Everyone wants to try CBD these days, and for good reasons. Cannabidiol (CBD) is already scientifically linked to several valuable medicinal properties, with many more under investigation. Canadians are leaping to buy CBD oil online to treat muscle spasms, inflammation, joint pain, stiffness, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. With so many applications, you may be wondering, what’s the most effective way to consume CBD?
Like most cannabis-based products, CBD comes in all shapes and sizes. You can smoke it in flower form, eat it in candy form, smear it on your skin in topical form, and let’s not forget about ingestible capsules, sublingual oils, and tinctures, and more. With so much variety, it’s no wonder people like you have questions about the best route of administration.
What is CBD?
First things first, what is CBD, and why are people crazy about it? This miraculous little molecule is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid from the cannabis plant. Although you may have long associated weed with an intoxicating high, CBD-rich products are calm, relaxing, and never mind-altering. CBD is a recently popular compound because it comes with medicinal effects, but no lingering buzz.
Although many people have fallen in love with marijuana because it’s intoxicating, it isn’t always for everyone or every situation. Patients have long wanted a cannabis-based product with all the different medical applications, but without the risk of getting high. When CBD-rich strains of cannabis started coming online a few decades ago, this started a massive revolution in cannabis-based medicine.
Now CBD is just as famous for therapeutic relief as THC-rich options. There are popular strains like Charlotte’s web or Harlequin that contain a big CBD cannabinoid profile. There are also CBD extracts, like oils, tinctures, and isolates. These contain upwards of 99 percent pure CBD and perfect for powerful medicinal relief of symptoms. Often, for ease of use, extracts come contained in a CBD capsule.
These extracts often get baked, infused, and stirred into CBD edibles. Think about creamy white chocolate bars, relaxing infused teas, and sweet infused honey. The opportunities here are endless.
But out of all these options, is one more effective for the relief of symptoms than others? It turns out that it all depends on the condition treated, the dose required, and personal preference. When it comes to CBD oils, edibles, and other products, each product has a purpose.
Is Smoking CBD Effective?
Pros: Fast onset of relief, familiar format
Cons: Small dose size, short duration, smoked
If you can find pure CBD strains, like Charlotte’s Web, smoking CBD bud is a simple and effective means for targeting acute issues. Like regular medical marijuana, CBD-rich flower may be packed into a bowl or rolled into a joint.
Smoking CBD provides relief within minutes. The cannabinoids travel through the respiratory tract, and the cellular lining of the lungs absorbs them into the bloodstream. Once there, they quickly move throughout the body to provide medicinal benefits.
But, just as quickly as the benefits come on, they disappear quickly. If you choose t smoke CBD, the benefits will linger for four to six hours, but no more. If you need long-lasting relief, other options will serve you better.
Is Edible CBD Effective?
Pros: Long-lasting, big doses, delicious
Cons: Slow onset of effects
Need long-lasting relief? That’s where CBD edibles come into play. Edibles include all manner of foods, candies, and even CBD teas infused teas. Unlike smoked CBD, the effects can take upwards of 60 to 90 minutes to kick in. Why? Because edibles must be totally digested before your body absorbs the cannabinoids. Depending on your metabolism, what you had for lunch, and any other number of factors, this can slow down the process.
So why are CBD edibles effective? They provide relief for up to eight to ten hours, virtually double the duration of smoked CBD. Plus, you can take much higher doses of CBD without having to smoke for hours on end. One CBD-packed chocolate bar, and you can have 180 mg of CBD or more.
Edibles are also an excellent alternative for those who cannot (or prefer not to) smoke their medicine. If you have pre-existing respiratory issues, or simply an aversion to smoking, CBD edibles are an effective alternative.
Do CBD Oil and CBD Tincture Work?
Pros: Precision dosing, adjustable dose size, and fast onset of effects
Cons: Unpleasant taste, messy
CBD tinctures continue to be the most popular CBD options. Tinctures are alcohol or oil-based extractions, usually from hemp plants that contain high levels of CBD. These come in various potencies, like 450 mg or a 50/50 split with THC. You use a dropper to dose them under the tongue.
There are several benefits to this route of administration. First, they are easy to self-titrate and calculate a precise dose. Check the label for dosage instructions, including how many milligrams of CBD oil is in one dropper-full and total milligrams per bottle. With this information, it’s easy to work out how many drops you need per day. It’s also easy to increase or decrease dosage if needed.
A second benefit is the speed of onset of the effects. Unlike edibles, CBD oils and tinctures do not travel the long journey through the digestive tract. The medicinal compounds absorbed through the mucous lining in the mouth when you dropped under the tongue using a dropper. Absorption takes seconds, and CBD hits the bloodstream almost immediately. Effects can come on within minutes and usually last between four to six hours.
While not everyone loves the earthy taste of CBD oils and tinctures, they are medicinally valuable because they again avoid smoking. Not everyone wants to smoke their medicine, and oils and tinctures offer an easy alternative.
The Best Way to Take CBD Depends on the Patient
Cannabidiol is extremely popular for nonintoxicating medicinal relief. You can now buy CBD online in hundreds of different products and many different potencies. Whether you sip on a mellow CBD tea to soothe anxiety at the end of the day or eat an entire CBD-infused chocolate bar to help reduce the pain from arthritis, there is a perfect product suited to your needs.
