Jamie Taylor -

Last updated on Dec 21, 2023

The Best CBD Oil: Everything You Should Know

CBD is everywhere, and everyone speaks of its magic health benefits. How do you buy and take this supplement? What is the best CBD extract, and how does CBD oil differ from hemp oil? Today, you will learn everything you need for living a happier life using the best CBD oil.

How to Choose the Best CBD Oil?

Since many unregulated CBD products flood the market, you may not pick the best-quality CBD oils in a few clicks. How to buy safe and effective CBD oil at a moderate price then? Check this out below.

CBD Extract Matters

CBD oil comes in three formulations, which are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolated. Full-spectrum CBD oils contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the primary active ingredient of recreational marijuana.

This chemical impacts brain function causing the “high” feeling and all the effects typically associated with cannabis. So is CBD oil legal, assuming that it contains a psychoactive substance?

The US government allows CBD products with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. In this concentration, THC is entirely harmless but might be detectable for marijuana testing. Therefore, you should opt for CBD oil extracts with 0.3% THC or CBD isolates and broad-spectrum oils if you undergo marijuana testing.

Check for Certifications and Lab Reports

You may ask yourself: “How do I check a particular CBD product for the desirable THC amount?” For this, you need to buy CBD oil from companies that feature easily accessible certificates of analysis for every product.

The best CBD oil brands have certification pages with lab reports on their websites, where you can check every available CBD product for THC content, heavy metals, impurities, herbicides, pesticides, etc.

A reliable brand should have some of these certifications:

• The US Hemp Authority certificate.
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate.
• ISO 9001 certificate.
• National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certificate.

If the brand of your choice has at least one of these documents, it produces high-quality products.

Consider the Hemp Source

Hemp origin also matters. A CBD tincture must contain potent hemp extract to yield maximum benefit. It happens only when CBD comes from high-quality hemp grown on fertile land under strict regulation using natural farming practices.

Consequently, you may want to address CBD brands that either source hemp from American suppliers or grow hemp in the US fields. Western Europe also produces premium hemp due to reliable quality control and farming practices.

CBD Manufacturing Process and Extraction Methods

Once hemp grows, it’s high time to harvest it and extract cannabinoids from it. The process of making CBD oil is called CBD extraction. To extract CBD and other cannabinoids, different CBD producers use different solvents. Why do you need this information? Read further to find this out.

CO2 Extraction

CO2 CBD extraction is by far the most technologically advanced and efficient. It uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent. CO2 reaches a supercritical state under freezing (-70° F) or burning (100-200° F) temperatures and very high pressure (around 340 atmospheres). In its supercritical state, CO2 becomes a solvent and separates cannabinoids from hemp matter.

Pros of CO2 extraction:

• 100% safe – CO2 is non-toxic. In fact, soda drinks have those bubbles due to CO2.
• 100% purity. CO2 removes barely detectable impurities and delivers super-potent CBD extracts.

Cons of CO2 extraction:

• One needs specific knowledge to operate the advanced extraction equipment.
• The end product costs lots of money. CO2 extraction machines cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ethanol Extraction

Ethanol extraction uses 97% ethanol (high-grain alcohol) as a solvent. In short, the plant matter is soaked in alcohol, dissolved, and removed. The remaining extract is then filtered; the alcohol is removed.

Pros of ethanol extraction:

• Excellent for full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil extracts.
• The end product comes at a lower price.

Cons of ethanol extraction:

• More water-soluble compounds are removed from the extract.
• The extract has low potency.

Hydrocarbon Extraction

Hydrocarbon extraction involves butane (a highly flammable gas) as a solvent. Oftentimes, butane is combined with propane. The cooled gases separate cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp material. After extraction, the gasses are removed through boiling.

Pros of hydrocarbon extraction:

• More terpenes and other heat-sensitive components are preserved because propane and butane boil at low temperatures.
• Hydrocarbon extraction produces all types of hemp extracts.

Cons of hydrocarbon extraction:

There might be health risks if the extraction goes wrong and some toxic contaminants remain in the extract.

Olive Oil Extraction

Olive extraction involves olive oil as a solvent. You need to heat the hemp material at 248° F for one hour. Afterward, the hemp material is mixed with olive oil and boiled at 212° F for one-two hours.

Pros of olive extraction:

• 100% safety.
• Low costs – you don’t need to use any sophisticated equipment to extract CBD.

Cons olive oil extraction:

It’s impossible to achieve high CBD potency.

How to Use the Best CBD Oil?

Read further on how to take different forms of CBD to get the maximum benefit from this substance.

CBD Oil Capsules and Edibles

Taking CBD softgels, capsules, and edibles is a cakewalk because each piece contains a specific CBD amount – you can calculate a daily CBD dose in a flash. Take CBD softgels and capsules with a glass of water after a meal, and that’s it. As for edibles, there are CBD gummies, CBD candies, CBD chocolate, and other snacks. You can eat them at your pleasure as long as you don’t go beyond the daily dosage.

CBD Oil Tinctures or Drops

You can add CBD oil drops to your favorite beverages and foods. However, if you wish to extract the maximum benefit from CBD oils, you should take them sublingually – hold the oil under your tongue for 30-60 seconds.

CBD Topicals: Sprays, Creams, Salves, Balms, Roll-Ons, and Lotions

CBD topicals are perfect for external targeted applications. Let’s say one of your knees aches. You need to spread some CBD lotion/cream/balm/salve on your knee for pain and inflammation relief.

As for sprays and roll-ons, just sprinkle or roll some CBD on the affected area, and that’s it. The desired relief will kick in within an hour on average.

CBD Patches

CBD patches are super comfortable for general application, and you can apply them to any area of your body. Just remove the protective lining and stick the patch to your skin. Afterward, wear the patch for the time frame indicated on the packaging.

