Cannabidiol, aka CBD, is gaining wide popularity all over the country, as well as the world. However, if you haven’t spent much time researching the subject, it can be a big, confusing, and fairly daunting world to dive into.There are all kinds of CBD products from CBD oils to CBD edibles to CBD tinctures and more. This article will be delving into CBD oil tinctures specifically.
What is CBD? What is CBD Oil?
Before we get rolling with specific info about CBD tinctures, let’s get a quick rundown of just what Cannabidiol (CBD) is.
If you already know the basic facts about CBD, then you can go ahead and skip to the next section. For those who don’t, let’s quickly go over some CBD basics…
CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant. Most all commercial CBD products come from the hemp plant. While you can technically extract CBD from marijuana, it is not an ideal source. Industrialized hemp for legal CBD products must contain less than .3 percent (>0.03%) THC.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the component of marijuana that leads to the euphoric feeling of being “high” or “stoned.” CBD, however, will not get you high. Both, hemp and marijuana are a part of the Cannabis plant family. Cannabis may refer to either marijuana (pot, weed, etc) or hemp.
CBD can be extracted in a number of ways using heat, cold pressing, alcohol, as well as other methods. The extraction method is an important factor in distinguishing a CBD tincture from other forms of CBD. So, we won’t get too deep into this factor in this section.
CBD is well known to have a variety of benefits for all kinds of issues within the human body. Some CBD benefits that have been researched with great medical potential include (but are not limited to):
- Ease chronic pain and inflammation from arthritis or other pains in muscles and joints
- Better sleep for those suffering with insomnia and other sleep-related issues
- Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues
- Appetite issues and other digestive problems
- General stress
- Acne
- Seizures from epilepsy
- Cardiovascular health
- Relief from side effects from cancer drugs like chemo (please note that CBD is not a cure for cancer)
- Neuropathic pain
- Neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- And more…
Please remember to always talk with a doctor or proper medical professional about any major lifestyle changes – including the addition of a dietary supplement like CBD oil tinctures – especially if you think you might be suffering with any injury, illness, or condition. Please don’t ever try to diagnose or treat yourself at home. It’s just not worth it. Put your health and well being first, get regular checkups, and keep your doctor in the loop about your lifestyle habits, as well as any concerns you may have regarding your physical, mental, and/or emotional health.
With that being said, you now know some of the basics about CBD, and you’re ready to learn more about CBD tinctures.
What are Tinctures Specifically?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a tincture as “a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.” That seems simple enough, right? Well, there is a bit more to it. So, let’s keep things rolling so that you know all the ins and outs of CBD oil tinctures.
One of the most commonly known aspects of a CBD tincture is that they are extracted using alcohol. The other most basic element is that they are intended for oral use only. They are not meant to be vaped or ingested in any other way. And, they are most often ingested sublingually.
So, what on earth does sublingual mean? It’s pretty simple really. Sublingual ingestion simply means placing a drop (or a few) of your CBD tincture under your tongue. You allow it to sit for a short time (can be 5 to 30 seconds or more). Finally, you swallow the liquid in your mouth for complete oral ingestion.
How are CBD Tinctures Made?
Let’s discuss some more specifics about how CBD oil tinctures are made. CBD tinctures are made using the industrialized hemp plant (or in some cases, marijuana) and alcohol. The plant is soaked in high-proof grain alcohol. Then low levels of heat are applied for significant periods of time.
This process allows many of the compounds within the hemp (or marijuana) to infuse into the “spirit” or liquid that is left over after the alcohol in the rest of the mixture has boiled away. What is left will have a thicker oil-like consistency.
Some people, as well as some manufacturers of CBD oil tinctures, may add other essences or other ingredients at this point. However, a true CBD tincture will contain no additives from here. Then, it would be a CBD oil that uses a CBD tincture as its main ingredient.
CBD Tincture Benefits
The benefits of CBD tinctures are exactly those of CBD in general (please refer to the bullet list above for all of the amazing benefits of CBD tinctures). There are, however, some beneficial advantages to taking CBD in tincture form as opposed to others (depending on your individual needs and preferences). There are quite a few different ways to take CBD. Some of the ways aside from tinctures include:
- Premade CBD edibles such as CBD gummies and/or CBD tea
- Topical use such as CBD pain rub and/or CBD bath bombs
- Vaping CBD oil
One factor with an oral tincture is that they can have slightly more intense effects (depending on the dosage of course) and can be longer-lasting than, say, vaping CBD hemp oil.
Another factor about CBD hemp tinctures that many people prefer is the fact that it is widely deemed as a safer alternative to smoking or vaping CBD – whether you are vaping THC free CBD oil or smoking or vaping medical marijuana. Oral ingestion of the tincture form is generally considered safer for lung and overall health.
How to Make CBD Tinctures at Home
If you want to know how to make a CBD tincture, you can find a plethora of information all over the internet. While you must technically utilize alcohol to extract a tincture, there are a few variations of the process.
