CBD Tincture Vs Oil: What’s The Difference And How To Use Them?

In the world of cannabidiol (CBD), we come across different products of CBD, including patches, oils, gummies, tinctures, etc. While all the products work differently, their main goal is to help you fight pain and get good sleep. Out of all of them, CBD tinctures and oils are quite popular among individuals for various reasons. If you are particularly studying CBD oil, there are high chances you will also land on some information about CBD tinctures. 

So, the real question is, are CBD oils and tinctures the same? If we talk about how they are made and what they comprise, they are different; however, considering them the same is quite a common mistake. Most of the CBD products in the market are adequately classified as CBD oils, but still, you will find many called tinctures. You will notice that both oils, as well as tinctures come inside small bottles of glass, and they have dropper tops for better usage.

Although both tinctures and oils come in the same packaging, they have some essential differences. So, ready to know the difference between CBD tinctures and oils, and what will suit you best? First, let’s get a general idea about CBD, followed by the differences between CBD oils and tinctures.

Starting With The Most General Query: What Is CBD

CBD, which is derived from cannabis plants, is one of the most potent compounds of these plants. If you have studied CBD before, many of you will be familiar with tetrahydrocannabinol, which is famously known as THC. However, unlike THC, CBD is generally known to have zero to no intoxicating effects. To make it more simple, you will not get the feeling of a “high” after consuming CBD. 

Limited research on CBD concluded that this herbal compound might have some therapeutic benefits. So, you may get relief from the following:

• anxiety
• different seizures
• pain
• acne
• depression

Using CBD products like tinctures and oils, you can get access to many ways to experience these therapeutic or potential benefits.

What Does CBD Do To Your Body?

You may want to know what exactly causes CBD to help you with such conditions. Some experts say CBD can interact with your body’s ECS (Endocannabinoid system). However, how CBD actually interacts with ECS in the human body is still a mystery to researchers. The ECS helps regulate many processes and functions in the human body, including mood, appetite, sleep, memory, etc. 

Although not sure, some researchers explain that CBD helps prevent molecule breakdown, which is called endocannabinoids. And yes, these molecules are similar to cannabinoids. However, those molecules are produced inside the human body. So, yes, even if you never have or avoid using cannabis, these naturally occurring endocannabinoids can still be found in your body. 

There are other researchers who suspect that CBD attaches to receptors called TRPV and 5HT found in the ECS.

Understanding CBD Oil

CBD oils are made using a combination of various CBD extracts combined with static carrier oils, generally such as MCT (Medium-Chain Triglyceride) coconut oil. This goes further as we try to make CBD oils; there is a common practice of using CBD and compounds such as flavonoids and terpenes in a few cases. These compounds are extracted from the hemp plant material, which is combined with a carrier oil. In most cases, we call them full-spectrum CBD oils.

Keeping the CBD isolate aside, these products consist of every hemp plant compound, which includes 0.3% THC. This is so the customers can obtain an advantage from the entourage effect (it states that every cannabis compound works together and offers a better effect when taken together). Once these desired compounds are derived from the plant, they are combined with carrier oil. There is a common use of adding artificial or natural flavors for taste purposes.

If you are looking for CBD products that are easy to find, CBD oils will be your best choice. CBD oils are common compared to tinctures. Furthermore, the hemp products which are labeled as “CBD oil tincture” and, in some cases, “CBD tincture” are most probably CBD oils. In most cases, when you are looking for CBD tinctures, you will most likely land on some CBD oil product. Even the large CBD marketplace commonly refers to CBD oils as tinctures, which has been true for years.

As a customer of CBD products, you should know that CBD oils and tinctures are synonyms in this huge marketplace. However, this is false at a technical level.

What Are The CBD Oils Pros & Cons

So, what are the pros and cons if you are thinking of buying CBD oils? Check the following:

Pros of CBD oil include:

• east to take and set the dose amount
• topically available to be used
• option to mix with beverages and food
• variety of options for flavors and potencies
• don’t have too many ingredients

Cons of CBD oil include:

• more expensive compared to other types of CBD
• few of the oils come with a strong flavor

Understanding CBD Tincture

If we are talking about CBD tinctures, you should know that it is an alcohol-based extract. To make it, high-proof alcohol (an alcohol beverage containing above 60% alcohol by volume) is used in the form of solvent in order to derive the naturally occurring compounds inside the cannabis plant. Furthermore, it also comes in use even for the finished product. 

People often use this processing method for tinctures since it helps in preserving cannabinoids while also giving protection against oxidation. However, the entire process consists of lots of filtration and refinement. Furthermore, you may end up with a bitter flavor by using this process. But this bitterness can be overcome easily, which is why the tinctures are usually mixed with additives such as vegetable glycerin, flavoring, and sweeteners. Some tincture-producing companies may even use herbal extracts and vitamins to meet the product goal.

However, we should not forget that there is not enough information on how CBD interacts with vitamins and supplements. Furthermore, the FDA states that selling CBD as a dietary supplement is unacceptable. This means using such ingredients with CBD might be illegal. The availability of CBD tinctures is quite low, mainly because of their bitter taste. Additionally, most of those tinctures you see in the market are actually CBD oil. So, what if you are specifically looking for a CBD tincture? In that case, search for the alcohol-based tincture to get the results you are looking for.

