The cannabidiol market, or the CBD market as it is better known, is like the Wild West right now. Products are everywhere and cover so much ground that it's hard to keep up. If you're trying to dive, either head first or just a gentle wading rather than a dive, where the hell do you start?
You can start right here, with the data you need to make an informed decision – from the types of CBD available to the ways you can get that sweet and sweet CBD into your body.
The types of CBD you can take
Full spectrum
Full Spectrum CBD Oil, like Pure Relief, contains all of the compounds found in the hemp plant. Aside from cannabidiol, this includes things like terpenes , flavonoids, and other cannabinoids (CBD is one, and high-induction THC is another (up to 0.3% allowed), but there are a wide range of lesser-known varieties).
Research suggests that compounds in the cannabis plant work best when combined; a synergistic benefit called the entourage effect. Therefore, full-spectrum mixtures might technically be the most favorable per milligram compared to broad-spectrum and isolated mixtures.
Spread spectrum
Broad spectrum CBD should remove all THC but retain some terpenes and / or other cannabinoids. This compromise allows the entourage effect to continue to take place to some extent.
The exact mix and concentration of compounds are up to the manufacturer, so you'll want to review independent lab results if possible. That is a good place to start for any CBD product you are considering!
Isolate
CBD isolate is cannabidiol that has been extracted from everything else. It is as pure as it seems. But since that synergistic support has been removed, a dose of CBD isolate may not seem equivalent to its full or broad spectrum counterpart.
You may or may find that to be the case if you need to change the formula. Remember, though, that isolation doesn't perform worse than full or broad spectrum, it just works a little differently.
Choosing the best way to take CBD for your needs
Sublingual absorption
What it is: Sublingual CBD oil is basically the CBD oil that we are all familiar with and has an alcohol or oil base. It comes in small tincture bottles and is usually squeezed into your mouth with a dropper.
How it works: Instead of swallowing right away, hold the CBD oil under your tongue or swish it around your mouth (mouth-soak) for about a minute. The blood vessel-rich tissue in the mouth absorbs some of the CBD directly into the bloodstream.
Why choose it: CBD has the ability to quickly pass into the bloodstream to start working. It will affect the entire body systemically, can last up to six hours, and helps provide cumulative support over time.
Why not: most of the time, all the CBD doesn't dissolve. You still have to swallow or swallow it, so most of it will go the slower route of oral ingestion. And since it's sitting in your mouth, you may need to turn to flavored CBD oils to digest it, although we do offer refreshing mint!
Oral ingestion
What it is: All kinds of groceries. Basically anything you have to swallow. Vitamin-like CBD gummies or capsules; CBD chocolate or chewy candies (CBD suckers that you can get some mouth-absorbing from); any CBD-infused food and drink; the oil that you just had in your mouth for a minute.
How it works: You eat or drink the CBD, and it makes its way to your digestive tract where it will be metabolized and eventually released into the bloodstream. This is a common absorption method for many medications. It will work more effectively if your stomach is not empty – CBD breaks down and dissolves into fats and lipids.
Why Choose It: This is an extremely easy way to get your CBD. The effects will last around 6 hours. It will affect the entire body systemically and help provide cumulative support over time.
Additionally, oral ingestion is also excellent for promoting a sense of calm in pets. Technically, you could try putting CBD for pets, like Pure Relief's 20mg / ml formula, under your tongues, but turning it into an edible solution may be easier.
Why not: it lasts a long time because its effect is very slow; think 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The first pass metabolism means that a fraction of what you eat is inactivated before reaching the blood. This metabolization occurs in the liver, so drug-alcohol interactions must be taken into account.
Topical (dermal) absorption
What it is: CBD products that are placed on the outside of your body. Mainly relief creams, lotions, salves, balms, or ointments. But also CBD-infused lip balm or skincare and novelty products like bath bombs.
How it works: Cannabidiol is absorbed by contact with the skin for a localized effect. Unless specifically designed to do so, very little, a negligible amount, is reaching bloodstream levels.
