Over the years cannabidiol (CBD) has been gaining a reputation for being one of the most clinically useful cannabinoids among hundreds of compounds in the cannabis plant. CBD also became popular for its beneficial effects as a daily lifestyle aid.

Because of this, consumers are always looking for ways to incorporate this cannabinoid into their daily routine. Getting CBD oil can help consumers maximize the versatility of this substance. Interested in getting this flexible product but not sure where to start? Check out the ways below.

Take it Straight

One of the most common ways to take this oil is to do it straight. Many people simply place a few drops into their mouths, then swallow. This oral intake is great for beginners and experienced consumers alike because effects come gradually, giving them more time to adjust.

Those who want to get more immediate effects can do it sublingually or by placing a few drops under their tongue and waiting a minute for it to be absorbed. This is a great way to reap its benefits promptly as this part of the mouth has glands that can easily absorb the substance.

Mix it With Drinks

Those who prefer to have CBD oil mixed into other food items should look for beverages to use as a base. You can use coffee, tea, or any other drink that is warm enough to keep the oil from turning into glops of grease. This is a great way to mask the cannabis taste, which not everyone likes.

Just keep in mind that any oral method of consuming this product can take time to manifest effects, so you need to hold out on taking more to avoid overconsumption.

Blend it with Sauces or Dressings

Making cbd oil-based sauces and dressings is also another great way to make a tasty ingredient out of this product. You can use it as an oil for pesto by making paste along with basil leaves, garlic, parmesan, and seasonings. For salad dressings, mixing it with vinaigrette is always a good idea. Those who like the taste of cannabis can use it as a drizzle for salads.

Use it as a Finishing Oil

When making pasta with CBD oil, it is important to remember that cannabinoids tend to evaporate when exposed to high temperatures. It can only tolerate heat less than 200 degrees F. So, it is not ideal to use it for sauteing in high heat or anything that involves too much heat.

What you can do is use it as a finishing oil for different dishes. This is where this product becomes more versatile. You can use it to top all kinds of dishes, as long as you know to expect the signature taste of CBD and cannabis products.

Final Thoughts

CBD oil is already a great product because of its benefits. Combined with the different ways to consume it, you should definitely make it your favorite cannabidiol product. You can even try making it on your own!

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.

The CBD industry is perhaps one of the largest contributors to the flourishing cannabis sector. As such, it cannot be denied that cannabidiol products have taken the world by storm. While CBD oil tinctures and even edibles seem to be the most popular products of today, CBD topicals are fast cementing their name in the game.

If you are looking to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, choosing the right CBD topical can be quite challenging and overwhelming at the same time, especially with the wide array of options to pick from. We’re here to help you choose the best one for your needs.

What is a CBD Topical?

A topical medication is simply a type of medication or ointment, if you will, that is applied to a particular area of the body. By extension, a CBD topical is any type of cream, ointment, salve, balm, or just about any product that is meant to be applied to the skin. True to its name, a CBD topical should be a product that contains cannabidiol obtained from the hemp plant.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid usually found in cannabis. However, unlike its well-known counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, it does not produce a high because it is not psychoactive.

Topical CBD is often used to address pain and inflammation, such as arthritis or even joint pain. There are studies that also point to the effectiveness of topical applications that have CBD in soothing a number of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Factors to Consider When Picking a CBD Topical

Now that you know more about topical CBD, here are some factors that you should take note of. These factors are a great way to gauge the overall quality and safety of the product you intend to purchase.

• Potency

One of the most important factors you need to take in mind is the potency of the product. After all, you want to get the best penetration of CBD to your skin in order to maximize the benefits that cannabidiol has to offer. Topicals are not processed in the same way that edibles and tinctures are, which is why it’s important to look for a potent product.

The usual potency for CBD topicals ranges anywhere from 3 to 8 milligrams per application. To get the best dosage for your concerns, you might want to amp this up and find a product that at least sits on the 8-milligram range or higher, especially if you have chronic pain and inflammation you plan to address.

Beginners or newbies who are not yet familiar or accustomed to the world of cannabidiol, however, may want to start with a lower dose and build their way up from there. This way, they can measure whether the dosage and the product is working for them as desired.

• Purity of Ingredients

Having pure CBD topicals on your stash is what you want, particularly when you know you’ll be applying these directly on your skin and your other body parts. You do not want products irritating or aggravating your skin even further, not when you already have dry and inflammation-prone skin, so be sure to check the label and their claims.

