What is CBD
When it comes to your health and general well-being, you want choice. After all, no one product works the same for everyone and even if it did, you may have a preference about the delivery system. There are pills and capsules, topicals, dermal patches, tinctures and more. With that in mind, you wouldn’t want just one way to absorb cannabidiol (CBD), one of the over 60 naturally occurring chemicals found in industrial hemp that interact with natural receptors in the brain and body affecting mood, appetite, pain response, and immunity, among other effects.
Consumers who have heard about the benefits of CBD are clamoring for it, as indicated by a recently released market estimates. BDS Analytics out of Boulder, Colorado, who tracks the cannabis market, forecasts that CBD sales will exceed $20 billion by 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of 49 percent.[1] In response to demand, manufacturers are providing the same array of product options consumers have come to expect from other health and wellness products.
When it comes to ingesting CBD, versus absorbing it topically through the skin or inhaling it, three of the most popular delivery methods are CBD oil, and CBD tinctures, taken by mouth, and CBD capsules. CBD that is swallowed is absorbed through the digestive tract.
CBD oil in every CBD product
All CBD products contain CBD oil, which is what is added to the range of CBD offerings, from topicals to tinctures, capsules and gummies. Before any products are made, CBD oil needs to be extracted from the hemp plant. There are a number of ways to extract CBD oil from hemp. The three most common use carbon dioxide, steam distillation or natural solvents. The extraction process requires significant setup, expensive equipment and workers with specialized skills, which has an impact on the ultimate cost of the product.
CBD oil consists of the CBD that has been extracted from industrial hemp, then diluted with a carrier oil, of which hemp seed oil, MCT oil, and coconut oil are typical, to make it easier to consume and absorb. CBD oil typically is swallowed.
CBD tinctures versus oil
CBD tinctures are different from CBD oils. Instead of using an oil as a carrier, a CBD tincture versus oil is alcohol based. In making the tinctures, manufacturers saturate the hemp with alcohol and then slowly heat the hemp to extract the CBD.
Tinctures generally contain additional flavoring ingredients and healthy additives like herbs. The alcohol in tinctures also acts as a preservative. It can extend the cannabidiol’s life by several years.[2] The addition of these other ingredients enables manufacturers to produce their own proprietary blends.
CBD tincture use is sublingual, which means it is administered under the tongue. CBD tinctures are fast-acting. If CBD oil is held under the tongue for 60 to 90 seconds before being swallowed, the mucus membranes in the mouth can absorb the compounds. In this way, CBD can bypass the digestive system and liver metabolism, so the compounds can avoid being broken down by enzymes and reach the bloodstream more quickly.[3] The effects may be felt within 15 to 45 minutes.
In terms of what is better – CBD tincture versus oil - it basically comes down to preference since the properties and benefits are comparable. The flavor of tinctures might be more desirable to someone.
CBD oil capsules
Another CBD ingestion option is CBD oil capsules. The difference in CBD capsules versus oil and tinctures is that usually the CBD is suspended in a gel capsule. You can swallow CBD capsules whole with water, although you can take them with or without food.[4] Unlike CBD oils and tinctures, the effective dose already has been established. Capsules are convenient to take with you anywhere.
However, it takes longer to process a CBD capsule than an oil or tincture. That’s because the capsule has to be broken down by the digestive system before it makes its way into the bloodstream. Because of this, the CBD in a capsule is less readily available than CBD you get from an oil or tincture.
Ultimately, the decision about which CBD absorption method to use is up to you. Oils and tinctures may provide quicker effects than capsules. However, with capsules you don’t have to worry about how much to take and don’t need to experiment to determine what dosage is providing the desired results.
Lab+Blends oils and tinctures include CBD Total Wellness Drops with hempseed oil for a complete sense of well-being and overall balance and CBD Dream Drops Tincture to promote restful sleep. Find out more about these products at https://lab-blends.com/products