CBD Oils 101

CBD Oils 101 (2)

In the past few years, CBD is one of those topics that just seem to get more and more attention.

And when people talk about CBD, CBD oil tends to come up, especially

CBD oils, or CBD tincture oils, are ubiquitous with their glass bottles and squeezable stoppers, and with options ranging from isolate to full-spectrum, there’s something for everyone’s CBD needs.

But in an ever-growing market of CBD gummies, capsules, and even bath bombs, how do plain-jane CBD oils stay relevant? What are the benefits of CBD oil, and why take CBD oil in the first place?

Let’s talk about CBD oils can grant any CBD user the best in efficacy, freedom, and satisfaction. Here is all you need to understand about CBD oil, including how to take it and incorporate it into your meals.

 

Medically Reviewed

Dr. Dimitri Novitzky
Medical Doctor
Reviewed: July 20, 2021

The Basics of CBD

CBD is the parent compound in CBD oil, and without it, there is no CBD oil. CBD forms the topic of discussion in coffee shops and backyards, but not everyone has full knowledge of what it is. What is CBD? According to Mascal et al. (2019), CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in hemp plants. There are many plants in the cannabis class, each having active chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids have more or less the same properties, and CBD stands out for being non-intoxicating in its action. Meanwhile, THC is yet another cannabinoid of much scientific interest, which is psychoactive and responsible for the high effect, as Schlienz et al. (2018) noted. Thus, many do not relate to THC since it can make them high. CBD is easily available, and you can buy it online and in-store; all you have to do is select the brands from which you buy the cannabinoid well.

What is CBD?

In order to understand CBD oil, let’s first answer the question: what is CBD? CBD, or “cannabidiol,” is part of a family of unique compounds which are known as cannabinoids, which are found in cannabis plants like marijuana and hemp. CBD is related to another cannabinoid, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. And while these two cannabinoids share some similar benefits, there are two major differences: 1.) CBD is more abundant in hemp plants, while THC is more concentrated in marijuana, and 2.) While THC can get the user high, CBD will not. Consequently, CBD is a substance that is federally legal, which makes it far more accessible than THC. In the past few years, CBD has gained massive traction for its potential benefits, especially when it comes to pain relief and easing stress. This might sound a little too good to be true, but researchers theorize that CBD actually has a unique relationship with our bodies. Specifically, the endocannabinoid system.

With the information on CBD, you can understand what CBD oil is. CBD oil is one of the many ways to take CBD, others being CBD edibles, topicals, vapes, and capsules. CBD oil is the dilute form of CBD featuring an oil base. Many oils can be used as the base carrier in CBD oil, including hempseed and MCT coconut oils. The oils increase the bioavailability of CBD and allow users many options to explore the oil. As this article shows, you can enjoy CBD oil in different formulations depending on the type of CBD they feature. CBD oil also comes in flavored and unflavored options, allowing CBD users with different needs to have something to tap into. As the demand for CBD oil increases, many brands surface and produce the oil, some offering them in kosher-certified grades. How do you take CBD oil? How is CBD oil different from hemp seed oil and CBD tinctures? These, and many more, are among the questions whose answers this article helps you understand.

CBD & The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is a range of receptors and enzymes throughout the body, and it plays many key roles in the way our bodies function. While the endocannabinoid system still needs tons of research, it’s believed that it helps manage pain, emotional responses, and appetite just to name a few. The receptors in the endocannabinoid system communicates through neurotransmitters known as endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids created by the body. So where does CBD come in? Because CBD is a cannabinoid, it’s been inferred that it can actually sway the endocannabinoid system by influencing the CB1 and CB2 receptors, along with the COX2 enzymes. Through this interaction, CBD may be helpful in a number of ways.

Benefits of CBD Oil

So what are the benefits of CBD oil? Why use CBD oil in the first place? Though we’re still at the dawn of its research, there is evidence that CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system can hold a number of benefits. Above all, pain relief may be the biggest reason people buy CBD oil, whether it’s for post-workout tension, chronic pain, or acute, inflammatory pain. Looking back at the endocannabinoid system, CBD is theorized to influence CB1 and CB2 receptors in a way that inhibits the body’s inflammatory response. CBD oil may also have a future in assisting with mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety. In a few studies, it’s been observed that CBD may have an effect on the brain’s production of serotonin, although this is still not fully understood. So, these are some potential benefits of CBD, but what about CBD oil, specifically? Above all, CBD oil offers the best in versatility. With CBD oil, you can always choose the easiest option: with your pre-measured dropper, take a few drops under the tongue and leave it to absorb for 30 seconds. This is the sublingual method, and while it’s certainly one of the easiest ways to take CBD oil, it’s just one of them! CBD oil is a great option for those who wish to make their very own CBD goodies at home. This can be as simple as adding CBD oil to your coffee, or blending it into a nut butter, or you can even make your own gummies!