With this in mind, looking for a company that sources its ingredients grown in the United States, as well as those that opt for organic and all-natural components, should be your best bet. This lessens your exposure to allergens or other irritants.

While you’re at it, you might want to look for other ingredients in the mix that complement CBD to further address your needs. Those that have menthol or arnica in them could help soothe pain, while those with aloe and oils can hydrate and moisturize the skin.

• CBD Source and Extraction

Not all cannabidiol products are created the same as some still contain THC. There are CBD isolates, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum CBD and these are mostly influenced by the extraction method. What you want to look for are products that have been extracted using supercritical CO2 rather than butane. This way, you can ensure that no harsh chemicals come into contact with the cannabinoid and the end product.

Among all the aforementioned CBD products, those that are broad-spectrum contain the necessary and beneficial compounds without THC. Isolates, on the other hand, are designed for those who want to do away with THC altogether, however, these also take away other cannabinoids in the mix.

Meanwhile, those that are marked full-spectrum CBD preserve not just the chemical compounds, but also THC less than 0.3% and the terpenes. These work together beautifully to achieve the entourage effect.

You may want to go further by seeing the third-party testing results of these CBD topicals to make certain that these ingredients and methods live up to what the brands and companies claim.

The Bottom Line

The CBD market is teeming with products and it is not at all regulated by the FDA. In order to ensure the safety, potency, and quality of these products, you should refer to these aforementioned factors. With this guide, you are on your way to finding the best topical CBD for your needs in no time.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.

Cannabidiol’s legalization has made it a permanent fixture in the lives of tens and thousands of people around the globe, particularly those who suffer from chronic pain, anxiety, and other medical conditions. With CBD products available in just about every state in the country, it cannot be denied that workplace rules and regulations around the use of these items have come to light. After all, many employers are concerned not only about the performance of these employees in the workplace but also whether or not it’s appropriate to even take CBD at work in the first place.

A Brief Overview on CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the chemicals found in cannabis and hemp plants. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), this compound does not cause users to feel intoxicated or to be high as it is a non-psychoactive compound. Under the Farm Bill of 2018, all hemp-derived products are now considered legal. This means that cannabidiol oil and products from hemp can now be sold and be available on the market. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one drug that uses CBD to treat epilepsy, namely Epidiolex. Cannabidiol is highly praised in the cannabis community not only for its non-psychoactive components but also for its numerous health claims. It is often used for treating chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, addiction, and a host of other medical conditions.

CBD at Work and the impairment and intoxication it brings

Despite being legal throughout different states, it is not surprising that CBD still garners a certain stigma to it, especially since there are still unregulated products out there are that are not 100% pure CBD. This means that not only does it exceed the allowed 0.3% THC, which is still not intoxicating, but it can potentially alter employee performance. Unless a product has been thoroughly tested and verified by a third-party laboratory saying that cannabidiol products from this brand and line do not contain THC, individuals run the risk of employees testing positive for marijuana in case they are subjected to a drug test by their employers. As a matter of fact, there have been numerous instances in the past where employees have been fired from their work after testing positive for the drug, even though they have only taken CBD-marketed products. This resulted in lawsuits against manufacturers who claimed that their products are made from pure CBD. Since impure cannabidiol products can have effects on users, there have been agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) that have issued mandates against the use of cannabidiol in the workplace. These include school bus drivers, truck drivers, and even police officers. However, for those not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, the use of cannabidiol at work remains under the existing employer-employee contracts and under the current rules and regulations. This means that individuals who opt to use CBD in the workplace may not be covered by protections who test positive for the drug, unlike those who are using medical marijuana.

Communication at the Core

For all concerned parties to be given the proper protection they need, education and communication should remain at the center. This entails employees being given the education and implications of using CBD, and by extension, the potential contamination of THC into these products. At the same time, it is imperative that workers are in the know about the existing drug and alcohol policies in the workplace. While the use of cannabidiol will not put individuals under the influence, there are still accompanying risks to using CBD and there are implications when a positive marijuana test is obtained.

Conclusion

Although there are certain states such as New York that are now taking strides in changing existing labor laws on employee cannabis drug testing, there is still a long way to go when it comes to revising these drug testing policies and how it perceives CBD use. So, be sure to be wary about using CBD at work in the meantime and learn about your workplace drug rules to be on the safe side.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.