Here is the most basic and easy way to make a CBD oil tincture at home:
- Decarboxylate your hemp (optional step) – Decarboxylation helps to enact many of the phytochemicals found within hemp and marijuana before edible use. This helps to have stronger effects from orally ingesting the plant.To decarboxylate hemp or marijuana, simply heat the plant buds over low heat in an oven or similarly dry heat source. Ideal temperatures can vary from person to person.Some decarboxylate at temperatures as low as 100 – 150 degrees F. And others prefer temperatures as high as 250 degrees F or more.One of the most widely agreed upon temperatures for decarboxylation is 220 degrees F.You should decarboxylate cannabis at 220 degrees F for about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Put the decarboxylated marijuana or hemp into a jar, filling it about of the way full. The amount of cannabis you have should determine the size of the jar you use – or, alternatively, if you will need to use more than one jar.
- Add your spirits, making sure to fully cover the cannabis buds. Many prefer to use a high-quality distilled vodka. With some careful research, you can find your preferred alcohol product.
- Store in a cool and dark place for about 6 weeks. You may choose to store it for longer. It won’t go bad and can even get more potent with more time.
- Strain out the buds from the thick mixture that you now have. It should be a deep golden, brownish, or greenish color now. Once the buds are removed, there you have your CBD oil tincture. It’s that simple.
For an alcohol-free tincture, vegetable glycerin may be used in place of the alcohol/spirits. Also, note that you can utilize this process with either hemp or marijuana. Just make sure that you are obeying the laws within your country and state/region. Many people who have medical marijuana prescriptions enjoy making their own tinctures with high CBD strains of marijuana. These, however, do contain high amounts of THC.
CBD Tincture Effects
The effects of a CBD oil tincture can vary from person to person. The effects are generally very calming and relaxing. CBD tinctures can help to ease soreness and stiffness. They can have a variety of effects of different individuals who are experiencing different problems. Your desired effects might be quite different than the next CBD tincture user.
How to Use a CBD Tincture
After making a CBD oil tincture, many people prefer to store them in dropper bottles. If you buy CBD oil tincture for sale online, it’s likely that it will already come in a glass dropper bottle for ease of use and dosage purposes.
Tinctures are often taken sublingually, as mentioned above. Taking a CBD tincture this way helps to enact fast acting results. The veins under your tongue start to absorb the CBD right there, even before you swallow it. Most people drop them under the tongue, keep it there for about 30 seconds, swish the tincture and saliva around, then simply swallow.
Some people, however, simply do not like the taste of CBD oil tinctures, even flavored ones. If this is you, then there are many ways that you can still reap the benefits of these amazing tinctures. They can be mixed into drinks, sauces, dressings, warm cereals, soups, and just about any other food recipes you can think of. There are tons of delicious CBD recipes all over the internet.
CBD Tincture Dosage
CBD oil tincture dosage can vary from person to person, as well as for different needs. If you use CBD tinctures for more than one purpose, your own personal dosage may vary from time to time. Some people take doses as small as 5 mg CBD, while others take large doses of up to 200 mg CBD or more.
One great person to ask about dosage is your doctor. She or he will be able to guide you along the way, monitoring your progress as well as side effects to make sure you are making smart and healthy choices with your CBD tincture dosage.
A clever way to find the right dose is by starting out small and slowly increasing your dose until you reach the recommended dosage. You may not need to take as much as the “average” dose or the recommended dose on the bottle. Start small and work your way up until you get the desired CBD effects. If you start to feel any unwanted CBD side effects, then you know that dosage is too strong for you and can stick with one that delivers benefits without undesirable side effects.
CBD Tincture Side Effects
While side effects are mild and rare with CBD oil tinctures, they can occur. And they can even be too much for some. Potential CBD tincture side effects include:
- Drowsiness and/or fatigue
- Appetite changes
- Diarrhea or constipation
If you experience unwanted CBD side effects, try going back to a smaller dose or mixing your dosage in with some food. Taking CBD on an empty stomach can increase the chances of unwanted side effects.
Alternatively, if you don’t have any side effects at all but are not getting relief, you may simply need to increase your CBD tincture dosage. Run this by your doctor to make sure it’s the right move, but it could be all you need to get relief.
CBD Tincture vs. CBD Oil: Which one is Better?
It’s hard to say which is “better” out of CBD tincture vs CBD oil. Technically, a CBD tincture is a kind of CBD oil. Other CBD oils may be processed differently or have other added ingredients that take them out of the realm of tinctures.
One thing to note is that tinctures are not intended for vaping CBD. If you want to vape CBD oil, then you should purchase or make CBD vape oil that is specifically made to be vaped at high temperatures.
How Do You Know What You’re Getting? What Should You Look For?
If you want to buy CBD tincture for sale online, then you simply need to look for a product that specifically says “tincture.” Or, you can find a product that is used with the alcohol extraction methods you learned about here.
If a CBD oil for sale online is made with this process and has no other added ingredients, then there you have a tincture.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you fully understand what a CBD oil tincture is now, as well as more information like how to take and use CBD tinctures. Remember, tinctures are for oral use only and contain only the plant essences with no added ingredients.
As mentioned above, please always talk with your doctor (or other proper medical professional) about any health concerns you have, as well as any major lifestyle changes you are making or considering – like dietary supplementation with a CBD tincture.
