How to use CBD oil – A Guide for Beginners

The skin is our largest organ and has many cannabinoid receptors. Therefore, cannabis products such as CBD ointments and creams are used to treat skin problems. Also, in treating the joint pains and other issues, CBD is applied externally to the skin to get from there to the affected areas.

It is also very popular to use CBD orally and topically in combination. Topical CBD products such as ointments, creams and balms are available in various CBD concentrations based on various carriers. In addition, the products may have been blended with other supplemental herbal essences.

How can you use CBD oil topicals?

• Topical CBD products are only intended to be used on the skin as it contains other ingredients that are not suitable for oral use. Apply the desired amount to the relevant area of the skin. Let it act without washing it off.
• CBD can be applied to the skin both as a cream and as a concentrate or tincture. When you apply CBD Concentrate to the skin, you do not need to apply as much as the cream because of the higher concentration of CBD. Due to its gluey texture, it will adhere very well to the skin and if the CBD oil has a dark color, it will give a stain. Just leave it on as long as possible. If necessary, you can easily remove the remaining concentrate with edible oil from the skin.

How to use CBD Oil Capsules & Pills

CBD In capsules or in the form of a pill is not as popular as the tinctures or concentrates, but these are very often used by people who cannot stand the taste of CBD oil. Because the CBD oil is packaged in capsules, the taste buds never come into contact with the unique taste of the CBD oil.

For many it is also the dosage that represents a reason to use CBD in capsules. Since these are offered in uniform sizes, such as 15,25,50,75 and 100mg per capsule.

The use of capsules has pros and cons, as far as the effect is concerned. The advantage is that when CBD is taken through the gastrointestinal tract, the effect of cannabinoids such as CBD is the longest of all possible uses.

The effect can last for up to 10 hours, while for sublingual use the duration of action is 4-5 hours. The disadvantage is that it takes a long time before the onset of the effect. It can take between 1-2 hours for the effect of CBD to be felt.

In addition, the bioavailability of CBD is lowest when taken orally (capsules, edibles). Which means that less of the absorbed CBD can actually be utilized by the body. Therefore, the capsules are also offered with relatively high levels of CBD to compensate for this disadvantage.

How can you use CBD oil capsules & Pills?

• Basically, capsules are intended for oral use. Take the desired amount either on an empty stomach with a glass of water or an hour before and after a meal. If the CBD capsule does not enter the body with food then more CBD can be absorbed through the intestine.
• Theoretically, you can also take the contents out of the capsules and use them as an oil or concentrate sublingually or topically.

The bioavailability of CBD products

* The bioavailability describes how much of the CBD the body can actually use.

In the following, we show you the differences between the different CBD product types with regard to duration of effect, onset of action and bioavailability.

• Sublingual with CBD drops, tinctures and pastes: High bioavailability, medium duration of action and fast to medium onset of action.
• Vaporizing of CBD: Very fast onset of action, high bioavailability but the shortest duration of action.
• Orally with CBD capsules, pills and edibles: Medium bioavailability, slow onset of action and the longest duration of action.

What is the best way to take CBD?

As you can see, you can take CBD as an oil, which can come in the form of capsules, pre-made edibles, or as it is, added to the foods and drinks you consume daily.

It is worth knowing that CBD oil is extracted through a variety of ways, the CO₂ extraction method being the one you should prefer the most because it is the cleanest and most efficient.

This doesn’t mean that the others methods don’t work, but, in case of solvent use, such as butane, toxic residues can be left behind if the process is not performed with maximum attention.

You can also use CBD in the shape of a tincture, which allows you to put a few drops directly in your mouth, under your tongue, or in your food and drinks. This form is quite appreciated by many people, as it is a discreet way of taking CBD, even in public spaces.

There are varieties of CBD oil that are specially made for vaping pens, a method ideal if you want to enjoy the effects of CBD in a very fast manner. And don’t worry, vaping CBD does not have the same unwanted side-effects as smoking.