What’s the Difference Between CBD Tinctures and CBD Oils?

When shopping CBD oil, it can be easy to get confused, especially when you see both “CBD oils” and “CBD tinctures,” and they both look extremely similar. So what’s the difference, anyway? The terms “CBD oil” and “CBD tincture” are often used interchangeably, but they can be very different things. CBD oils are the more common product, and they might sometimes be called “CBD tinctures” and even “CBD tincture oils.” But ultimately, you’ll know it’s a CBD oil when it uses an oil as the carrier, typically coconut or hemp seed. So, what are CBD tinctures, then? True CBD tinctures are not quite as common, but they will use an alcohol carrier instead of an oil. And while alcohol can give the product a longer shelf life, tinctures don’t use the same kind of processes as CBD oils. While the best CBD oils use CO2 extraction, CBD tinctures undergo solvent extraction. And the main issue with solvent extraction is that it uses 60-70% distilled alcohol, which is actually quite harsh. So harsh, in fact, that it can actually degrade many of the constituents and terpenes you want in a CBD product. This is especially important for full-spectrum CBD oils, which are meant to include all of hemp’s naturally occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Yet, there are many similarities when it comes to delivery and how the two are used. You can ingest CBD oils and tinctures, but you could also add them to your meals, the former being more effective.

CBD Oil vs. Hemp Oil: The Differences

Knowing more about CBD oils also entails knowing the difference between the cannabinoid and hempseed oils. Of course, CBD and hempseed oils come from the same plant; the hemp plant. However, they differ in the parts of the hemp plants used to make them, ultimately impacting the amount of CBD in each type of oil. You can extract CBD oil from different parts of the hemp plants, including leaves, stems, and flowers but hempseed oils only come from the seeds of the hemp plants. For this very reason, CBD oil features more CBD than hempseed oils which barely have any CBD. Yet, there is another confusing product, hemp oil. It may sound more like hemp seed oil, but the two are not the same. Hemp oil features many compounds, in fact, more than hemp seed oil. It has CBD as one of the compounds it features and may have more benefits. Ultimately, hempseed, CBD, and hemp oils are all hemp compounds, and you choose what product to buy depending on your interests and what you want to gain from these products.

What Types of CBD Oil Can You Choose?

CBD shopping might sound simple on paper, but you will only realize how complicated things cab when you go to the shops and see just how many options you must choose from. Thus, you must know the types of CBD oil to go for before settling for them. You can enjoy CBD oil in the following formulations, all of which are quite effective and measure up to CBD claims;

i. Isolate CBD; is the purest form of CBD, featuring the cannabinoid without additional compounds. It is 99.9% pure CBD and the surest way to consume CBD without THC, as long as you focus on high-quality isolate oil from reputable companies.

ii. Full-spectrum CBD oil; features CBD with THC and additional hemp compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and additional hemp compounds. According to Russo et al. (2011) and VanDolah et al. (2019), the -many compounds in full-spectrum CBD oil lead to a full entourage effect.

iii. Broad-spectrum CBD oil; is more like full-spectrum CBD oil in composition but does not have THC. It is a great alternative for CBD users who want to enjoy a THC-free full entourage effect of multiple hemp compounds.

Which Is the Best Form of CBD Oil?

With the three types of CBD oil, it is easy to think that one must be better than the other and be confused about what CBD formulation to go for. Thankfully, there is no CBD that is inferior or superior to the others; if that were the case, there would be no point in having the three CBD formulations. Rather, the three options ensure that CBD fans with various CBD needs get something to tap into. For instance, you can go for full-spectrum CBD oil for a full entourage effect of multiple compounds or broad-spectrum CBD oil for the same effects but without THC, especially if you focus on reputable brands. Meanwhile, you can opt for isolate CBD oil if you need THC-free CBD oils since you anticipate drug tests in the foreseeable future.

