Many Americans are finding out about CBD products and hearing about all the natural health benefits CBD oil, CBD gummies, CBD capsules, CBD edibles, and other CBD products provide. Every day new people begin their CBD journey, and with that journey comes a lot of questions. Normally these questions involve methods of taking CBD products.
If you are new to CBD oils and are looking for the best way to take CBD, you have come to the right page. There are many ways to take CBD oil, but which one is right for you?
This article will explore the basics of what you need to know about CBD. We’ll look at how CBD works, how to take CBD oil, and the various CBD oil products available.
So Many Ways to Take CBD Oil
If you’re searching for CBD oil online, it doesn’t take very long before you realize there is a ton of information (and misinformation) out there. And along with all of that information, there are so many CBD products to choose from!
Sadly many companies misuse terminology or mislabel their products altogether, creating confusion for first-time buyers.
Even with correct information, it can leave you scratching your head if you should be consuming CBD in capsule form, using a topical application of CBD cream, or inhaling CBD with a vape pen? Each form of CBD has different delivery methods, different absorption rates, varying doses, and the product’s effectiveness can be vastly different.
You may be left confused about which product is right for you? Will you respond better with topical CBD products applied to your skin, or is it better if you add a few drops of CBD oil to your favorite food, a smoothie, or a shake?
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In fact, it really comes down to individual preferences and what you are trying to achieve by taking CBD.
The various ways to take CBD may also depend on whether you are coping with a serious medical condition and require relief from pain or discomfort. Or if you want the fast-acting effects of your CBD-derived hemp products.
Let’s break down some of the pros and cons of the most popular forms of CBD. This would include CBD oils and CBD tinctures, CBD edibles such as CBD gummies, and CBD topicals.
There is also the inhaled CBD variety that uses vape pens. We’ll also look at the most efficient method for taking CBD.
As always, get a doctor’s advice before you introduce CBD into your daily routine. CBD may have an adverse effect on prescription medications, and your doctor will know if CBD or cannabis plant products are right for you.
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is an extract found in both the cannabis plant and hemp plant. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, the growing, cultivating, manufacturing, and selling of hemp-derived CBD products were made legal by the federal government. However, A CBD product must contain 0.3 or less THC to be legal.
This does not mean that every state is on board. Even though CBD is legal on a federal level, it may not be legal in your local state. So, please check with your local state laws to make sure you can purchase and possess CBD products.
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As manufacturers extract CBD, THC, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids from industrial hemp, they can turn it into several bases. The most famous of these bases is CBD oil. CBD oil comes in three primary forms, full-spectrum CBD oil, broad-spectrum CBD oil, and CBD isolate oil.
We’ll define each of those forms and what makes each one unique.
What Is Considered The Best Form of CBD Oil?
When you start looking at CBD products, you’ll notice three main types to choose from. CBD will either be available as full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate.
Although each is designed to achieve similar results, each variety offers something different.
Full-Spectrum
Full Spectrum CBD is just that – a product full of all that the cannabis plant has to offer. It includes using the plant stalk, leaves, and flowers to create a complete extract. A full-spectrum extract contains all cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, including THC.
Keep in mind that the legal amount of THC will be 0.3% or less in a full-spectrum product. It means you’ll feel the full effects of the plant (called the entourage effect), but you won’t feel the effects of such a small amount of the psychoactive compound THC.
In other words, you won’t get high taking a full-spectrum CBD product.
Broad-Spectrum
Broad-spectrum is similar to full-spectrum in that it contains everything the plant has to offer.
The most significant difference between these two types is that broad-spectrum includes all of the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, yet only has trace amounts of THC rather than the full 0.3% of THC.
CBD Isolate
CBD Isolates are widely known as the purest form of CBD. Everything has been removed except CBD. This means there are no other cannabinoids, flavonoids, or terpenes, and only the CBD remains – isolated from everything else.
Many prefer to take CBD oil in isolate form because it doesn’t contain any THC. Many shy away from full-spectrum or broad-spectrum products, even though the amount of THC in them won’t show up on a drug test.
They tend to stick to an isolate product because of the zero THC content.
So, What Is The Best Type of CBD?
This question is open for debate, and it depends on who you talk to about it. There are so many reasons people decide to take CBD and not just one specific way to take it. However, full-spectrum seems to be the most popular, and many claim it works the best out of all the other forms.
CBD users believe that since a full-spectrum product contains all of the cannabinoids and other plant compounds from the original extraction, it will give you the best overall experience. Keep this in mind, though: the best CBD oil for you might not be the best for someone else. If you’re a first time user, expect a bit of trial and error to find what’s best for you.
