The Benefits of Using CBD Tinctures
Listen to this articleWhen choosing CBD products, the nuanced differences between delivery methods can’t be ignored. An edible works different from CBD oil, and they are different from vaping the substance. CBD tinctures have a lot in common with CBD oil, but they are not the same. Let’s take a look at how the two works, what makes them different, and what the benefits of using a tincture are.
The basics
Most CBD comes from hemp, which is a variation of cannabis that was selectively bred until there was almost no THC left in the plant. As a result, CBD products usually contain only trace amounts of THC, never enough to get you high.
That said, independent investigations have found CBD products circulating in markets around the world with unusually high amounts of THC. The market is still largely unregulated, and many producers do not deliver what is promised on the label. If you start feeling a buzz from your CBD or don’t get the usual effects, it might be wise to try another brand.
The methods
The main difference between CBD oils and tinctures is found in their production method. CBD oil is extracted directly from hemp seeds, stalks, and flowers. However, the process is much more complicated than simply sticking a syringe into the stalk of a plant. One common method is to heat decarboxylated hemp up while immersed in an olive oil solution, which infuses the oil with CBD.
Companies that work with CBD at an industrial level usually employ a C02 extraction method, which allows for a controlled fractionated extraction of hemp’s active agents. The resulting pure CBD can then be diluted into different oils — including hemp seed oil —, or it may be crystallized and turned into CBD isolate.
Tinctures, on the other hand, are much simpler to make. “Tincture” is a term used to describe any medical concoction kept in an alcohol arrangement. You can make CBD tincture by taking parts of the hemp plant and leaving it suspended in alcohol for a few weeks. Just shake the jar once a day to help infuse the mixture with the elements of the plant. Professionals use different methods to produce tinctures, including the aforementioned C02 method, but the result is often the same — an alcohol-based mixture containing both CBD and plant matter.
The advantages of using a tincture
Both CBD oil and tinctures are often used for sublingual application, which allows for fast absorption with high bioavailability. Which is a fancy way of saying that this method wastes less CBD, allowing you to get a bigger bang for your buck.
Since they contain more plant matter, tinctures have a stronger, more earthly taste. That may be favored by some consumers, especially when using tinctures to cook edibles. The presence of plant matter also makes tinctures more healthy and nutrient-rich. Many believe that tinctures are the best way to get the effects of CBD, as its tinctures are rich with other cannabinoids that may boost the effects of CBD.
Finally, the presence of alcohol in the mixture makes CBD tinctures one of the longest-lasting products in the market. While some edibles won’t last a month and CBD oil has a shelf life of six months, tinctures will stay stable for many years if you seal them correctly. This makes them attractive for people seeking to buy CBD products in bulk. If you’d like to learn more about how CBD is extracted, check out this Cibdol article on the matter.