How to Take CBD Oil

There are many ways to take CBD oil, but they can all be put into ingesting the cannabinoid directly or incorporating it into your meals and drinks. How do you take CBD oil directly? You can put drops of CBD oil on your tongue and swallow them like you would water or drops of honey. Besides, the other key way to administer CBD oil is to add drops of CBD oil below the tongue, allow 30- 60 seconds to elapse, and finally swallow them. This is called the sublingual administration of CBD oil, which is the most effective way to take the oil. Of course, whether you take the oil orally or sublingually, you can rest assured of feeling CBD effects. However, the latter ensures fast CBD delivery and effects since the blood vessels below the tongue ensure CBD gets to the bloodstream fast and results in quick CBD results.

CBD Oil in Meals

Besides putting drops of CBD oil below or on the tongue, you can incorporate CBD oil into your meals. From your favorite dishes to drinks and beverages, you can always find your way around with CBD oil and enjoy the final products. You can add CBD drops to your tea or coffee, allowing you to feel the effects of the oil without feeling the oil’s bitter taste. You can also add CBD oil drops to your ready-to-eat dish, say rice or soup. Some people also stir CBD oil into sauces, which they still enjoy. CBD oil can easily disintegrate because of too much heat; hence you must know to standardize it to ensure you enjoy the benefits of the cannabinoid in its purest form. CBD oil also forms part of cocktails and fruit juices; all you have to do is determine how much CBD is enough for you. Incorporating CBD oil into your meals allows you to enjoy the cannabinoid with taste. Still, it compromises CBD delivery since they must undergo digestion before letting the cannabinoid join the bloodstream.

Does CBD Oil Make You High?

People have many concerns about CBD oil and other products, including if they have a high effect. Will you get high from ingesting CBD oil or adding its drops to your meals? According to Bauer et al. (2020) and Kicman & Toczak (2020), CBD is non-intoxicating in its action. Thus, CBD oil will not make you high. Still, how you feel after taking CBD oil depends on the THC percentage in the oil. Schlienz et al. (2018) noted that THC is psychoactive and causes a high effect in smoking weed. Thus, the higher the THC in the CBD oil, the mellower you will get from the oil. Choosing isolate CBD oil from reputable brands ensures you get high-quality CBD oil without THC and do not get high from them. Meanwhile, broad-spectrum CBD oil, which should have no THC, might have THC traces, making them not the best option to go for if you are looking for THC-free CBD.

Do You Fail Drugs Because of CBD Oil?

The other concern every serious CBD user will have about CBD oil is whether the cannabinoid will make them fail drug tests. Do CBD oils show up in drug tests? You must know how cannabis drug tests work to whether the oils will show up in the tests or not. Cannabis drug tests look for THC and THC metabolites, and as long as the THC percentage exceeds the threshold set for positive drug test results, they will show up in them. Isolate CBD oil from reputable brands will less likely show up in drug tests since they have no THC. However, full- and broad-spectrum CBD will likely appear in drug tests since they have THC in trace or significant amounts. Simply put, you will fail or pass CBD drug tests depending on the THC percentages in the oil, their formulation, and their quality. As you invest in CBD oil, do the same for quality to get the most from the cannabinoid.

How Strong Should Your CBD Oil Be?

Are you joining the CBD wagon and want CBD oil to be your primary way to enjoy the cannabinoid? You must know how strong the CBD oil needs to be. The FDA does not look at CBD as a medication for any health condition, so it does not recommend how much CBD oil one can take and how strong the oil needs to be. Still, as a rule of thumb, you must keep your CBD oil dosages and potencies as low as possible while starting the CBD regime, but you can always work your way up. Factors like CBD metabolism and the severity of the condition for which you are taking CBD oil come to play in determining the right CBD oil potency for you. The faster your system can process CBD, the more stable it could be to take high potencies for the CBD oil. Acute medical conditions and lifestyle reasons could be satisfied using low-potency CBD oils. However, the more serious a medical condition is, the more your system could need more potent CBD oils to feel any effects. We advise CBD fans to seek professional advice before joining the CBD regime since this will help them know where to start as far as the right CBD potency and dosages are key.

How Much CBD Oil Should You Take?

