CBD Tinctures: Guide on Everything You Need to Know About Them

In this guide, we start by answering the question: “What is a CBD tincture?” Then, we’ll move on to another interesting question, “Why have lots of Canadians decided to start using CBD tinctures this year?” So let’s start!

But first, a primer on the likeliest reasons behind the CBD tincture craze in Canada today. The majority of the groups we interviewed throughout the country for the past several months say they choose to use CBD tincture oils because they consider these products an all-natural way to treat their mental and physical ailments. These include arthritis, anxiety, depression, and various similar chronic pains and mental health conditions. But others in the same local groups say they take CBD oil tinctures as a fun and safe way to balance out their physical state and well-being. 

Are lots of Canadians using CBD tinctures for the past few years? In a survey conducted in 2018, at least 82 percent of 2,409 respondents said that they usually take CBD for medical purposes. This isn’t surprising, especially considering the scientifically documented CBD benefits recently published by research groups all around the country. But what caught us unprepared was to learn about the potential of these products to treat a host of other ailments. Meanwhile, some respondents say they chose to ingest cannabinoids for their physiological benefits, and others claim they tested it to try and manage depression and anxiety.

What is a CBD Tincture?

To answer this question, let’s talk about CBD first. This is an abbreviation of the word “cannabidiol.” This is a known cannabinoid and THC (which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD and THC are found in cannabis plants. These are both widely-known cannabinoids, but you can also find hundreds of other cannabinoids in cannabis plants.

Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabivarin (CBV), Cannabichromene (CBC) and Cannabigerol (CBG) are examples of other lesser-known cannabinoids found inside a cannabis plant. Scientists in Canadian research laboratories recently separated at least 113 different cannabinoids from three types of cannabis plants. These are ruderalis, indica and sativa.

CBD and THC are closely related. But there’s a huge difference between these two compounds. CBD doesn’t contain psychoactive chemicals, many of which are responsible for the high that you feel after ingesting cannabis. And unlike THC, CBD products won’t get you high, no matter how much you take. 

CBD is known to provide relief from inflamed joints, stress and anxiety, according to many of the Canadians we interviewed about this. They also say these products help them manage insomnia.

What Are Tinctures?

And to answer what is a CBD tincture, we’ll also have to tackle some fundamentals about tinctures. Simply put, a tincture is a type of concentrated herbal extract. This is usually created when you soak herbs in liquids like water mixed with other organic compounds like alcohol. Over a month or less, the fluid eventually gets infused with several extracts from the herb. And once the herbs have been strained out, the liquid becomes a tincture. 

In the past, people who made tinctures used nothing but the most potent compounds to add to these cannabis herbs. But over time, the volume and types of chemicals have since changed. However, the only thing that remains the same is how to make them. An experienced tincture-maker mentioned that traditional herbal remedies call for tinctures to be made using alcohol, but now they are created using a variety of food-grade solvents. Sometimes, these are plant-based oils and flavours added to the mixture.

Are CBD Tinctures Good?

Compared to other popular CBD-infused products like lotions, gummies and CBD chocolates, tinctures have high levels of bioavailability. This is why our bodies can absorb them very quickly. Meanwhile, edible CBD products such as gummies or cookies don’t have too much bioavailability because our body still needs to process both the CBD itself and the ingredients added to these products. 

This is why an individual tends to absorb a huge amount of CBD from tinctures than eating it as food or other topical CBD products such as balms. You’ll also feel the effects much quicker. And because of the way we can ingest tinctures, compared to other forms of administering tinctures to the body, there’s a more efficient absorption rate that happens, which begins right after the tincture is placed beneath your tongue.

CBD Tincture for Treating Pain

Many CBD tincture users turn to cannabinoids as a way to temporarily soothe their physical ailments. However, CBD tincture’s effects depend on the type of physical pain you have. It has been proven multiple times that CBD tincture oils can lessen sciatic nerve pain, which could get quite intense. There’s also a CBD-based pharmaceutical called Sativex, which is often prescribed by experts to treat pain related to multiple sclerosis. However, it can also cure minor chronic pain such as arthritis and other joint problems. 

Relieving pain is the number one reason why many CBD users want to try out tinctures. But as mentioned, the type of pain will vary. For example, professional athletes will utilize CBD tinctures to soothe their muscles and joints, thus allowing them to make a quick recovery. Like Canada, other countries already approved pharmaceuticals composed purely of CBD. 

If you are searching for an all-natural remedy to cure your physical ailments, then CBD tinctures may be your best bet. Some CBD tinctures are so potent that they can prevent seizures. CBD is just one of the many cannabinoids found inside the cannabis plant. Still, compared to THC, it doesn’t generate any psychoactive effect when interacting with the human CNS (central nervous system). This is why you won’t get that lightheaded, high feeling that usually occurs after ingesting, vaping or smoking cannabis.

