CBD TINCTURE, HOW TO USE
There are many ways to consume CBD tinctures: sublingually, orally, or topically. The carrier oil used can have an impact on the application method. This article highlights the pros and cons of each administration method.
CBD is a phytocannabinoid derived naturally from hemp using various extraction methods. This cannabinoid is preferred over THC as it exhibits no known psychoactive effects on its users. In addition, it does not show any sign of addiction, eliminating the potential for abuse. Cannabidiol is extracted using the whole of the hemp plant, except its seeds yield another product, hemp seed oil. Regardless of the method employed, it is mainly extracted as raw oil, then converted into other forms such as edibles, pills, vapes, and tinctures. This is a discussion on how to utilize tinctures effectively for maximum benefits.
What Is a CBD Tincture?
Tinctures are made by soaking plant or animal material in ethyl alcohol that varies in concentration, ranging from twenty percent to highs of sixty percent. In this case, CBD tinctures are made by soaking the entire hemp plant, except its seeds, into an alcohol solution and allowing it to dissolve the essential oils found in the plant material. The main advantage of CBD tinctures is that they have a longer shelf life than other forms of CBD products. Tinctures can last between 18 to 24 months if well stored, unlike their counterparts which may last for only 18 months, making it a solution for long-term CBD users.
Administering CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures can be administered sublingually, orally, and topically. These methods differ in the time taken for consumers to feel their effects, the amount of time it lasts in the body, and the bioavailability.
Sublingual
According to Larsen & Shahinas (2020), sublingual administration is one of the most popular and effective ways to consume CBD. Place a few drops of CBD oil beneath your tongue and let it dissolve and diffuse into your bloodstream through the tissues under your tongue. Sublingual administration resembles buccal administration in many ways. Buccal administration utilizes the area between your gums and cheek where you place a material. Doing this allows the drug to break down and disperse into your bloodstream. The buccal and sublingual administration can be employed when administering products like CBD sprays and tinctures. Oils and tinctures can be used for both sublingual and buccal administration.
Liu (2019) noted that sublingual administration is one of the fastest means of administering CBD in the body, as it typically takes between six to fourteen minutes to begin taking effect. This quality makes it effective, especially when one desires calmness almost immediately. In addition, sublingually administered CBD lasts for about eight to 12 twelve hours once consumed, offering a fairly long-term delivery of CBD. The amount of CBD absorbed and utilized is determined by a process known as pharmacokinetics. The sum of your body’s systems for absorption and excretion, the qualities of CBD itself, and a variety of external circumstances that can either aid or hinder the way you assimilate and utilize CBD is referred to as pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, the delivery technique influences how much and quickly CBD reaches the bloodstream. Sublingual administration takes advantage of direct absorption by blood vessels under the tongue.
Orally
CBD tinctures and drops can also be blended with food, beverages, or other substances. Oral administration involves swallowing the tincture as a whole instead of sublingually, where one holds it in the mouth before swallowing it. According to Linher-Melville et al. (2020), oral administration is highly effective when seeking a longer-term delivery method as its effects can last between fourteen and 18 hours after being first administered. However, this comes with delays as it takes time to begin its effect on the body. Typically, this may last two to four hours before CBD affects the body. This is because CBD must travel in the gut before being absorbed in the blood. One major drawback of oral administration is that it has the lowest scores in the bioavailability of CBD after ingestion. It typically ranges between six to twelve percent, unlike other methods, which can peak up to forty percent. This is mainly due to a longer digestive tract. In addition, the digestive enzymes in the stomach break down CBD before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, oral administration is effective for users who desire long-term delivery of CBD in the body.
Topical
Although this seems counterintuitive, CBD tinctures can be applied directly on the skin to deliver CBD to the body. This is because tinctures are CBD oils suspended in an alcohol solution. Therefore, one can apply it directly on the skin or mix it with other topical products such as sunscreen oils, lotions, creams, and some transdermal patches for skin delivery. The skin contains numerous endocannabinoid receptors that interact with CBD to offer relief or take effect. According to Philpott et al. (2017), topical administration is best utilized for localized relief. One can apply the oil to a specific area to offer relief. For instance, patients with arthritis can apply CBD tinctures on their joints to offer localized relief from pain. In addition, athletes and individuals who work out or train regularly can utilize CBD tinctures to relieve muscle soreness and inflammation. Thus, topical administration eliminates the risks associated with oral or sublingual administration of CBD. However, one must take great caution when applying CBD topically, especially when mixing CBD tinctures with topical products already infused with CBD.
Conclusion
CBD tinctures are made by suspending CBD oils or hemp plant parts in a solution of ethyl alcohol, allowing it dissolves its essential oils in the alcohol. These tinctures can be administered sublingually, the fastest delivery method, orally, by consuming the tinctures, mixing them with other palatable substances, or applying them topically on the skin. The method employed affects the bioavailability of the tincture, the time taken to be effective, and the amount of time it lasts once administered. Generally, it is always advisable to consult a medical practitioner to elucidate which method of administration is suitable for you.
References
Larsen, C., & Shahinas, J. (2020). Dosage, Efficacy, And Safety Of Cannabidiol
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Clinical Medicine Research, 12(3), 129.
Linher-Melville, K., Zhu, Y. F., Sidhu, J., Parzei, N., Shahid, A., Seesankar, G., … &
Singh, G. (2020). Evaluation Of The Preclinical Analgesic Efficacy Of Naturally
Derived, Orally Administered Oil Forms Of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),
Cannabidiol (CBD), And Their 1: 1 Combination. Plos One, 15(6), E0234176.
Liu, T. (2019). What Is CBD Oil? Learn The Facts: Uses, Benefits And Side Effects.
Philpott, H. T., O’Brien, M., & Mcdougall, J. J. (2017). Attenuation Of Early Phase
Inflammation By Cannabidiol Prevents Pain And Nerve Damage In Rat
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