The increasing popularity of CBD oil has brought into attention to the efficiency of several techniques and tools meant to facilitate its consumption. However, since this is a new market, ways to consume CBD oil are still developing.
What is known for sure is that the CBD oil helps with the regulation of human body homeostasis (natural balance) and many researchers proved the important benefits this treatment has in fighting illnesses such as anxiety, epilepsy, chronic pain, depression or even cancer.
The CBD oil can be used sublingual (under the tongue), through ingestion, inhalation, and with the help of the topical or transdermal application. The consumption techniques impact the absorption of CBD oil in the body, and, implicitly, the longevity of its effects. Here is what you should know before deciding how to consume this oil for best results.
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What Is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is obtained from the cannabis sativa plant. The plant has more than 113 cannabinoids discovered so far. Of these, cannabidiol (CBD) is the main compound in cannabis oil, counting for over 40% of the total plant extract.
The resulting product does not have tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in its composition (the psychoactive substance that gives that state of euphoria), being perfectly legal and already marketed in more than 40 countries around the world.
Due to its antipsychotic effects, the CBD oil is now used as a treatment for various medical diseases such as epilepsy, anorexia, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and cancer treatment-related side effects.
This oil can ease pain and regulate blood pressure. Moreover, ongoing studies research the effect of CBD on eliminating or decreasing some types of cancerous cells and, also, in preventing diabetes.
The lack of clear regulation in this respect is partly due to the novelty of this product. Therefore, in order to buy an efficient product, it is good to know that the safest and most environmentally friendly way to get pure cannabidiol is through CO2-based extraction at low temperatures.
What Happens When You Consume CBD Oil or Benefits of CBD Oil
In order to be effective on certain symptoms, the CBD oil must be absorbed within the body. Once entered in the bloodstream, the cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) but, also, with some non-cannabinoid receptors, such as the vanilloid (TRPV-1) and serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors.
The CB1 and CB2 receptors are responsible for the modulation of pain, inflammation or the well-functioning of the immune system. The vanilloid receptor plays an important role in regulating the body’s temperature, while the serotonin receptor is involved in cognition and emotional regulation.
Regarding CBD consumption, there are different ways of using it. However, the effect of each consumption method is very likely to differ from individual to individual. No matter for what purposes the CBD oil is used, different application methods are available to meet individual needs and preferences.
5 Best Ways to Consume CBD Oil
1.CBD Oil Ingestion.
Some people prefer to take CBD oil with food, beverages or in the form of capsules to be swallowed. This oil and tinctures are known as “CBD edibles” and can be bought under the form of a CBD oil – based product ready to be ingested.
Furthermore, another popular method involves adding CBD oil, by itself, in foods and beverages belonging to any type of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
When using CBD oil ingestion, the effect of this oil depends on the user’s period of digestion. In order to reach the blood and then the receptors, this substance needs to be digested first. For oils, the average period of digestion is approximately 3 hours.
2. Sublingual Administration of CBD Oil.
This administration technique requires the sublingual products (CBD tinctures, dissolving crystals, sprays) to be placed in the mouth, under the tongue. Tissues, found in the mouth, will absorb the cannabinoids and diffuse these into the blood.
At this point, the CBD is transported very rapidly to the brain and is dispersed throughout the body, the effects being felt within 20 to 40 minutes.
3. CBD Oil Inhalation.
Unlike the other techniques, the inhalation requires an additional tool: a vape pen. The substance is heated, reaching a certain temperature without burning, as is the case of smoking.
The effects of vaping CBD are almost immediate, as the vapor is absorbed rapidly through alveoli located in the lungs. Among all methods, this is the fastest way to get CBD into your bloodstream.
4. Topical Administration of CBD Oil.
The method involves products such as CBD oil, lotions containing CBD, ointments, and CBD oil-based creams. People suffering from muscle pain, arthritis, and inflammation can benefit from topical products.
The skin has low permeability; therefore, the CBD will not disperse in the blood but will interact with endocannabinoid receptors, located under the skin, once it breaks the dermal barrier.
For this reason, topical administration requires larger amounts of ointments in order to be effective. Once it penetrates the skin, CBD’s effect takes place, on average, in an hour.
5. Transdermal CBD Oil Patches.
The transdermal administration requires CBD skin patches which are usually infused with CBD oil or tinctures. In comparison to topical application, these adhesive patches are able to better penetrate the skin barrier and disperse the CBD within your bloodstream. The effects last around 4 to 6 hours.
Final Thoughts
The CBD oil is a natural compound extracted from cannabis sativa plants. Unlike THC, this cannabinoid does not give any psychotic effects once consumed in any of the 5 ways presented. As long as the chosen CBD oil-based products do not contain THC, the CBD itself does not give addiction. One of such products is CBD water which you can find if you visit Feeloki.com.
In biochemistry, the cannabis plant is known as a hyper-battery. This means that, after cultivation, the plant absorbs everything that is found in the environment. That is why it is important to make sure that the plants, from which the extraction was made, came from organic farming that does not use pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
The soil is, also, an important factor in the purity of CBD oil. If the plant from which it was extracted was grown on heavy metal-rich soil, this would decrease its purity, reducing the efficiency of the oil.