A Guide to the Types of CBD

Did you know that more than 33% of people in the United States alone have used a CBD product at least once in the past? CBD is currently more popular than ever and its popularity is only continuing to soar as more and more people discover how beneficial it is. CBD is also unique because it comes in many different forms and types. 

But because there are so many different types of CBD, you might be wondering which type is the best one. Is one type necessarily better than the other, or are they all more or less the same? More than that, how can you effectively use each type?

Keep reading and learn more about the CBD types and uses below. 

What You Need to Know About CBD Gummies

Out of all the different types of CBD products on the market, CBD gummies are by far one of the most popular options, and for a good reason. There are many benefits of using CBD gummies in contrast to other CBD products. For one, taking CBD gummies is very easy and you don’t need to worry very much about the dosage at all. 

This is because CBD gummies should carefully list the CBD concentration in each gummy. The packaging should also describe the right amount to take based on your body weight or other characteristics. While taking too much CBD isn’t dangerous, you could experience some unpleasant side effects such as nausea or dizziness. 

As long as you take the right amount of gummies recommended on the gummy’s packaging, then you should be fine. Most types of gummies will only require you to take one or two to reap the full benefits of CBD. However, there are some very strong gummies of which you only need to take one. 

CBD gummies are quite versatile and come in all sorts of different flavors and shapes. Many of them are designed to look and taste a lot like candy. While this can be tempting to eat many of them in one sitting, it is important to remember that you should only consume the recommended serving size if you want to avoid any CBD side effects. 

The only downside of CBD gummies is that they can take some time to kick in. This is because the gummies first have to travel through your digestive system before the CBD can reach your blood and, finally your brain. Specifically, your stomach acid will need to break down the gummies into very small pieces.

The Details

Once that happens, the CBD will be able to diffuse through your stomach lining and into your blood. From there, the CBD will travel through your blood to your brain, where it will interact with the brain’s endocannabinoid system and enact its effects. This entire process typically takes around 30 minutes, but it may take as long as an hour or even longer for some people. 

The exact time it takes for CBD gummies to enact their effects depends on the person. Some people with very fast metabolisms may experience the effects of CBD in only 20 minutes or so. On the other hand, if you have a slow metabolism, then the effects might take much longer to kick in. 

It is important not to take more CBD gummies because you think the first gummies didn’t work. More likely than not, the gummies just haven’t kicked in yet, so be sure to have patience. 

CBD Tinctures

Out of all the different types of CBD, CBD tinctures are among some of the easiest to use. CBD tinctures are often confused with CBD oils, but they are not the same. A CBD tincture is unique because the liquid inside the bottle you buy is not CBD oil but rather something related. Specifically, a tincture is made when hemp plants are soaked in high-proof alcohol for an extended period of time. 

Doing this will cause the liquid inside the hemp plants to drain out of the plant tissues. This liquid, of course, will contain CBD.

Depending on the filtration process that the tincture goes through, it may also contain other cannabinoids and certain plant products such as plant fats or terpenes. The extract that is used for CBD tinctures is very concentrated and usually has some alcohol left in it from the initial part of the creation process. 

The main way you consume CBD tinctures is by taking them sublingually. This involves putting a few drops of the tincture under your tongue. You might wonder why you should take it this way rather than swallowing it directly. 

What You Need to Know

The reason is that, because CBD tinctures still contain some high-proof alcohol, the flavor is often not very agreeable to most people. For that reason, instead of swallowing the tincture, it is much more pleasant to hold a few drops under your tongue for a minute or two. Doing this will allow the CBD to diffuse through the thin membranes under your tongue and into your bloodstream. 

It should only take around 20 minutes for the CBD to take effect if you take it this way. This, of course, is because it bypasses your digestive system and has a much more direct way to reach your blood. So, if you want to get your CBD in a fast and efficient way, then a CBD tincture may be the perfect type of CBD for you. 

CBD Topicals

If you want to take a more localized approach to your use of CBD, then CBD topicals will be the perfect match for you. CBD topicals come in all sorts of different forms, such as lotions, salves, creams, oils, and so on. All of these topicals work more or less in the same way, although there are many ways to use them. 

Many people like to use CBD topicals to help soothe certain parts of their body that may feel achy or inflamed. For example, if you have an achy knee, you can try rubbing some CBD cream over the affected joint. After some time, the antioxidants in the CBD should seep through your skin and into your muscles, where they will enact their anti-inflammatory effects. 

