What is the Most Effective Way to Take CBD?
Is there a method to taking CBD that could be more effective or more efficient than the other methods? With the interest in CBD growing by the day, more consumers than ever are incorporating CBD products into their daily routine. But which way is the best way to get the most out of your cannabidiol?
Today, we look to answer what the most effective form of taking CBD is, how other methods match up against the most effective method, and what characteristics to look for in an effective CBD product.
What is CBD?
First, as a brief summary, cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is an extract found in various hemp strains. As of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp that contains less than 0.3% THC was removed from the Controlled Substances Act and made legal.
Any products that can be extracted from the hemp plant, such as CBD and other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, can be turned into a variety of bases – namely, CBD oil. CBD oil can be broken down into three types of hemp-derived formula.
What are the three types of CBD oil?
CBD can come packed in a full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate formula depending on how it’s extracted from the hemp and how it’s refined afterwards. A full-spectrum formula is typically extracted with little refinement involved. Broad-spectrum formulas are more likely to be refined further and are free of THC. Finally, CBD isolates are refined of everything except for the CBD cannabinoid. Each of these three different types of formulas can have various benefits, so it depends ultimately on what you want to achieve with your CBD product.
More research needs to go into CBD’s effects and benefits, though we do have some clinical trials and studies that shine a positive light on CBD already. Likewise, there are countless anecdotal reviews on their healing experiences thanks to cannabidiol.
As it stands, the most common symptoms people report taking CBD for are joint pain, various anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, or just as a daily supplement to promote general wellness.
The Most Effective Way to Take CBD
One of the most common ways to take CBD oil is to take the preferred serving under the tongue. Also known as sublingual dosing. Typically, you would leave the serving under the tongue for at least 60 seconds before swallowing.
This allows the CBD to be absorbed more readily into your bloodstream instead of having to metabolize in the digestive system first. As a good rule, we like to swish the oil around after applying under our tongue, keeping it in for up to 90 seconds before we swallow.
If you are okay with waiting longer, you can also just swallow the CBD oil directly (also called a CBD tincture), add it to your favorite beverage or even use it in your food. Many people find tinctures are the easiest way to get introduced to cannabidiol, as you can easily control your dosage size and quickly determine if you need more.
Bioavailability Plays a Role
Why does a sublingual dose make it the most effective? This is because the bioavailability of a tincture is at the highest possibility for you to absorb the most cannabidiol.
When we consume a CBD product, we don’t get to absorb all the cannabinoids consumed – we only get a percentage. That percentage depends on the bioavailability of that product.
CBD capsules, for example, are often formulated with a CBD oil that has been refined to increase its bioavailability, making capsules almost as effective or equally as effective as a regular tincture. It comes down to the quality of the hemp-derived
Are There Other Effective Ways to Take CBD?
Alternatively, you could use a CBD oil that is safe for vapes and use a standard vaporizer to get a serving of CBD oil almost instantaneously. One of the fastest ways to consume CBD oil, vaping is the next best method to using a tincture orally.
The biggest downside to vaping appears to be how much faster effects seem to wear off compared to a tincture applied sublingually. Keep in mind, this differs from person to person.
In addition, there would not be an abundance of other CBD products available if people only preferred CBD oil in the forms we’ve already mentioned. In fact, there are a wide array of CBD products to choose from. When deciding on what the most effective way for you to take CBD is, it could end up being one of the products below.
CBD Gummies
Sweet, chewy morsels that can come in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavors, gummies are an easy, tasty way to get your daily serving of cannabidiol. Many find relief from anxiety and trouble sleeping when using gummies, as well as taking them as a daily regimen in the morning to promote general wellness throughout the day.
Another benefit is the convenience and portability of a gummy. You are not hauling a bottle of oil with you everywhere and then swishing a serving around in your mouth for a minute and a half – tinctures are not the most functional method, after all.
As far as characteristics compared to CBD oil, CBD gummies can have a similar strength to their CBD oil equivalent. The only downside is that gummies must be eaten and swallowed, so they do take longer to become effective than a tincture under the tongue or vaping might.
Pro-tip: some full-spectrum CBD gummies are oil-based, so try treating one like a tincture and allow it to stay in your mouth until it dissolves. Swish it around and under your tongue to try to keep it as close to a sublingual dose as possible; this may optimize CBD gummies in an all new way for you.
Smoking
Growing in popularity, CBD-rich hemp strains are a top choice for many cannabidiol users across the nation. Once a hemp bud is ground up, it can be rolled with paper or a hemp wrap, placed in a pipe or other smoking accessory, or turned into a variety of other products.
Smoking is effective because you can feel the benefits from CBD quickly, but it is also what you can turn the CBD hemp flower into that makes it fun to keep around the house. If you do not feel like smoking, you can use a dry herb vaporizer to vape it, turn it into oil or butter for edibles, get vape additive and make a vape juice, and countless other ideas.
How Long Should It Take Each Method to Kick In?
As we have mentioned, the type of CBD product you use will determine how long it takes for the cannabidiol to take effect. We recommend tinctures as the most effective method because of how intense it takes effect, and how quickly. Fast-acting, users typically find effects to start within the first 15 minutes. It does vary, because everyone is different, but tinctures still appear to take effect fastest for most people.
Capsules can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours, and even beyond that for some people, before you begin to feel effects. The duration may last longer than a tincture might, but just be prepared for a delay before you notice anything.
If you take a tincture in a drink, in food, or your try a CBD-infused edible or beverage, expect to wait the longest amount of time before feeling any effects – but when you do, they should be as effective if not more effective than a CBD oil. How strong the edible affects you will greatly determine how much CBD is in each serving and how many servings you eat at once.
When you vape a CBD oil, you should be able to feel the effects almost immediately. Vaping is a great method to use if you can micro-dose throughout the day, taking a puff or two when you need it.
Smoking, while similar, does not have as high of a bioavailability as vaping CBD oil. You cannot smoke oil, which means you will be smoking CBD-rich hemp flower. It is not as effective as vaping because CBD concentrates and vape oils often have a much higher concentration of cannabidiol per container than a hemp flower does per bud.
Again, it is important to note that these are not tried and true rules for every individual. Rather, this is coming from anecdotal evidence and experience. Everyone is different, so do be sure to gauge yourself how long each method takes before it feels effective. Keep note of the serving size each time, in addition, to truly narrow in on the perfect CBD product and serving size for you.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we still can’t help but to recommend sublingual dosing as the most effective method for taking CBD oil. Fast-acting and powerful, it is a potent way to get your daily serving of cannabidiol without having to feel the psychoactive effects from THC or waste your time with a large serving. Overall, tinctures are the most cost-effective way to incorporate CBD into your daily routine; with the highest bio availability, you absorb as much of the cannabidiol as possible instead of wasting product. Likewise, CBD oil comes in a variety of flavors and strengths so you can introduce yourself to the cannabidiol world at any level or taste you feel comfortable with.