How to Buy the Right CBD Tincture?

Since CBD is considered safe and legal by the Canadian government, you’ll discover plenty of CBD oils, tinctures and other products in many licensed stores all around the country and also across accredited local online shops. However, not all CBD tinctures have the same quality, so picking the correct one is always essential. But where to begin, exactly? 

Choosing a CBD tincture with the correct strength is always the best place to start. You should also familiarize yourself with the three types of CBD tinctures. These are:

• Full Spectrum CBD – This is a type of CBD oil that includes plenty of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids, most extracted from hemp plants. Full Spectrum CBD tinctures often contain at least 0.3 percent of THC, which is the legally approved amount. An excellent example of this CBD tincture is the Mota CBD Sleep Tincture.
• Broad Spectrum CBD – This CBD tincture filters out all plant compounds from the oil itself, except CBD. This gives the oil a stronger combination of non-psychoactive terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids. 
• CBD Isolate – As the name suggests, this type of CBD tincture removes all of the plant compounds from the oil, leaving only the CBD itself. This means that any CBD tincture labelled as “CBD isolate” won’t be able to provide you with the Entourage Effect. 

Many CBD tincture stores usually sell broad-spectrum or full-spectrum types. Both broad spectrum and full-spectrum CBD types can provide this Entourage Effect to its users. 

… And what is this “Entourage Effect”? Simply put, this refers to the results of terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids and fatty acids interacting with each other and also with your CNS. This also refers to well-known CBD tincture benefits, in which all compounds in a tincture work together. So this means the Entourage Effect can provide positive effects, achieved from your body taking in many components of the cannabis plant instead of absorbing these compounds in one go. 

It’s always wise to search for a CBD tincture with excellent quality, made from nothing but the best ingredients. It only makes sense that a good quality product is made from nice ingredients. Cannabis plants are commonly known as a type of phytoremediator. This means that it can get rid of toxins such as pesticides, chemicals, and heavy metals from the soil that the plant has grown from, thus restoring the soil to good health. These chemicals usually end up in the plant. 

This is also the main reason why you want to ensure that the CBD tincture you get from a store is entirely pesticide-free, organic, and is produced inside a non-GMO farm. You also need to ensure that the oil found inside these CBD tinctures comes from hemp plants, extracted through safe, carefully regulated methods. 

Another thing you should look out for when on the lookout for. These reports usually come from a third party, not connected to the companies or groups that make these tinctures. These reports list the exact ingredients found in the tincture and how or where it was made. 

Be sure to check for some extra ingredients found in the CBD tincture formula. This can help you address some of your particular needs. For example, if you’re looking for a CBD tincture that can help you relax, then find one that has melatonin or chamomile extract. Remember, a good CBD tincture that promotes wellness across consumers often contains all-natural ingredients or superfood extracts, such as turmeric. 

Plus, asking where the CBD company grows, processes, and produces the hemp they use for the product you bought is also a good idea. You can see how exactly a company is willing to be transparent with its customers when you do this.

How Are CBD Oil Tinctures Made?

As mentioned earlier, a tincture is a type of liquid extract. It’s made by soaking a substance in another compound. Alcohol is the most common ingredient used to make tinctures. And if you want your tincture to be made from all-natural ingredients, then glycerin, vinegar or any other oil is always a good option. However, according to CBD tincture makers, alcohol is always the best ingredient for these things. And no matter how many drops you take from the CBD tincture oil, you won’t even feel the alcohol at all. For instance, Boost Balanced 1:1 Tincture 900mg Natural (2 pack) is a tincture made out of all-natural ingredients. 

You can also use ethanol to make CBD tinctures. But consumable alcohol, namely vodka, brandy or even grain-based alcohol like Everclear, is also suggested. Combining these types of alcohol with cannabis buds is said to produce the best flavours for CBD tinctures. THC tinctures are usually more intense, requiring a stronger type of alcohol to soak the cannabis buds in. 

After combining the cannabis buds and the alcohol of your choice, the alcohol will begin to dissolve the terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids and trichomes, along with other compounds found in your buds. These are held inside the solution, similar to a juice powder mixture. 

You can also make tinctures from other plants, and not just cannabis. Animal materials, on occasion, are also used to make tinctures. The most common non-cannabis tinctures found in stores are sage tinctures, garlic tinctures and hyssop tinctures. If you have enough skills, you can even make your own CBD tinctures at home, although Canadian experts don’t recommend this.

How Do You Take CBD Tinctures?

