The past few years have seen a new superstar burst onto the scene in medical science: CBD Oil. Derived from the cannabis plant, CBD (cannabidiol) is non-intoxicating and non-habit forming. It boasts an impressive array of benefits for pain relief, anxiety, seizures, and even tumors; more studies are being conducted all the time and they continue to reveal further therapeutic benefits of CBD Oil. Perhaps due to the fact that it’s derived from the cannabis plant, as well as its status as a relative newcomer to the market, there are a number of clichés about CBD that have popped up. Here are five of those clichés you should avoid:

“CBD Oil Gets You High”

This one is a little more complex than most people realize. When many people think of cannabis, they imagine a recreational drug. Even if they are aware of its reported medical benefits, they tend to assume that there’s no way to reap them without also experiencing the intoxicating effects. We should dispense with this cliché right away, because here is the reality: CBD Oil does not get you high. CBD Oil is derived from the cannabidiol compound of the cannabis plant; the compound associated with the intoxicating effects of cannabis is THC.

It may sound a little obvious, but many people do still assume that if they make use of CBD it will alter their state of mind. It would also not be correct, however, to refer to CBD as non-psychoactive. Moreover, it does affect both the body and mind, hence its reported benefits for anxiety and mental health. However, what CBD will not do is get you “stoned” or “high;” that is specifically the effect of TCH.

“CBD Is An ‘Alternative’ Medicine”

One of the biggest unfortunate clichés people have in their heads about CBD Oil is that it’s an “Alternative” medicine, as in, a sort of snake oil touted by quack doctors. Others assume that it’s only used by hippies. The fact is, CBD Oil has real medical science backing it up, and it can be used by anyone. Many people that don’t fit the ‘alternative’ or ‘hippie’ stereotypes actually rave about the benefits of CBD. Elderly patients use it to treat their arthritis; parents give it to their young children to block epileptic seizures. So while it certainly is a perfect ‘alternative’ to a lot of harmful pharmaceutical drugs, it truly is for everyone and it really does have science to back it up.

“CBD Will Put Me To Sleep”

This one’s a tough one because CBD in truth is very effective, according to many people, when used as a sleep aid. So, on the surface, this cliché is actually true. If you are struggling to go to sleep at night, CBD Oil may be just what you need. However, that doesn’t mean that you can only take CBD at night, or you’ll become too drowsy to do anything else. With this one, it’s really the dosage that makes the difference.

If it’s improved sleep you’re looking for, many people report that taking a higher dosage is usually all they have to do. However, people say that a smaller dose can actually have the opposite effect, helping to render users more alert and awake. So it’s simply a matter of figuring out just how much you need, something your provider can easily help you do.  It seems that CBD Oil works on anxiety, and anxiety can keep you from focusing, or from falling asleep- so this is why many people report success in using it for both issues.

“CBD Is Not As Effective As Pharmaceuticals”

Even among people who recognize the benefits of CBD, there is often a notion that it isn’t as effective as pharmaceutical compounds for treating certain conditions. They think of CBD as a ‘mild’ or ‘lesser’ therapeutic compound. The logic behind this makes some sense on paper; pharmaceutical drugs are designed and tested in labs for years for a specific purpose (for example, treating pain), while CBD is derived from nature.

Even if this kind of makes sense, it’s hard to argue with the facts. CBD has been studied as being one of the most effective treatments for a wide variety of health problems. Everything from arthritis, to epilepsy, to glaucoma, to anxiety, and many others, have been treated with CBD, with many people finding it to be far more effective (and safer) than any pharmaceutical drug. The reason for this is not yet fully understood, however, it’s worth noting that CBD is not simply a single chemical; the cannabis plant is full of many terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, and all of them work in tandem to help treat problems in your body. In this way, CBD creates a complex, whole-body solution that no artificial drug can.

“CBD Must Be Smoked To Get The Benefits”

While the benefits of compounds derived from hemp are certainly becoming more and more widely circulated among groups of people who may never have considered them before, other people remain uncertain. Another cliché that many people hold onto is that the only way to derive benefits from CBD is to smoke it. Of course, this is a huge turn-off for many people that don’t like smoking in general, and it causes them to miss out on all the potential benefits. You do not need to smoke CBD Oil to reap the benefits! While inhaling it is certainly a possibility – although generally it is vaporized, not smoked – there are plenty of other ways to consume it.

Most people simply elect to take it orally; it is sold in capsules, pills, drops, lozenges, gummy candies, and beverages. It can be taken sublingually; a few drops underneath your tongue will allow your soft tissues to absorb the compound quickly and effectively. It can even be cooked into many of your favorite foods; it can be put in butter and made into nearly any dish or treat. If you don’t want to ingest it orally, it’s also sold in a variety of topicals, such as creams and lotions. This is especially helpful if you’re using it to treat arthritis or other chronic pains. It is even put in shampoos and soaps, so you can get your CBD Oil with your morning shower.