What Are The CBD Tinctures Pros & Cons

So, coming back to CBD tinctures, what pros and cons does this CBD product come with? Let’s figure that out.

Pros of CBD tincture include:

• It can be taken easily with a set dose amount
• Mixable with drinks and food
• Faster effects

Cons of CBD tincture include:

• Not widely available
• bitter flavor
• It cannot show effects as a topical

CBD Tincture Vs CBD Oil: A Summary Of Difference Through A Table

Understand the difference between CBD tincture vs CBD oil through this table:

However, Is One Of Them Better Than The Other?

In general, both CBD tinctures and oils have the same effectiveness. However, what makes them different is mainly their base ingredient and production process. Ok, so how will you decide which CBD product will suit your needs? It will majorly come to your goals as well as preferences. 

One will choose CBD tincture with an alcohol base if they are not comfortable with the oil source in the products like CBD oil that comes with an oil base. Likely, an individual who wants to avoid alcohol base will pick CBD oil. However, CBD oil is produced using fewer ingredients compared to tincture. If alcohol doesn’t suit you well, it’s best to go with oil. 

While selecting the best pick of CBD products, you also have to mind the product’s availability in the market. As oils are easy to get, you might want to avoid the extra effort of looking for tinctures. Since these products have the same effects, there is no point in finding tinctures exclusively. Most of those labeled as tinctures will be CBD oil only. So, if you seek tincture, make sure to talk to a retailer and have clarity on the ingredients used in the product.  

How To Take Or Use CBD Tinctures And Oils?

There are two main ways of taking CBD oils, and the first one includes dropping CBD into the mouth and swallowing it. Remember that CBD oil takes up to two hours to take effect when it is used this way. This is because the oil has to go through your digestive system before it starts showing some effects.

The second way of using CBD oils and tinctures is to add them to your drinks and food for oral ingestion. Most of the time, CBD tinctures and oils are taken sublingually, which includes putting the CBD under the tongue. CBD, this way, gets absorbed quickly through mucous membranes, which goes directly into the bloodstream. Also, CBD doesn’t have to go through the digestive process this way. 

As far as CBD tinctures are concerned, this way of use may offer faster and more effective absorption. However, let’s take CBD oils into consideration. Further studies need to be done to see if the oils get absorbed faster under the tongue. Also, CBD oils are topical so that they can be directly applied to the skin. However, it will depend on the carrier oil if it is really effective for topical use. 

Well, don’t use CBD tincture on the skin as there will not be any effect since they can’t be used topically. So, avoid wasting your tincture by not using it on the skin.

Read More:- How Many Times Can You Take CBD Oil Tincture In A Day?

How To Look For Quality CBD Tincture Or CBD Oil?

Buying CBD online has indeed become as easy as buying any other supplement. However, just because it is easy to find, it doesn’t mean that the product in front of you is safe for use. 

Whether you need tinctures, oils, or patches, you need to look for a reputable CBD provider that can offer you certificates of analysis (COA) for every product they have.

COAs must contain the following:

• Cannabinoid Profile: Products that are classified as full-spectrum will have a minor amount of THC, which is less than 0.3%. On the other hand, Broad-spectrum products must be THC free; however, they might consist of different cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, and terpenes. And lastly, CBD isolate products must contain CBD only. 
• Potency: The listed amount of CBD on the COA must match the listed amount on the label. As batches will vary, the amount will not be exactly the same most of the time. However, if there is a huge difference, like 10% to 20%, choosing another product will be the best scenario.
• The Date: Find a recent COA, i.e., it should not be more than one year old. Few brands even offer COAs for each individual batch of CBD products they sell in the market.
• Contaminants: This will mostly vary, so to keep it in check, make sure the product has gone through the tests for molds, metals, and pesticides. 

Besides Oils And Tinctures, Are There Any Other Ways To Take CBD?

So, you don’t want to use either tinctures or CBD oils. In that case, there are a few other ways to try CBD:

• Topicals: These are CBD products that are made to be applied directly on the user’s skin. You can choose CBD-infused creams, lotions, transdermal patches, balms, and salves in order to target localized pain and specific skin conditions. 
• Edibles: This is one of the safest ways to consume CBD. Also, it is available in many options, including truffles, gummies, and mints. But, the CBD effect will be slow as it has to travel through the digestive system. You will experience the effects after two-three hours of consumption.                                                                      

The Potential Benefits, Side Effects, And The Best Safety Precautions Of CBD

CBD, in general, is safe to use. However, a few users may experience side effects, like:

• Weight and appetite change
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

So, before you use CBD, speaking to a doctor is highly recommended. And this need even increases if you are already on other supplements and medications. This is mainly because CBD may interact with a few of these.

Additionally, as per a 2020 study, taking CBD alongside a fat meal can drastically increase your CBD blood concentrations, making you prone to CBD side effects. 

Important Note: You must avoid taking CBD if you are breastfeeding and pregnant. 

Conclusion

So, we hope you now clearly understand everything about CBD tincture vs Oil. Both of these products are effective, and their base ingredients are what make them different from each other. Which one to choose will depend on your goals and priorities. Choose wisely by studying the label as well as the brand that is providing the CBD product. 

At Shea’s Healing way, we offer CBD tinctures of oil made with an alcohol base that is top quality and easy to use. Our product is quality tested and has significant benefits with no side effects. Fill out our contact page to connect with our CBD experts and book your special CBD order. 

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