Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular trend in the health community and there are different ways to use it. Studies have shown that CBD oil might have health benefits that can treat multiple health conditions in the human body. In 2017, the FDA approved the prescriptional use of Epidiolex, a purified form of CBD, to treat epilepsy in the United States.
There are countless ways to introduce it into your lifestyle to benefit from the effects of CBD. From CBD edibles to CBD oil tinctures, here are the best ways to use CBD products.
Introduction to CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a primary cannabinoid found in cannabis. Because the side effects of medical marijuana are rumored to treat numerous health issues, there is a large consumer market for CBD products.
CBD oil is extracted specifically from the hemp plant through its trichomes. The hemp-derived oil can be made into a wide range of CBD products like oils, capsules, lotions, and even gummies. They claim that a certain amount of CBD can improve sleep, reduce pain, and help them lose weight.
Contrary to popular belief, CBD products do not produce a “high.” The compound responsible for this is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is absent in CBD. CBD has no psychoactive compound so it does not alter one’s state of mind during consumption.
Receptors Targeted by CBD Oil
In order to understand how CBD infused products affect the body, you need to be aware of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Scientists studied the effects of cannabis on humans through the ECS during the 60s all the way into the 70s.
Research showed that there was a wide range of receptors, biochemical pathways, and enzymes that produced the body’s own form of cannabinoids, which are called endocannabinoids (eCBs).
Endocannabinoids proved to be vital to the human body because they function as neurotransmitters or chemical messengers of the ECS which pass through the cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors).
There are two kinds of CB receptors in the ECS: CB1 and CB2.
CB1 receptors
CB1 receptors are common receptors in the human nervous system and they’re essential for healthy brain activity. They regulate your mood, motor functions, pain receptors, and even your memory. When THC is introduced to the body, it’s the CB1 receptor that’s responsible for the “high” you feel.
These receptors also play different parts across the human body. They can function for digestion, pregnancy, hormone production, and cardiovascular health. A scan will show that CB1 receptors are scattered throughout the body at low densities.
CB2 receptors
Found in the cells of our immune system, CB2 receptors control responses to pathogens and minimize inflammation.
When you use CBD products to diminish an overactive immune system like arthritis, asthma, and allergies, it is targeting the CB2 receptors.
Ingest It Orally
First-timers are highly encouraged to ingest CBD orally. There are different kinds of products that allow users to ingest CBD from capsules, pills, and even CBD gummies. You can add this to your morning routine without taking extra time to consume CBD. Because it has no amount of THC, it won’t alter your current lifestyle.
CBD capsules
It’s important to take note of your dosage when ingesting CBD. This makes taking capsules easier because they’re pre-measured and will not require you to bring out a measuring instrument.
You can play around with the dosage and concentration to see what will agree with your body. Many start with a small 25 mg softgel capsule and slowly increase in 25 mg increments until they find their ideal dosage.
CBD tinctures
You can ingest CBD oil through tinctures. The best way to consume this is sublingually (under the tongue). Using a dropper, put a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue and hold it there for a minute before going about your day.
Some people report that the taste of industrial hemp oil is too much for them, so they opt to mix it in with their food. For those who love protein mixes and smoothies, they add a few drops to their recipe to get their day started.
Tinctures are great because you can easily adjust your dose by adding or subtracting a few drops. It’s best to be mindful of your intake because too much can harm your body.
CBD gummies
The third way to ingest CBD orally is through chewable gummies. This is a fun way to take CBD because the gummies come in various flowers without compromising the quality of CBD you’re getting in your body.
For those who don’t like the taste of CBD oil, this is the best option for you.
Topical Application
Taking CBD products orally provides a systematic effect on the body, which helps people with sleep issues, anxiety disorders, and other internal problems. If you want to focus on a certain outer body part like a sore back, topical applications are preferred.
Athletes love using CBD topicals and balms for injuries because they target one area and work quickly. Topicals contain different natural and herbal remedies for different types of pain. High-quality topical CBD products reduce inflammation by targeting the CB2 receptors in the body.
How is CBD Absorbed in the Body?
Various ingestion methods allow CBD to be absorbed in the body differently. If you’re taking it sublingually, CBD is able to reach the bloodstream quickly. This is how it provides a systematic effect on the body, which is able to address issues like anxiety and even stop cancer cells from multiplying.
For topical applications, it targets one area of the body and concentrates it there. This makes it great for relieving isolated pains like sore muscles and injuries that cause inflammation.
You can also inhale CBD. With the use of a vaporizer and cartridge like vape pens, you can smoke CBD concentrates with maximum bioavailability absorption.
Arguably, vaping CBD is not the best choice due to safety reasons. Smoking cannabis exposes you to carcinogens and it can actually combust. Additionally, people with asthma or lung problems are not recommended to smoke CBD products of any kind.
What’s Your Time Frame?
Absorption time varies depending on how you take CBD products. Capsules can take up to an hour before working itself completely into your system. The effects, however, last as long as several hours.
Topical creams are absorbed much more slowly into the body. The benefit of this, however, is that it’s applied to a specific region. Once the cream is fully absorbed, the effects can last for hours.
Though not the best way to consume CBD, vaping and smoking them is the quickest way into your body. It goes directly to the bloodstream so you’ll start feeling the effects in less than ten minutes. It is also the most potent since your body is absorbing almost 50 percent of the CBD.
Enhancing Absorption
If you think the absorption time is too slow, don’t worry because there are ways to enhance it.
Taking CBD on an empty stomach actually slows down the process, so it’s best to take it with food. Studies show that eating high-fat foods can increase oral cannabidiol absorption into the body up to 14 times.
For topical creams, mixing it with ethanol can quicken the absorption rate.
Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.