Cannabidiol has become one of the new wonder medications in the 21st century, with many potential applications and health benefits. CBD oil is popular for relieving many ailments, including anxiety, anxiety-related cardiac issues, and many others. Moreover, it has also been known to provide pain relief for cancer patients. If you think you can also benefit from its various uses, here are the different ways in which you can take CBD oil:
How to Take CBD Oil
- Tinctures
- Gummies
- Balms
- Salves
- Lotions
- Mints
- Soft Gels
- Roll-on Gels
These are some of the most common ways to consume CBD oil, and there are various CBD products that you can find on the internet designed to help you treat health problems.
Oral vs. Topical CBD
Apart from being available in numerous forms, CBD dosage is available in two primary forms: oral and topical. Simply put, people ingest oral CBD products, whereas topical CBD products are applied externally.
Let's talk about these in a bit more detail. When discussing the effectiveness of CBD products, you might come across the term "bioavailability." This refers to how much of the CBD your body actually absorbs. Therefore, products with higher bioavailability tend to be more effective.
Oral CBD
Oral CBD involves consuming CBD through your mouth. Furthermore, you can consume CBD in two ways: sublingually or through ingestion.
When you consume CBD sublingually, it involves putting a few drops of CBD oil tincture under your tongue and swallowing them after 40 to 60 seconds. They make their way into your bloodstream, through the capillaries in your mouth. Sublingual administration has the highest CBD bioavailability.
Ingesting CBD involves swallowing a CBD capsule, gummy, or any other edible CBD product. The CBD oil goes through your digestive system when you swallow it, making its way to your liver. This means that they are metabolized before reaching their destination. This process is known as the first-pass metabolism.
After metabolism, the remaining substances from the CBD oil are sent into the bloodstream. Unfortunately, you don’t get the full potency of the CBD though digestion, making it slightly less bioavailable than sublingual application.
Topical CBD
Topical CBD products are effective at alleviating physical symptoms and pain in your body. You can apply them to a certain part of the body, and they are absorbed into the pores and epidermis of your body. The topical application of CBD products also helps with keeping skin healthy and moisturized.
Topical application is practical and much faster than oral ingestion. Moreover, it is also suitable for people trying it for the first time, especially if they don't want to consume it through their mouth. However, this method of application doesn't carry the CBD to the bloodstream. Types of topical CBD products include balms, lotions, and creams.
Among both the methods of consuming CBD oil, sublingual administration is the most effective method. CBD oil is the fastest way to reach your bloodstream without breaking down into several unusable substances. If you are just starting your CBD journey, you may decide to start with topical application— it can be very effective in alleviating chronic pain and acute pain externally.
How to Take CBD Oil
Now that we’ve covered oral vs topical consumption, let’s talk about the consumption methods in greater detail:
Tincture
A CBD oil tincture is one of the most common and effective methods of taking CBD oil, and it belongs to the sublingual CBD application category, which has a high bioavailability. Whether you are a first-time user or have been taking CBD oil for many years, a tincture is a great way to reap the maximum benefits of CBD oil.
A CBD oil tincture is made through a hemp plant extract, not from the marijuana plant. You can find a CBD Tincture in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolated varieties.
The best way to consume the tincture is to apply droplets of it under your tongue and leave it there for 30 to 40 seconds. Then, swallow it. The waiting period allows the CBD oil inside the tincture to enter the bloodstream through the capillaries in your mouth—more specifically the cheek, gums, and under the tongue.
Absorption can be enhanced by rubbing tinctures into your mouth tissues. Once you swallow the potion, it goes to your digestive system, where the process of the first-pass metabolism occurs. However, because much of the CBD oil is already absorbed into your bloodstream through the capillaries, the process of metabolism doesn’t affect the bioavailability of the compounds as much as it does in other methods.
Next, your body’s endocannabinoid system reacts with the CBD, achieving what is known as homeostatis. Within 20 minutes of pouring the drops in your mouth, you will start to feel the effects of the CBD tincture kick in, which is faster than many other CBD applications you may find.
