If you’re in the market for a high-quality CBD Products; whether that is CBD Oil Tinctures or CBD Sprays, the chances are you’re overloaded with too much information. With all of the products on the market today, each claiming to be better than the rest, it’s understandably overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out where and how to start.
So what should we consider?
We've broken down some of the basics that go into CBD products to illustrate why some can be effective and the variants in price & strength.
1. Do the products have THC?
Whilst there can be trace amounts of THC in CBD products, more likely broad or full spectrum (we'll cover these later), ideally we want to find a product with Zero THC.
2. How well have the products been tested?
Most trusted CBD products today are Non GMO (not genetically modified) and triple lab tested, meaning they have undergone rigorous lab tests to ensure they are accurate and safe. Having a GMP certification further marks the manufacturing process as independently verified and provides certification that the basic safety manufacturing practices are being followed. Trusted CBD companies will also publish Lab Reports on their websites.
3. What is value for money?
CBD products can range in price and it is not always clear why. This really gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to determine which is better; Sprays or Tinctures and why some CBD products with higher price tags are actually better value for money.
We first need to understand the job of the carrier oil, which in most CBD products in Hemp Oil. The job of the carrier is to transfer the CBD into the body for absorption; usually through the mouth with Sprays and Tinctures, but can also be applied to the skin with topicals like Balms or Creams.
Depending on why or how often you use CBD can be the reason to choose higher or lower strength products, his is because you feel the effects from the amount of CBD is absorbed by your bodies CB1 receptors. So surely this means the carrier is super important, because regardless of how much CBD is in a tincture, 500mg, 1500mg etc, your body can only absorb a certain amount whilst it remains in your mouth, as this is the most effective point of tranbsfer, once the CBD & Oil is swallowed, it becomes much less effective at reaching the Endocannabinoid system.
CBD Oil Tinctures
CBD oil tinctures on the market today are Hemp oil containing a percentage of CBD which is quoted in Milligrams on the label or MCT oil (Medium Chain Triglyceride) as a carrier oil with the CBD crystals dissolved within. MCT or Hemp oil both have a viscosity of approx 30 Brookfield units. Viscosity is a measure of thickness. Whilst these products are proven to be effective; they rely on the user to hold a thick and not so nice tasting oil under the tongue in the hope that some of it absorb into the bloodstream sublingually (under the tongue) and swallow it. Therefore nearly all of the product enters the stomach and gut. Two things then happen.
1. Our digestive enzymes break down the Cannabinoid profile of the oil and damages it.
2. The oil passes through our digestive system, and a large proportion of it is wasted.
CBD Oil Sprays
We feel CBD Oil Sprays offer a slightly better option, this is because although companies are still using hemp oil, more premium products have worked on ways to 'spray' the oil. However, most CBD sprays once you get hold of them, do not actually spray at all, they shoot a single jet of oil from the nozzle, so be sure to check from videos or test hands-on to see if it can actually create a spray.
A spray is better because it disperses the CBD evenly and is much more effective at coating the mucous membrane under the tongue to absorb the product and very little is wasted when you swallow.
CBD Biozorb Sprays
CBD Sprays made with ISOMIST 'Biozorb' do not have this problem. This is because Biozorb is not an Oil, but rather a light solution that can hold high doses of CBD and discharge them as a very fine mist, this is important because it can be absorbed 4 x more effectively than hemp oil.
Biozorb allows more CBD power from the products advertised strength, but also the comparison of price per bioequivalence is much lower, meaning you get more CBD per pence than with hemp oil based products.
The viscosity of this carrier solution we use is only 7 Brookfield units. Compared with MCT or Hemp oil (which is approx 30 Brookfield units).
Biozorb carrier solution is so thin! This ensures two things happen.
- A fine mist is discharged into the mouth and under the tongue. As the mist contacts the maximum surface area within the buccal cavity (mouth) it starts to absorb immediately on contact with all surfaces because of its spread pattern and particle size.
- When held under the tongue and/or between the gum and cheek for 30 seconds the CBD continues to absorb rapidly because the low viscosity level of the carrier solution, it can pass through any Mucous Membrane tissue effectively—therefore entering the bloodstream as quickly as possible.
Accurate Dosing
Experts have recommended a method for dosing called 'Uptitration'. These guidelines state that you start a daily dose at a level of say 40 mg/day for seven days and measure the effects and see how you feel. Then if the desired results are not achieved increase this by 10mg for seven days and so on. But there becomes a challenge…
Most CBD oils today have a pipette which is not a measured amount; therefore, you cannot accurately dose at all. Also, the oil does not absorb, so effects cannot be measured. The onset of effects are prolonged and diluted due to the wastage in your body, combined with the slow absorption rate.
We worked hard to solve that problem and designed into our specification that each pump (or spray actuation) provides an exact single dose in Milligrams of actual CBD (not oil). All of which enters the bloodstream. Therefore 'Uptitration' is possible and under-dosing or overusing is avoidable all of the time.