How to Use & Take CBD Oil

With the CBD product market continuing to boom, more and more people are beginning to incorporate CBD oil tinctures into their daily routine. Many people use oil  for their wellness, health and vitality. If you’re a newcomer to the CBD space, you might find yourself curious about how you actually use the hemp-derived compound. 

Do you smoothe it into your skin? Drink it? Bake it into a chocolate cake? 

The reality: you can do all of this and more. This quick guide will teach you how to use CBD oil, what to expect and the different ways people are ingesting the substance. 

How Do You Take CBD Oil? 

For starters, CBD needs to enter your bloodstream in order for it to take effect. From there, it binds to receptors in your ECS (endocannabinoid system), which governs the regulation of many physiological systems. For this to work, CBD needs to be ingested. 

Typically, the three different methods in which people take CBD are: 

• Orally through capsules, foods or drinks
• Transdermally on the skin
• Sublingually under the tongue

The way CBD is taken is often directly related to the desired outcome. A sublingual dose will provide the quickest relief, while applying CBD topicals will release the CBD more gradually over time. 

Before we go into the merits and processes of each, you should first take a few cautionary steps when seeking out your CBD.

Talk to a Doctor and Buy from a Trusted CBD Source

While the World Health Organization has deemed pure CBD a safe substance, every body is unique. 

You never know—for certain—how your body is going to react to a given compound. Prior to taking your first CBD dose, it’s recommended that you speak to a physician and explain the reasons you’re interested in using the cannabidiol. 

Additionally, not all label claims are accurate. Given that the mass CBD market is in its infancy, much regulation is needed. What you want to avoid is taking CBD that contains THC—the psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant that makes you “high.” You also want to make sure that your CBD products have been checked for safety through lab reports.

Now that we’ve settled that, let’s move on to the fun stuff: how to use CBD oil in a number of ways!

#1 Taking CBD Oil Orally 

CBD oil typically comes in two different forms. Either it’s:

• A liquid
• A capsule. 

Ingesting CBD orally is easiest when you’re taking a CBD capsule. Simply wash it down with a glass of water the same way you’d take a vitamin or dietary supplement. The CBD will work its way through your gastrointestinal tract, and  in turn, enter your bloodstream. 

To that end, individuals like to use tinctures, or CBD oil in a dropper by adding a couple drops directly in their mouth, holding under their tongue and swallowing. 

Note: CBD oil typically has an earthy, nutty taste. It’s kind of like drinking olive or avocado oil. Some like it. Some don’t. And if you don’t want to swallow a CBD capsule or place a couple droplets on your tongue, you can:

• Cook it in food! – One of the most popular ways to use CBD is by incorporating it into your favorite meals. Not only is adding some drops into your famous pasta sauce a fun endeavor, but a recent University of Michigan study suggests that certain foods can improve CBD’s bioavailability. Essentially, they enhance how your body absorbs the CBD. Mixing a CBD oil product into your food is both tasty and effective. For a list of our favorite CBD dishes, check out our cannabis oil recipes!
• Make a smoothie, make a green juice – Another way to take pure CBD oil is by mixing it into a drink. Given the type of CBD you’re taking and its flavor profile, you might find that certain drinks complement different variations of the compound. Stir CBD drops into your morning juice or smoothie to reap its benefits without a distinctive taste or texture. 

There’s no right way to take CBD. It boils down to a matter of personal preference. You can try adding it to your cooking oil, drop it into that delicious smoothie or even use it to complement an evening cocktail.

#2 Using CBD Transdermally

Have you heard of CBD facials? How about a CBD massage? Today, spas across the US are beginning to incorporate CBD oil in their treatments. Per Forbes: 

“Wellness centers around the country have taken treatments to new highs by infusing spa treatments, like massages and manicures, with CBD oil.”  

Of course, you can purchase a CBD topical formulated for skincare. However, there are other ways to use CBD oil as well: 

• Add it to your favorite creams – If you’re looking to pamper yourself with an at-home spa night, you can create your own CBD topical by mixing CBD oil into your favorite moisturizer or body lotion. Just blend in a few drops and apply where needed.
• Apply CBD oil directly to where you’re feeling discomfort – Should you have post-exercise inflammation or sore muscles, apply topical CBD oil directly to the affected region to soothe your aches and help reduce inflammation. Today, athletes are beginning to adopt CBD into their workout regiments, enhancing their muscle recovery process. If you’re curious how CBD helps soothe muscle soreness, learn more in our guide on how to use CBD oil for pain.

While people typically apply topical CBD oil or creams to enhance their skincare routine, soothe post-exercise discomfort and help reduce inflammation, you can still use it transdermally for calmness, wellness and vitality. 

#3 Using CBD Sublingually 

Placing a substance beneath the tongue usually results in fast absorption. 

Due to the mucosal membranes in the oral cavity, the CBD takes a faster route into the bloodstream, where it’s eventually metabolized by the liver. That’s the entire reason for ingesting CBD sublingually—it’s thought to increase CBD’s bioavailability. 

While this isn’t the case with all things administered beneath the tongue, people tend to experience the effects of CBD faster when they use this method. 

But what exactly does it entail? 

• Drop, Spread, Spray – While everyone is different and, of course, depending on the CBD product, you can either drop, spray or spread. The idea is to keep whatever form of CBD you have underneath your tongue for over 60 seconds. From there, you can swallow the remaining hemp to absorb the cannabidiol through your stomach. 

Taking CBD oil sublingually beneath your tongue is an acquired taste. While additional research is required, all signs point to sublingual ingestion yielding the highest efficacy. 

Once you get used to the taste, placing a few CBD drops beneath your tongue might become your favorite intake method. 

What Method Is Right for You? 

CBD is a journey. You start taking it one way— a certain CBD dosage or consumption method—and find yourself needing to adjust slightly for your best personal results. 

When it comes to how to use CBD oil, the answer is subjective. 

After you’ve spoken with your physician and identified the CBD-driven outcomes you’re looking for, the fun begins. Perhaps having CBD with coffee or adorning your breakfast smoothie bowl is right for you. Maybe keeping our capsules on your work desk is how you best remember to take your CBD. Or it could be that placing a drop beneath your tongue and letting CBD work its magic might be the perfect method. 

At the end of the day, the dosage and method in which you take CBD oil is up to you! 

Experiment with different methods, tailor it to your routine, and enjoy the healthy benefits of CBD oil. 

Will Taking CBD Make Me High? 

No. If your CBD is from a reputable company, then it will have less than 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or the compound found in the cannabis plant that gets you “high.” CBD, on the other hand, isn’t psychotropic. The only way that this would ever happen is if a CBD brand presents an inaccurate label.

It’s for this reason that you should always rely on a company which produces full spectrum, 100% organic CBD. 

How to Find Quality CBD Oil

Now that we’ve answered “how do you take CBD oil,” we can also answer “where do I find high performance and high-quality CBD?” 

Right here, with us. 

Plant People combines organic CBD oil with powerful herbs and adaptogens that promote vitality, wellness and health. Our products’ efficacy stems from our inclusion of healing nutrients from various terpenes and botanicals. We have CBD oil formulated to rejuvenate your mind and body, aid your inflammatory response and support your sleep cycle. 

No matter how you take it, you’ll be ingesting full spectrum, organically-grown CBD. 

Reviewed by Minchul An

Minchul An is a Clinical Cannabis Pharmacist and MTM Specialist.