If you walk into your local health shop or browse CBD online, you’ll notice that CBD products come in a range of different forms. CBD capsules, pills, vape pens, gummies, topicals, skincare products, and even CBD-infused edibles and beverages are all common forms of CBD. One of the most popular CBD delivery methods is CBD oil. Here are pros and cons of CBD oil — and everything you need to know about the benefits and drawbacks of using CBD oil in your daily routine.
Each type of CBD product (or “delivery method” as they’re often called) has its own advantages and disadvantages. Different people prefer different delivery methods depending on their needs. Note: CBD tinctures are different than CBD oils.
The Advantages of CBD oil
CBD oil is a super popular delivery method—and for good reason. Not only is it easy to find (it’s one of the most common CBD products you’ll find in a store or online), it’s also quite easy to use, fast-acting, and highly bioavailable when compared to other methods.
Pro #1: CBD Oil Acts Fast
Compared to edibles, capsules, and beverages, CBD oil works quite fast. This is because, when you use it properly, it doesn’t need to go through your entire digestive system before it hits your bloodstream.
Normally, the best way to use CBD oil is as follows:
- Drop CBD oil underneath your tongue.
- Hold it there for about 60 seconds. This allows it to be absorbed into the capillaries in your mouth.
- Swallow
Be sure to follow the directions on the label or your doctor’s recommendations.
When using CBD this way, many people start to feel a difference within a few minutes, although it might take about 45 minutes before you feel its full effect. Your weight, metabolism, and unique biology all affect how fast CBD works.
Also Read: Want CBD without the THC? Here are the Seven Best Pure CBD Oil products
Pro #2: CBD Oil is More Bioavailable than Edibles
Because edibles need to go through your digestive system, they can be a little less effective.
This is because, through digestion, some of the CBD is “lost.” Instead of entering your bloodstream where it can get to work some of it is, um, expelled the usual way.
When taken correctly, 10mg of CBD oil can be more effective than a 10mg edible or capsule.
Pro #3: CBD Oil is Convenient
Using CBD oil is as easy as adding a few drops of oil under your tongue every day. While this isn’t as simple as, say, swallowing a CBD capsule, it’s still pretty easy.
The convenience of CBD oil means that it literally takes seconds to add CBD oil to your daily routine. You can use it in the morning or at night: while some people find that it makes them sleepy, others find CBD energizing, so feel free to alternate the time of day you take it!
Also Read: Three pros and three cons of CBD capsules
The drawbacks of CBD oil
Although many people love using CBD oil as a delivery method, there are a few drawbacks. It’s important to be aware of these drawbacks before making a purchase.
Con #1: Working Out the Dosage can be Hard
If you don’t have a mind for math, calculating how much CBD you should take can be tricky.
Some CBD companies counteract this confusion by explaining the dosage clearly on the packaging, but others do not. For example, the packaging might only state how much CBD there is in the entire bottle.
Let’s say there’s 500mg in a 30ml bottle. In this case, there will be 16.6mg of CBD in each milliliter of oil. Most people don’t realize that one full dropper is normally one milliliter; a “drop” of oil can be anything from 0.1 to 0.01 of a milliliter.
See what I mean? It’s a lot of math — enough to make you throw in the towel and buy CBD capsules instead.
However, if you’re prepared to sit with a calculator for a few minutes, it can be super rewarding.
Con #2: It Doesn’t always Taste Great
Some CBD oils have a herby, cannabis-like taste. While some people don’t mind this taste, it’s really off-putting for others.
The good news is that many companies offer flavored CBD oil. This flavoring masks the natural taste of CBD extract.
It’s important to find a CBD oil that you can tolerate, especially since it may need to be under your tongue for around 60 seconds every day!
Con #3: CBD Oil isn’t Actually that Versatile
You might have heard of people mixing CBD oil into juice, smoothies, or coffee.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually work. As science class taught us, oil and water don’t mix. So, if you add CBD oil to your beverage, it will usually float on the top—pretty unappetising!
Mixing CBD with beverages also means that, when you drink it, it will lose the benefits of its fast-acting properties and will be less bioavailable. The CBD will get into your body, but it won’t have the benefits of working quickly and effectively because it has to travel through your digestive system.
There’s one exception to this rule against mixing: nano CBD. A nanoemulsion is when an oil is processed so that the molecules are very, very tiny. Because the molecules are so small, they can be mixed more easily into water. Nanoemulsions are often found in creamers, milks, vinaigrettes, and other everyday liquids.
Nano CBD is normally very bioavailable and fast-working.
Most pre-made CBD beverages use nanotechnology to mix CBD into their drinks. Nano CBD can also be normally bought on its own as an oil, which you can use the same way you use normal CBD. You can also add it to your beverages.
The Pros and Cons of CBD Oil Conclusion
Being aware of the pros and cons of CBD oil, and all the different delivery methods can help you choose the best one. While CBD oil works well for many people, you might find that another delivery method might be more suited to your lifestyle.
If you’re not sure which delivery method is best for you, don’t be afraid to try different types. Your doctor may recommend that you try to purchase smaller amounts of CBD product to test it for yourself.
If you need more guidance when it comes to buying and using CBD, we recommend speaking to a CBD-friendly doctor. Your doctor can help you figure out if CBD is the best bet for you, which brand to use, and what dosage is suitable for your condition.
Sian Ferguson is a freelance writer based in Cape Town, South Africa and she has written for publications such as Healthline, Greatist, and Psych Central to name a few.