Besides determining the right CBD potency for you, you must know how much CBD oil you can take. One drop? Two drops? Or more? Many factors come to play in determining how much CBD oil you can take. Many take a little oil as they join the CBD bandwagon but work their way up as time goes on. CBD metabolism also affects how much CBD oil you can take. The faster your system can process CBD oil, the more drops you can sustain, but CBD users with low metabolism can only take a little CBD oil. Body factors like weight and genes have a bearing on the CBD oil metabolism and also affect how much CBD oil you can take. For instance, lightweight people may need only a little CBD oil to feel the cannabinoid’s effects, but heavyweight individuals might need a little more CBD oil. The CBD oil’s potency is also key in how much CBD oil you can take; you need a little more of the oil if it is not potent, and the reverse is also true. Since CBD oil is expensive, it’s better off if you get used to the less potent options and still feel their effects, hence why starting with the low potency options is the better route.

CBD Oil Pros

CBD oil features pros and cons you must know and weigh before settling for them. The primary advantage of taking CBD oil is fast CBD delivery and effects. Taking CBD oil sublingually allows you to feel CBD effects since the cannabinoid lands in the bloodstream almost immediately. CBD oil may also be a better option for delivering CBD, especially for CBD fans who want CBD in liquid bases but would not contain the alcohol in CBD tinctures. Besides, CBD oils do not have too many ingredients, which is yet another plus for people who have issues with too many chemicals in ingestible products. Many people taking CBD to manage health conditions find CBD oil the most appropriate CBD delivery method.

CBD Oil Cons

Even with the many pros, it is worth noting that CBD oil has cons you must contend with. First, CBD oils may be bitter and earthy, which is not necessarily bad, but many people find the taste unbearable. Thankfully, there are many ways to mask the bitter taste of CBD oil, including taking flavored CBD oil options or putting the drop of the oil on the drop of the honey. If all gets to worst with the CBD oil taste, you can happily switch to CBD edibles that hide the CBD taste but may not deliver the effects as fast as needed. The other issue with CBD oil is that some people may not take the oil easily. Some CBD oils feature ingredients and carrier oils that may not go well with the stomach, but such can always opt for CBD tinctures. Like other CBD products, CBD oils are not 100% bioavailable, and the body only benefits from a portion of the CBD. That said, every other CBD delivery method has cons and pros, which you can weigh and decide what to take.

Shopping for CBD Oil

Whether you’re shopping for CBD oil near you, or shopping for CBD oil online, always make sure you’re shopping from a reputable brand that puts your interests first. This means that the company should only use quality hemp, and they should be clear about the sourcing on their website. Also make sure that their CBD products are thoroughly tested by a third-party lab, and that they offer the certificates of analysis for every batch online. CBD brands should also be as clear as possible about their product’s ingredients and dosages, so make sure that the bottle is clearly labeled, and it’s a bonus if the stopper is marked with mL measurements. One of the easiest ways to check out a CBD oil brand’s legitimacy is by checking out reviews—not only from the CBD publications, but the individual reviews on forums, as well

Side Effects of CBD Oil

With the increased use of CBD oil, there have been few reports of side effects, and CBD oil is generally well-tolerated among most individuals. But as with any substance, a small amount of the population may experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, and dry mouth. When trying CBD oil for the first time, make sure to start with as low a dose as possible. CBD may also interact with some other medications, including but not limited to antidepressants, seizure medications, and anticonvulsants. If you’re taking any kid of medication, discuss with your physician about trying CBD oil.

Conclusion

CBD oil is a liquid form of CBD, featuring a carrier oil as the base. It may have hemp seed oil or MCT oil as the base carrier, but many other oils have been used to base it. You can explore CBD benefits by taking CBD oil orally or sublingually, but you can also add its drops to foods and drinks. CBD oil allows fast CBD delivery and effects, and the high bioavailability draws many users to the oil. Still, many find the bitter taste of CBD oil unbearable, but you can opt for flavored CBDZ oil or the other suggestions shared in this article. This is your CBD oil 101 guide, helping you know all you need about it.

References

Bauer, B. A. (2020). What Are The Benefits Of CBD–And Is It Safe To Use? In Mayo Clinic.

Kicman, A., & Toczek, M. (2020). The effects of cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating
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Mascal, M., Hafezi, N., Wang, D., Hu, Y., Serra, G., Dallas, M. L., & Spencer, J. P. (2019).
       Synthetic, non-intoxicating 8, 9-dihydrocannabidiol for the mitigation of seizures.
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Russo, E. B. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐
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Schlienz, N. J., Lee, D. C., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2018). The effect of high-dose
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VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to
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