Prioritize Health - How CBD Tinctures May Aid Healthy Living

Reading time – 12 minutes

We think there’s one thing that we can all agree on – you can’t escape from CBD nowadays! It’s everywhere, and as more people are discovering its purported benefits, we don’t see why you would want to run from it. CBD is an all-natural substance that can be added to a vast array of products, meaning that there’s one method of consumption out there that will suit everyone!

Here at Amphora, we believe in living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. This is not a universal term, as everyone will perceive health differently, and there are different ways of being healthy for everyone. After all, we all have individual needs and goals, particularly when it comes to our own health and wellness. With this in mind, in this article, we will examine how adding CBD to your life could potentially help you to live the best, most balanced lifestyle that you can. We like to keep things simple, so, with this in mind, we are putting the spotlight onto one method of CBD consumption: CBD tinctures.

What is CBD?

People just beginning their CBD journey are likely to wonder ‘what is CBD?’ or ‘what is CBD oil?’ So, let’s begin by answering this frequently asked question. Cannabidiol is the formal name for the compound we call CBD, and we like to think of it as a helpful, friendly substance. With this in mind, we typically refer to it by its abbreviated name, CBD. You can find CBD in the cannabis plant, otherwise known as the cannabis Sativa plant. CBD isn’t lonely within the plant (far from it) as there are over 100 other compounds (known as cannabinoids) inside it.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that it can be included in many different products. On the other hand, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, for short) is the primary psychoactive compound in the plant. It is linked to the feeling of an altered state of mind due to the consumption of marijuana. This is why many people have turned to CBD, as they like the idea of adding a natural plant product to their lifestyle. Now, how is CBD oil made? It needs to be extracted from the hemp plant, for starters. Then it needs to be diluted with a natural carrier oil, like olive, avocado, or hemp seed oil. This is so that the final product can be easily consumed by humans.

What are CBD tinctures?

There are a multitude of ways to consume CBD oil, and many of you may have wondered ‘how to take CBD oil’? This is a fair question, even for you CBD experts out there! Let’s face it, we would be here all day if we were to take you through every single option, and nobody has that kind of time. It’s good, then, that we’re putting the focus onto CBD tinctures for this article.

So, what are CBD tinctures? And are they different to CBD oil? The word ‘tincture’ refers to anything that is contained or infused within alcohol. While both CBD oil and CBD tinctures are derived from the hemp plant, however, you will find these terms often used interchangeably. Although you can consume them both sublingually (by placing the CBD underneath your tongue). CBD oil is diluted with a carrier oil, whereas CBD tinctures are contained in roughly 60-70% distilled alcohol. In terms of ingredients, CBD tinctures will contain a combination of hemp extract, alcohol, and on occasion additional flavourings, such as peppermint or cinnamon oil. The concentration of CBD tends to be less in tinctures; however, this allows room for other ingredients, such as herbs and essential vitamins.

Potential Benefits of using CBD tinctures or CBD oil drops

So, why use CBD tinctures or CBD oil drops when there are so many other options open to you? Here are the main reasons why you should opt for CBD tinctures and drops:

Ease of use

CBD tinctures are easy to use, plain and simple. There’s no learning curve to come with this method of CBD administration. All you need to do is decide on the number of oil drops that suit your wellness goals, and place the drops underneath your tongue. What’s more, the tinctures are easy to dose, as it is all pre-dosed for you. This means that you can tailor your purchase to your exact CBD requirements.

The taste

Sure, for those of you out there who enjoy the natural tang of CBD, you can purchase unflavoured tinctures or drops. However, for those of you who enjoy trying out different flavours, there’s plenty of choice for you. Here at Amphora, we will be offering you Very Berry (mixed berry), Lovely Lemon, and Fresh Mint (peppermint) cbd oil drop flavours.

If taste isn’t an issue for you. Amphora has effects-based formulations to target your wellness goals. Our effects-based formulations come in different concentrations with our Premium High Strength CBD Oil Drops having 6000mg of CBD in each 30 ml bottle.

Bioavailability

The good news about CBD tinctures and CBD oil drops is that they have a high bioavailability, even higher than CBD oil. When we say ‘bioavailability’, we refer to the amount of CBD that’s able to reach the bloodstream and be absorbed into your body. This is largely due to their alcohol content, as it’s able to enhance the CBD and allow for quicker absorption.

Its shelf life

The shelf life of CBD tinctures and CBD oil drops remains one of the best on the market. This is ideal for those of you who don’t use your CBD every day, as it makes the product great value for money. Keeping tinctures and drops stored properly preserves the life of the CBD. Another little tip: don’t keep your CBD in direct sunlight, and try to store it at room temperature to help it live its best (and longest) life.

What is a balanced lifestyle? And why is it important?

As we previously stated, living a balanced lifestyle will be different for everyone, as we are all individuals leading deeply personal lives with various needs and goals. However, there are a few commonalities to living a balanced lifestyle which will crop up in many people’s idea of a healthy lifestyle. For example, sticking to a fitness regime, having a successful work-life balance, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, controlling feelings of stress, and enjoying a social life. That doesn’t sound like much to ask for, right? The sad thing is that our modern world can be stressful and interrupt our balanced lifestyle, leaving you feeling anything but satisfied. Keep reading to discover how CBD tinctures and CBD oil drops may be a great addition in the improvement of your overall wellbeing.

How can CBD tinctures help support a balanced lifestyle?

So, what are CBD tinctures (and CBD products in general) good for? And how can they help to support your healthy, balanced lifestyle? Here are the main areas of research into the matter.

