WHICH IS BETTER, CBD TINCTURES OR CAPSULES?

CBD tinctures should be your ideal choice if you want something that promises bioavailability, thereby offering you value for your money. Meanwhile, you may choose CBD capsules if you want a CBD product that makes it easier for you to dose the cannabinoid and carry it on the go.

The hemp industry is filled with many CBD products from which you can choose, including CBD capsules and CBD tinctures. As much as the wide plethora allows people the freedom to explore different delivery methods for CBD oil, knowing which product is the best remains an all-time challenge. For instance, CBD capsules are discreet, allowing the user an easy time carrying the cannabinoid, and one can easily administer them in public. Still, CBD capsules are not easily bioavailable since they need action time for digestion before being fully absorbed into the bloodstream. Meanwhile, CBD tinctures are more bioavailable and allow enough time for fast absorption but they are not many people’s favorite. Here is how CBD tincture and CBD compare, but first, let’s explore their physical distinction.

CBD Capsules and CBD Tinctures: The Physical Distinction

The main difference between CBD tinctures and CBD capsules stems from their physical structures, which this article focuses on. According to Watt & Karl(2017), CBD is the non-psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis plants, known for its therapeutic effects.  For instance, Blake et al. (2017) reported that CBD oil tinctures might help with pain management in cancer patients. The active chemical compounds in cannabis are called cannabinoids, and there are more than 113 such compounds, with CBD topping the popularity ladder for its unique ability to express the desired results without causing the ‘high’ effect. As such, you can expect to remain sober as long as you focus on non-THC CBD products from a reputable brand. CBD capsules are one of the many ways CBD is delivered to the body, which have significant differences from CBD tinctures. The latter comes in liquid form and is bottled, while CBD capsules come in the capped form, as the name suggests.

Which Administration Method Is Better- CBD Tinctures Vs. CBD Capsules?

The other factor that constitutes a major difference between CBD capsules and CBD tinctures is their administration method. CBD as a compound is not directly absorbed, so manufacturers have to incorporate it into a form the body can benefit from. CBD tinctures are alcohol-based CBD products that one administers sublingually by putting the drops under the tongue. CBD capsules are like regular capsules, and one needs water to swallow them, after which the CBD oil is released into the bloodstream.

CBD Tinctures Vs. CBD Capsules: Taste

Although taste should not be a major concern when choosing the ideal CBD delivery method, we all like something we are comfortable with. As such, you may want to know which delivery method allows you to tolerate the taste of CBD oil and still allow you to enjoy the cannabinoid. CBD tinctures have a unique earthy taste since they are hemp-derived, and some might taste bitter because of the alcohol base. As such, they may not be your best pick if you hate the bitter taste. Meanwhile, CBD capsules are many people’s favorite pick since they are great at masking the bitter taste of CBD oil.

Which Is More Bioavailable: CBD Tinctures or CBD Capsules?

Choosing your ideal CBD delivery method widely depends on bioavailability. How bioavailable a product is determined by how much of it the body will benefit from and how fast it will express its effects. Administering CBD tinctures sublingually enhances absorption since many blood vessels, specifically capillaries, are located in the region below the tongue, fastening absorption. As such, the cannabinoid does not have to move for longer through the digestive system, enabling the body to benefit from it more. Boehnke et al. (2020) reported that it might help with pain faster. CBD capsules are easy to carry, but taking them orally means they need time for digestion. The longer the cannabinoid takes in the digestive tract and the more it moves before delivery to the bloodstream, the less potent it becomes. It is no wonder that most CBD users opt for CBD tinctures to give value for their money, but you definitely want to choose CBD capsules to mask the bitter taste of CBD oil. CBD capsules are equally effective, as noted by Shannon et al. (2019).

Which One Lasts Longer; CBD Capsules or CBD Tinctures?

The question about which delivery method lasts longer between CBD capsules and CBD tinctures helps you determine which product is better and which one you should go for. For instance, if you plan to join the CBD bandwagon and only want to use the cannabinoid occasionally as need be, you would want to go for a product that lasts longer, which brings us to which CBD delivery method boasts a longer shelf life. CBD tinctures may last some 1- 2 years, and much depends on how well you store them. However, capsules, especially the airtight soft gels, may also last longer but not longer than CBD tinctures.

CBD Tinctures Vs. CBD Capsules: Discretion

If you plan to buy CBD items to carry on the go, you may want to opt for CBD alternatives that are discreet in nature and allow the user to use them in public. Like edibles, CBD capsules are discreet. Not only do they give you an easy time carrying them around, but you also don’t attract attention with them. However, CBD tinctures are more bioavailable, but they are clumsy and need proper storage and packing when carrying them on the go.

Dosing CBD Oil: Tinctures or CBD Capsules?

The FDA does not control CBD production, nor has it recommended the appropriate dosages in which the cannabinoid should be administered. As such, you have to figure out the dosages independently, which is why you need CBD picks that give you an easy time measuring out the doses. You won’t struggle much with dosage if you opt for CBD capsules since the CBD concentration is predetermined. Meanwhile, measuring out CBD tinctures with a dropper leaves room for erring in dosing the cannabinoid.

Conclusion

There is no better CBD delivery method than the other. However, CBD tinctures and CBD capsules vary slightly, and it is these differences that help one choose his pick. CBD tinctures are easily bioavailable and faster in absorption but they are bitter, clumsy, and give people a hard time measuring out dosages. However, CBD capsules may have a short life span and may not be bioavailable, but are the best delivery method for dosing CBD oil and carrying it on the go.

References

Blake, A., Wan, B. A., Malek, L., Deangelis, C., Diaz, P., Lao, N., ... & O'Hearn, S. (2017). A Selective Review Of Medical Cannabis In Cancer Pain Management. Ann Palliat Med, 6(Suppl 2), S215-S222. Https://Www.Calgarycmmc.Com/A-Selective-Review-Of-Medical-Cannabis-In-Cancer-Pain-Management.Pdf.

Boehnke, K. F., Scott, J. R., Litinas, E., Sisley, S., Williams, D. A., & Clauw, D. J. (2020). High-Frequency Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Worse Pain Among Individuals With Chronic Pain. The Journal Of Pain, 21(5-6), 570-581. Https://Www.Sciencedirect.Com/Science/Article/Pii/S1526590019308144.

Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol In Anxiety And Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente Journal, 23. Https://Www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/Pmc/Articles/Pmc6326553/.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In Vivo Evidence For Therapeutic Properties Of Cannabidiol (CBD) For Alzheimer's Disease. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 8, 20. Https://Www.Frontiersin.Org/Articles/10.3389/Fphar.2017.00020/Full.