Why Choose It: Pets Can Use CBD Topicals Too! Topicals made for pets are another sure way to give your furry friend some relief, like abrasions or irritated skin.
Going back to humans, CBD Topicals Capsule can still provide quick, targeted relief when and where you need it. It is good for pain, tenderness, soreness, and inflammation. Almost universally, CBD topical blends also contain other known calming ingredients and essential oils. Our Pure Relief CBD cream contains camphor, lavender and aloe, for example.
Why not: to feel the effects of CBD in particular, you'll want a high-strength product and apply it generously, but that can be more expensive than traditional relief topicals. Some people dislike the greasiness of topicals made primarily from oil. There is no cumulative effect over time and no support for the whole body.
Inhalation
What it is: If you can smoke it, they will come. Think of vape pens and e-cigarettes, with CBD cartridges or vape juice or e-liquid. Please note that CBD vape oil is different from regular CBD oil, which cannot be poured into a vape pen for smoking as it is too thick and does not produce vapor. Natural CBD Hemp Joints and Unrolled Hemp CBD Flower are available to traditionalists.
How it works: CBD passes into the lungs and from there is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. There is no downside to first-pass metabolism here, it's more like sublingual in that sense.
Why choose it: As sublingual but much better. Inhalation provides results in minutes and has a high absorption rate, so you will get most of what you are taking. Similar to a topical, you can smoke when you need to for relief, but like ingestion, that feeling is more pervasive.
Why not: swift action, swift pass. The effects of inhalation wear off well within an hour and it doesn't really offer much cumulative support over time on its own. If you don't smoke or vape yet, there is no point starting just for the quick benefits of CBD. And of course all the usual concerns about smoking and vaping still apply.
Other Tips on the Best Ways to Take CBD Oil
Can I take too much CBD?
Scientifically speaking, no. Studies suggest an upper limit of 1500mg / day, but realistically, it is not a concern to exceed it.
That said, you can take too much CBD in terms of your body in particular. It may have high sensitivity and low tolerance, or reach a point where taking more will not offer any discernible benefit. This is why it is always recommended to start with the lowest effective dose possible (a guessing game in itself), see how it affects you, and then work your way up from there if necessary.
Is there a better time to take CBD oil?
The best time to take a CBD supplement is at the same time each day. For twice a day, 12 hours apart, your CBD levels should keep your CBD levels fairly consistent. The routine is not only helpful in remembering to take it, but it also sets your body's internal clock.
Do you take CBD to help you sleep or a formula that specifically contains melatonin? Before bed is better obviously an hour to 30 minutes before.
And if you're taking CBD orally, a meal soon after is ideal. A full stomach helps break down CBD. For a sublingual CBD, eating first ensures that the capillaries in your mouth see increased blood flow (whatever you chew and chew, gum could have a similar effect), which positively affects absorption.
How much CBD is really in this?
The strengths of CBD products are sometimes a bit confusing. They are often listed for full content rather than individual portions. A 500mg bag of gummies doesn't contain gummies that are a whopping 500mg each. Fortunately, how to calculate CBD content is easy.
For edibles, divide the total amount of CBD by the total amount of edibles. If that 500mg bag contains 10 pieces, each has a relatively strong CBD concentration of 50mg. Pure Relief 900mg gummies are a 30 count, with a moderate 30mg per gummy.
For oils, divide the total amount of CBD by the size of the bottle in milliliters (mg / ml), since approximately 1 ml is a standard dose (one full dropper). Larger bottles with higher total CBD may be equal to smaller bottles with “lower” CBD; you will have to check the list or do the division to confirm the actual power.
Pure Relief's packaging shows the concentration of our CBD oil per serving rather than the entire contents of the bottle, making it easy to identify how much you will get with each dose. A great benefit of oil tinctures is that you can fully customize how much or how little you take in a single serving as they are not portioned like edibles.
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