Although I’ve been using CBD for the past several months, I still can’t believe how much it is helping me. It reduces my anxiety and stress levels, improves my skin, and helps manage pain. While my CBD knowledge continues to grow, I still feel like there is a lot to learn. When I was given the chance to try out products from a local CBD store, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to interview the owners. I wanted to learn more about CBD in general, how the products are made, and who could benefit from using them.

Since my dad lives not too far from Ocala, Fl I took him when dad I went meet with Michael Oliva, the owner of Your CBD Store Ocala. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived. What exactly does a CBD Store look like? Would it have a drugstore feel or look like a doctor’s office? And what would my dad think about this whole CDB thing (more on that later)?

When we walked into Your CBD Store Ocala, we found a beautifully, designed boutique, with a spa-like feel. It was welcoming and modern and really well thought out. All of the different types of CBD products are well organized and easy to find.

Where does your CBD come from?

There are a lot of CBD products on the market, with more coming out every day it seems. But how much do we know about these products? The reality is, not all CBD is equal. Just because you can find it in-stores or online for a cheap price doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective. There is a reason the good stuff has a higher price tag.

If I’m going to put CBD on my body or in my body, I want to know where it comes from and what processes the manufacturer uses to ensure its efficacy and safety. I asked Michael about his CBD based products:

“We get all of our CBD from a farm in Colorado Springs. It is then sent to an FDA-approved facility in Tampa for extraction. We don’t use any chemicals in the process. We use a warm-based CO2 extraction, the most effective process for extracting CBD, to turn the solid product into a liquid form. The extraction process is performed twice. The second time removes any traces of THC.

“The product is then sent for third-party testing at a lab in either Gainesville, FL or Arizona. All of our testing results, for each product, can be found on our website or by scanning the QR code on some of our products. We do this to be completely transparent, so you know exactly what you are getting.”

This is one of the things that set Michael’s CBD store and products apart from others. They want to make sure people are getting the best products so they can experience the most benefit. The ability to be able to go online and see what’s in the product you’ve bought, as well as the lab test results, is both impressive and reassuring.

Finding the right CBD product

CBD can be used to relieve pain, anxiety, depression, migraines, nausea, addiction, insomnia, and seizures, just to name a few. For this reason, CBD products are offered in a variety of formats, from liquid to gummies. The choice for which product is right for you really depends on your lifestyle or needs.

Michael’s CBD store offers several, including:

• Vape cartridge, pen, and vape juice – this is ideal for anyone who deals with triggered anxiety or suffers from panic attacks. Vaping helps provide you with immediate anxiety relief
• Gummies – these work great for anyone who has sleep issues. They metabolize throughout the night, so they help you fall and stay asleep. Gummies are a great alternative to RX sleep aids because they don’t give those crazy side effects
• Water soluble (liquid and pill form) – this liquid form of CBD can be put in water, juice, tea, coffee, etc. It’s not as fast acting as vaping but you will begin to feel the effects within 5-10 min. The pill form provides the same relief/benefits as the liquid but takes a little longer to take effect because you have to metabolize it
• Oil/Tinctures – a liquid form of CBD taken sublingually, or under the tongue, which is absorbed within 30-60 seconds. It’s available in a range of strengths to offer varying degrees of relieve for different conditions. Lower dosages are ideal for stress and anxiety, whereas higher doses are ideal for dealing with cancer pain, ALS, Parkinson, or chronic pain
• Pet Products – available in treat form or tincture. They help to reduce anxiety, eliminate skin irritations, and other doggy-related health issues.
• Beauty Products –  available in bath bombs (100 mg of CBD), body lotion, collagen cream, lip balm, and topical pain creams. These products help to soothe and calm the body, improve skin texture, reduce inflammation and encourage skin repair. They are also beneficial for treating eczema, wrinkles, fine lines, and arthritis

Trying out Some Local CBD Store Products

 Michael was kind enough to give me a goodie bag of products to try out. My dad also bought a tincture to try and I later ordered him the topical pain cream. Since our meeting, I’ve also bought myself a bottle of their water-soluble CBD. I’ve been using all of the products for a little over a month and they’ve become staples in my beauty and wellness routine.

Beauty

Let’s first talk about the beauty products. I tried out the Body Lotion, Lip Balm, Collagen Cream, and bath bombs. All of which are now going to be must-haves in my beauty routine. The bath bomb does exactly what it should do, relax and calm. It was a real treat to my once a week, self-care, bubble bath. I will be ordering more very soon.

The Body Lotion and the Lip Balm are incredibly healing and soothing. After deciding to wear a pair of booties without socks all day, my feet were on the verge of blisters. I put some body lotion on my feet before I went to bed and woke up to feet that were no longer red or irritated. In other words, my skin loves this stuff. I will definitely be bringing the lotion and the lip balm on my upcoming Disney trip because I know my entire body will need the extra TLC.

I’m also enjoying the Collagen Cream. Since it contains Vitamin  E and Marine Collagen, I use it every other morning, as an alternative to my Vitamin C serum. It helps even out the tone and texture of my skin, as well as reduce dryness and soften fine lines.

Wellness

Next up are the Hard Candies and Water Soluble CBD. First off, the candies taste amazing. You almost forget that they aren’t just a sweet treat, but also another way to take your CBD. These are great for on the go.

The Water Soluble CBD in Natural is something I use on a daily basis. I fill up the dropper and add it to my tumbler of water. Ingesting my CBD this way ensures I don’t forget to take it, while also giving me the benefits I need. It improves my overall health and reduces anxiety, stress, and fluctuations in mood. This is something I will continue to use because I notice a difference when I don’t.

I’m thankful that I was able to spend some time at Your CBD Store Ocala. Thanks to Michael, I feel like I have an even greater understanding of CBD; the manufacturing process, the variety of products available, and how it can truly benefit mental health, pain management, and general health.

If you have any questions or want product recommendations, you can reach out to Michael at ocala@cbdrx4u.com, or visit him at Your CBD Store Ocala, 500 SW 10th St. #107 Ocala, FL 34471, (352) 421-8865.

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Have you been to a CBD Store? Which CBD product would you like to try first?