There are more ways to take CBD than ever these days. Edibles, topicals, capsules, smokables...pet products and human products...the list goes on. But is there any product as tried-and-true as the CBD oil tincture? Probably not.
And it’s not just us saying that. History agrees! A lot of people don’t know this, but cannabis tinctures were actually a staple of western medicine throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. British doctor William O’Shaughnessy declared the cannabis tincture an “anticonvulsant of the greatest value,” and over a hundred US pharmaceutical companies listed cannabis or hemp tinctures in the drug catalogs. [1]
But that was then, and this is now. Things are finally coming full circle — and in today’s article, we’ll be looking at 5 creative ways you can take CBD oil.
Way #1: Treat it like a sublingual
Most CBD oils are meant to be taken sublingually - a fancy way of saying ‘held under the tongue’. Research indicates that CBD works best when held sublingually for 30-60 seconds.
The longer one tends to wait before fully ingesting, the faster CBD tends to absorb! This occurs because the mouth contains permeable mucous membranes that can directly absorb CBD. CBD’s bioavailability may rise drastically if you give these membranes and blood vessels enough time to ‘soak’ things up.
Sublingual CBD is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some users may actually prefer to ingest their CBD faster so that more of it reaches the digestive system intact. This is most applicable for those with IBS or other gut health problems, but good for all to know.
Chemist Jessie Kater agrees. “Most of the literature supports the notion that CBD has better bioavailability when consumed sublingually versus orally,” she tells Well and Good, “[and] MCT oil-based tinctures are thought to provide better uptake than a traditional oil.” (Readers will be happy to know that our tinctures contain plenty of MCT-rich coconut oil.)
Way #2: Infuse it into your favorite drink
Variety is the spice of life, and tincture usage is no exception (aka sublingual tincture usage is no longer enough)!
We see Toast CBD oil as part of a fun, and totally healthy, lifestyle routine. That’s why we only add clean organic flavors to our oils, flavors which lend themselves to the right drink for the moment, whether that’s a cocktail, tea, or other drink of choice. So if you’ve been considering topping your favorite drink with some CBD, don’t hold back.
Need some more specific guidance? With its bold, fresh flavor, our cold-pressed lemon tincture makes a perfect addition to your favorite spritzer.
Way #3: Try Adding CBD to Your Coffee
Try infusing your coffee with Toast CBD oil to experience the many benefits of consuming two lifestyle daily favorites together!
First there’s the practical benefits. How often do you skip your morning coffee? If the answer is “never!”...then it could be a good idea to safeguard your CBD routine by taking your caffeine and cannabinoids all at once.
Another plus: CBD may counteract the jitters that can come with high caffeine intake. This is thought to be due to its calming effect on adenosine A2A receptors. [3] Granted, we’ll be the first to admit that biochemistry probably won’t be on your mind when CBD-infused coffee is making your workday a breeze.
Coffee may also increase your CBD oil’s bioavailability. How? Research has shown time and time again that CBD is absorbed better alongside a fatty meal. [4] Putting two and two together, could the same be said of a fatty drink? Better put an extra tablespoon of grass-fed butter in your coffee just to be sure.
And don’t worry about the taste of CBD oil ruining your next cup of Joe. Instead just opt for an organically flavored CBD tincture like Toast Spiked Pumpkin!
Way #4: Bake Some Edibles
Do you like experimenting with new recipes, especially those of the CBD variety? If so, baking yourself some CBD-infused edibles could be a great way to keep yourself happy and healthy — and perhaps even escape the quarantine blues.
CBD oil can be added to almost any recipe, after all, so long as the recipe doesn’t call for baking at super high heat. You can add our CBD oils to cookies, cakes, chocolates, and other treats...you can bake it into your favorite bread recipe...you can even pair it with olive oil to make a great base for salad dressings. The sky is practically the limit!
And if you’re not feeling up to baking your way to CBD-infused culinary heaven, no worries; skip the process and opt for already-made CBD chocolates instead. These ones get their deliciousness straight from artisanal chocolate maker Fine & Raw.
Way #5: Don’t vape your CBD oil
Okay, this one isn’t actually a new creative way to take CBD; instead it’s more of a warning of what not to do.
As the headline implies, CBD oils are NOT meant to be vaped. For that activity you’ll need a dedicated vape juice; regular CBD oil just won’t cut it. That’s because CBD oils use a carrier oil (ours is coconut oil) that is perfectly healthy when ingested, but is not meant to be inhaled. Vaping CBD oils can lead to health problems like lipid pneumonia.
Even vaping vape-specific juice/oil isn’t immune to risk. Many vape juices may contain PG, PEG, or vitamin E acetate. In other words...vaping isn’t always as safe as it may seem.
A better alternative would be to smoke all-natural CBD-rich hemp like the kind found in our customers’ favorite Toast Emerald. It’s about as natural as natural gets: full spectrum hemp flower (never biomass) rolled in hemp paper. Plus the experience is truly immersive.