Remember how when you got sick, your mom dragged you into a clinic and the doc asked you to swallow some tiny, oval pills? You can very well ingest CBD in the form of capsules.
The capsules I presume you are familiar with typically have a gelatinous shell that encloses the medicine.
With CBD capsules, the shell can either be animal-based or starch-based, perfectly enclosing cannabidiol molecules, thus promoting high bioavailability.
CBD capsules or softgels are one of the popular ways of ingesting CBD, but this method comes with several benefits.
CBD softgels are practical, efficient, and economical.
What are CBD Capsules?
CBD capsules are not physically different than regular capsules, but the main thing is that they contain cannabidiol and other phytochemicals.
They are made through a process known as encapsulation, whereby the gelatinous shell encloses cannabidiol molecules.
You don’t need any prescription, but they are administered orally, and it can be plain administration or aided with a drink.
With the CBD molecules being enclosed in a gelatinous shell, digestion doesn’t have massive negative implications.
And so, a high concentration of CBD still finds its way into the bloodstream and is carried off to your brain, causing a powerful effect.
These are the key things to note about CBD capsules:
- They are pills that contain hemp-derived CBD oil
- They are tiny and round or oval
- Their shells may be fabricated from animal gelatin or plant-based ingredients
How Similar are CBD Capsules to Regular Capsules?
As earlier mentioned, CBD capsules have a physical resemblance to regular capsules, largely because they are prepared similarly.
When you swallow a CBD capsule, it gets digested and released into your system, and thereafter you experience CBD effects.
The capsule or softgel is usually infused with a carrier oil for purposes of increasing bulk and aiding digestion.
How Do CBD Capsules Work?
Before we delve into how CBD capsules work, it’s important to first understand the role of the human endocannabinoid system; this system regulates and balances several body processes like immune response, cell communication, metabolism rate, and memory.
Scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system in the 90s and realized that it has both enzymes and cannabinoid receptors and that cannabidiol molecules can interact with the human endocannabinoid system to control certain body processes.
When you swallow a CBD capsule, it is metabolized, absorbed through your stomach lining, and enters your bloodstream. This method of ingestion leads to faster effects onset than edibles.
Some people are so impressed by the medicinal power of CBD that they are turning away from OTC drugs and opting for CBD to treat pain and inflammation, manage stress and anxiety, and induce relaxation.
With CBD capsules, you never worry about overdosing, and they can be easily integrated into daily health routines.
What Quantity of CBD Capsules Should I Take?
Various factors control the amount of CBD that is right for you; some of these factors include body weight, pre-existing health issues, and CBD potency.
If you have a pre-existing health problem, you may want to talk to your doctor before you ingest any CBD.
Various brands recommend the appropriate dosage basing on age, but if there’s no recommendation, just start with small quantities.
It allows you to study how your body reacts, and then you may increase the dosage as your body becomes acclimatized to CBD.
Most people start with 20 to 40 mg of CBD per day, but they usually increase the dosage with time.
How Do I Take CBD Capsules?
CBD capsules make for quicker effects than some other ingesting methods. Taking CBD capsules is easy and stress-free and appeals to many people.
Once you swallow the CBD capsule it is metabolized and released into your bloodstream and then transported to various parts of your body.
If you’re looking to enjoy fast effects, CBD capsules may not be the best choice, and you are better off taking CBD sublingually or vaping.
Also, remember that how full or empty your stomach is will affect the rate of CBD absorption; you get to absorb more cannabinoids when your stomach is full.
If you put a CBD capsule in your mouth and allow it to stay in your mouth for so long, the CBD skips digestion and gets absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
For those who consider CBD capsules to be weird tasting, ensure that you don’t swallow them plainly, but that you have a drink on hand, washing down the aftertaste.
What are the Benefits of Using CBD Capsules?
Whether you have chronic pain or crippling anxiety, CBD is effective at overcoming these problems. The following are some of the reasons why CBD capsules are popular:
Causes rapid onset of effects: may not be as rapid as sublingual ingestion, but then it’s not as slow as edibles. CBD capsules strike perfection with their measured speed, allowing you to experience the smooth and irreversible effects.
Gelatin shell: you see, when you ingest edibles, the CBD molecules are watered down as they pass through your gut, but CBD capsules have a gelatinous shell that encloses CBD molecules, thus preserving CBD as it coasts through your gut until it is released into the blood.
No weird taste: generally, CBD products are not renowned for their great taste; but even then, some CBD products manage to outdo others. For instance, CBD tablets have a bitter taste, the same with raw CBD oil, but CBD capsules have terpenes that enhance flavor.
Who Cannot Take CBD Capsules?
For most people, CBD is pretty harmless, and even those who report side effects it’s usually as a result of overdosing.
But there are two categories of people advised to not take CBD because it can have negative implications.
They include pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Do CBD Capsules Interact with Medicine?
Drug interactions take place when a drug reacts against another drug or supplement, and so, the question arises whether CBD can react against the medication you are taking, and the answer is probably.
So, if you are on medication, make a point of consulting with your doctor to see whether CBD can interact with the drug you are taking.
Knowing whether or not the drugs you are taking can cause interaction enables you to avoid unpleasant side effects or minimize their effectiveness.
Should I Choose Isolate or Full-Spectrum CBD Capsules?
If you are looking to enjoy the entourage effect; where cannabinoids and phytochemicals work together to deliver holistic benefits, then choose full-spectrum CBD capsules, because they have a colorful profile of cannabinoids and organic compounds.
But if you strictly want to ingest pure CBD, or if there’s a drug test coming, where you cannot have even a trace of THC in your blood, you may want to choose isolate CBD capsules.
Can I Make CBD Capsules at Home?
Although you can prepare CBD capsules at home, understand that the quality won’t be as good as industrially produced capsules since you are not sufficiently equipped.
Preparing CBD capsules at home comes down to these three steps:
Decarboxylation: baking the raw materials in an oven to remove carbon dioxide
Infusion: involves mixing water with a carrier oil and decarboxylase material
Filling caps: preparing the gelatin capsules and dosing