This could be because of how a full-spectrum product is made.
Full-spectrum is aptly named because it uses the entire plant to make it. The biomass of the cultivated hemp plant is converted into a coarse powder through the CO2 extraction process. The result is crude CBD oil.
The oil is then refined further to filter out all but 0.3% of the THC, leaving a potent and powerful CBD oil with everything included.
What Are the Most Efficient Ways of Taking CBD?
CBD has different delivery methods. These include ways to eat CBD or drink CBD oil, vaping CBD with a vape pen, or rubbing CBD on your skin as a lotion.
There is no right or wrong way to take CBD, but let’s look at the most popular delivery methods for taking CBD.
CBD Tinctures
One of the most popular methods of taking CBD is by taking CBD oil. It is different than other methods because the oil is absorbed by sublingual consumption (or under the tongue).
A typical sublingual administration involves holding the oil under the tongue for roughly 60-90 seconds before swallowing.
People prefer a sublingual administration of CBD oil because of its fast-acting effects. It is absorbed almost immediately without working its way through the skin or via the digestive system.
The only downfall of taking a CBD oil tincture is that some may not prefer the earthy and grassy flavor of the oil. Many put a few drops into a shake or smoothie to remedy this.
Tinctures offer consistent absorption since they don’t have to be metabolized and work their way through the digestive system like CBD capsules or gummies have to.
Tinctures also offer higher doses for people who may need CBD for certain conditions like chronic pain relief. However, the dosage in a dropper might not always be the same each time.
CBD Gummies
Another popular way to get your daily dose of CBD is via CBD infused gummies. This product can be in the shape of a square, sphere, or the most common, a CBD gummy. They’re a discreet way to consume CBD oil, and each gummy will provide the same amount of CBD every time. The CBD gummies benefits are the same as any other form of CBD.
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This means you get a consistent dose of CBD without having to calculate or guess.
Gummies may be one of the more accessible CBD products to consume. They come in several shapes, colors, and flavors, making them a tasty way to get your daily dose of CBD. This specific delivery method requires the gummy to be fully metabolized in the digestive tract before you begin to feel the effects.
As the gummy becomes metabolized by your liver, the CBD properties are then distributed into the bloodstream. It is an effective way for the CBD to work with your Endocannabinoid system supporting all parts of the body, including the nervous system and brain.
The effects of taking a CBD gummy are long-lasting with a slow-release of the CBD. This means you won’t have to take a few drops every 4 to 6 hours with a tincture. Just grab some gummies and know that you’ll feel the effects for up 12 hours with just a single serving.
Since they are the most discreet ways to consume CBD, you can eat them just about anywhere!
Some of the drawbacks are that you’ll feel the effects of the CBD slower with a gummy, especially if you have food in your stomach. Absorption times vary depending on each person or if they have eaten any food, but you can expect to feel the effect between 45 minutes to 2 hours. So don’t expect a gummy to be fast-acting.
CBD Capsules
Another effective method to consume CBD is with a CBD capsule. Like gummies, capsules work with the digestive system to deliver CBD to your system. Again, many factors affect this delivery method of CBD, such as food in the digestive tract or if your metabolism is slower or faster.
Like gummies, capsules are discreet, and each capsule’s dose is the same. This is an ideal solution for those that don’t like the taste of gummies or tinctures but want a slow release of CBD to last for a long time.
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals are a perfect solution for those experiencing pain in any part of their body. Sports injuries, sore muscles and joints, and even skin irritations can get relief with a CBD cream, salve, balm, or lotion.
Simply rub the CBD topical on the affected area and allow the effects of CBD to be absorbed into the skin. Many CBD users claim that these products relieve places of localized discomfort or other skin conditions by providing anti-inflammatory properties to the affected area.
Topicals such as creams and salves are pretty easy to use. Simply apply the desired amount to the area and allow the cream to work.
These lotions are a very discreet way to feel the effects of CBD since they look like every other typical lotion or cream product.
The only drawback is the low absorption rate. Even though the CBD eventually gets absorbed into the skin, it takes a lot longer than a tincture. With a tincture, you’ll feel the effects of the CBD much quicker! There is also the question about the dosage.
Since you decide how much CBD to apply, the dosage will vary from use to use. So it may not be the preferred method if you want the exact dosage of CBD each time.
Do Tinctures, Capsules, Gummies, and Topicals Work The Same Way?
CBD tinctures, gummies, capsules, topicals are designed to achieve the same thing. However, they all work in different ways because of a thing called bioavailability.
