What is CBD?

No. CBD doesn’t interact with the parts of your brain that cause euphoria, or disorientation. The part of the cannabis plant that can have those effects, known as THC, is not present in any OTO product.

In the UK, the Home Office has declared that pure CBD (CBD isolate) is legal. OTO only uses CBD isolate in our products. Other cannabinoids, including THC or CBN, are illegal.

You may come across CBD products that are labelled as ‘Full spectrum’ or ‘Broad spectrum’. Full spectrum means that THC is included in the product, while Broad spectrum means that additional, potentially illegal cannabinoids are included. As a result, any product with those labels is likely to be technically illegal under current UK law.

The best way to be sure that a retail product is legal in the UK is to check that the company selling it provides evidence that they only use CBD isolate.

To understand CBD oil, first we have to talk about the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is our body's master regulatory system that regulates things like appetite, pain management, digestion, reproduction, stress and memory, addiction, and depression. In order for your ECS to work effectively, it needs a steady supply of compounds called cannabinoids. Some cannabinoids are made by your body (called endocannabinoids). Others are made by plants (called phytocannabinoids). One of the most well-known phytocannabinoids is CBD, which stands for cannabidiol.

CBD oil is brilliant for supporting your body to regulate itself and maintain a healthy balance.

It helps the body effectively process stress and anxiety, in turn rebalancing hormone levels and improving sleep patterns. As a result, leaving you feeling more calm, focused and productive, especially when taken as part of a daily routine. When used topically in skincare, CBD also has powerful benefits. Responding differently depending on your individual skin needs, CBD is an incredibly versatile ingredient. It supports healthy skin rejuvenation and sebum production, revitalising and rebalancing both oily and dry skin alike. CBD is also an antioxidant and protects skin from the damage of free radicals.

The perfect amount will be different for everyone, but don’t worry, you can’t overdose on CBD. Depending on how efficiently your body maintains its internal balance, the same amount of CBD might affect you differently compared to the next person. Any excess CBD that you don't need, your body will flush out naturally.

CBD is best taken consistently as part of a daily routine, like a vitamin, so that it is always available in your system. Our studies found that you need to be taking over 40mg of CBD daily for 3-4 days for the full benefits to kick in. We suggest an optimum daily intake of 40-60mg. Guidance from the UK’s Food Standard Agency recommends a maximum daily intake of 70mg in food or drinks.

CBD works with your natural circadian rhythm and rather wonderfully, has a different effect on your body at different times of the day. Everything at OTO is designed around three key moments, and your different moods and needs throughout the day. Our Focus Pillar is designed to bring clarity and calm in the morning, Amplify supports you to remain present and connected in social moments & Balance helps you to relax and unwind from the stresses of the day.

We’re here to help, book a 1:1 virtual consultation to find out what works for you & design your tailored CBD routine.

No. Like many vitamins, excess CBD is naturally removed from our bodies, so the main effect of taking a huge dose of CBD (i.e., hundreds or thousands of milligrams or mg) would be an increase in liver activity as it naturally breaks down the molecules. All of OTO’s products have been carefully designed to stay within government guidelines for CBD, including our emphasis on 40-60mg per day as a supportive amount.

Everyone responds to CBD differently. If you don’t notice any benefits, it might be that your body’s internal systems are already running at their best. If your endocannabinoid system and other internal regulatory systems are functioning correctly—which means that your body is able to respond quickly and correctly to stresses and other imbalances—then CBD will not change that. Neither will it have any negative effects in those circumstances.

Another reason for limited benefits may be that the amount of CBD you’re using is too low or too infrequent to build up a supportive effect in your body. If you’re only taking 5 or 10mg per day, your body might simply be removing it before it has a chance to help you. It's not removing it, it's not at an effective dose to have an impact.

CBD isolate is the end result of purification from the original material extracted from a hemp plant. It is pure CBD, free from any other contaminants. We use pure CBD isolate so we can maintain our OTO Strength integrity with every product. Full spectrum CBD is much less refined, and contains other cannabinoids including psychotropic or intoxicating ones like THC. Full spectrum CBD is therefore illegal in the UK, and many other regions. Broad spectrum CBD also contains other cannabidinoids, but with the THC removed. Still, some of the remaining molecules—including CBN—may be illegal depending on where you live.

