Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere for the last five years, you’ve probably heard about CBD. But if you’re new to CBD you may be wondering what the best way to take it is.
There are a wide variety of different preparations that will allow you to absorb CBD. Read on to learn more about some of the best options and how you should use them.
Gummies
Gummies are one of the most popular ways to consume CBD, and it’s easy to see why. They’re delicious, easy to control the dose, and subtle enough that no judgmental aunts are going to question why you’re taking CBD. Even if you’re vegan, you can find fruit chews that don’t contain any gelatin or other animal products.
One important thing to know about gummies is that they come with what’s called a “first pass” effect. When you eat a gummy, the CBD it contains is partially broken down by your liver and digestive tract. This means it can take up to two hours for you to feel the effects, and you’ll absorb only about 20 to 30 percent of the CBD you take.
Tinctures
Tinctures are a great option for people who want a CBD product that will work a little faster than gummies. Tinctures are made by soaking cannabis flowers – the active part of the plant – in oil. This creates a CBD-infused oil that you can place under your tongue, where it will be absorbed much more quickly than in your digestive tract.
While certain strains of marijuana have a higher CBD content than others, they all contain THC. THC is the part of cannabis responsible for getting you high, and when you’re creating a tincture, it takes more work to separate the THC components out. You need to make sure you’re buying your tinctures from a reputable source so you don’t get effects you aren’t looking for in the product.
Softgels
If you want a quick, easy, long-lasting way to incorporate CBD into your routine, softgels are a great option. These look much like any other capsule you might take and include a carefully measured amount of CBD oil. The coating on these capsules will break down over time in your digestive tract, providing you with a longer-lasting effect.
Because softgels break down on a given timeline, they can help avoid the first-pass effect you get with edibles. And the specificity of their measurements makes it easy to control how much you get with each dose. Remember to always talk to your doctor before you begin taking any sort of new supplement, including CBD.
Creams
Another popular way to use CBD is in topical products, including lotions and creams. CBD may help relieve pain, swelling and muscle soreness, and applying it directly to the affected area may help you to get focused relief where you need it. Creams can also contain other beneficial substances like aloe vera, menthol, and essential oils.
CBD creams, like edibles, may take a little longer to work than tinctures or softgels. Your skin is not as absorbent as the tissue under your tongue, for instance, and so will require a little higher concentration of CBD to get the same effect. Choose a topical with a little higher concentration of CBD and rub it thoroughly into your skin until it’s completely absorbed.
Lozenges
Most of us think of lozenges as something we suck on when we’re sick, but did you know you can get CBD lozenges, too? Lozenges are a sublingual, or under the tongue, product, like tinctures, and so absorb faster than edibles. They are also not subject to the first pass effect you see with gummies and other edibles.
Because you are allowing a lozenge to dissolve in your mouth, you can get something of a delayed-release effect. The CBD absorbs into your bloodstream as the lozenge dissolves, prolonging its impact. And because many lozenges come in minty flavors, they may help to camouflage the “weedy” taste some CBD products can have.
Sprays
In addition to tinctures and lozenges, you can also get sublingual CBD sprays. These are made the same way as tinctures except that instead of soaking cannabis flowers in oil, they soak them in alcohol. This creates something like the breath spray we all used in middle school, except that instead of preparing us for a bad first kiss, it prepares us for handling the stresses of life.
Only people who have used many different CBD products before and who know their tolerance should use CBD sprays. A spray is harder to control the dose on, and the membrane under your tongue absorbs substances very quickly. You don’t want to overdo it and wind up fighting the effects.
Oils
Although CBD tinctures are made using oil, they are not the same thing as CBD oil. This substance is closer to essential oils in nature and gets pressed directly from the plant. This oil is usually diluted in a carrier oil of some sort to make it safe to consume or use on the skin.
You can use CBD oil in a variety of different ways, starting with sublingual applications. It can be added to lotions or shampoos, or even to bath bombs. Some people even add CBD oil to beer, though you have to have a specific preparation of the substance to do this, so make sure you double-check on that.
Balms
You may not be surprised to learn that there are CBD balms that you can buy, too. These are generally not aimed at impacting your mood or stress levels. Instead, they can take advantage of the physical benefits CBD oil may have.
Balms are a relatively safe product for CBD beginners to use, since they are absorbed through the skin. You may find CBD lip balms that can soothe chapped lips. You might also see balms designed to moisturize and nourish dry, cracked hands and feet or even soothe sore muscles.
Salves
CBD salves work much the same way as CBD creams, but the way they are prepared is a little different. Lotions are made by combining oil (in this case CBD oil and a carrier oil) with water and some sort of emulsifier. However, salves leave out the water and simply stick to a beeswax and oil mixture.
Salves can be a great way to moisturize and get the benefits of CBD at the same time. You can use them on dry skin all over your body, but make sure you look for a formula with a higher concentration of CBD. You can even ask your partner to give you a massage with a CBD salve for the ultimate muscle care.
Isolates
If you want to get pure, uncut, all-access CBD, isolates are the way to go. This preparation should be used only by expert CBD users, but it can be a great, flexible way to incorporate CBD into your routine. CBD isolate consists only of cannabidiol and most frequently comes in a powder form.
You can add CBD isolate to everything from smoothies and cookies to topicals and tinctures. It is very potent, so make sure you start low and slow when using this form of CBD. It is also important to note that because isolate is only CBD, it does not contain any of the other substances found in marijuana, which could lessen its effectiveness.
Vaping
Of course, vaping is one of the most popular ways to absorb CBD. This method vaporizes a small amount of CBD oil PG or VG, which is then inhaled by the user. This allows the CBD to enter the bloodstream almost instantly and allows you to feel the effects much more quickly.
However, many top medical experts have begun to recommend against vaping or smoking in any form. Vaping can introduce heavy metals like tin and lead into your body, as well as exposing you to chemicals linked to lung disease. Talk to your doctor before you begin using vaping as a way to absorb CBD.
Discover the Best Ways to Absorb CBD
There are a number of different ways to absorb CBD, depending on what you’re looking for. If you want quick relief, sublingual preparations may be the best option for you. If you want a delayed-release method, go for softgels or lozenges.
If you’d like to find the best CBD products on the market, check out the rest of our site at Magical. We have tinctures, softgels, edibles, and more to help bring a little magic to your daily routine. Shop our products today and discover for yourself the difference CBD can make in your life.
