Should You Choose CBD Oils or CBD Tinctures?

Early historical records that show tinctures in medical use date to about 1000 A.D., when the inhabitants of Egypt prepared herbal medications dissolved in alcohol. These days, CBD tinctures are a common way that many people use CBD to come by a range of health benefits.

CBD tinctures

CBD tincture is prepared by liquefying cannabis and mixing it with alcohol. Such tincture, often known by the name green dragon, is usually 30 percent CBD, the remaining content being alcohol. The best CBD tinctures use full-spectrum hemp extract. People usually use CBD tinctures when they need cannabis for its medical benefits, but don’t like the idea of smoking it.

Are CBD oils and CBD tinctures different?

Tinctures are alcohol based. CBD oils, on the other hand, are presented in a carrier oil base, usually MCT oil, olive oil, or hemp oil. CBD oils and CBD tinctures are used differently, as well. While CBD oils may either be swallowed or applied to the skin, CBD tinctures are only swallowed. Some people even use CBD tinctures in cooking recipes, by adding a few drops to salads or soups.

Cannabis plants contain dozens of compounds known as terpenes, a handful of which usually make their way into CBD tinctures. These elements, with names like linalool and myrcene, give CBD tincture its characteristic fragrance and flavor, and its potential effectiveness against inflammation, infections, and cancers. Myrcene has been observed in some studies (link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13765-015-0081-3#page-1) to act against tumors, for example.

The good and the bad of CBD tinctures

CBD tinctures are most often sought out for their effectiveness as agents of pain relief. While chronic pain may not disappear when you use a CBD tincture, it may help. In some cases, use of CBD tinctures can cause oral dryness. In others, CBD tinctures, in conjunction with certain medications, may lead to hepatic metabolism, in which the liver has trouble processing drugs in the presence of CBD. It is for reasons like this that it’s important to talk to your doctor before you begin using CBD products.

With CBD tinctures, choosing the right product for your needs comes with the same considerations applicable to any CBD product.

• It’s a good idea to look for a full-spectrum product that comes with the CBD compound as well as other associated compounds that give you the full entourage effect.
• It makes sense to look for products made in the USA, because these products tend to adhere to strict testing laws.
• It’s advisable to read the labels on the products you buy to make sure that the CBD is distilled with a superior process such as CO2 extraction.

Which should you choose – CBD oil or CBD tincture?

CBD tinctures are prepared as a suspension of CBD in about 70 percent alcohol, and CBD oils use an oil base. The alcohol base makes CBD tincture better tasting for oral consumption. When consumed orally, CBD tincture comes with greater bioavailability and faster absorption as well, even if tinctures tend to contain lower absolute quantities of CBD than oils. In addition tinctures are less expensive than oils, and stay potent for longer than oils.

Both CBD oils and CBD tinctures do potentially deliver health benefits. For most people, the deciding factor for whether they will buy oil or tincture is taste. If you plan to take your CBD orally, a tincture is usually the best way to go.