Understanding Potency: High Strength CBD Oil Drops

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Potency is a critical factor for your satisfaction when purchasing CBD oil drops. While several characteristics can distinguish one CBD oil from another, strength is still the primary determinant of a rewarding experience. It affects everything from its efficacy to its cost. Unfortunately, it’s something that many misunderstand.

CBD oil drops address many health and wellness needs. However, its efficacy relies on a better understanding of what experts consider high-strength CBD oil and knowledge about buying CBD oils. Learning about the potency of CBD oil can help you decide which one is best for you.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a organic compound  found in the cannabis plant. There are over 80 organic compounds found in a cannabis plant. CBD is derived from hemp, a cannabis plant containing no intoxicating ingredients. Throughout the long history of CBD oil, it has been used to treat various health conditions.

Creating CBD oil of high strength involves extracting CBD from hemp and then diluting the extract with a carrier oil. The most commonly used oil carriers are cold-pressed hemp seed oil.,olive oil, grapeseed oil,  coconut oil or MCT.

CBD oils have gained momentum in the medical world, with scientific research supporting the high potency CBD oil benefits and the potential help in relieving ailments such as chronic pain and anxiety.

CBD drops influence receptors in the body responsible for regulating pain and promoting the release of the ‘feel-good’ hormones of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters.

Research has found that CBD oils may be an effective treatment for various health problems, such as acne, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, anorexia, epilepsy, glaucoma, drug addiction, insomnia, high blood pressure, muscle spasms, and Parkinson's disease.

When buying high-strength CBD oils, it’s crucial to determine which CBD oil type you need to purchase. CBD oils come in four various types, and each contains CBD of varying potency and an oil carrier. They are the following:

• CBD Isolate – It’s considered the purest type of CBD oil, made from 99% CBD crystalline solid or powder suspended in oil.
• CBD Distillate – It is the end product of the distillation process of the hemp plant. The method includes crude extraction and refining cannabinoids at a molecular level until a rough 80%-90% CBD concentrate is produced. The remaining amount consists of terpenes, other plant compounds, and minor cannabinoids.
• Broad-spectrum CBD– This is one of the main types of CBD oil, which contains a wide range of compounds that are naturally present in the cannabis plant. However, broad-spectrum CBD does not typically contain any intoxicating ingredients. As such, you often find it labeled as ‘THC-Free.’
• Full-spectrum CBD– It’s the type of CBD oil that preserves the broadest range of beneficial cannabinoids such as terpenes, flavonoids, THC, and phytonutrients. It’s considered legal in the U.K. as long as the THC level is less than 0.2%.

According to 2018 research, Full-spectrum CBD is more effective than CBD Isolate due to the combination of CBD and THC. However, isolate ensures the product is below the regulated 0.2%THC.

How Is CBD Strength Measured?

Understanding the strength of CBD oil is essential because potency helps you measure your dose. Reading the product label or doing your own research can help you determine the content and quality of a CBD product.

How to Read the Label?

The product label can tell you about the CBD percentage in your oil. However, this is not the CBD oil’s strength. Instead, it just reflects the purity of the CBD in the oil.

What strength CBD should I use? To know the CBD strength, you need to look at the amount of CBD in milligrams in your bottle. Then, you divide this by the amount you’re taking to know the CBD strength in your dose. Every label should indicate the total milligrams of CBD in the bottle.

You also need to check how much is in one serving size. For instance, eating a CBD gummy bear candy is one serving size. The amount of CBD per serving equals one candy. Then, check how many servings or candies are in one package.

CBD infused oils need a minimum of 30-60 milligrams of CBD per mL to be classified as high strength. If you take CBD isolate--a product containing a pure form of CBD--the highest milligrams per serving will be the most potent and cost-effective.

Additionally, here are some of the critical things you need to look for on the product labels:

• Batch and Lot numbers – Many licensed cannabis companies mandate to put the batch and lot numbers on their product labels and packages.

These are a sign of accountability for the consumers' benefit if a recall happens so that the company can deal with any potential issue. If this information is not present, consumers won’t know where and when these products were made.

• Third-Party Lab Results – When buying high-strength CBD oils, look for third-party lab test results because they verify the accuracy of the information stated on the labels.

Since there are limited regulations for CBD products, reputable cannabis companies offer third-party lab testing to prove that the CBD products contain what their labels indicate.

Third-party lab testing isn’t required, which is why several unlabeled products become common and available at lower prices. So, be cautious before purchasing a product.

If companies aren’t willing to test their products, there won’t be much transparency about the ingredients in their CBD oil. Several products are available on the market today that have misleading labels when not subject to third-party testing.

Manufacturing date – The quality of CBD products, like any product, degrades over time. So, knowing the manufacturing date stated on the product labels is the best way to learn how old the product is.

Third-Party Lab Testing

Since 2018, there has been a rise in the number of cannabis companies in many U.S. states and other countries.

While the rise gives consumers the increased freedom to choose among retailers, there is a lack of regulations present that invite substandard practices resulting in false product claims, safety, contents, and efficacy.

Thus, third-party lab tests are performed by reliable companies before the product can be released on the market. This testing protects not only the consumers but also the companies from damages.

