options here.
- If you’d like to purchase it in person, you can search online using terms like “licensed CBD dispensary near me.”
- If you live in an area where there are no licensed dispensaries, you can purchase CBD products online here and have them shipped to you.
2. Choose products that have been third party verified.
Before you take any CBD product, check that it’s been tested by a third party laboratory for purity and quality. Otherwise, you may get a product that’s ineffective or even harmful. Always ask to see the certificate of analysis (COA) before you buy a product. The COA contains information about how the product was tested.
- You can find more information about accredited labs that test CBD products in the U.S. by visiting the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) National Accreditation Board. Search for “cannabidiol” or “CBD.”
Warning: If a dispensary or manufacturer won’t share information about how their products were tested, don’t buy from them.
3. Check that the product is clearly labeled.
Before you buy a product, read the label to see if it clearly states how much CBD oil it contains. Make sure it specifies the amount of CBD or cannabidiol in the product rather than using the more general term “cannabinoids.” Cannabinoids can also include other compounds, like THC.
- Opt for products that specify how much CBD is in each dose, not just the total amount of CBD in the product.
4. Research CBD laws in your area.
While CBD oil is legal to buy and use in many places, the laws are still evolving. Before purchasing CBD oil, check to see if it’s legal where you live. It’s also a good idea to find out how well the manufacture and labeling of CBD products is regulated in your area.
- Try searching for something like, “Is it legal to buy CBD oil in Missouri?”
Taking CBD Oil
1. Talk to your doctor before you try CBD oil.
CBD oil is thought to be safe for most people. However, there’s still not a lot of research on its long-term effects, and it can also cause side effects in some people. Let your doctor know if you’re interested in trying CBD oil to get relief from your fibroid symptoms, and ask about the possible risks and benefits.
- Let your doctor know if you are taking any other medications or supplements, since some of them can interact poorly with CBD oil.
- Always ask your doctor before taking CBD oil if you are pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant. It’s still not clear how CBD might affect a developing fetus or baby.
- If you decide to try CBD oil, your doctor can give you guidelines about what dosage might work best for you.
Did you know? Doctors in the U.S. aren’t allowed to prescribe CBD for most medical conditions, but they can give you advice or guidelines on how to take it. Your doctor will probably recommend starting with a low dose and working your way up until you get the desired effect.
2. Use CBD suppositories for localized pain relief.
There are a variety of CBD oil vaginal suppositories and “tampons” on the market. These products are mainly marketed as relief from menstrual cramps, but some people might also find them helpful for relieving other types of uterine pain, like that associated fibroids. Insert the tampon or suppository into your vagina according to the directions on the label.
- You may find that a suppository that contains a combination of THC and CBD is more effective than CBD alone. THC is the compound in marijuana that gives you a high if you ingest or smoke it, but you’re unlikely to get high from using it vaginally. If THC is legal in your area, consider trying a combination suppository if CBD alone isn’t helping.
- Not everyone finds CBD suppositories helpful for uterine or abdominal pain relief. You may need to experiment with using different forms of CBD to find what works best for you.