Before discussing this topic, you’re advised to consult a physician with expertise in relevant areas if you’re considering buying a CBD tincture and incorporating it into your daily life. As vitamins and supplements, CBD tinctures – Or any CBD-infused product, really – Isn’t ideal for every person. This might have unpleasant side effects if you’re taking other medications for various health conditions. This is why you’re recommended to talk to a healthcare professional who is fully aware of the medicines you’re taking and which combination before you can experiment with any other product in any form.

And when you get their approval, consider two safe methods for ingesting CBD tincture oil. After you squeeze the tincture oil into the dropper, you can place it sublingually (meaning under the tongue) or rub it onto your skin, like liniment. Those who want to get rid of arthritis, joint inflammation or pain and tendonitis prefer the latter method, while those who want to use CBD for relaxation or stress relief often do the former. 

A lot of CBD tinctures come in all sorts of flavours today. Some of Canada’s most popular flavours this 2022 include ginger-cinnamon, vanilla and lavender-orange. But if you’re still not fond of the taste of tincture oil, then you can add a few drops into your favourite drink or food to make it more pleasing to the palate.

How Much CBD Tincture Oil Should You Take?

This is a bit of a tricky question, as there’s no industry standard recommended dose for CBD. However, Canadian experts suggest that you begin with a small dose (especially if you’re new to CBD tincture products), using a lower-strength CBD product. If you don’t feel the effects, don’t hesitate to take in a second drop. But keep in mind it might take a bit of time before its effects kick in, so you’re advised to wait for around 60 to 90 minutes.

The correct CBD oil dose also depends on several factors, such as your height, weight and your current health condition. Other factors include your sensitivity to CBD (Yes, there’s such a thing) and your body chemistry. 

When you’re still trying to figure out how much CBD to take, the main objective here is to look for the lowest dose that can give you the benefits and other positive effects of CBD without experiencing any unpleasant side effects. What’s good about ingesting CBD is that, unlike THC, CBD tolerance takes much longer to build up. This means with CBD, and you’re likely to feel similar effects without increasing your dose for a long time.

How Long Do CBD Tincture Effects Last?

Once again, this all depends on the CBD product. Those taken orally, including capsules, powders and edibles, have longer-lasting effects. However, it’ll also take a while for you to feel them, too. This is because the edible has to pass through your digestive system first, which can take up to 90 minutes. It is only afterwards that its cannabinoids travel to your brain’s endocannabinoid system. 

Meanwhile, CBD tincture oil taken beneath the tongue will take effect much faster because it won’t have to pass through the digestive system – Not to mention it goes straight to your bloodstream. You’ll likely start feeling its effects after 20 minutes or so. 

On the other hand, CBD inhalation using a vape pen is the fastest way to feel its effects. After you vape CBD tinctures, you’ll start feeling its effects after several minutes, and these normally last for a couple of hours. 

A CBD product that you apply topically, such as salves, balms or lotions, is known to be capable of helping treat pain across particular areas of the body. You can massage the product directly into the affected area, which is said to get rid of inflammation or pain within minutes. Similar to smoking CBD, the effects of topical CBD products often last for hours. CBD tincture oils are also considered to be topical products. 

Applying the product and the type of product that you take can affect the duration and onset of CBD’s effects on the body. Instead, it also affects the amount you’re recommended to take. Plus, CBD doesn’t have too much oral bioavailability, so any CBD product you ingest orally will lose a large amount of CBD, especially after it passes through the digestive system. This results in only a small amount of CBD entering the bloodstream. 

And when you rub CBD tincture oil onto the skin, it won’t reach your bloodstream. It’ll start interacting with cannabinoid receptors instead so that they can treat the aching part of your body. Just like taking CBD products orally, the transdermal application will require you to ingest a larger dose of CBD. This is to make sure that it goes deep enough to get to your body’s cannabinoid receptors. 

Because the other two methods of CBD ingestion let the product go straight to your bloodstream, a larger amount of CBD will then be absorbed by your body. This will allow you to ingest a lower amount of CBD when vaping or taking the tincture sublingually.

CBD Oil vs Tinctures

Are CBD oil and CBD tinctures similar? Sort of. They’re both defined by local communities of scientists and medical professionals all around Canada similarly and are also made in pretty much the same ways. However, a tincture can also be defined as a type of herbal extract made using a combination of the plant and some alcohol or vinegar.

So to summarize, and to also answer the question “what is a CBD tincture?” — As described earlier, CBD tinctures are made by soaking cannabis buds in alcohol. This is a process to extract the organic compounds of your buds gradually. Later, the alcohol will begin to pull out the compounds for the CBD, such as the cannabinoids and terpenes from the buds. This isn’t as labour-extensive, so CBD tinctures made with alcohol often come cheaper. And these tinctures often taste bitter, so many Canadians prefer to add them to their food and drinks.