When a person shops for CBD products, it’s quite easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many products available on the market today, and they all come in different milligram strengths, terpene profiles, and more. To make matters more confusing to newbies, there are numerously unique delivery methods on the market, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you.
If you’re having a hard time figuring out the right delivery method for your needs, allow us to help. We will be discussing what each delivery method does, how it affects you, how it absorbs into the body and why it might be the right choice for you.
What is a Delivery Method and Why Does it Matter?
The delivery method refers to the method of absorption. When we consume or apply hemp, it’s absorbing into the body so that the compounds can become activated. But, how it absorbs depends on how you take it.
The delivery method doesn’t just determine the part of the body into which the CBD and other hemp compounds absorb. It determines the onset time, the length of activation within the system, the potency level at which the CBD is felt and so much more. Further, it can have a lot to do with how much you actually enjoy the experience of taking CBD each day. This is why choosing the proper method is important, and you can’t make the right choice without understanding how each one works.
Vaping
This is an extremely popular option, and it’s easy to understand why. Vaping CBD is a quick and easy absorption method, as the compounds can become active within the system in just a couple of minutes due to the nature of the lung tissue. This means that vaping CBD is great for those moments when you need a quick hemp fix.
Vaping CBD allows you to experience the effects of hemp quickly, as well as potently. Know that this experience is short-lived, because the hemp is broken down by the body within about an hour or so.
There are many different CBD vaping products on the market, making it great for those who like to customize their experience. There are CBD disposable e-cigs, which consist of a battery and a cartridge that’s pre-attached and pre-filled with CBD-infused e-liquid. This is the most user-friendly option, as no maintenance of technological knowledge is really required.
Then, there are pre-filled cartridges which are attached to a device that can be reused regularly. This requires some maintenance, as the device itself must be charged regularly, and needs to be cleaned on a fairly regular basis as well.
There are also CBD e-liquids that are sold by the bottle and are poured into refillable cartridges or tanks that attach themselves to vaping devices.
CBD vaping products come in a wide range of flavors, milligram strengths, and terpene profiles.
Tinctures
CBD tinctures are another extremely popular delivery method. They can also be called “CBD oil” or “hemp oil” as they’re simply a formula consisting of, at the minimum, hemp extract and a carrier oil. Tinctures are intended to be taken sublingually. This means that the formula is poured under the tongue and held there for about a minute, which allows the compounds to quickly absorb through the sublingual tissue. Then, what’s left over is swallowed.
CBD tinctures are popular largely because of the fact that they can take effect in a relatively short period of time and provide effects for a handful of hours. CBD tinctures can activate in as little as 15 minutes and can be felt rather potently in the system.
Furthermore, tinctures come in a wide range of flavors, which also makes them appealing. While many unflavored options exist, flavored tinctures are great for those who want another reason to look forward to taking their daily dose.
CBD oils come in a wide variety of milligram strengths, which is great for those who are particular about the potency level that they consume. They’re easy to portion out in terms of dosage, as they come in dropper bottles, and one dropper’s worth typically reflects a single dose. They also come in different extract forms, meaning that you can easily find full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate options.
Another thing about hemp oils is that they’re extremely versatile. Due to the simple formulas, they can be used as more than just sublingual products. They can be used as topicals, and they can be added to food, and even incorporated into recipes.
Topicals
CBD topicals refer to CBD products that are applied directly to the skin of an affected area, instead of taken internally. They come in all kinds of formulas, including salves, balms, creams, gels, body oils, and even lotions. What they all have in common is that they are rich in CBD, and the cannabinoid absorbs easily and quickly through the layers of the skin. Topicals are commonly used for muscular pain as well as skin-related problems.
CBD topicals are unique from other delivery methods in a number of ways:
- They supply the area of application with a concentrated amount of hemp compounds, rather than dispersing those compounds throughout the body.
- Their effects are mostly limited to the area onto which the product was applied.
- Can be used multiple times each day.
- Tend to take effect very quickly while lasting for a long period of time.
Edibles
This refers to any product that is ingested. The most popular form is gummies, although other options exist, such as savory snacks, dried fruits, and more! Some consider hemp-based capsules and beverages as part of this category as well.
CBD edibles allow users to enjoy a consistent dose of hemp, as each piece contains a particular number of milligrams of hemp extract. Of course, edibles are also popular because they’re tasty. Who doesn’t like eating gummy candies while taking their daily dose of CBD?
Edibles come in a range of milligram strengths, which allows users to decide how potent they want their CBD experience to be each day. They also have the longest onset period, as the compounds in hemp must first work through the body’s digestive system and be properly processed by the liver before being released into the bloodstream. It can take between one and two hours for the CBD to take effect.
Once it has taken effect, it can feel very subtle in the system compared to other methods. But those effects can last for several hours after administration, which makes edibles popular among those dealing with chronic circumstances that need to be managed daily.
Why It’s Okay to Experiment with All of the Above
So, which option is right for you? Well, there’s no right answer. What we suggest is that you experiment with different methods, as this will allow you to find the one that most agrees with your body and suits your needs. Also, it’s perfectly fine to take two different methods in one day, and many people find that doubling up on methods helps them achieve their goals.
For a Successful CBD Experience on Your Terms, Choosing a Proper Delivery Method is Essential
As you can see, no single delivery method is objectively superior to the rest. It comes down to what you happen to prefer, and what works best with the needs of your body. Explore each method listed above and decide which one you’d like to invest in. Also, be open to experimenting with all of them if you wish to experience CBD in a variety of ways.
