Please note: This post was originally published December 2018.
We often get asked what are the best CBD products for military veterans and why.
It's a great question because there are so many options flooding the marketplace.. Will CBD eye shadow really benefit your health? This is where education and asking questions will help you make the right decision for your wellness needs.
It's very important to purchase from reputable companies and not truck stops or movie rental stores. There are plenty of businesses selling CBD which hasn't been third-party tested for pesticides, metals, or other harmful chemicals.
And you should be leery of any company who isn't transparent about their practices or who can't provide Certificates of Analysis.
The Best CBD Products for Wellness
So what are the best options for you when it comes to CBD and wellness? This isn't a simple answer because it depends on the symptoms you're wanting to treat.
People have used CBD to help anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, sleeping disorders, sciatica, Restless Leg Syndrome, arthritis, PTSD, and other chronic pains with great success. The success rate - or lack of - is usually determined by a variety of factors including type of product, quality of product, other medications consumed, and time of day CBD in ingested.
Despite these factors there are the gold standards for the best CBD products to purchase and use.
1. CBD Oil or Tinctures
Tinctures are the best method for consuming CBD. While the bioavailability is less than vaping CBD, tinctures provide a longer lasting effect and are excellent for helping a variety of conditions.
Because you place the CBD oil under your tongue before swallowing, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and retains a higher bioavailability or potency (generally between 12%-35%). This ensures you get a higher concentration of CBD into your bloodstream while providing the benefits of the cannabinoids for a longer period of time, often for 6-8 hours of time.
The downside to CBD tinctures is most of them have a less than desirable taste (Extract Labs is a rare exception) due to the type of extraction process and how the manufacture makes the product. This is why people choose gummies or other edibles.
Overall, CBD oil is the best way to go for overall wellness and a daily regiment
2. CBD Vape and Shatter
Vaping or smoking CBD has quickly become the preferred method for consumption. The cannabidiol is extracted and turned into a concentrate to be inhaled into the lungs.
Smoking CBD can be great for lesser health issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and minor pains. Plus it gives you the fastest relief because it enters the lungs and bloodstream immediately. From a bioavailability perspective, this method provides the best return on investment with percentages ranging between 34%-46%.
The drawback of vaporizing or inhaling CBD is the effects don't last as long (usually 1-2hours) and some people experience irritation from smoking. You may also have to consume more to get the desired effects. It's for these reasons we place it second on the list.
3. CBD Topicals
CBD topicals mostly come in the form of salves, lotions and sprays, but there are some transdermal patches on the market. You simply apply these products to your body to find relief.
Topicals are designed for a targeted area and can provide relief for several hours. The CBD cannot enter your bloodstream with this method unless you're using a transdermal patch, therefore the overall bioavailability is low. However, salves and lotions can be very effective for sciatica, arthritis, inflammation, back or leg pain, and post workout pains.
While topicals are amazing, they can be more expensive for quality products due to the manufacturing process or amount of CBD infused in the product. Regardless of the price, we believe it's worth the investment for the right topicals.
Other CBD Products in the Marketplace
There are plenty of other CBD related products available including capsules, gummies, chocolate bars, bath bombs, water, cosmetics, and even suppositories. The problem with so many of these is they are more of a marketing gimmick than wellness product. We'll have a post about this soon!
CBD edibles would be fourth on our list of recommended products because they can be beneficial. The reason why we've shied away from promoting or selling these items is due to the very low bioavailability. Since oral consumption requires the product to pass through our digestive system it reduces the effectiveness by 75%. Yet this is enough for some people and it's worth the investment.
The details are in the science.
With so many companies jumping into the CBD industry you have to be careful of the marketing hype. This is one reason we continue to invest in education for ourselves and for you.
While scientific research isn't conclusive on the benefits of CBD in treating certain diseases or illnesses, science has proven CBD is helpful for wellness issues, in addition to proving the most effective ways to consume these products. We must lean on these studies and science to make the right decisions on the best CBD products to use.
If you have any questions about CBD or cannabis, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to be your guide and to provide you with relevant information.