Cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, is probably the most exciting frontier in medical cannabis research due to its low potential for abuse, lack of a strong psychoactive effect, and a wide host of benefits. Generally speaking, CBD oils are taken in one of four ways: ingestion, sublingual, topical, and inhalation. In this article, we’ll explore these four methods briefly.C
Ingestion
This is the most common and least complicated way to get a dose of CBD. Ingestible CBD can take the form of beverages, capsules, and edibles. They can be incorporated in coffee, tea, baked goods and pastries, and virtually any type of food and beverage.
They work in your body the same way as regular food and ingested medicines, by taking a path through your digestive system before eventually being broken down in your liver. From the liver, the resulting chemical compounds are then distributed throughout your body through your blood circulatory system. Compared to the other methods, feeling the effects from ingestion may take significantly longer due to the longer path the compounds have to take.
Sublingual
While often confused with ingestion, this is a different method altogether. In ingestion, the CBD compounds have to take a long path into the bloodstream through your digestive system. Sublingual products are able to skip your digestive system by going through the mucous membranes under your tongue and from there, into your bloodstream and your endocannabinoid system. This method is preferred if an immediate effect is needed.
This method can be used with pure CBD oil, though more often sublingual intake is done with special tinctures that make it easier to hold under the tongue for longer periods, instead of being swallowed.
Topical
One of the more interesting types of CBD-based medicines are topical and can be applied directly to the skin to affect a specific area without entering the bloodstream. This can be critical for those who may need to drive or operate heavy machinery.
Topical CBD treatments include a wide assortment of lotions and other personal care products. There are even topical CBD products meant specifically for hair and skin care, including shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body wash, aftershave lotions, and more.
Inhalation Options
CBD can also be consumed through inhalation, most typically through vape pens. This method is even faster than sublingual application as it allows the active compounds to almost directly enter your bloodstream through your lungs. Unlike traditional smoking, vape pens vaporize rather than combust CBD oil, which vastly reduces the number of harmful compounds that could enter your lungs.
Vaping is vastly safer compared to smoking, though not without its risks. However, these risks can be managed quite easily with the use of good quality vape pens and CBD e-liquids sourced from reputable dealers. It’s also important to not tamper with your vape pens and use extreme caution when making any modifications to avoid injury during use.
Thanks to the variety of intake methods, patients will find that there are CBD oil products suited for a wide range of lifestyles and preferences. Be sure to consult with your doctor to find out which method may be best for you.
