Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become one of the hottest selling and the most talked-about item among naturopaths as well as herbal medication enthusiasts and advocates. While the anecdotal evidence of the benefits of CBD is overflowing from every corner of the world, research in the scientific world also looks encouraging.
This cannabis extract has survived the test of time and legal hassles and emerged as a product that is increasingly being accepted as a potential alternative medication for combatting many health issues.
The best part about this plant-based chemical compound is that it can be administered in many ways, making it useful for a multitude of people from different walks of life.
- One can gulp it down with water (capsules),
- Mix it with food (CBD oil in edibles),
- Apply it on the skin (topical creams, lotions, and patches for pain relief and skin irritation),
- Use it sublingually (drops of CBD oil tincture under the tongue),
- Inject it directly (CBD extracts injected intravenously), or even
- Vaped (inhalation through a vape pen, vaporizer or other vaping devices).
Each of these delivery methods of CBD come with several pros and cons. Vaping, which is currently, one of the most popular methods of using CBD, too has quite a few advantages and some disadvantages too!
Before you decide to vape CBD, you may want to know if this is the right choice for you. This article is an attempt to educate our readers on what to expect if you opt for this delivery method.
What are the Benefits of Vaping CBD?
Like most other forms of medications and other herbal supplements, vaping CBD has some unique advantages, specific intended effects, and certain risks that users must be aware of before allowing a chemical compound like CBD into their lungs.
Has Several Health Benefits
Cannabidiol has come to be known for its countless therapeutic benefits. While research on cannabidiol is still in its nascent stage, the available literature on it and users’ profound praises for this plant-extracted cannabinoid has given more people hope of its viability as a potent alternative for various kinds of prescription drugs and conventional methods of treatment [1].
From providing relief from chronic pain and inflammation [2, 3 & 4] to alleviating stress, anxiety and other mood disorders [5, 6] and aiding sleep and promoting a clear mind [7], from managing the symptoms of certain diseases, like cancer [8], and side effects of their treatment to easing the effects of some movements disorders, [9] like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Diseases, from combatting insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders [10] and calming seizures associated with some very rare forms of epilepsy [11, 12 & 13] to reducing high blood pressure issues [14, 15] and risk of heart diseases [16], CBD has piqued the interest of scientists, doctors as well as the common man.
More recently, it has also shown much promise in curbing addictions – opioid [17], other drugs [18, 19], alcohol [20], and even smoking [21].
Safer, with Less Plant Extracts & More Isolated CBD Extract
Coming to why we should choose vaping over other methods of using CBD, an interesting thing to note is that most brands that produce CBD vape juices do so with only CBD isolates.
This completely leaves out all other components of cannabis, including the psychoactive component THC. Although this also means that you don’t get the added benefit of other natural cannabinoids and terpenes, this ensures that no traces of any psychoactive compounds remain in the end product. Besides, any natural terpene or terpenoid of our choice can always be added to the vape juices you use.
When you buy CBD vape juices, always fetch the ones that are made from isolates, which are usually in abundance. So you can relax and take a deep puff from your CBD cartridge or vaporizer without the fear of being intoxicated or feeling any mind-altering effects.
Ensures Quick Absorption of CBD
One of the main reasons why CBD e-liquids have become so popular is that inhaled CBD takes much less time to be absorbed into our system.
If not seconds, it barely takes a few minutes for its effects to kick in. Even though you won’t feel a real “kick”, as it has no psychoactive properties, CBD will make you feel relaxed, refreshed, rejuvenated, sleepy or clear-headed, depending on how you use. It will also relieve any pain or inflammation quick fast. As part of relaxing your body, it will also relieve you of any stress or anxiety, depression or any other mood-related conditions that you may be suffering from.
The reason why it is so easily absorbed into your body – in fact, the quickest, only to injection – is that it passes through the alveoli of your lungs directly into the bloodstream.
Has High CBD Bioavailability
Vaping CBD products also offer a higher bioavailability to CBD compared to other methods of consumption, i.e. much more of the substance is absorbed into the body, upping its effectiveness many times over. Different researchers have found the bioavailability of vaped CBD to be around 34 – 56%.
Another way of ensuring high bioavailability is by using dry herb vaporizer.
A little goes a long-er way
Since it has a high bioavailability and requires less time to act, its effects need much less dose. CBD is not cheap. So having to use much less for higher effectiveness is always welcome.
Convenient to Use Anywhere
Vaping devices are compact, portable and discreet. They can be easily carried in your pocket or purse wherever you go. It is easy to use and does not require you to carry heavy bottles around.
A vaping device, which comes with a battery, a heating element, a mouthpiece, and a compartment to carry the CBD juice, is quite compact.
Since the vaping fluids are optimized for a hassle-free vaping experience, they do not give off any smoke or bad smell. However, if you wish to vape in public, make sure it is permitted in the state you are in.
