Are you in pain? Do you feel anxious? Is it impossible for you to stay asleep throughout the night? If you’ve answered “yes” to struggling with one or all of the above issues we just mentioned, then you’ve stumbled upon the right article.
As luck would have it, we’ve discovered a possible solution to a number of health issues and unwanted symptoms. Say hello to Cannabidiol, most commonly known as CBD.
In fact, according to scientific data, CBD is known to reduce the following:
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Spasms
- Frequency of seizures
- And more...
And CBD is known to improve the following:
- Sleep
- Digestion
- Mobility
- Brain function
- Cellular health
- Immune health
- And more…
Given these physical and psychological benefits, along with legalization and the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, millions of people around the world are embracing CBD products in all forms.
And while there’s no shortage of various CBD products on the market today, not all these CBD products are accurately labeled or even safe to consume. That said, it’s imperative to be on top of your game when searching for high quality CBD products.
But where do you start?
What questions should you ask?
How can you tell if the CBD product you’re about to buy is safe to consume?
And what exactly are the differences between CBD oil and CBD tinctures? Is one safer than the other?
Don’t fret. This is where our expertise comes into play. So sit back, relax, and keep reading…
Are CBD tinctures the same as CBD oil? And what about all other CBD products?
Let’s first address the difference between CBD oils and CBD tinctures and whether or not one is safer than the other.
CBD oil
CBD oil is mostly extracted from all parts of the hemp plant: seeds, leaves, stalks, and buds. This means the oil will contain all the phytonutrients that naturally exist in hemp, such as:
- Minerals
- Proteins
- Omega fatty acids
- Vitamins
- And other essential nutrients
Additionally, in order to formulate a high quality CBD oil, it will usually contain a carrier oil, such as MCT oil, hemp seed oil, coconut oil, etc. The most popular way to consume CBD is through sublingual oils. This simply means that you hold the oil under your tongue for 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. What’s more, CBD oils are very versatile, meaning you can add a few drops of CBD oil to the following:
- Drinks (coffee, teas, energy drinks, etc.)
- Edibles (chocolates, gummies, and other snacks)
- Topicals (creams, lotions, balms, salves, etc.)
- Beauty products (lip gloss, face serums, etc.)
- Soft gels
- And more…
Finally, what makes CBD oils even more appealing is that the most of the studies that have been conducted utilize CBD oil. This is mainly because the potency of CBD is much higher (along with the combination of the phytonutrients found in hemp).
CBD tinctures
Tinctures are mostly referred to as a medication, because they usually contain alcohol. For the most part, CBD tinctures will contain a mixture of hemp and either alcohol, glycerin, or a flavored oil. Like CBD oils, tinctures are most commonly taken sublingually. Unfortunately, unlike oils, CBD tinctures don’t have nearly as much CBD by volume. The good news, however, is that CBD tinctures do typically have a much longer shelf life.
So you might be asking: Why do people even buy CBD tinctures? It sounds like CBD oil is far better.
The truth is, CBD oils are often bitter-tasting. So if you have a surprisingly sensitive palette, it might be hard to stomach CBD oil. Whereas CBD tinctures are often combined with flavored carrier oils that make it much easier to stomach. Additionally, CBD tinctures have a much higher bioavailability (which means they’re easier for your body to absorb the solution).
CBD advocates have even suggested that tincture drops can be added to various drinks, edibles, topicals, etc. It’s also said that CBD tinctures can be combined with other essential supplement solutions, such as:
- Herbs
- Melatonin
- Flavors and sweeteners
- Vitamins (D, C, B12, etc.)
- And other essential oils (lavender, peppermint, etc.)
The main difference between CBD tinctures and CBD oils is the taste, shelf life, base (carrier oil), and price. But most importantly, because CBD tinctures are usually formulated using alcohol, they must never be vaped. This is because vaping alcohol could cause tremendous harm. CBD oils, on the other hand, are safe to vape.
Now that we’ve narrowed down the differences between tinctures and oils, it’s worth nothing that not all CBD oils and tinctures are safe to consume.
How to spot fake CBD oil and tinctures
While it’s true that the legalization of hemp is great for the CBD industry, there are some major issues regarding the potency, accuracy, and safety of some hemp-derived CBD products on the market today…
Regulations!
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hemp is only legal as long as it contains 0.3% of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) –– the cannabinoid known for its psychoactive effects. Additionally, only one CBD product has been approved by the FDA, Epidiolex –– a CBD oral solution derived from the cannabis plant. Other than that, no other hemp-derived CBD products have been approved. This is partly because the FDA still views CBD as an illegal substance, regardless of the fact that since the 2018 Farm Bill passed, CBD has been allowed to be sold in America.
We know, it’s confusing, right? But as much as we want to protest the FDA, let’s see their reasoning behind not approving all CBD products.
Because multiple CBD companies have moved forward in marketing various CBD products regardless of the FDA’s approval, there are a lot of so-called CBD products floating around the market that are poorly formulated and inaccurately labeled. In fact, a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine purchased 84 different CBD products from 31 online suppliers. These products include:
- Oils
- Tinctures
- Vaporizing oils
Of all these CBD products and online suppliers, only 31% actually contained the amount of CBD that was advertised on the label. This includes the other ingredients in the product as well. In other tests, conducted in 2015 and 2016, the FDA found that the CBD products they tested contain absolutely no CBD at all.