While tinctures have a lot of benefits, there are a few minor side effects. These can include dry mouth and hepatic metabolism. Don’t worry, though. Once you consume CBD regularly, your body should adjust. There are also a few significant drug interactions. You should talk with your pharmacist about other medications you are taking.
Gummies
The word “gummy” would instantly make you think of gummy bears. In a similar concept, CBD gummies are soft and squishy and made from the same ingredients, namely sugar or sugar substitute, artificial flavor, and a thickener that gives it the jelly-like texture. These ingredients are combined, heated, and poured into molds. During the heating process, CBD oil is added to ensure that it mixes fully with the other ingredients.
When you ingest a CBD gummy through the mouth, it goes into your digestive system, where it is broken down through metabolism before being sent to the liver. Then, it activates the body's endocannabinoid system, and the receptors inside the body figure out which part of the body isn't functioning properly.
The very reason CBD oil is effective is because it can interact with the endocannabinoid system in your body, making the healing process a little easier. There are many other benefits to using CBD gummies as well. First and foremost, a CBD gummy is much easier to ingest by swallowing, especially for people who are just starting their CBD journey. It’s an easy way to take a starter, pre-measured CBD dosage.
Once the CBD gummy kicks in, you can experience the many potential health benefits, one of which is a relaxed state of mind. If you take it just before a hot bath or shower, the effects can increase significantly.
Moreover, you can consume CBD gummies to speed up post-workout recovery. They expand and relax your arteries, resulting in lowered blood pressure and faster recovery after working out.
Balms
When it comes to pain relief, CBD balms are a wonderful solution that can instantly relieve discomfort or aches in the body. Balms are a type of topical CBD product that are often mixed with other calming and nourishing substances, such as tea tree oil or eucalyptus. A CBD balm rub is the exact thing you need to recover from a muscle sprain, sore muscles, aching joints, or any other muscle, joint, or tissue-related pain that makes it difficult to move around.
The balm's effectiveness depends on the amount of CBD present in it, and you can often find this from the label of the CBD product. If you have severe or chronic pain, you may need to buy a balm with a higher CBD dosage.
CBD balms are effective on certain parts of the body. When massaged well on the aching body part, the balm enters the epidermis and reacts with the cannabinoid receptors present in your skin, allowing faster pain relief. Once the CBD inside the balm binds itself to the receptors, it decreases inflammation and mitigates pain perception.
Due to its various muscle pain benefits, CBD balms are widely popular for post-workout recovery. They can also help you heal faster from sports-related injuries. CBD can accelerate the healing of muscle tears, which are quite common with people who work out or play sports regularly.
However, make sure that the CBD balm doesn't come in contact with any open wounds or broken skin, as it can sting terribly, causing a lot of irritation along with the pain you are experiencing. Moreover, keep your hands away from your eyes when applying the balm and wash your hands immediately after you are done.
Salves
Similar to balms, CBD salves are formulated to relieve pain, discomfort, or any other skin condition that may be bothering you. They are also absorbed by the pores in your skin, and don't enter the bloodstream. Salve is a lipid liquid, meaning that it contains oil that act as carriers of the CBD oil that the skin absorbs.
All you need to do is apply a thin layer of the CBD salve on the affected area on your body with your fingers, and your skin will begin absorbing the CBD compounds almost immediately, causing a calming and soothing effect that relieves you from all kinds of discomfort and irritation in the local area, including deep tissue. The use of CBD salves has also proved effective against skin conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis, as it enables the endocannabinoid system to achieve homeostasis.
Similar to CBD balms, salves also have a combination of lipids and fatty oils, with the presence of little or no water. This gives them a different texture than lotions and creams, as well as a difference in bioavailability. Be sure to check the label of any salve that you plan to buy, especially its CBD content percentage.
CBD salves are highly effective at combating localized pain, as you don’t have to ingest it or wait for it to enter the bloodstream. Moreover, the effects are also faster and long-lasting.
