CBD Tincture Guide

CBD is everywhere. It’s in your coffee. It’s sitting on the shelf at your spa. You can get it in a bath bomb, sparkling water, or a lotion. 

But if you don’t want the fancy gimmicks or frills, you can buy “pure” and simple CBD tinctures in a small dropper bottle. There is something about these little droppers that are so enticing. They certainly give you lots of options for making your own CBD lattes or smoothies.

But what exactly are these dropper bottles? Are they safe to ingest? How much CBD should you take from these droppers, and how fast will they run out? 

Use this guide to answer all of your questions about CBD tinctures. CBD is rapidly becoming one of the hottest products on the market, so educate yourself on how to purchase and use CBD as tinctures start flying off the shelves. This product has very low risks, but we still do recommend talking to a doctor before using any cannabis product to treat mental or physical symptoms. 

What Is CBD? 

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid found in marijuana and hemp plants. It’s a collection of chemical compounds that work together to maintain homeostasis in the body and provide a long list of health benefits. 

But let’s rewind for a second. Marijuana? So it gets you high? 

CBD is often confused for THC, which is the cannabinoid that makes you feel stoned. CBD is not intoxicating, but it may affect your mood. Cannabis fans report that CBD can relieve anxiety, treat PTSD, and eliminate chronic pain that may weigh you down throughout the day. (Don’t worry, there are some studies to back up these claims.) 

Everyone seems to want to get their hands on CBD, and tinctures are leading the way in the world of CBD products. 

What Are “Tinctures?” 

CBD tinctures are popular, but they are not the only type of tincture on the market. The word “tincture” refers to any sort of concentrated extract taken from plants. You might have seen any of the following at a health food store, or even in your first-aid kit:

• Tincture of Benzoin
• Elderberry Tincture
• Echinacea Tincture
• Turmeric Tincture

How Are Tinctures Made? 

In order to extract the preferred ingredients from an herb or plant, you need to soak them in alcohol for a decent amount of time. This is what separates tinctures from other types of extracts. Herbalists may use vinegar or water to extract ingredients from other herbs, but the resulting product cannot be called a tincture. 

There are more complex ways to make CBD and other herbal tinctures quickly, but the slow-and-steady method works just fine. If you have hemp or marijuana plants sitting around that you want to convert into your own tincture, go for it! All you need to do is soak decarboxylated bud in grain alcohol (preferably Everclear) for a few weeks and strain the result with a cheesecloth. Voila! You’ve made your own tincture. 

Will Tinctures Get You Drunk? 

Grain alcohol, you say? Luckily, you won’t get you drunk by adding a CBD tincture to your coffee or sparkling water. Doses are so minimal that you will not feel any sort of intoxicating effect. While CBD tinctures are not safe to give to babies, even children may benefit from these products. Talk to your doctor before administering CBD tinctures to a child.

Benefits of CBD Tinctures

Why are people so excited about this, anyway? Turns out, CBD has more benefits than you might expect. 

The endocannabinoid system benefits the whole body. It regulates appetite and helps you sleep. When you get injured, the endocannabinoid system helps to heal you through inflammation and other functions. We can thank the endocannabinoid system for keeping us balanced and moving forward. 

CBD is like a puzzle piece that fits into the endocannabinoid system. When it binds to receptors, the endocannabinoid system starts working. It reduces inflammation (inflammation is only beneficial up to a certain point.) When CBD binds to receptors, it also helps to reduce stress and anxiety in the brain. The addition of “phytocannabinoids” (cannabinoids that occur naturally in cannabis but not in the human body) assists the endocannabinoid system in its overall mission to maintain homeostasis in the body. 

No wonder it’s a top ingredient for health and wellness companies around North America. Spas are using CBD in balms, massage oils, and other products to reduce pain and stress. Food and beverage companies add it to their products for an extra boost of health. Even pet care brands are starting to invest in CBD to help furry friends with joint pain, respiratory issues, and anxiety around holidays that include fireworks. 

How to Use CBD Tinctures 

CBD tinctures come in a bottle with a 1ML dropper. All you need to do is fill up the dropper and put some CBD under your tongue. This allows it to enter the bloodstream (and the endocannabinoid system) immediately. 

If you prefer to infuse your CBD in food or beverages, go right ahead! Pop it in some coffee, tea, or even a glass of water for a nice dose of CBD. You won’t taste the flavour in your beverage unless you’ve specifically bought a tincture that contains flavour. 

How Much CBD Should I Take? 

People take CBD for many different reasons. Some people just want to try out this new trend and feel some mental relief throughout the day. Other people suffer from chronic pain and rely on CBD to enjoy a day without aches and inflammation. You may also use CBD in your tea just to send you off to sleep. 

Depending on the intensity of your symptoms, you may want to try different doses of CBD. Someone who just wants to feel a bit of relief can benefit from a single mL dose every few hours. Try one drop in your coffee and another drop in your afternoon tea. You should feel a little lighter on your feet. 