Also, as you may know, CBD isn’t just derived from hemp; it’s also derived from marijuana that contains well over the amount of 0.3% of THC. This means some CBD products contain higher ratios of THC, which could cause unwanted psychoactive effects. Because of this, it can be incredibly hard to determine which CBD product is derived from legal hemp and illegal marijuana, unless of course the products are rigorously tested.
This leads to our main point: How to actually spot fake CBD oils and tinctures. The best way to determine if your CBD product is fake is by applying these 6 steps:
- Extremely cheap prices
- Promises that their product can cure multiple health conditions
- Claims suggesting their product will not show up on a drug test
- Absolutely no test results confirming the amount of CBD that’s displayed on the label
- Lack of reviews from other users
- Poor customer service
As you can see, while we know that hemp-derived CBD is legal to consume and purchase in America, not all CBD products are created the same.
But let’s be clear: While the FDA doesn’t approve marketing and advertising CBD products other than Epidiolex, they aren’t necessarily looking to shut down all CBD companies. Instead, they are looking for companies that market poorly formulated products that don't contain any CBD, or make false medical claims that their CBD products can cure diseases. It looks like there’s some logic behind the FDA’s stance on all CBD products. Still, they refuse to recognize CBD as a safe substance, which is completely baffling, as numerous studies show that CBD is well tolerated among its users.
Now you might be wondering, what’s the big deal about CBD products that have virtually no CBD at all? Why are fake CBD products so bad?
Why fake CBD oil and tinctures are so bad
In 2018, over 50 people in Utah fell extremely ill after consuming falsely labeled CBD oils and tinctures. In other words, their CBD products were completely fake. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there was a synthetic compound found in each of the products these people consumed.
This compound is a synthetic cannabinoid that poses significant negative psychological and physical side effects like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unstable mental status
- Uncontrollable shaking
- And seizures
None of these side effects are associated with the therapeutic effects of CBD. Thankfully, the people who fell ill in Utah have all recovered, and law enforcement was able to shut down the production of those falsely labeled CBD products. Still, there are other ingredients that cause horrible side effects and even serious health conditions.
These harmful ingredients include:
- Heavy metals
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- High levels of sugars
- Genetically modified flavors
- And more…
Long term use of products that contain these ingredients have been shown to cause the following:
- Immune suppression
- Hormone disruption
- Diminished intelligence
- Reproductive abnormalities
- And cancer
As you can see, fake CBD products, as well as poorly formulated or dirty products, are incredibly dangerous for the body.
So does this mean the CBD industry is a big scam? How can I get my hands on high quality CBD products?
Are there any recommendations for buying CBD oil and CBD tinctures?
Thankfully, there are CBD companies out there that focus on clean formulation processes that create high quality CBD products. The key is to know what to look for. Below, we’ve created any easy to follow list that helps you buy high quality CBD products that are safe to consume.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Ensure that the CBD you are buying is hemp derived.
- Make sure the hemp is grown on soil that is free of any harmful contaminants.
- Make sure the CBD is extracted using safe and clean extraction methods (CO2 extraction is known as the cleanest for mass production).
- Be sure that the CBD products are thoroughly tested by an independent 3rd party to ensure the product is accurately labeled. This is usually seen through a COA (Certificate of Analysis) found on the CBD company’s website.
- Always look to see if the other ingredients in the CBD product are organic and clean as well.
- Finally, look for CBD companies that focus on high quality customer service.
Having this knowledge will help you find CBD products that are created for your safety and health in mind. But where do you find these high quality CBD oils and tinctures?
Where to buy CBD oil and tinctures?
While it may be easy to find CBD products in grocery stores, mom-and-pop shops, and big box chains like Whole Foods and Walgreens, it can still be hard to know if a particular CBD company is creating high quality products, especially when browsing in a store. Even poorly made products, foods, and other merchandise can be found in highly acclaimed stores. The best place to find high quality CBD products is online—partly because you can really investigate everything you need to know about the CBD company before purchasing.
CBD oils and tinctures are by far the most popular products on the CBD market today. Not to mention, they offer more diverse potency formulations. But other products have become increasingly popular as well, like:
- CBD gummies
- CBD drinks
- CBD capsules
- CBD creams and lotions
- CBD beauty products
- CBD chocolates
- And more…
When you know what to look for in a CBD product, it makes it much easier to find the right product for your needs. That said, it may take trying a few products to really learn which ones work best for you. While reviews, testimonials, and case studies are extremely helpful and powerful, your CBD journey is unique to you.
Final thoughts
It’s safe to say that the hemp-derived CBD industry has been growing quickly for the last several years or so. And while this industry is relatively unregulated, it’s reassuring to know that there are CBD companies out there that care about the health, wellbeing, and safety of their customers.
Just be sure to do your part in researching which CBD products are safe to consume. You can do that by following our steps and guidelines written above.