Lotions
CBD lotions have a similar consistency to CBD balms and salves, but they have a water or oil-based formula, making them lighter and more absorbent. They are also a CBD product with topical administration and can be directly applied on the part of the body that is aching or itching. Moreover, they have a higher bioavailability than balms or salves, as they are easily absorbed into the skin through the pores.
Apart from pain relief, you can use CBD lotions as an alternative to moisturizers. CBD contains many antioxidants that freshen and rejuvenate the skin. Moreover, they contain vitamin B complex and amino acids, which promote healthy skin. Not only does it moisturize and soothe, but it also keeps your skin complexion balanced and mitigates signs of aging significantly. Be sure to check the amount of CBD present in the lotion you choose. If you are using it for the first time, sure to start with a smaller concentration.
Mints
If you are looking for an easy and natural way to consume CBD oil, mints are a great option. They are prepared by mixing all the ingredients used in mint candies with hemp extract to create small, rounded edibles you can pop into your mouth when needed. Not only are they highly effective, but they also taste fantastic. They’ll keep your breath fresh, along with the other health benefits.
If you consume CBD oil in any other form, you will have to get used to its grassy and bitter taste due to the terpenes and esters in the cannabis plant. CBD mints bring all of the benefits that you can experience from CBD tinctures, gummies, or any other method. They can be used for pain relief. Of course, the effectiveness of the CBD product depends on its content and quality.
CBD mints are handy for people consuming CBD oil for the first time, as they can withstand the taste and experience the health benefits without feeling sick. Like all CBD edibles, these mints also go through the digestive system and metabolize into different substances before reaching the liver, ultimately interacting with the endocannabinoid system in your body. You can pop a CBD mint an hour before sleeping or after a workout or sports session. Their effects start to kick in within 20 to 40 minutes.
Soft Gels
You might have seen or heard of soft gels if you have come across the multivitamin tablets they often sell at the pharmacy or convenience store. Similarly, CBD soft gels are ideal for helping people with their health conditions, illnesses, pain, or discomfort. The best part about them is that they are easy to swallow, just like CBD gummies. This makes them an excellent option for people of all ages.
Moreover, CBD soft gels are practically tasteless, so you don't have to deal with the grassy taste of the hemp extract, making them easier to ingest. While they take a bit longer for the body to absorb, CBD soft gels are easier to consume than other methods, making them highly popular.
Roll-On Gels
Another common application for CBD oils is roll-on gels, which effectively alleviate pain and discomfort associated with strenuous workouts and sports. Roll-on gels are applied through topical application, and they are "rolled on" the aching or affected area, allowing the skin to absorb the CBD oil.
The CBD content in the roll-on gels is often mixed with aloe vera, menthol, and many other ingredients, which allow for a soothing or cooling effect. Moreover, some manufacturers also add essential oils or other substances, contributing to a warming effect on your skin. Make sure to check the ingredients of the CBD roll-on gel that you wish to buy so that you know what it contains.
What about Vaping CBD?
If you have researched CBD oil and its products, you may have also come across CBD vaping or CBD vape oil. This involves inhaling CBD, rather than ingesting it or applying it to your skin.
Vaping is popular for its fast-delivery, but it is not any more effective than any other ingested form, and may have long-term consequences.
First, it can cause lung problems, especially if you purchase CBD vape oils that aren't regulated or certified. The likelihood of lung problems increases if your vape pen is heating the oil at a higher temperature, which can cause soot formation. Moreover, there can also be harmful ingredients in certain CBD vape oils, such a propylene glycol.
Due to these risks, we do not recommend vaping CBD oil. You’d be far better off trying an edible form of CBD, such as CBD gummies or a CBD tincture.
Shop Farmer and Chemist for High Quality CBD Oil
There are many health benefits when it comes to using CBD oil, such as instant pain relief, faster workout recovery, quicker healing of tissues and ligaments, reduced anxiety and depression, relief from migraine and nausea, and many others. However, it is always important to check where you are buying your CBD products from.
If you are not sure where to find a trusted CBD vendor, check out Farmer and Chemist. We pride ourselves on selling only safe and certified CBD products, ensuring you get the highest quality CBD oil available.