Bioavailability involves a process in which our bodies take in new compounds and distribute those compounds into the bloodstream before the waste is filtered out.
CBD is known as a hydrophobic compound. That means that CBD and water don’t mix well together. Since our bodies are mostly water, CBD has to find a way to work with us.
So to increase the bioavailability of the CBD, companies use a carrier oil like olive oil or MCT oil to distribute the CBD oil and make measuring it much easier.
Here’s how each product type delivers CBD bioavailability:
- Taken orally such as edibles and gummies: 6% – 15%
- Taken sublingually (or under the tongue) such as tinctures: 34 – 46%
- Taken as an inhaled CBD vaping product: 40%
- Taken as a transdermal with products like lotions, creams, salves, and balms: 45%
Since the bioavailability is different for each product, it also means they work in different ways. For example, taking a gummy will work differently than taking a tincture because gummies have a relatively low bioavailability. That low percentage is due to much of the nutrients being lost during digestion.
As you eat or drink, that food must make its way through the stomach, where enzymes strip a portion of the matter away. It then makes its way through the intestines, where even more is lost before it finally passes through the liver.
Whatever is left is broken down in the liver and distributed into the bloodstream. This is the reason for the slow bioavailability of the CBD when taken orally as a gummy.
However, even with the loss of bioavailability, passing a compound like CBD through 2 digestive systems before it is finally distributed means that you will receive a more potent overall effect.
Oral consumption allows the CBD to stay in your system for a more extended period; the effects are felt more strongly and will last longer.
How Long Does Each Method Take To Kick In?
As mentioned, each CBD product takes a different amount of time before the effects start to work. And since each product has a different bioavailability, you can expect different duration and onset times between a gummy, a tincture, a capsule, and a lotion.
Keep in mind that your individual metabolism, weight, and eating habits will affect how each of these products works with your system.
Other factors that may alter the effects are the dosage used, frequency, and potency of the product. Here is the onset, duration, and suggested usage for each product:
CBD Tinctures
Initial Onset: Roughly 15 to 20 minutes
Duration: Approximately 4 to 6 hours
Suggested Use:
- Drop the desired amount of oil under your tongue.
- Hold for a few minutes allowing it to be absorbed.
- Swallow.
CBD Gummies and Capsules
Initial Onset: Roughly 45 minutes to 2 hours
Duration: Approximately 6 to 12 hours
Suggested Use: Take a gummy or capsule before or after a meal. If you want to feel the effects more quickly, take on an empty stomach before a meal.
CBD Topicals
Initial Onset: Roughly 1 hour
Duration: Approximately 4 to 6 hours
Suggested Use: Apply the desired amount of lotion or cream to the affected area and allow it to soak in.
Challenges of Different CBD Methods
CBD has been improving the lives of so many people – we know this. That said, not everyone reacts to CBD in the same way. This is why having some idea about how your body processes CBD is so important. Many people use CBD in different ways. It can be somewhat confusing at first, but once you figure out which way is best for you, you’ve got it all figured out.
Successful CBD delivery is dependent on multiple factors including the individual’s physical makeup and the CBD item’s properties. The bioavailability of CBD, or the amount of CBD that is able to enter the bloodstream, is dependent on these factors. The bioavailability of CBD varies greatly with both route (where it goes) and mode (how it goes in) of administration.
Always consult your doctor before changing or adding supplements to your daily routine. It is possible CBD could interfere with a prescribed medication. This is unlikely, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The Last Word on Taking CBD Oil
All evidence points to taking CBD products through sublingual administration. This is the most effective method for both the speed of onset, potency, and ease of use. Since tinctures are fast-acting, you’ll achieve the desired effects almost immediately, unlike having to take a large serving of gummies to achieve the same results.
The fast-acting properties of a tincture mean it is a perfect solution, for example, to take before bed if you’re experiencing sleep issues.
Tinctures are the most cost-effective method of making CBD part of your daily routine. It has the highest bioavailability, lowest onset time, longest-lasting effects, and the highest absorption rate of CBD distributed throughout the whole body.
However, if you have trouble with the taste of a tincture, place a few drops in a smoothie or shake. Keep in mind adding the oil to a food or drink may slow down the bioavailability.
Talk to your doctor before you take any CBD oil product, and trust a reliable source for high-quality CBD. New Phase Blends offers:
- Only the highest-quality CBD – made with organic material.Â
- Each product is third-party lab-tested.Â
- Our products also come with a Certificate Of Analysis (COA). Each label has all the information and conditions printed on it.
This is all to ensure the quality and potency of each of our products. Talk to us today to get you started on your CBD journey!