Helps Kick Tobacco Smoking & Drug Addiction
As we have mentioned earlier, CBD helps quit addictions as well as helps curb the craving. For smokers and addicts who are used to the inhaling through a pipe or any e-cigarettes, it also about an oral obsession.
Something that gives the feel of their original addiction even while helping them detach themselves from the actual source of addiction that not only makes them dependent on those substances but are also detrimental to the health, is a great option.
Systemic Administration, unlike some methods
Vaping is not a localized method of administration like topical creams or lotions. This ensures the substance travels through the bloodstream and gets distributed throughout your body, thus allowing it to combat all ills and offer overall relief to the user.
Are there any Risks of Vaping CBD?
Yes, there are. Like everything else, inhaling CBD also comes with certain risks. Vaping is usually a good option for smokers or vapers. It may not be as comfortable or easy for many to use an e-cigarette like using tinctures or creams. It is a thing of habit!
Naturally, those who have had smoking habits in the past find it easier to pick up vaping CBD. And it helps them the most too!
However, certain negative aspects of vaping CBD must be pointed out before you can choose to go ahead with it.
Health Risks
Vaping, in general, may not be a good choice for people with a pre-existing lung condition. They should opt for an alternative method of using CBD.
Secondly, new to vaping need to be extra careful while they attempt it for the first time. The thinning agents used in vaping juices, especially propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, (unlike tinctures, no real oils are used for various reasons) can be dangerous for health if it gets to a very high temperature. These thinning agents break down into potential carcinogenic compounds, causing an allergic reaction in the throat, lungs, and the entire pulmonary system, including asthma. [22, 23 & 24]
This is why vegetable glycerin is often used in vaping products. However, the vegetable glycerin doesn’t effectively dissolve CBD, which is why the former thinning agents are used.
Thirdly, you must also beware of vaping products made with MCT oil, instead of thinning agents. This not only clogs up your device and damages the heating coil, but the thick smoke emitted from oxidization of coconut oil (MCT is a derivative of coconut oil) can also give asthma and a serious form of respiratory condition, known as lipid pneumonia [25]. This condition is caused when fat molecules travel through the pulmonary system and reach the lungs, causing its inflammation. It can lead to fever, chronic cough, chest pain, breathing difficulties, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) and even hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
Note: If you have a pre-existing medical condition, especially of the pulmonary system, make sure to consult a doctor before deciding on using a vaping product.
Short half-life
Another disadvantage of this delivery method is that although CBD takes action almost immediately, the effects don’t last long enough, especially if you were to compare it with other delivery options, like edibles, capsules, etc. Edibles take longer to break down in your body. Hence, they take time to take effect, but it also means that they stay in your body for a longer period, giving you comfort and relaxation for a longer period.
Beware of unscrupulous brands
With sales of vaping products picking up pace across the world, a lot of unscrupulous sellers trying to make the most of the opportunity. This has led to a lot of poor grade as well as harmful products making their way into the market.
As a consumer, you need to be careful to check for the ingredients of the products, as well as their third-party laboratory test results on their websites. Be wary of brands that don’t make their Certificates of Analysis (CoA) public. This will ensure if the products being sold as CBD vaping products are genuine, potent, safe and pure.
Addiction
Like we mentioned earlier, addiction is usually about a physical fixation. While for some, it is easier to overcome their addictions with the help of CBD, others become dependent on vaping CBD, as it is the closest thing to their once-abused fixation.
There is always the fear that such habits never quite go away. It takes a person of strong will power to make up his or her mind to commit to something like giving up an addiction.
There have been quite a few cases where people took to vaping CBD to overcome their addiction and got addicted to vaping CBD instead. Although the addiction can’t be certifiably confirmed as being towards CBD, as it has been proven to be non-psychoactive, the dependence can crop up due to 2 reasons:
- The fact that CBD helps manage chronic pain or anxiety, so one becomes overly dependent on it, in the absence of other more addictive medications, like opioids.
- The user’s inability to give up on the physical fixation of vaping (something that feels similar to smoking).
Pronounced Side Effects of CBD & Dosage
The side effects of CBD may become more pronounced when you vape it. Since only a small dose is required compared to other forms of CBD products, a little overuse can give rise to certain side effects, like dryness of mouth, nausea, low blood pressure, drowsiness, etc.
Our Takeaway
Vaping CBD has both some advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the user to make the most of cannabidiol in the manner that is most effective and beneficial to the individual user.
Nonetheless, vaping CBD is becoming quite popular across the world. Understand the benefits and risks of vaping before deciding to buy your first vaping juice and device.
And most importantly: Consult a doctor.
It never hurts to be cautious, it does to be callous!
