The Ultimate Guide to CBD Oil

CBD oil is everywhere these days. From your local Walgreens to the neighborhood gym, CBD oil can be found everywhere you look. But what is CBD oil and how do you use CBD oil? These are questions we get all of the time. So we’ve crafted this guide to help you confidently take the first steps of your CBD journey.

What is CBD Oil?

The first thing you need to know is the difference between raw CBD oil and a CBD tincture. The CBD oil drops you see everywhere are a mix of CBD oil and a base oil. Sometimes other ingredients are added as well. These are CBD tinctures. Raw CBD oil is concentrated liquid extract derived from cannabis plants. Hemp, which contains less than 0.3% THC and is legal in all fifty states, is the most common source of CBD oil. This distinction is important because many people still believe hemp and marijuana to be the same plant. While both of these plants are apart of the cannabis family, there is a noticeable difference between the two. Hemp’s lack of THC makes it an ideal source for CBD and other hemp-derived products.

For more information on the differences between hemp and marijuana click here.  There are three types of CBD oil: CBD-only, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. CBD-only oils are typically sold as tinctures and are a combination of CBD oil and base oil. There are no other cannabinoids or plant compounds present in CBD-only oils. Broad-spectrum CBD oils are made up of all of the hemp plant minus the THC. The THC is removed through a safe extraction process leaving only CBD and minor cannabinoids such as CBG. Full-spectrum CBD oils are formulated using the entire hemp plant, including the 0.3% or less THC that comes with it. Full-spectrum CBD oils are perfect for those looking to benefit from the entourage effect. The entourage effect explains the synergistic workings of all of the plant compounds working together.

What is Supercritical CO₂ Extraction?

Supercritical Co₂ extraction is one of the most modern and safe methods of extraction available. Supercritical CO₂ extraction is a complicated process that uses pressurized, and temperature controlled CO₂ to extract oil from raw plant material. In this case, Hemp trim is put in a pressure chamber which is then pressurized by Supercritical (multi-state) CO₂. Pure hemp oil is separated from raw plant material and other useless byproducts one might typically encounter when heating plant material.  Supercritical CO₂ extraction effectively removes all unwanted plant material – leaving you only with the highest quality hemp oil. CO₂ is a natural compound (just like CBD), and vaporizes without leaving behind toxic trace elements. Supercritical CO₂ process also allows for the perfect isolation of a range of cannabinoids – including CBD.

How Does CBD Oil Work?

Most CBD oils on the market are a mixture of two to three simple ingredients: raw CBD oil, a carrier oil, and CBD isolate. CBD isolate provides quicker, stronger, and longer lasting effects when combined with CBD rich hemp oil  The carrier oil is the base for the tincture. The carrier oils used in hemp oil are designed to help your body better absorb CBD. There are a variety of carrier oils that can be used but the most popular is coconut MCT oil. Coconut MCT oil has a variety of health benefits and is proven to be one of the most efficient carrier oils when delivering CBD. The coolest part about CBD is how natural the entire process is. Once you ingest CBD, it signals the body to produce naturally occurring cannabinoids. These natural compounds go to work around the body promoting homeostasis by facilitating a variety of physiological functions. The process works throughout the body generating a variety of responses. Results from preliminary studies are promising, they link CBD to a variety of benefits including inflammation reduction.

How CBD Oil Works – A Deeper Dive

The endocannabinoid system is the second largest system of the body. The ECS is ultimately responsible for maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is the term used to describe the body keeping itself in balance. Homeostasis is responsible for a variety of functions including temperature control, immune response, and inflammatory response. As we mentioned above, once CBD enters your system it signals the body to produce and release more endocannabinoids. These naturally occurring chemical compounds go on to facilitate various functions and responses. Cannabinoids bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout the body to trigger various responses such as inflammation reduction.

How to Use CBD Oil

Now that you have a better understanding of what CBD oil is and how CBD oil works we’ll highlight the three best ways to use CBD oil.

The Three Best Ways to Use CBD Oil

1. Directly!
   CBD oil tinctures were designed to make it easier to supplement CBD daily. CBD tinctures are easy to use and help you get the most out of your dose. Carrier oils such as coconut MCT oil provide better bioavailability. Simply fill the dropper that comes with the tincture and put the oil directly under your tongue. Hold for about 15-30 seconds. A full dose is about a 1 dropper (the amount the dropper allows you fill per squeeze).
2. CBD Oil in Coffee
   CBD tinctures that use MCT oil as base oil are ready-made for infusion with most of your foods and drinks. Turn your morning caffeine kick into a calming, focused boost with a couple of drops of CBD. Simply drop the desired amount of CBD into your coffee with the dropper and stir as needed.  Check out the video below to see a great example:
3. CBD infused fruit smoothies
   This is one of our personal favorites. Maslow may have considered coffee one of the pillars of human necessity but that’s only because Maslow never had a chance to go to Jamba Juice. At Bloom, we strive to promote better living through all things hemp for our entire community, one of the keys to this is diet. Fruit smoothies are already a workout warrior favorite because of all the healthy boosts packed in each serving. So why not add CBD? That’s exactly what we’ve been doing with our CBD infused smoothie recipes. Save time and get the most out of your food with these awesome health packed smoothies.  Check out a couple of our favorite recipes for CBD infused smoothies:

• Coconut Tropical Treats – CBD Infused Smoothies
• Pineapple and Mango CBD Infused Smoothie

Not the cooking type? No problem. Any smoothie you buy can be boosted by a couple of drops of CBD oil. Simply add the desired amount of CBD to your smoothie.

Hemp Seed oil vs CBD Oil

Hemp seed oil is a product some brands try to market online next to hemp oil. While hemp oil is another name for CBD oil, the hemp seed oil is a completely different supplement altogether. If you are looking to supplement CBD hemp seed oil is not what you need. While hemp seed oil has benefits of its own, it does not have the CBD you are seeking. Be sure to check the label or reach out to the brand if things are unclear, or you could save yourself the hassle. Shop CBD oil online with Bloom and get access to test results with every batch and know what you are buying every time.

Before you Buy CBD Oil online

Before you buy CBD oil online you should know one more thing: where you buy CBD oil matters. Not every hemp source is reliable and many companies use international imports to cut costs. To ensure that our customers can rely on us, at Bloom, we provide third-party lab results for every batch of products. All of our hemp is sourced locally. We use only the highest quality organic Colorado hemp available.  If you have any questions about what CBD oil is or how to use CBD oil, or anything hemp related please reach out to us on social media