If you are not sure if this method is for you, do know that there are disposable vaping pens, with a limited number of uses, just in case you want to try it out before deciding.

Sublingual sprays, just like tinctures, were meant to be used discreetly, by pulverizing the product under your tongue. They can be found with varying amounts of CBD content, depending on the desired effects, representing a fast and easy way to get the treatment you need.

And, finally, if you experience muscle and joint pains, you can opt for using topical CBD products, which are made to be used externally, by applying them on the skin, directly on the painful spot.

They are created and used due to their pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, helping people that suffer from conditions like arthritis.

How much CBD to use in a dose?

How much CBD should you take? This is a question that pops into the mind of people that never experienced CBD before. CBD works well in a wide range of health problems, but there is no standard dosage when it comes to treatment.

We are all different and so are our bodies, so you are the only one that can properly adjust the doses until you find the right one, according to the way you feel and how you would like to feel.

For starters, you should be taking small doses of CBD and observe what is happening. Instead of taking one big dose, split it into smaller doses throughout the day, taking them as needed. Keep the same schedule and doses for a few days in a row, to really tell if the plan is working in your case.

If you don’t get the desired results, you can adjust the dose by slightly increasing it, but, again, don’t overdo it, as adjusting it slightly works best in the case of CBD. This is because small doses can act as stimulants, while large doses can be sedatives, so you really need to keep an eye on your evolution.

CBD extracted from hemp and cannabis

If you’re interested in using CBD oil, it is worth knowing that it can be extracted both from hemp (cannabis sativa) and marihuana plants.

CBD oil extracted from hemp is legal even in the areas where cannabis is not accepted by the local laws, due to the fact that the THC content is extremely low and, therefore, negligible.

Full extracted CBD from the cannabis/hemp plant is of a better quality and concentration, mainly because it contains complementary cannabinoids.

Because it contain all other cannabinoids that are present in the particular strain as well.

These extra cannabinoids bring extra benefits, which is known as the entourage effect, making this particular oil more potent when it comes to its therapeutic effects.

This only applies when comparing isolated CBD with full spectrum CBD oil. Hemp (Cannabis sativa), however, like marijuana, offers a full spectrum of cannabinoids such as CBD, CBC, CBN etc.

Full extracted CBD & isolated CBD

The main difference is in the THC content, which does not exceed the limits for the hemp varieties used. Of course, depending on the hemp (cannabis) varieties, the cannabinoid content can also be very different.

It cannot be denied that THC also has therapeutic efficacy for specific conditions. For those who have chosen THC as a useful therapeutic agent, CBD oil can be an alternative. For others THC cannot be replaced by CBD.

Still, if you know that cannabis is not legal in the country or state where you live, getting CBD oil extracted from marijuana may get you in trouble. On the other hand, CBD from hemp is more accessible from this point of view, and you will get the health benefits of this particular oil for sure.

Are Isolated CBD products better than whole plant extract CBD oil?

Many people are tempted to believe that products that contain CBD only are the best, thinking that using just CBD alone is a more effective treatment. While products that contain single-molecule CBD, meaning that you won’t find any other compounds, are already provided as medicines, they are not exactly more efficient than whole plant extract CBD oil, when it comes to therapeutic effects.

It was determined that a synthetic CBD molecule used all by itself is not that efficient as a treatment. A patient needs high and very precise doses of this kind of product in order to feel the desired effects and, even so, this treatment cannot be applied but in a very limited number of cases.

On the other hand, the CBD-rich plant extract is needed in rather small doses to provide an increased therapeutic effect in a wide range of health problems

Are there any side-effects triggered by CBD?

CBD is an extremely safe substance and will produce some minor side-effects on very rare occasions and only if the dose is too high for a particular patient. But, if you are already following a particular treatment, it is recommended that you talk with your doctor before starting to use CBD, to avoid any unwanted interactions.