The CBD industry has truly exploded, and there are simply too many CBD products and brands on the market to choose from. New users are being clouded with questions about CBD and the many different forms it comes in, wondering what would work best for them and what side effects each one of them has.
It is becoming a fact now that CBD is good for your body, and it is just about finding a reason why you need it. CBD oil is the most common form in which the compound is offered, but not everyone likes it that way. There are a range of other less known options such as tinctures and pills, which work in the same way as oil. Botanicam stocks a wide range of CBD products which you can check out, learn more about, and purchase on their website.
In this article we will be discussing CBD pills and how they are different from CBD oil. Hopefully by the end of the post, you will have made a decision on which product to give your loyalty to.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is simply a hemp or cannabis oil extract high in the cannabinoid, CBD or cannabidiol. It is the gold-standard of CBD consumption and the go-to option for most newcomers in the CBD world. Most CBD oil products on the market are extracted from hemp, a cannabis strain with a high CBD-to-THC ratio.
CBD oil can be extracted in a number of ways, but let’s have a quick look at the two most common ones.
The first technique makes use of CO₂, and is done in a three-chambered machine called a closed-loop extractor. Pressurized CO₂ in one of the chambers is run through the adjacent chamber containing the plant material, where it extracts cannabinoids and other compounds. The CO₂ is then separated from the extract to leave behind a near-pure CBD extract.
The second technique makes use of an alcoholic solvent to strip away cannabinoids and terpenes from hemp in a process called decarboxylation.
Either technique has its advantages and disadvantages, but CO₂ extraction is considered the better method overall.
Extraction using a solvent leaves chlorophyll in the extract, and this calls for further sieving. What’s more, solvents may destroy terpenes and phytochemicals in hemp, making the method unsuitable for the manufacture of full-spectrum CBD oils.
Be sure to ask about the extraction method if you care about the presence or absence of terpenes and phytochemicals.
What are CBD Pills?
CBD pills are simple conventional-shaped capsules or tablets containing cannabidiol. They are also taken in the same manner as traditional pills, which is probably their biggest selling point given the relative difficulty of taking CBD oil or tinctures without running into the earthy taste of cannabidiol. You simply pop a few pills in your mouth (depending on the dosage) and follow it up with a sip of water.
CBD Oil Taste vs. CBD Pills Taste
If you have orally taken CBD oil before, you probably know about that not-so-pleasant taste that it leaves in the mouth. This, combined with its unpleasantly slimy texture, makes it hard for some people to take CBD orally or sublingually without following it up with a flavored drink or a breath mint. Pills are different as they are not ‘liquidy’ and do not sit in the mouth for too long. Capsules are entirely tasteless if swallowed quickly enough, as they have a gel capsule that sits between the CBD and your mouth.
Convenience
Convenience is top of the filter-down procedure for most of the purchases we make. You want to know how much change a product will necessitate in your life before you can use it. CBD pills and oils are not really apples and oranges on this front as they are both easy to administer and can be carried anywhere. However, if you are in a rush and are the type that has to do something to kill the aftertaste, then pills trounce oils here. The fact they are not fluid also gives them the edge if you are travelling and want to avoid the risk of spills.
Discreetness: CBD Oil vs. CBD Pills
While CBD is perfectly legal in many places around the world, it is still a cannabis product and many people would rather remain low-key with their consumption. Safe to say you can take most of the orally ingested or topically applied CBD products on the market without drawing any attention, but you may need to change the package or do it when no one’s looking. CBD pills and capsules are, however, more subtle than, say, a tincture, which you have to place at the bottom of your tongue using a dropper.
Bioavailability
Bioavailability is the amount of a drug that gets absorbed into the bloodstream by the body. Tablets and capsules, when ingested orally, follow the same route taken by edibles, at a bioavailability rate of 4%-20%. That’s very low, and a great deal of your pill will be going to waste.
CBD oil taken sublingually has a significantly higher bioavailability rate (12%-35%) since it gets directly into the blood via the sublingual gland. When taken orally, the bioavailability rate of CBD oil is still thought to be higher than that of pills. This is because the CBD (in CBD oil) in most products is suspended in coconut oil, which is rich in saturated fats that stick on the walls of the intestines on their way down, buying your body time to absorb more of the compound.
The Verdict
Deciding who the true winner is here may be a matter of individual conscience. It is up to you to decide on the aspects you care about more. If your biggest worry is convenience and subtlety, then maybe you should give CBD pills a crack. However, if you care more about bioavailability and taking in as much CBD as possible, then CBD oil should be your choice. You can talk to an expert for more insights into CBD and specific aspects that you reckon would help you make a better choice.