Some people like to use CBD topicals in their daily skincare routine as well. For example, CBD face lotions have become very popular in recent years because they fight inflammation such as acne. CBD, in general, is also very soothing for the skin, especially dry skin. 

Keep in mind, however, that CBD topicals will not affect your entire body. More than that, they may take some time to work. This is because CBD has to penetrate a layer of your skin before it can affect deeper structures such as your muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels. This process may take around 20 or 30 minutes. 

For that reason, you should have patience when using CBD topicals. Even if you don’t see or feel any difference right away, you should continue using CBD topicals as their effects often take time to really show and become more prominent. 

CBD Softgels

CBD softgels are not as popular as more traditional forms of CBD, such as gummies or tinctures, but they have slowly become more popular in recent years. Softgels are quite similar to other CBD edible products. However, the main difference is that you don’t chew them. 

Instead, you should take them in the same way as you would take a supplement pill. CBD softgels, as the name suggests, consist of small, soft pills filled with CBD. Many people like softgels because they are very easy to take and the dosage is already thought out. 

Usually, you only need to take one or two CBD softgels every day to reap the benefits CBD has to offer. Again, because CBD softgels need to travel through your digestive system, they will take some time to work. Just as with CBD gummies, the softgels will first need to be dissolved by your stomach acid. 

Specifically, the soft shell of the softgels will first be dissolved and then the CBD on the inside of the pill will be free to diffuse into your blood from your stomach. Softgels are ideal if you don’t feel like chewing on anything or don’t want to take CBD sublingually. Instead, you can down a couple of these softgels along with your other supplements whenever you feel like it. 

CBD Energy Drinks

CBD energy drinks are a relatively modern invention, but they have become more popular in recent years due to how accessible and easy to use they are. CBD energy drinks are really not all that different compared to any other energy drinks except for the fact that they contain CBD. 

Regular energy drinks are often unhealthy because they are loaded with sugar and caffeine. CBD energy drinks, on the other hand, have an extra bonus in terms of health due to their CBD content. Of course, you will still need to pay attention to the dosage of CBD in each drink. 

Usually, it is best to only drink one CBD energy drink rather than having several lined up. After drinking such a drink, you should feel more refreshed and alert. You also shouldn’t feel jittery or anxious as you might when drinking regular energy drinks. 

This is because the calming nature of CBD should prevent this and keep any jitteriness to a minimum. Because these energy drinks travel through your digestive system, the CBD should take between 30 minutes to an hour to kick in. 

Smokable CBD

Smokable CBD is perhaps the most classic form of CBD. In the past, the only way to smoke CBD would be to smoke cannabis flower which contains both CBD and THC. THC, of course, is the cannabinoid that produces a psychoactive high. 

CBD does not do this. Today, there are now options to smoke CBD alone without any THC getting in the way. You can do this by buying CBD flower. 

CBD flower is a plant bud that is rich in CBD. When you smoke CBD buds, you will experience the effects of CBD immediately. This is because the CBD will go straight from your lungs into your blood stream. 

So, if you’re looking for a way to instantly experience CBD, then smokable CBD is your answer. Of course, you can also try vaping CBD. It is very easy to find CBD vapes and they produce more or less the same effects as smokable CBD. 

However, even though this kind of CBD is very safe, you may want to think twice about inhaling CBD if you have any kind of lung problems.

CBD Oil

CBD oil is very similar to CBD tinctures, and they often get confused. However, the main difference is that CBD oil does not contain alcohol as CBD tinctures do. Instead, CBD oil consists of oil from the hemp plant along with carrier oils such as coconut oil. 

For that reason, CBD oil doesn’t taste as bad as CBD tinctures. Many people even like to sprinkle CBD oil on their salads or put it in smoothies. You can also use CBD oil topically or put it under your tongue. 

All About the Different Types of CBD

There are many different types of CBD on the market, and if you’re new to the world of CBD, then you can try experimenting with the different types and see which one works best for you. For example, smokable CBD produces instant effects, while CBD gummies take longer because they have to pass through your digestive system. 

Whatever the case, they all more or less produce the same effects. To learn more about CBD, don’t hesitate to contact us here.