Not enough to cover your chronic pain symptoms? Feel free to ramp it up after you’ve tried some smaller doses. Some CBD users take up to 10-20mg in a single day. We don’t recommend starting at this level. 

If you are trying to use CBD to treat more serious conditions, reach out to a medical professional. They may be able to provide more personalized recommendations about dosage or give you a prescription for more suitable medications. 

Is It Possible to Take Too Much CBD? 

We have all heard this argument from cannabis advocates: you can’t get addicted to weed, and you can’t overdose on weed. 

While it’s true that there have been no fatal cases of ingesting too much marijuana, we don’t recommend tossing back a whole bottle of CBD tincture and calling it a day. (They aren’t cheap, after all.) 

You may experience side effects from a high dose of CBD, including: 

• Anxiety or stress
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea 
• Dry mouth 

The best way to avoid these side effects is to take things slow. Try a single milliliter dose of CBD in the morning and see how you feel. CBD’s effects won’t hit you like a ton of bricks – you are more likely to experience a moment where you realize that you feel calm or that your pain is not affecting you. 

Keep track of how you feel when you first try CBD. Expect to feel the effects for up to six hours, although they may wear off after four. If you do start to experience adverse side effects, hold off on your next dose or reduce the amount of tincture that you ingest. 

How to Order CBD Tinctures 

In general, CBD tinctures are a safe and healthy way to bring balance to your body and go about your day with a calm head. Now all you have to do is try these products out for yourself. 

Sure, you can make your own CBD tinctures if you get your hands on some cannabis plants. (Most provinces and territories allow people to grow up to four cannabis plants in their home at a time, giving you plenty of bud to make tinctures.) Often, it’s easier to just grab a tincture online or at a dispensary. 

CBD oils, tinctures, and other concentrated products aren’t too hard to find. You can just pop into a local dispensary and ask about CBD oil products on the shelf. While most cannabis users are simply looking for pure and simple CBD, it’s normal to be partial to one brand for different reasons. 

Not every brand of CBD oil is available in dispensaries. Brick-and-mortar locations tend to have a limited amount of most cannabis products. Before you place a large order, check online to see what different CBD tinctures and oils you can order. Online orders are convenient – you can get a large quantity of buds, concentrates, CBD tinctures, and other products delivered straight to your door. 

If you are looking to add something extra to your CBD tincture, you can also grab tincture online that include a combination of equal parts CBD and THC. These tinctures are a great way to enjoy a smooth and steady high without the risks that come with smoking. Tinctures are a great way to make your own edibles or cannabis tea, so definitely give them a browse while you are shopping. 

CBD Tinctures Vs. CBD Oil 

There appears to be a lot of names for the same product: CBD oil, hemp oil, hemp extract oil, CBD tinctures, the list goes on and on. But what’s the difference? Should you buy a CBD oil or stick with a tincture? 

The answer depends on how and when you want to use the product. CBD tinctures are the liquid extract derived from cannabis or hemp. This makes it easier for consumers to add tinctures to sparkling water, coffee, or other food products. CBD oil is definitely okay to add to beverages, but if you leave out your iced coffee for a few minutes, you’ll start to see the oil separate and maybe even feel it on your lips as you ingest it. (This is safe, but can feel a little funky.) 

CBD oil, however, does tend to have a higher concentration of CBD in the product. It may also contain other beneficial nutrients and ingredients to enhance the product. These extra nutrients, as well as a higher concentration of “the good stuff,” often make CBD oil a pricier product than CBD tinctures. 

CBD From Hemp vs. CBD From Marijuana 

CBD is one of the 100+ cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis is an umbrella term that covers both hemp and marijuana – but what’s the difference between CBD from hemp and CBD from marijuana? 

On a molecular level, there isn’t really much. Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, but hemp contains less than .03% THC. You will still get the same great benefits from CBD tinctures whether you choose to buy a CBD oil derived from hemp or one derived from marijuana.

But this does not mean that you should purchase the first CBD tincture that catches your eye. 

What To Know Before You Buy CBD Tinctures

If you are currently on medication, talk to a doctor before trying CBD tinctures. CBD can interact with certain medications. Take the advice of a medical professional – even though CBD is generally safe, it’s best not to risk serious symptoms. There is still a lot of research to be done on the long-term effects of CBD and how it works throughout the body. 

Also, be sure to buy your CBD products from a trusted distributor. Manufacturers who want to make a quick profit in the health and wellness industry may produce a CBD product in a rush. The product may contain THC or additives that produce harmful side effects. Stick to well-known brands and reliable retailers when you try out CBD tinctures for the first time. 

CBD tinctures are a great way to ease yourself into the CBD trend. They’re versatile, accessible, and come with very few risks. Enjoy your experimentation with CBD tinctures!