What IS A CBD Tincture?
What IS A CBD Tincture?
Generally, it's the mixture of cannabidiol, usually in the form of a powder or in some instances a resin, which is added to an oil of some sort. A bit of a flavoring agent and perhaps a little bit of zero-calorie sweetener is added for flavoring, and then mixed in order to make a homogenous product.
Technically...it's not actually a tincture. In fact, tinctures aren't really on the commercial market in great quantity, at least not in most stores.
Huh? We'll get into that.
With that said, CBD tinctures or something like a CBD tinctures have been in use for thousands of years for a variety of uses, so while the modern medical authorities haven't quite taken to it the way they have so many other compounds, CBD tinctures show a great deal of promise.
Most CBD Tinctures...Are Technically An Infusion
Most people use the term "CBD tinctures" to refer what is actually CBD oil, but colloquial usage being what it is...it's not like anyone is going to stop anytime soon, so why fight it? There are SOME actual CBD or marijuana tinctures, but they are rather rare.
Cannabis tinctures and infusions are in the historical record going back thousands of years, having been used in ancient China, India and in classical Greece and Rome for pain relief and to aid in healing wounds, among other uses.
A tincture, strictly speaking, is the extract of a substance dissolved in a solvent of some sort. Not all are or were necessarily for consumption as some were for industrial or other applications, though plenty were for consumption.
One example, for instance, would be laudanum, a tincture of opium in alcohol that was formerly an over-the-counter pain reliever prior to the 20th century. Another is the iodine solution used in the healthcare field. It's not actually pure iodine, but is in fact a tincture of iodine in alcohol and water and is used as an antiseptic as it has antiseptic properties.
Many popular mouthwashes (such as Listerine) are technically tinctures, but are diluted for rather obvious reasons. In fact, modern mouthwash was invented for use as an antiseptic before someone noticed what it did for oral health!
Most CBD tinctures are actually infusions, in that the CBD is mixed with a food oil, which can therefore be safely consumed.
CBD Oil Is Far More Common
What most people mean by "CBD tincture" is typically CBD oil, which - as mentioned - is CBD suspended in a food-grade oil that can be easily consumed and digested by the user. Typically, CBD powder is added to the oil by the manufacturer and mixed, so the CBD is in suspension and doesn't settle to the bottom of the bottle.
There are actual CBD and marijuana tinctures on the market, but they are rather rare. Due to federal law, marijuana tinctures - unless manufactured for medicinal use and are only available by prescription - can must-needs only be manufactured and consumed in permissive states, which not all are.
Also, unlike many CBD products, such tinctures are almost always only available in licensed marijuana stores. In states where marijuana is decriminalized, you have to be 21 years of age to enter the store and you can't buy it online.
However, CBD oil is completely legal (so long as its not in food products) in every single state and can be shipped directly to your door.
Obviously, CBD shows a lot of promise. Currently, CBD oil (in the form of Epidiolex) is FDA approved for use in treating childhood epilepsy, but a growing body of medical research indicates CBD has a lot of promise for pain relief, anxiety, depression and other applications.
Who knows how many more uses for CBD tinctures will evolve?