The Different Ways to Use CBD Oil

CBD has quickly become known as one of the most beneficial compounds one can take for improving overall health. This is one of the main reasons that supplements that incorporate this special cannabinoid have become so popular throughout the United States over the past few years. However, in all honesty, CBD is still a very misunderstood compound! 

One of the most confusing aspects of CBD (which is also known by its proper name of cannabidiol) is the many different ways that we can intake the substance. Do you know how to take CBD oil and which supplement types might work best for your clients? Let’s take a closer look at the different methods of absorbing the benefits of cannabidiol below:

HOW TO USE CBD OIL

There are actually four primary ways that CBD oil supplements are designed to be ingested into the body. We can:

1. Orally ingest it through CBD edibles
2. Allow CBD to be absorbed sublingually
3. Inhale CBD by either smoking or vaping it
4. Rub it into the skin with a topical CBD product

Why don’t we look at these ingestion pathways more in-depth?

    1. Edible CBD products

Edible cannabidiol supplements come in a variety of forms that include gelatin capsules, sodas, teas, gummy drops, brownies, and any other beverages or foods that can be infused or mixed with CBD. Edibles are among the most popular CBD products on the market due to the fact that they are very standard in appearance and can be used nearly anywhere without drawing attention. This is one of the main reasons that edibles are also usually the first products that people new to CBD take.

Cannabidiol edibles and beverages are absorbed into the body and become active in the bloodstream by passing through the digestive system and liver. This is why it takes some time before the effects of edible supplements can be felt by the user; it can often take up to 30 minutes to a couple of hours before any effects are felt. It is very typical for people to overeat CBD edibles because of these delayed physiological feelings. It should also be noted that a good amount of the CBD in each edible product gets broken down into an unusable form before it hits the bloodstream. This is why many of these supplements have such a large concentration of cannabidiol in them!

    2. Sublingual CBD products

Sublingual CBD supplements are absorbed in the body by being placed under the tongue. The main products that fall in this category include CBD tinctures, sprays, lozenges and saliva-soluble isolates. While obviously a small amount of these type of products will end up getting swallowed like an edible (because they eventually dissolve into your saliva), sublingual products are actually processed through a completely different metabolic pathway.

Sublingual supplements bypass the digestive system and liver and get absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the sensitive mucous membranes located under the tongue. Since these types of ingestibles hit the bloodstream directly, their effects can be felt much more quickly than some other types of CBD merchandise. Some people report feeling effects within 15 minutes! Sublingual cannabidiol supplements are also very discreet and last for quite a long time.

    3. Inhaled CBD products

Inhaling CBD is certainly the method that results in the fastest-acting effects. This is because inhaled cannabidiol goes directly into the bloodstream straight from the lungs (while avoiding the slow-working digestive metabolic pathway). Most people report feeling activated sensations within just a few minutes! There are two ways that people can inhale CBD: by either smoking or vaping it.

• • Smoking CBD

There are two primary methods that people use to smoke CBD. The first, and the most common, the way is through the use of a smoking device known as an oil or wax “rig”. A rig is essentially a modified cannabis water bong that has a part known as a “nail” that replaces the typical marijuana bowl. The user then heats up the nail, places the appropriate CBD concentrate (such as shatter, budder, or isolate) on it with a metal tool known as a dabber, and then inhales the resulting smoke through the rig’s mouthpiece. The other way cannabidiol is smoked is by wiping a bit of CBD extract to a cigarette before smoking it.

• • Vaping CBD

Vaping cannabidiol is very similar to smoking it. However, the resulting vapors that are inhaled are smoother and far less harmful than smoke. Vaping is also more discreet and quick than smoking. E-juice vaporizers and vape pens are much smaller, more inconspicuous, and produce far less of an aroma than any wax rig on the market!

    4. Topical CBD products

Topical cannabidiol supplements describe products that are applied directly to the skin. They come in a variety of forms including lotions, creams, salves, and patches. Topical products are the only form of CBD supplement that can be used to treat a specific area of the body; all the other CBD merchandise affect the entire body simultaneously. This is one reason why those suffering from sore muscles, arthritis, or other types of localized pain often turn to CBD lotions for help.

The CBD oil extracts found in topicals get absorbed through the skin and start to go to work directly in the bloodstream while avoiding the digestive system as well. However, topical creams usually take 20 minutes before the user will start to feel its effects.

HOW MUCH CBD OIL SHOULD YOU TAKE?

The answer to this question is depends on a variety of physical factors (the most important being your weight and average metabolic rate), the quality of the CBD oil that is being used, and what you are using it for. This is why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has still yet to release a recommended dosage of cannabidiol.

However, it is quite easy to figure out the best CBD dosage for you. Start by taking a small amount of a CBD supplement and allow it some time for it to take effect. If you don’t feel anything within 30 minutes to an hour (unless it is edible), go ahead and take the same amount again. Repeat this process until you start feeling the effects you desire. Take note of this dosage: it is your minimum effective dose. If you are suffering from a more serious condition, you may sometimes need more than this minimal amount to get some relief. In that case, please feel free to use your CBD liberally.