CBD Oil Vapes

CBD starts working much faster if you vape or smoke it – five or ten minutes is all it takes. So fill out your vaping cartridge with CBD, take calm puffs, and relax. Using disposable CBD vape pens is much easier – just draw the vape and puff it.

CBD Soaks or Bath Salts

Taking a warm bath in the evening will bring you much more pleasure using CBD bath salt. All you need to do is fill the bathtub with warm water and scatter the salt in there. After that, relax.

CBD Dosage Calculator

1

Experience Level with CBD

• None - Mild
• Medium
• Severe

2

Total Body Weight (in lbs)

• < 45
• 46-86
• 86 - 150
• 151-240
• >240

• <45
• 46 – 85
• 86 – 150
• 151-240
• >240

• <45
• 46-85
• 86-150
• 151-240
• >240

this calculator is for informational purposes only. Talk with your Doctor before taking CBD. Individual results may vary.

6 mg

My Initial Dosage (Per Day)

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Check How CBD Interacts with Other Drugs and Supplements

CBD and Alcohol

Some researchers indicate that CBD reduces alcohol-inflicted cell damage. Others say that taking CBD with a tequila shot might result in increased sleepiness and fatigue. So we don’t recommend you take CBD and alcohol at the same time due to insufficient research.

CBD and THC

Studies suggest that CBD can reduce some psychoactive THC properties when taken together. Assuming the cannabis synergy effects, you can opt for full spectrum CBD oil without hesitation.

CBD and Metformin

Researchers suggest that you may take CBD and metformin together with caution. While taken alone, CBD doesn’t involve frequent adverse effects. But it might result in an increased risk of diarrhea when combined with metformin.

CBD and Zoloft

Combining CBD and Zoloft can increase CBD’s adverse effects frequency. You may experience dizziness, sleepiness, fatigue, and decreased concentration. Therefore, you should either take these drugs separately or limit activities requiring increased attention and concentration.

CBD and Lexapro

Using CBD and Lexapro together might result in difficulty concentrating, dizziness, confusion, and lack of attention. The elderly might experience impaired thinking and coordination. You may want to avoid driving and other activities that require concentration and mental alertness.

CBD and Ibuprofen

No interactions occur between CBD and ibuprofen. Both medications impact inflammatory response. However, they don’t amplify each other. Many people choose CBD over ibuprofen due to fewer side effects. You have to consult your doctor before combining these two.

CBD and Kratom

You can mix CBD and kratom safely because these two substances don’t interfere with each other. However, you have to consult your practitioner before taking both kratom and CBD. Adjust dosing each medication since these two have similar effects.

CBD Oil and Levothyroxine

You shouldn’t combine levothyroxine and CBD oil because your liver uses the same enzymes to dissolve them. Therefore, your body won’t absorb levothyroxine to the fullest, which may lead to serious adverse health effects.

CBD and GABA

GABA helps your brain calm down, shortens sleep onset, and improves the overall quality of sleep. Taking this medication with CBD before bed is an excellent idea because both supplements complement each other and result in better sleep-inducing effects.

CBD and IBS

Current research doesn’t indicate whether CBD alleviates Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Some studies suggest that CBD can improve gut health, but more evidence is required. You should use CBD with caution if you have IBS because CBD may cause diarrhea.

CBD and Caffeine

Small CBD doses promote wakefulness, so you can brew delicious CBD coffee in the morning without hesitation. However, 100-200 mg CBD causes sleepiness. So you would want to combine only small CBD doses (like 10 mg) with caffeine.

What Are CBD Oil Side Effects?

Studies report that people can take up to 1,500 mg of CBD daily without developing adverse health effects. However, higher CBD doses may be toxic for the liver in the long run. But you will never get that high CBD dose under normal conditions anyway.

So CBD is entirely safe and has a much better safety profile than most prescription medications. However, this supplement may involve some infrequent adverse effects:

• Drowsiness.
• Fatigue.
• Dry mouth.
• Sleepiness.
• Diarrhea.
• Reduced appetite.

Also, keep in mind that you should consume CBD with caution if you take other medications. Consult your doctor on CBD interactions with other drugs.

The Difference Between Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and Isolated CBD Forms

Check this comparison to learn the differences between three CBD extracts:

Full-spectrum CBD oil

Cannabinoid Profile

THC + CBD + minor cannabinoids + terpenes and flavonoids.

Effectiveness

100% effective due to prominent cannabis synergy.

Safety

Undesirable for marijuana tests. THC can accumulate and reach detectable concentrations.

Broad spectrum CBD oil

Cannabinoid Profile

CBD + minor cannabinoids + terpenes and flavonoids.

Effectiveness

Less effective due to weakened cannabis synergy.

Safety

100% safe.

CBD isolate

Cannabinoid Profile

CBD

Effectiveness

Less effective due to absent cannabis synergy.

Safety

100% safe.

Simply put, a full-spectrum extract is the best CBD oil form because it delivers the most benefits due to cannabis synergy. Scientists discovered that CBD oil provides a more powerful therapeutic effect if the extract contains the full range of essential cannabinoids:

• THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol).
• CBD (cannabidiol).
• CBG (cannabigerol).
• CBC (cannabichromene).
• CBN (cannabinol).

Note that you may need to replace full-spectrum CBD with broad-spectrum or isolated forms if you undergo marijuana testing or are sensitive to some components of wholesome hemp extract.

Written by:

Jamie Taylor

Jamie has more than ten years of experience as a physician assistant. He has always been interested in the healing potential of cannabidiol, especially in its pain relief properties. Jamie considers cannabidiol as a powerful remedy with minimal side effects. He knows how to help users make rational buying decisions based on the unbiased and accurate reviews of CBD products and brands.

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