What are the benefits of cannabis oil tinctures?

Even though CBD is relatively new to our collective consciousness, it has been working to deliver its calming agents since the 80s according to some estimates and the ancient ages by others. It has given rise to a vast array of CBD products, ranging from capsules and cannabis tincture oils to lotions or seltzer. Each offering a more potent dose.

Cannabis tincture oil is still somewhat mysterious, partly because of the old-school apothecary-style packaging but also because of the way it is taken, a few drops at once, under your tongue.

What's it all about?

Cannabis plants contain hundreds of chemicals, including over 120 cannabinoids. THC is the most well-known of all cannabinoids. It produces the "high" or euphoric effects that people get from cannabis products. CBD has anti-inflammatory and anxiety-relieving properties.

The two chemicals act as opposites at the plant level with CBD acting as a buffer to THC's effects. It's sort of a ying-yang. THC is responsible for the high, while CBD does not.

What are Tinctures specifically?

A herbal tincture is made from a combination of alcohol and water. It extracts compounds from plants, in this case the cannabis plant.

You may find tinctures (extracted from glycerin), vinegar, or oil, which do not contain alcohol. These extracts offer the benefit of not being alcohol-water, but they may not offer the same level of potency as alcohol-water extracts.

What are the benefits of cannabis oil tinctures?

Cannabis tinctures are made with high CBD strains of cannabis and 60 to 70% alcohol. There are many cannabis tincture benefits but they are used primarily to relieve anxiety or pain. Tinctures are easy to swallow, are long-lasting, and can be taken under the tongue. The dose can be adjusted by increasing/ decreasing the amount of drops.

CBD preparations of any kind have a lot to offer, but there is still much research to do.

The pace and scale of research has not kept up with the level of interest at this time. Many of the medical uses of cannabidiol have been supported by animal studies or no studies at all. This is where it can become a problem.

Are there any side effects?

Cannabis tincture oil is considered a relatively safe compound. We still need to learn more about cannabis, such as how it interacts and long-term effects. One of the biggest concerns is that people may choose to use it in place of evidence-based treatments, which can pose a clinical problem in certain cases.

CBD tincture or CBD oil? Which is better?

Tincture could offer more compounds from hemp than oil extraction. Hemp oil is preferred by those who are sensitive to alcohol over tincture. Hemp oil can be applied topically but is easier to use and less irritating than tincture.

You need to be aware of what you are getting. If you rub a CBD cream on your skin, it is not going to enter your bloodstream. It can be used as an anti-inflammatory local to the skin, similar to other over-the-counter remedies. However, CBD may not offer any greater relief than these products and will likely cost you a lot more.

How can you tell if you are getting what you pay for? What should you be looking for?

Quality is always an issue in a young market like the cannabis market. An 2017 study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that only 30% of CBD products were correctly labeled.

Many of these cannabis plants had higher levels of CBD than they should have, while others had lower levels. Some had no CBD at all. Buying organic because the cannabis plant is a bio-accumulator and can be affected by heavy metals in soil. It also has broad-spectrum meaning that it contains all the phytocannabinoids except THC.