WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD OIL AND CBD CAPSULES?

What are some of the different CBD products in the market? What is the difference between CBD capsules and CBD oil? Which of the two products is more effective than the other? This article explains the differences between CBD oil and CBD capsule.

CBD oil is also called a tincture. They are manufactured using organic hemp plant extracts and are offered in liquid form. CBD capsules are also obtained from organic hemp plants, and they are designed uniquely. They are formulated in powder form and covered in soft gels. However, they are also for oral use.

The growth of cannabis in the USA was legalized in 2018. Besides CBD oil and capsules, we have other products such as gummies, topicals, edibles, vapes, and oral sprays. Capsules and CBD oil are offered in all three types of CBD; full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate. Full-spectrum CBD oils and capsules contain all the elements of the hemp plant, including terpenes, flavonoids, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the elements of the cannabis plant except THC. Isolate CBD is the pure state the cannabidiol, void of THC, terpenes, and flavonoids.

Difference between CBD oil and Capsules

Most CBD users are looking for the most effective and discreet way of taking their daily CBD dose. Although the products were legalized, most people try to maintain secrecy on their dependence. Here is the difference between CBD oil and capsules and their convenience.

CBD Oil

Lazarjani et al. (2021) explain that CBD oil is among the common cannabis products manufactured using organic hemp plant extracts obtained through various extraction methods such as CO2. These products are also commonly referred to as tinctures. Although most brands offer them a wide potency range from 10 mg to 10000 mg per ml, they exist in 30ml bottles. Depending on the brand, they offer accurate market droppers to help consumers administer the required amount without overdosing. Various brands assess their purity and potency levels using an independent lab as a safety measure. About 90% of CBD brands have CBD oil in their product catalog.

How to administer CBD Oil

Depending on the preferable method, CBD oils can be administered in three ways; orally, sublingually, or by adding to your favorite foods or beverages. Also, the impact depends on how you take it.

Sublingual use

According to Slawek et al. (2019), sublingual use is recommended for veterans or those who wish for rapid effectiveness. To avoid taking too much than recommended, use a dropper to determine the accurate dose, especially for high CBD concentrations. Depending on the concentration, most brands recommend 1 ml per day. Using the dropper, place it on your tongue and hold it for about 60 seconds before swallowing. The method yields rapid effectiveness because the oil gets absorbed in the bloodstream quickly.

Oral use

Oral use is much faster, although less effective, because it takes time to dissolve in the bloodstream. To help consumers evade the natural taste of the hemp plant, some manufacturers offer them in various flavors. After administering, it is important to give it some time for the impact to occur because it has to be digested.

Adding in your favorite foods or drinks

Since most CBD oil products have the awful earthly taste of cannabis, some people prefer adding it to their favorite foods or beverages. According to Hazakamp (2018), the method might not be effective since the interaction of CBD with other ingredients might lower its effectiveness. Also, diluting it in beverages might require higher doses for you to feel the impact. However, some manufacturers offer CBD-infused products which are more effective.

Adding to your topicals

Suppose an individual wishes to boost the effectiveness of their topical CBD products; they can add a little bit of oil. Take the required amount of CBD cream on their hand and add considerable oils; mix it properly before applying for effectiveness. Suppose it's for muscle relaxation; mix the cream and the oil on one's hand and massage on specific parts. Unlike other methods, the impact is quite slow.

CBD Capsules

According to Oleinik (2021), CBD capsules are highly preferred by most brands due to their effectiveness, unlike tinctures. Moving around with capsules is much easier compared to CBD oil. Since most people rely on CBD products and wish to keep them private, they prefer CBD capsules. They can be administered at any point, even at one's work desk at work. Although capsules take time to yield effectiveness, they are the best for accurate dose, unlike tinctures where you need to measure.

How to administer CBD capsules

Taking CBD capsules is much easy and can be done discreetly. Depending on potency levels, one can take one or two capsules per day. Individuals can use their favorite beverage or water to ingest the capsules; notably, they are for oral use only. However, avoid high impact; take one capsule in the morning and the other in the evening. According to Haney et al. (2016), avoid taking CBD capsules alongside alcoholic drinks for safety precaution since it results in diverse side effects, including poor feeling "high" and anxiety. Unlike CBD oil, capsules are taken independently.

How to choose the best CBD oil and Capsules

The lab results

Before buying CBD oil or tinctures, ensure the brand you are buying from offers their lab results. It is important to buy from a brand using an independent, centralized, and certified lab to assess the purity and potency of their products. Since there has been misinformation regarding CBD concentration, it's important to buy products with QR codes to get lab results for specific products. Also, consider buying from a brand using IOS 9001 certified lab because it has adequate resources and personnel that minimize inaccuracy. Karschaner et al. (2009) state that one needs to check THC levels to ensure they have not exceeded 0.3%. Also, confirm CBD potency variance is within the 10% limit.

Conclusion

CBD oil and capsules have a wide range of benefits and weaknesses. Although capsules are the second discreet way of consuming CBD after gummies, they don't yield rapid effectiveness. CBD capsules are highly recommended to people who are strict on concentration to avoid overdosing. However, CBD oil might not be discreet, but they yield rapid effectiveness since they easily dissolve in the bloodstream. Unlike capsules, taking a lower concentration is possible since rather than taking 1 ml per day, you can reduce it to ¼. Individuals should prioritize the lab results for their safety. Ensure the lab results are accurate as they also consider products with QR codes to affirm potency and purity levels.

References

Haney, M., Malcolm, R. J., Babalonis, S., Nuzzo, P. A., Cooper, Z. D., Bedi, G., ... & Walsh, S. L. (2016). Oral cannabidiol does not alter the subjective, reinforcing, or cardiovascular effects of smoked cannabis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(8), 1974-1982.

Hazekamp, A. (2018). The trouble with CBD oil. Medical cannabis and cannabinoids, 1(1), 65-72.

Karschner, E. L., Schwilke, E. W., Lowe, R. H., Darwin, W. D., Pope, H. G., Herning, R., ... & Huestis, M. A. (2009). Do Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations indicate recent use in chronic cannabis users?. Addiction, 104(12), 2041-2048.

Lazarjani, M. P., Young, O., Kebede, L., & Seyfoddin, A. (2021). Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review. Journal of cannabis research, 3(1), 1-15.

Oleinik, G. 4 Best Delta-8 THC Brands: Reviews & Guide (Dec. 2021).

Slawek, D., Meenrajan, S. R., Alois, M. R., Comstock Barker, P., Estores, I. M., & Cook, R. (2019). Medical cannabis for the primary care physician. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 10, 2150132719884838.