insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 88

HEALTH+WELLNESS Why Everyone’s Talking About CBD ONE OF THE HOTTEST BUZZWORDS IN THE SELF-CARE INDUSTRY, IT BOASTS AN A- LIST FAN BASE THAT READS LIKE THE OSCARS’ GUEST LIST. BUT IF YOU’RE YET TO GET ON BOARD WITH CBD, CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. KERRY FOSTER HAS THE LOWDOWN ON WELLBEING’S LATEST WONDER INGREDIENT. From Gwyneth Paltrow sharing recipes for CBD- infused cocktails on her lifestyle brand Goop’s website, to Kim Kardashian’s CBD-themed baby shower (complete with chocolate fountain and massages, naturally), celebs just can’t get enough of the stuff. And where Hollywood leads, we inevitably follow. In fact, a recent report named CBD as one of the fastest growing wellbeing product categories in the UK, with around £300m spent every year. Found in everything from ice-cream and hummus to toothpaste and even sexual lubricant, the CBD juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down in 2020. So, if you’re still to be tempted, it may be time to dip your toe into the trend. What exactly is it? Derived from the cannabis sativa plant, cannabis compound cannabidiol (known as CBD) is extracted as a powder before typically being mixed with an oil, such as olive or coconut, to enhance its effectiveness. Right about now, you’re probably thinking, ‘Did she just say cannabis?’, but hang on – though the origins are the same, unlike it’s more controversial stablemate, CBD is entirely legal. While medicinal cannabis is only available when prescribed 88 by a doctor, products containing CBD can easily be picked up in your local health shop, no questions asked. Oh, and CBD won’t get you high either; it doesn’t contain THC (the hallucinogenic compound found in cannabis), so there’s zero chance of encountering a psychoactive effect. Of course, using hemp – a variety of the same plant species - in skincare products is nothing new. Early adopter and creator of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick, first launched a range of products containing hemp back in 1998. But though hemp and CBD come from the same family, it’s worth noting the differences to look out for. Hemp-seed oil is listed as cannabis sativa oil and while it’s rich in omegas 3 and 6, and amino acids (great for their nourishing and restorative properties), CBD comes from the whole plant (as opposed to just the seeds), and is therefore believed to offer wider benefits. Plus, since it’s a more expensive ingredient, it usually comes with a higher price tag. Why the hype? Ask Meg Matthews, founder of megsmenopause.com. She cites CBD oil with helping to ease anxiety and practically eradicate the joint pain she experienced during the menopause due to its lauded antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Then there’s Jennifer Aniston, who credits it with banishing pain and stress, quoted as saying, ‘It has all the benefits of marijuana without the high’. Sounds too good to be true, right? But science backs up their findings; CBD has been found to have a direct effect on brain receptors by enhancing the effects of other natural brain chemicals such as serotonin – often referred to as ‘the happy hormone’ – without stimulating the parts of your brain that marijuana does. If you have trouble sleeping, CBD might hold the answer, too; it’s used as a popular treatment for insomnia, encouraging sleep during the Rapid Eye Movement phase (when you dream) and reducing feelings of fatigue during the day. CBD has even been linked to helping sufferers of social anxiety and is being investigated as a treatment for OCD, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. Used in skincare, meanwhile, the ingredient is thought to help heal stressed skin conditions such as eczema, flaking, overly sensitive or dry skin, and acne. As for those famed antioxidant properties, used topically, CBD anti-ageing skincare could help to visibly reduce signs of ageing. Put simply, there’s something here for everyone.