The popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) has been on a steady rise over the past few years.
This is mostly due to the growing list of medical conditions it can treat, including pain, anxiety, seizures, insomnia, etc.
But like with any new product, you should familiarize yourself with everything there is to know before joining in on the CBD craze.
One of the fundamental aspects of CBD is the best way to administer it.
This post shall offer more insight into CBD oil and CBD gummies by highlighting the two modes of administration that are ideal to attain anxiety relief.
Ways to Consume CBD
There are six popular ways to consume cannabidiol, including:
- Vaping CBD e-juices
- Smoking hemp flower
- Topical application of CBD-enriched ointments
- Dripping CBD oil tinctures underneath your tongue and then swallowing
- CBD edibles include baked goods, gummies, candies, chocolates, beverages, etc.
- Taking CBD-based capsules, pills, and tablets
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. So far, CBD oil is the most popular way to access cannabidiol.
Many people believe that all CBD products come in the form of CBD oil. However, it can also be formulated into various products like CBD gummies in UK.
CBD oil and CBD-infused gummies are not made equal. If you’re battling an anxiety condition, it pays to know which product is more effective.
Comparing CBD Oil vs. CBD Gummies for Anxiety
- Onset time
Onset time refers to the duration it takes for CBD to take effect. In this respect, CBD oil has a faster onset time compared to CBD gummies. Generally, CBD oil takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to kick in. That’s considerably faster than CBD gummies that can take up to 90 minutes to kick in.
So, why the disparity in onset time?
When using lab-tested CBD Gummies, it enters straight into your bloodstream, compared to gummies that must go through your digestive system.
A faster onset time doesn’t necessarily give CBD oil an edge over gummies, as it mostly depends on the kind of anxiety you’re trying to treat.
For instance, you may consider CBD oil if you suffer from social anxiety disorder and are set to address a massive crowd in a matter of minutes.
Similarly, you may also consume gummies just before bedtime if you’re battling post-traumatic stress disorder. By the time you slip into the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the gummies will have taken effect, preventing you from experiencing nightmares.
Most importantly, you should understand that secondary factors also determine the onset time for CBD oil and gummies.
These include age, gender, metabolic rate, body mass index, sensitivity, or tolerance as well as strength of the CBD product.
- Bioavailability
Bioavailability refers to CBD’s amount in a cannabis product that enters your bloodstream, relative to the total strength of the cannabinoids in the product. Generally, CBD oil delivers a higher bioavailability of between 12-35 percent, compared to CBD gummies, which are a paltry 4-20 percent.
In terms of bioavailability, you can choose between CBD oil and gummies, depending on the severity of your anxiety. More severe anxiety disorders are better managed by CBD oil.
A higher bioavailability also reflects positively on your finances. That’s because you’ll only need to consume a small amount of cannabidiol to get the required relief from your anxiety condition.
- Longevity of Effects
CBD oil tinctures may come with a faster onset time and higher bioavailability compared to CBD gummies. However, when you’re looking for long-lasting effects to combat anxiety, your best bet is to use gummies.
Unlike CBD oil that’s absorbed almost instantaneously, the absorption of gummies is a long process that begins from the mouth to the large intestines. Not all of the CBD in gummies is absorbed at once. So, some of the cannabinoids can remain in your stomach and intestines for hours, only to be absorbed alongside subsequent meals.
Generally, the effects of CBD oil might wear off after an hour or two. On the other hand, CBD gummies can remain in your system for up to eight hours.
- Convenience and Ease of Use
CBD gummies are considerably easier to integrate into your life compared to CBD oil. Apart from being infused with cannabidiol, CBD gummies resemble the traditional gummy bears. Therefore, you can consume them seamlessly without drawing attention to yourself.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re traveling on a plane, watching a soccer match, or attending a seminar.
You can easily pop and chew a gummy without the next person knowing that you consumed CBD. This is ideal if you have anxiety that manifests in public places such as social anxiety disorder and phobias.
On the contrary, CBD oil would require you to whip out a bottle and measure your dose using a dropper.
- Accuracy of Doses
CBD gummies come with predetermined doses. But with CBD oil, you’ll need to measure the doses yourself each time you consume it.
The droppers used for measuring CBD oil may be well-calibrated. However, that still doesn’t guarantee you’ll measure accurate doses.
In the case of gummies, each one comes with predefined strength.
All you need to do is determine your daily CBD dose and how many gummies to chew, depending on the concentration in each piece.
For instance, let’s assume that your daily CBD dose is 100 mg, and each CBD gummy has 20 mg.
You’d need to consume five CBD gummies throughout the day to achieve your daily dose.
Both CBD oil and CBD gummies are effective against various anxiety disorders.
Whichever method of consumption you prefer, remember to start with small doses.
You can then work your way up until you achieve your ideal amount.