There are many ways to take CBD, and they all offer something unique. With so many different delivery methods available, things can get a little confusing.
In the following guide, we’ll outline all of the most popular methods and help you find the one that’s right for you.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is a CBD extract that has been added to a carrier oil, such as MCT oil or olive oil. It’s one of the most common CBD products on the market and it’s also the one that offers the most bang for your buck.
CBD oil, like all CBD products, comes in one of the following forms:
- Full-Spectrum CBD: Undergoes an extraction process that maintains the full spectrum of compounds found in the hemp plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
- Broad-Spectrum CBD: As above, only the THC has been removed to a non-detectable level. The result is a CBD product that contains a wide spectrum of compounds but won’t trigger a positive drug test.
- CBD Isolate: An extract of pure CBD that doesn’t contain any other compounds.
CBD oil comes in little bottles containing droppers. Just read the label for usage instructions and then use the dropper to consume the preferred amount.
CBD oi is best placed on or under the tongue, held for 20 to 30 seconds, and then swallowed. dropping the oil under your tongue.
If you want to get creative, try ingesting CBD oils using one of these methods:
- In a Smoothie: Get a serving of vitamins, minerals, and CBD with a fruity smoothie!
- In Coffee: Add CBD oil to your morning coffee for a caffeinated pick-me-up.
- As a Dressing: Consume CBD by adding a few drops of oil to olive oil, lemon, mustard, and your choice of herbs.
- In Sweet Treats: CBD edibles are all the rage, but why pay the price for commercial treats when you can make your own?
- In a Cocktail: CBD in your cocktail won’t do anything for your hangover, but it could make your Cosmopolitan more interesting. We’ve even heard reports of CBD being added to drinks in trendy cocktail bars.
CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures come in small bottles and are designed for dropping or spraying. They are taken orally and can also be added to cocktails and smoothies, as with CBD oil.
Tinctures are very similar to CBD oils, but the difference is that they are extracted into alcohol and contain about 60 to 70% alcohol. This can make them bitter and so flavorings are often added to mask the taste.
CBD Edibles
Edibles are consumables designed to make CBD more palatable. They deliver a specific amount of CBD, along with sweeteners, flavorings, gelling agents, and other ingredients.
CBD gummies are the most common form of edible. These sweet treats are made by combining a gelling agent (such as gelatin, agar agar, or pectin) with fruit juices, sweeteners, flavorings, and a CBD extract.
They are usually measured to deliver a single serving of CBD per gummy. That way, you can take a single gummy to get your daily intake or increase as needed if you wish to take more.
CBD is also added to chocolate and other sweet treats.
Edibles use the same CBD you can buy in oil, spray, and capsule form, and they are usually more expensive on an mg per dollar basis. But they appeal to sweet-toothed consumers and are a unique way to consume CBD.
You can also find CBD hemp flower tea, though there are a couple of issues with these products.
Firstly, hemp flowers are often sold as “tea” in countries or regions that have outlawed the use of smokable hemp flowers. It’s a loophole, and most of those hemp flowers are being purchased to smoke and not to drink.
Secondly, a hot water infusion is not the best way to draw out all of those cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids from the flower, and it may not be the most efficient method of consumption.
Finally, many hemp flower teas use additional herbs and plant extracts, as well as flavorings and sweeteners. These are used to enhance the flavor.
At the end of the day, if you’re actually using hemp flowers to brew tea, you may not be getting much CBD for your buck.
CBD Topicals
CBD topical products include balms and creams, as well as bath bombs, hair products, and a range of other bath and beauty supplies.
Topicals contain a wealth of other ingredients, including oils, scrubs, soaps, moisturizers, essential oils, and plant/herb extracts.
They can be expensive, but you can also make your own using a few basic ingredients and some CBD oil.
CBD Smokables (Vapes and Hemp Flowers)
Vaping CBD produces rapid results and is a very efficient delivery method. However, there are some health concerns regarding vaping, so it may not be the healthiest way to take CBD.
The same is true for smokable hemp flowers.
Make sure you learn about the risks of smoking and vaping before choosing this particular method of consumption.
CBD Capsules
CBD capsules, like edibles, are an easy way to consume a precise amount of CBD. The CBD oil is added to capsules and these are consumed orally.
Capsules sit somewhere between CBD oils and CBD edibles, as you’re getting a premium oil but in a pre-measured form.
What is the Best Way to Take CBD Products?
There is no “best” way. It all depends on your personal preferences.
Are you happy to add a few drops of liquid under your tongue and then swallow it, or do you prefer to add them to food and drink? Do you want the ease that comes with a pre-measured, sweet-tasting edible or are you looking for a smokable to replace cigarettes and marijuana?
The results that you seek will also play a role, such as using a topical application to soothe skin irritations or ease occasional aches and pains.
The guide above will give you a general idea of what’s available and what’s most suitable. You can also check our many other blog posts for additional info on using CBD products.
