Types of CBD Products and Their Qualities
The CBD market is flooded with different products. Brands have managed to add CBD to nearly everything, from moisturizing lotions and salves to gummy bears and cookies. Without understanding what you’re looking at, deciding which CBD product to choose isn’t easy.
To help clear the air on the wide variety of different CBD products available, I’m going to go over some of the more popular ones on the market, to help you decide which one is the right one for you.
CBD Tinctures
When most people think of CBD oil, it’s usually in the form of CBD tinctures or drops. CBD tinctures are CBD-infused liquids sold usually in glass dropper bottles. CBD tinctures come in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate preparations, each with their own pros and cons.
CBD tinctures can either be taken sublingually or swallowed. Sublingual means that you apply a few drops of CBD underneath your tongue. As sublingual CBD doesn’t have to pass through your digestive system, it works in as few as 15 minutes.
Swallowed CBD tincture, on the other hand, has to pass through your digestive system, before being absorbed by your liver. Because of this, swallowed CBD takes a little longer to begin working.
CBD taken sublingually lasts between 2 and 4 hours, while simply swallowing it produces effects that last between 4 and 6 hours.
CBD Edibles and Capsules
Edibles are another popular form of CBD. CBD edibles are made with varying amounts of CBD, and come in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate varieties.
You’ll find all different kinds of edible CBD products, including:
- Gummies
- Baked goods
- Hard candies
- Chocolates
- Infused beverages
CBD also comes in the form of pills and capsules, which are usually more affordable than their food-like counterparts.
CBD edibles and capsules aren’t as fast-acting as tinctures since they have to be digested. They take up to an hour to begin working, though their effects last up to 4 and 6 hours.
CBD Vapes and Smokable Flower
CBD vape products are similar to e-cigarettes, though instead of being filled with nicotine, they’re filled with CBD. CBD vape devices will usually include a rechargeable battery that you can attach a pre-filled cartridge to, that’s easily carried around for on-the-go use.
CBD vapes are great for people looking to simulate the activity of smoking while enjoying the effects of CBD. Since you don’t have to digest CBD when you vape it, it works very quickly, making them a great option for people who need fast relief from things like pain or anxiety.
CBD flower is the actual flowers or buds of the hemp plant, which is what CBD oil is extracted from. CBD flower can be smoked in the form of a cigarette or joint, packed into a bowl, or even vaporized.
Inhaled CBD, whether smoked or vaped, works quickly. Its effects don’t last as long as other products and usually wear off within an hour or so.
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals include lotions, balms, salves which can be applied directly to your skin. This makes CBD topicals great for applying to problem areas, such as a patch of itchy skin, or achy joints and muscles.
CBD topicals work a little differently from other CBD products in that they interact with cannabinoid receptors directly within your skin, instead of being metabolized by your liver.
CBD topicals start working fast, and last upwards of 5 hours, which makes them a great option for those looking for long-lasting pain relief.
Wrapping Up
Now that you have a better understanding of the different CBD products out there, deciding which to buy shouldn’t be so complicated. With the exception of CBD topicals offering potential localized pain relief, CBD products produce basically the same results.
Results vary from person to person, so it’s best to try a few to find which CBD product works best for you. In general:
- If you want a product that works fast, sublingual CBD tinctures and vapes are your best option
- If you’re looking for a longer-lasting effect, topicals and edibles are preferable