CBD and Sleep

Many people looking to add CBD to their routine for the first time are seeking ways to supplement their sleep routine. The Sleep Foundation recommends that healthy adults need between seven and nine hours of restful sleep per night. This will come as no surprise, as sleep is vital to keep our overall well being. If you’re struggling to sleep due to insomnia or other environmental factors, there’s a variety of things that you can try before you reach for the sleeping tablets. After all, they aren’t a long-term solution. You could ensure that your room is dark, remove any technological distractions, make sure your mattress is comfy, and so on. Here is where CBD tinctures can come into play, as they are a helpful, natural way for you to supplement what can be referred to as your sleep hygiene routine.

CBD for sleep is a popular area of research, due to the overwhelming thirst for knowledge on the subject. For example, one study from 2014 examined the way that CBD may affect the symptoms of a sleep disorder called REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). The symptoms of RBD may vary from person to person, but they typically include acting out your dreams or nightmares, and therefore punching, kicking, jumping from the bed, and so on. You can also talk, laugh, and cry out in your sleep. This can be extremely distressing for the person with RBD, but also for their loved ones. This study examined the effects of CBD on four people with Parkinson’s disease suffering from symptoms of RBD. The authors of the study concluded that the four participants experienced a substantial reduction in their symptoms following the use of CBD.

Furthermore, a review published in 2018 reported that there’s a significant body of evidence into the use of CBD in chronic pain symptom management. Therefore, CBD may be able to help people dealing with symptoms of chronic pain, which in turn may enable them to get the rest that they need. Overall, when it comes to using CBD tinctures for sleep, the main questions that crop up are ‘when to take CBD oil for sleep’ and ‘how much CBD for sleep’. When it comes to CBD tinctures and drops, it’s a good idea to begin with a lower dose and drop a couple of drops underneath your tongue, keeping an eye on how you feel afterwards. You can increase your dose if you need to. It’s a good idea to consume CBD up to one hour before bedtime, as, this way, you can wind down and relax while you wait for the possible effects of the CBD.

CBD and Exercise

We don’t have to tell you that exercise comes with a range of benefits, both for your physical and mental health. For example, according to the NHS, with regular exercise, you can lower your risk of major illnesses like stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease by up to 50%. Working out can also help to alleviate stress and to improve your mood, as it releases the serotonin hormone that contributes to relieving feelings of depression, as well as endorphins. These can positively influence how the brain interprets pain and produce feelings of positivity. Many people will agree that exercise is a vital part of their balanced lifestyles. So, how do CBD tinctures fit into all of this? Well, CBD can be a great supplement to your fitness routine, particularly when it comes to exercise recovery.

There are studies that suggest CBD may play a role in pain management, something that you’ll likely agree can be useful after exercise. For example, one review published in 2020 examined the current research into CBD for pain. The authors concluded that CBD might be effective at reducing chronic pain and inflammation symptoms, and as well as potentially improving the quality of sleep for certain individuals. It’s worth noting here, however, that these results are in need of further examination. A further review explicitly examining the potential effects of CBD on exercise was published in 2020. The authors noted similar findings to the previous review, such as evidence for the potential anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and analgesic actions of CBD, which may be beneficial to athletes. However, further controlled research and investigations are needed to determine the use and possible effects of CBD in the context of sport and recovery.

Adding CBD tinctures or CBD oil drops to your fitness regime couldn’t be easier. You could consume your CBD before, during, or after your workout – the choice is down to you. Of course, this will all depend on what your goals are. For instance, if it’s pain symptom management, then consuming CBD during or after your workout may be a good idea.

CBD and Calm

Living a balanced lifestyle means trying to minimize stress where you can. After all, stress isn’t just damaging to your mental health, but it can also be damaging to your physical health as well. For example, long-term (or chronic) stress can impact your body due to your systems not understanding that it’s time to revert back to normal functioning. This can disturb your sleep, immune system, digestive system, and cardiovascular system. Not all of these symptoms will affect one person at once, and some may experience mainly headaches and emotional issues.

Unfortunately, the effects of stress can worsen over time and lead to significant health disorders, such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, or anxiety. There are a variety of techniques that you can employ to help minimize your stress, such as regular exercise, having self-care days, phoning a loved one, and, hey, maybe CBD tinctures!

There’s a variety of studies into the potential calming effects that CBD may have. For example, one study published in 2019 examined the effects of CBD on sleep and anxiety. Seventy-two people took part in this study. Twenty-five people were struggling with sleep, and 47 were dealing with the symptoms of anxiety. Following on from one month of CBD treatment, 66.7% of people were sleeping better, and 79.2% of people experienced lower levels of anxiety.

Another study, published in 2011, examined the effects of CBD on people with social anxiety disorder. Twenty-four people took part in this little investigation, and they were split into two groups. Half of them received a placebo while the other half received one dose of 600mg of CBD half an hour before taking part in a public speaking test. The results of the study were promising, as those who received the CBD reported that it significantly reduced their discomfort, anxiety, and cognitive impairment during the test.

When it comes to using CBD tinctures and oil drops to promote calm, as always, we would recommend beginning with a low dose of CBD. This way, you can monitor how it affects you. There’s no ‘best time’ to consume CBD, as people are individual and lead individual lives. Some people prefer to consume CBD first thing in the morning or during the evening. At the same time, others will consume CBD as and when, for example, before a stressful task.

Closing Thoughts 

Living a balanced lifestyle is a goal that we should all be striving for. Incorporating CBD tinctures or CBD oil drops into your routine may be able to help your health and wellness goals, such as potentially improved sleep and exercise recovery. CBD tinctures and drops can be a wonderful, seamless addition into your life, as they are simple to dose, easy to use, and they can taste great!