The 'entourage effect' was first suggested in the 1990s to help explain why THC was less effective as a medicine when separated from other parts of the cannabis plant. At that date, the effects of CBD were not taken into account, and consumer products were not considered either. It is not correct to talk about an entourage effect for CBD, therefore, since the phrase was coined for THC-containing products that are illegal in the UK, except as licensed medicines. At this stage, it is fair to consider an entourage effect for CBD products as unfounded marketing hype.

Cannabidiol or CBD is a phytocannabinoid molecule found in all Cannabis sativa plants, including the non-intoxicating version known as hemp. When absorbed by our skin, CBD will both remain in the applied area as well as making its way to our endocannabinoid system to stimulate and activate a series of beneficial processes. CBD is considered to be one of the most effective compounds to help restore overall balance in the body. In skincare, CBD can help with all skin types thanks to its soothing, antioxidant, calming, oil-balancing effects.

Hemp oil is made made by cold pressing hemp seeds to extract their contents. The seed oil is highly nutritious and can be used for cooking like many other vegetable oils, or used as a base in cosmetics. However, hemp oil contains essentially no CBD. You can check whether a product has CBD by looking on the label for the amount of CBD or cannabidiol in milligrams (mg). If the product only contains cannabis sativa oil, or hemp oil, then it does not contain CBD.

CBD is available in a variety of forms. CBD is most commonly found as a tincture, we have a morning tincture; our Power Drops, packed with CBD & vitamins C, D & E & a night time tincture, our Sleep Drops featuring calming botanical extracts such as lavander. However, for those who feel less comfortable ingesting CBD or want to have easy access to CBD on the go, our pulse point roll-on oils deliver an effective dose of CBD combined with complimentary essential oils. We also offer a range of drinks; a ‘Booster’ designed to be used in teas, coffees and smoothies in the morning, a cocktail Bitters, designed to be used in tonics, juices and cocktails or as a functional alternative to alcohol in the evening or a Seltzers designed to be enjoyed on their own throughout the day.

CBD comes from the cannabis plant, but it is one of 104 chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids. It’s a naturally occurring substance, which can be extracted and mixed with a carrier oil – often hemp seed or coconut – to create CBD oil. Unlike the most well-known cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive, meaning that it won’t make you 'high' – the sensation most commonly associated with cannabis. It is, however, reported to offer a range of health and medicinal benefits – the reason behind its growing acclaim.

CBD is not a sedative. All CBD does is promote balance and homeostasis in your body and therefore supports the optimal functioning of your circadian rhythm. At night, it helps you relax, unwind and let go of the stresses of the day, therefore allowing you to drift off into a good night’s sleep and wake up refreshed and rested the next morning. If you use CBD at a naturally wakeful time (for example, during the day), research suggests that taking CBD can improve alertness and concentration.

Always consult with a medical professional if yyou are on mediaction and are thinking of taking CBD.

The scientific community currently doesn’t have enough evidence on the effects of CBD on pregnancy. Out of caution, we therefore do not recommend use of CBD while pregnant or nursing.

Like all products, CBD products have a best before date. OTO only uses the highest quality carrier ingredients, such as jojoba and apricot kernel oils in our body oils, and purified coconut oil in our drops, to ensure that you get the best experience throughout the life of an OTO product. We use independent testing laboratories to verify that these remain safe and effective for you to use for at least 12 months after opening.

Be consistent. Using CBD daily (or at least regularly) is the best way to see results. Know what to look for before you start. Paying attention to your body today will help you gauge where you’ll stand tomorrow. It could help to take it as you’re winding down each day, just so you’re able to observe how your body is responding. Changes can be small and difficult to notice, especially at first — taking notes can help you identify a difference over time.

CBD supports the healthy rejuvenation of your skin. CBD is highly ‘sebostatic’ and reacts with receptors to help balance and control oil production on the skin, which leads to fewer impurities like pimples, spots and blackheads. ⁠It is also an antioxidant, helping protect against daily damage from free radicals. Finally, CBD is a naturally nourishing oil, leaving your skin feeling hydrated and soft after use.