To say that the CBD market is hot right now is to state the obvious. It is like saying the sky is blue. We all know it. Everywhere you turn, you can buy CBD oils, tinctures, and infused food products. Everyone and his brother seems to be selling it. Whether you are already on the CBD train or thinking of getting on board, be cautious and take it slow. And whatever you do, don’t assume anything.

It is easy to get caught up in the CBD craze. There is so much hype that joining the ranks of CBD users seems natural. After all, everyone else is doing it, right? Still, there are all sorts of health supplements from the past, supplements that were extremely hot for a while until it was discovered they were more marketing hype than anything else.

Do not assume that CBD will cure everything that ails you. Don’t assume it’s your golden ticket to health and wellness. Go ahead and use it if you like but do so cautiously. Meanwhile, research all you can. The more we learn about CBD, the more relevant each piece of information becomes to your health.

  • How CBD Is Sourced

There are numerous reasons to approach CBD cautiously, beginning with its source. The vast majority of commercially available CBD is derived from industrial hemp. But the vast majority does not equal all. Product manufacturers can source their CBD from virtually any type of cannabis plant they want. And with so many strains now on the market, they have a lot of options.

Extracting CBD from industrial hemp is the preferred method because hemp is exceptionally high in that cannabinoid but contains almost no THC. That is important when you are manufacturing a product for people who do not want to ingest the cannabinoid known to make marijuana users high. Still, you can’t assume where your CBD is sourced from. You have to actually investigate.

  • How CBD Is Extracted

Another thing to be cautious about are the differing CBD extraction methods. The most common method, according to CedarStoneIndustry, is solvent extraction. Manufacturers utilize a substance like ethanol or butane to separate the chemical compounds in cannabis from the plant material. Residual solvent remains despite manufacturers’ best efforts to remove it completely.

If this is a problem for you, do not assume that your CBD was extracted using some other method. Look into it. You will probably want CBD extracted through distillation, carbon dioxide extraction, or solvent extraction using a natural solvent, like olive oil.

  • The Science Isn’t Settled

Yet another reason to be cautious with CBD is the fact that the science is not yet settled. Yes, it is true that cannabis has been used recreationally and medicinally for thousands of years. It has been used without any substantial adverse effects. But a lack of adverse effects doesn’t equal efficacy. In other words, just because CBD may not be bad for you does not mean it is good for you, either.

It’s never wise to assume that a health and wellness product is good for you just because a manufacturer claims it is. If you want proof that CBD helps reduce anxiety, search online for peer-reviewed scientific studies. There are a few such studies out there, though they are limited in number.

Do not assume anything about CBD. Understand that CBD oil can be sourced from a variety of cannabis plants and that extraction methods influence end products. And before you assume efficacy, go look for scientific evidence that proves it. Otherwise, you could be spending a lot of money on a product that doesn’t do anything for you.