For example, a study in the UK was performed on 30 CBD products, including the best CBD oil in the UK, to compare their actual contents with their label claims and packaging. According to the lab responsible for the testing, it showed that over 66% didn’t match with their advertised CBD amount.

Partnering with a reputable third-party lab testing facility is still the best way for a cannabis company to ensure its products are ready for the market.

Does Strength Matter?

CBD oil strength matters in a few ways. First and foremost, it matters from the efficacy standpoint. The higher the potency of a CBD-infused oil, the stronger it is and the stronger effects it may produce. According to Legacy Health, the strongest CBD oil is considered highly potent if it has 35 milligrams per serving.

However, potency is just a part of the product’s efficacy equation. While many studies are still ongoing, experts suggest that broad-spectrum CBD is more effective than CBD oil types. It’s most effective if there is an entourage effect or interaction with terpenes and other cannabinoids in the oil.

How Much CBD Oil Should I Take?

The amount of CBD oil you should take varies from person to person and depends on several factors:

• Body mass: Individuals with more body mass will need more CBD oil to have the same effect as it has on a person with a lower BMI.
• Condition severity: A person who uses CBD oil to help manage stress or aches will need less CBD oil than a person taking it for chronic stress, pains, or conditions.
• Sensitivity: Previous cannabis exposure and different metabolisms result in different reactions to CBD oil. Frequent CBD users will need more than the average person.
• Genetics: People with mutations on the CNR1 gene may have genetic vulnerabilities related to using cannabis.
• CBD Concentration: It’s essential to note the CBD concentration in the product you use. It’s also important to understand that the delivery method can affect the absorption level.
• Mixing with depressants: Mixing CBD with central nervous system depressants like alcohol can result in drowsiness.
• Mixing with medications:Cannabidiol can negatively affect crucial liver enzymes. Thus, it’s important to research whether CBD may interfere with metabolizing your medications or cause negative side effects.
• Mixing with THC: Taking a product with THC along with a CBD product may boost the therapeutic efficacy of both compounds. Anything with <0.2% THC is legal for sale in the UK. So make sure to read your label to remain within the law.
• Cannabis plant variations: The plants that producers use to make CBD oil will have natural differences based on weather, soil, water, and nutritional variations.

One of the best ways to determine how much CBD oil you should take is called titrating. You will want to follow the following steps to titrate your dosage:

1. Start low: You will want to start with a low dosage, ideally the lowest recommended dose.
2. Gradually increase dosage:  Increase your dosage little by little.  Some sources suggest increasing in 25 mg increments until you experience symptom relief or have reached your goal.
3. Journal your experiences: Keep track of your experiences daily in a journal so you can zero in on what dosage works best to make your symptoms better or reach your targeted wellness goal

When you journal about your experiences, it’s a good idea to include the following information or use our journal template to get started:

• Date: Listing the date helps you not to miss a dose and to determine how long you’ve been using the current dosage.
• Time of day: Recording the time of day gives you a better idea of how dosage timing is affecting your desired results.
• CBD product: We recommend using just one product at a time since different products have different CBD concentrations or secondary effects depending on other ingredients.
• CBD delivery method: Taking CBD by pill, oil, or as a vape can have different effects.
• CBD dosage: Noting your dosage can help you determine how much you need for your desired results.
• Symptoms and progress: List any symptoms you are experiencing along with any level of progress you experience meeting your goals

How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work?

One of the most frequently asked questions about CBD, whether CBD drops or other forms, is how fast it starts taking effect. The time that it takes to work varies based on bioavailability.

CBD’s bioavailability refers to how much CBD your body absorbs. Taking more CBD doesn’t necessarily mean that your body is able to absorb more. It’s more important how quickly your body can absorb it. Products with a higher bioavailability work faster. 

The bioavailability of CBD depends on how you take it and the quality of the product that you take:

• Inhaling: Inhaling CBD through vaping has a bioavailability above 50%. Inhaling delivers more CBD to the bloodstream before it breaks down and it is absorbed almost instantly so that you can feel it work almost immediately.
• Taking it under the tongue: When you take products like our Infused Amphora CBD Oil or CBD oil drops under the tongue (sublingually), the thin tissue there provides a bioavailability between 19% and 35%. Most people can feel effects within 5-20 minutes.
• Eating and digesting: Consuming CBD oil or using edible CBD products have the lowest bioavailability--between 13% and 19%. It’s a slower process because digestion takes between 30 minutes and an hour, and the liver also needs to metabolize the edible.

Conclusion: Be Responsible When Using CBD Oils

Now that you’re equipped with the proper knowledge and tools to understand CBD potency and labeling, you can look around for the best CBD oils in the UK with confidence.

In addition, make sure that your CBD retailer has third-party lab testing so you can verify if the product is worth buying. Just start with small doses and increase gradually over time as required.

Remember that, hemp-derived CBD oil products are legal as long as they have less than 0.2% THC. Keep in mind to check your destination country laws when you decide to travel. Also, high-strength CBD oil in the UK is legal as long as it has 0.2% THC and is derived from a hemp strain approved by a governing body.

Written by  |  Infused Amphora Team 

The Infused Amphora Team is dedicated to creating resources to educate and engage consumers on the growing evidence of CBD benefits and the extensive health and wellness properties of CBD Oil. 

Contributor  | Angus Taylor CEO

Infused Amphora “Learn” is intended for informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.