How to use CBD tinctures and CBD oils
CBD tinctures are easily absorbed and can be used in many different ways. In the following text, you will learn how to get the most out of tinctures, how not to use them, and the benefits of using them.
Tinctures are a very popular way among people to take CBD. The specific form of use affects their effects.They can be taken directly, mixed into drinks, used for cooking, applied to the skin or held under the tongue to speed up their absorption.
We'll tell you how to use CBD tinctures correctly, how to determine the right dose and what to avoid.
CBD tinctures vs. CBD oil: what's the difference between them?
A tincture is technically an extract made by soaking plant material in an alcohol rsolvent. By the action of alcohol, the active substances are released from the plant into the solution.
For CBD oil, the same principle works, but instead of alcohol, vegetable oil is used as the solvent.
The words tincture and oil are often used as synonyms, but they do not necessarily always mean the same thing.
5 ways to use CBD tinctures
There are several different ways that CBD tinctures can be taken. Deciding which option is best for you depends on the reason you want to take it and what type of tincture or oil you have purchased.
1. Holding the tincture under the tongue (sublingual administration)
Sublingual administration involves dripping the CBD tincture under your tongue and allowing it to work for a few minutes.
This is the fastest way to take it. The CBD is absorbed into the capillaries and travels directly into the bloodstream. This skips the digestion process that the tincture must otherwise go through when swallowed.
The amount of CBD that is absorbed depends on how long you hold the tincture under your tongue. The rest is absorbed later through the digestive tract.
Some users hold CBD under the tongue for only a few seconds, so most of it takes effect after it passes through the digestive tract. This is not the most effective way to take CBD tinctures.
2. Swallowing (oral administration)
Some people swallow CBD tinctures straight. While this method works well, it takes longer for the CBD to take effect. In addition, the effect may not be as strong as with sublingual administration. Overall, the effects are weaker with this method of use because some of the CBD is lost during digestion.
3. Mixing the tincture with food or drink
CBD tincture can also be mixed into foods and drinks, such as smoothies.
Some people cook with CBD oils or tinctures or add them to drinks such as coffee (bulletproof coffee works great - with butter or ghee and CBD oil) or tea.
4. Application to the skin
CBD is of great benefit to the skin. You can, of course, purchase special skin care products that contain cannabidiol, or apply CBD in tincture form to the skin directly.
But if you plan to use the tincture in this way, it should be oil-based, not alcohol.
If you plan to use the oil on the skin, it is better to choose an unflavored product.
How to get the most out of using CBD tinctures
If you want to maximize the benefits of taking a CBD tincture, it's a good idea to keep the following few things in mind.
1. Keep the dropper clean
When dosing CBD tincture, make sure that the glass dropper is always clean. This will reduce the risk of contamination.
Any dirt on the dropper could be a breeding ground for mold or rot and could pose a health risk.
2. Dilute alcohol-based tinctures
If you find that the alcohol in the tincture burns your tongue, consider diluting the mixture with a small amount of water before use.
3. Combine with other dietary supplements and herbs
Many other natural supplements can have fantastic health benefits. To increase your benefit from CBD, think about combining CBD tinctures with herbs.
For example, if you struggle with anxiety, you can mix a tincture with valerian root or passionflower. These herbs can also help if you're using CBD for sleep - just like melatonin.
You can also find these other herbs and supplements on the market in tincture form, so you can easily mix them together if needed.
4. Switch to full-spectrum products
Full-spectrum CBD products contain all the active ingredients from hemp, not just CBD. These tinctures provide more benefits than CBD alone.
Full-spectrum extracts are generally slightly more expensive compared to broad-spectrum or CBD isolates. However, proponents argue that the difference in price is worth it.
What are the benefits of using CBD tinctures?
There are many ways to take CBD tinctures. Thus, on different occasions you may prefer one form of application and at other times another.
Benefits of using tinctures:
- you can always have them with you
- you can easily determine the exact dose
- have good bioavailability (absorption)
- long shelf life
- they are cost-effective
Sometimes a gummy candy can come in handy if you need to feel instant relief, vaporization is offered. Simply choose the form that best suits your needs and current situation.
Health benefits of CBD use
There are many health benefits associated with CBD use. Research in this area is relatively young and many studies are still ongoing. Current scientific evidence suggests that CBD can:
- relieve anxiety and depression,
- relieve pain,
- relieve epileptic seizures,
- relieve inflammation,
- improve skin health,
- relieve arthritis pain,
- overcome sleep disorders,
- relieve nausea and vomiting,
- relieve discomfort caused by Parkinson's disease,
- also has neuroprotective effects.
The way you take CBD can affect its effect. For example, when taken externally, CBD has only a topical effect on the treated area.
CBD tinctures and the endocannabinoid system
Once CBD enters the bloodstream, it begins to interact with the endocannabinoid system(ECS). This system consists of intracellular receptors that regulate a number of bodily processes to maintain homeostasis (balance in the body)
.
ECS regulates our mental and physical health in many ways, balancing our mood or anxiety levels, for example. The ECS is also involved in the perception of pain or hunger, energy levels and relaxation.
CBD acts on this system indirectly. One theory is that CBD prevents the body from breaking down naturally produced cannabinoids (endocannabinoids). In contrast, THC binds tightly to receptors in the ECS.
The effects of THC are therefore more pronounced, whereas CBD has a more subtle and smooth action. This is one reason why CBD tinctures have gained popularity so quickly - they provide many therapeutic benefits, but their effects are not overly intense.
How are tinctures made?
Making tinctures is an ancient skill. They have been used almost as long as people have been distilling alcohol.
"Hard" alcohol is also often referred to as "spirits" because alchemists believed that it drew the spirit of the plant (spiritus) into the solution.
Modern chemistry leans towards this as well, although it replaces the word "spirit" with "constituents". Microscopes and UV-spectrography allow us to observe the various phytochemicals, terpenes, minerals, and alkaloids that alcohol can extract from plants.</p
Whether you use alchemical or scientific terminology, the process and results are the same. To make tincture, you finely chop the plant matter (in this case, cannabis).
The standard rule of thumb for making tinctures is a 1:2 ratio if using dried herbs, or 1:5 if using fresh herbs.
Whether companies producing CBD follow these rules depends on the individual brand. High-potency CBD extracts, for example, may contain less alcohol and more herbs. Or, after initial extraction in alcohol, manufacturers simply add pure CBD isolate.
How to dose CBD tincture
It is always wise to start with a low dose, even less than the lowest recommended dose. It's a good idea to try a subliminal microdose the first time, especially to make sure that CBD doesn't cause an adverse reaction in your body. This is a simple allergy test.
If a small dose does nothing after an hour or two, you can gradually increase the amount. Repeat this process until you feel relief from your discomfort.
The average dose of CBD is usually around 20 to 50 mg. Some people prefer lower doses, others prefer stronger doses.
Brief summary in conclusion
Tinctures and oils are not really the same thing. A tincture is a liquid extract of an herb that uses alcohol as a base, while oils use a base of plant oil. Today, however, the two terms are sometimes used incorrectly as synonyms.CBD tincture can use both alcohol and oil. Therefore, check the label before you buy so you know what you are actually getting.
The best way to get the "most" out of a tincture is to take it sublingually. This ensures that the CBD gets into your bloodstream quickly without being damaged or destroyed by your digestive system. CBD is a safe dietary supplement, but it is still wise to use the lowest effective amount possible. Therefore, we recommend starting with small doses and gradually working up to a dose that will give you the desired effect.
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