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Research citations:
- Hemp & Cannabidiol: What is a Medicine?; Missouri Medicine; Jul-Aug 2018; RL Hilderbrand, PhD; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140266/
- Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment; Molecules; Sep 27, 2018; Natascia Bruni, Carlo Della Pepa, Simonetta Oliaro-Bosso, Enrica Pessione, Daniela Gastaldi, and Franco Dosio; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
- Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis; Pain; Sep 1, 2017; Holly T. Philpott, Melissa O’Brien, and Jason J McDougall; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5690292/
- Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis; European Journal of Pain; Oct 30, 2015; DC Hammell, LP Zhang, F Ma, SM. Abshire, SL McIlwrath, AL Stinchcomb, and KN Westlund; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
- Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series; The Permanente Journal; Jan 7, 2019; Scott Shannon, MD, Nicole Lewis, ND, Heather Lee, PA-C, and Shannon Hughes, PhD; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/
- Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa; CNS Neurology Disorder Drug Targets; 2014; de Mello Schier AR, de Oliveira Ribeiro NP, Coutinho DS, Machado S, Arias-Carrión O, Crippa JA, Zuardi AW, Nardi AE, Silva AC; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24923339
- Potential Effects of Cannabidiol as a Wake-Promoting Agent; Current Neuropharmacology; May 2014; Eric Murillo-Rodríguez,1,* Andrea Sarro-Ramírez,1 Daniel Sánchez,1 Stephanie Mijangos-Moreno,1 Alma Tejeda-Padrón,1 Alwin Poot-Aké,1 Khalil Guzmán,2 Elda Pacheco-Pantoja,3 and Oscar Arias-Carrión; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4023456/
- The current state and future perspectives of cannabinoids in cancer biology; Cancer Medicine; Feb 23, 2018; Paweł Śledziński, Joanna Zeyland, Ryszard Słomski, and Agnieszka Nowak; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5852356/
- Cannabidiol as a Promising Strategy to Treat and Prevent Movement Disorders? Frontiers in Pharmacology; May 11, 2018; Fernanda F Peres, Alvaro C. Lima, Jaime EC Hallak, José A Crippa, Regina H. Silva,1 and Vanessa C Abílio; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958190/
- Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature; Current Psychiatry Report; April 2017; Babson KA1, Sottile J2, Morabito D; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28349316
- Cannabidiol for Treatment of Childhood Epilepsy–A Cross-Sectional Survey; Frontiers in Neurology; Sep 7, 2018; Kerstin A Klotz, Andreas Schulze-Bonhage, Victoria San Antonio-Arce, and Julia Jacobs; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143823/
- Efficacy of CBD-enriched medical cannabis for treatment of refractory epilepsy in children and adolescents – An observational, longitudinal study; Brain & Development; April 16, 2018; Hausman-Kedem M1, Menascu S2, Kramer U; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29674131
- Cannabis, cannabidiol, and epilepsy–from receptors to clinical response; Epilepsy & Behavior; October 1, 2014; Szaflarski JP, Bebin EM; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25282526
- A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study; JCI Insight; 2017 Jun 15; Khalid A Jadoon, Garry D Tan, and Saoirse E O’Sullivan; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470879/
- Cannabis Use and Blood Pressure Levels: United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Journal of Hypertension; August 2016; Omayma ALSHAARAWY, PhD and Hosam A ELBAZ, PhD; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5237375/
- Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol? British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology; June 1, 2012; Christopher P Stanley, William H Hind, and Saoirse E O’Sullivan; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579247/
- Early Phase in the Development of Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Addiction: Opioid Relapse Takes Initial Center Stage; Neurotherapeutics; August 13, 2015; Yasmin L Hurd, Michelle Yoon, Alex F Manini, Stephanie Hernandez, Ruben Olmedo, Maria Ostman, and Didier Jutras-Aswad; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604178/
- Unique treatment potential of cannabidiol for the prevention of relapse to drug use: preclinical proof of principle; Neuropsychopharmacology; March 22, 2018; Gustavo Gonzalez-Cuevas, Remi Martin-Fardon, Tony M Kerr, David G Stouffer, Loren H Parsons, Dana C Hammell, Stan L Banks, Audra L Stinchcomb, and Friedbert Weiss; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098033/
- Repeated Cannabidiol treatment reduces cocaine intake and modulates neural proliferation and CB1R expression in the mouse hippocampus; Neuropharmacology; September 28, 2018; Luján MÁ, Castro-Zavala A, Alegre-Zurano L, Valverde O; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30273593
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Table of Contents
- 1 What are the Benefits of Vaping CBD?
- 1.1 Has Several Health Benefits
- 1.2 Safer, with Less Plant Extracts & More Isolated CBD Extract
- 1.3 Ensures Quick Absorption of CBD
- 1.4 Has High CBD Bioavailability
- 1.5 A little goes a long-er way
- 1.6 Convenient to Use Anywhere
- 1.7 Helps Kick Tobacco Smoking & Drug Addiction
- 1.8 Systemic Administration, unlike some methods
- 2 Are there any Risks of Vaping CBD?
- 3 Pronounced Side Effects of CBD & Dosage