Talking CBD with Dr. Andy Yates
Giving our customers a pharmacist's perspective
At Dragonfly CBD, our scientific advisors bring a depth of knowledge and understanding that bolsters our expertise. We sat down with Dr. Andy Yates, one of our trusted advisors, to soak up some of his knowledge and talk all things CBD.
How did you get into the world of CBD?
So I earned my PhD at the University of Nottingham, specialising in cannabinoid medicinal chemistry, before spending 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry. During my time in industry, I was always intrigued as to why Cannabis sativa and cannabinoids in general were not being adopted more enthusiastically by healthcare systems. When I left pharmaceuticals I wanted to use my skills and experience to support the use of cannabinoids in health and wellbeing.
Why do you choose to work with Dragonfly CBD?
For me, Dragonfly is the model of an ethical company. They’ve spent considerable time and money on developing a quality product which they have complete control over at every stage of production. So when I speak to customers on behalf of Dragonfly CBD, I have complete confidence that Dragonfly CBD products have exactly the amount of CBD it states on the bottle and that they are THC free. I know this for certain as I have personally picked a Dragonfly CBD product off the shelf and sent it for independent testing.
They also trust in the expertise of pharmacists and value the position we’re in to help customers understand how to choose and use CBD. As a pharmacist I am delighted to provide them with my insight.
What’s the best way to take CBD and why?
The data suggests that CBD is not easily absorbed by your body. So, firstly start with CBD oil, as opposed to other products. When taking it, try holding the recommended serving under your tongue for 1-2 minutes so the CBD can be absorbed into your bloodstream and then swallow. Some studies have also shown that it’s possible to absorb more CBD if you have eaten food just before taking it.
From a pharmacist’s perspective, what is the most important thing for consumers to know about CBD?
When it comes to CBD, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. I’d say people shouldn’t see CBD as a ‘miracle cure’, particularly, as in food supplement form, it’s not intended as such. In the same way, they shouldn’t think of it as ‘snake oil’. Consulting the information Dragonfly provides on its website is a great place to start, while anyone with pre-existing medical conditions should always make sure to consult their doctor before taking over the counter CBD.
What would you say is the most common misconception surrounding CBD?
The thing people consistently get wrong is that CBD is an illegal drug which can get you “stoned”. Pure CBD is, in fact, both legal and non-psychotropic, and so will not produce a “high” like Cannabis sativa will. Issues arise when the CBD extract still contains THC, the chemical in Cannabis sativa that gets you high and remains illegal. To be safe, consumers should make sure to stick to trusted, THC-free CBD products.
Why do you think demand for CBD has grown so much?
First and foremost, consumer and patient awareness has increased exponentially. The global library of information available online, both fact and fiction, has driven awareness of the potential usefulness of CBD.
Recently, there’s been a move away from the modern doctor-centric healthcare set up. Consumers are becoming more health conscious and less confident in standard solutions and so are seeking out alternatives.
What would you say is the most important thing to look for when buying CBD over the counter?
So, the first thing you want to look for is something with 0% THC content. Products that have 0% THC content are more likely to have been produced using the highest-quality production methods. Better still, if a CBD brand publishes independently sourced test results of its product, that’s a great indication that what you’re buying is going to be trustworthy.
If you want to start your CBD journey, check out Dragonfly CBD’s shop or read some reviews, to find out how people have been enjoying using CBD.
