We get asked how to take CBD oil all the time. There are two main methods:
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Sublingual: Place a dropper of oil under the tongue. Let it sit for 30-60 seconds before swallowing it.
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Add to a drink: You can place a dropper into a beverage of your choice (soda, coffee, tea, etc.) and it’ll act sort of like a DIY CBD beverage
What’s the best way to take CBD oil, then? We think sublingual is the way to go because 1) it leads to better efficiency and 2) effects start working a little faster. We’ll share more tips on how to take CBD oil below, including dosage, timing, and choosing the right CBD oil for sale.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil, also known as a tincture, is a liquid extract derived from hemp (or marijuana in some cases). It’s often combined with a carrier oil such as MCT or coconut oil.
You can take CBD oil in measured drops, so you get way more control over dosage than with any other consumption method. It sits somewhere between edibles and inhaling cannabis as far as onset and duration - usually working in just 15-20 minutes and lasting a few hours.
But, how do you take CBD oil to tap into all the benefits it has to offer?
How Do You Take CBD Oil? Our Advice on the Best Way to Take CBD Oil
CBD oil is flexible, but how you take it changes how quickly it works and how easy it is to dose. The best way to take CBD oil is as a tincture, which we’ll walk you through below - along with your other options.
Different Methods for Using CBD Oil
Technically, CBD oil can be infused into homemade edibles or applied topically when blended into creams. That said, when most people talk about “CBD oil,” they’re referring to CBD tincture for sale designed for oral use.
Sublingual (under the tongue)
This is the most common method. You place the oil under your tongue and hold it there for 30-60 seconds before swallowing. Some of the CBD is absorbed through oral tissue in your mouth, while the rest will be absorbed through the digestive system.
What’s great about this is you get fast effects, but they still linger quite a while. Most people feel sublingual CBD working its magic in as little as 15 minutes. It can last 2-3+ hours.
Adding CBD oil to a beverage
CBD oil can be mixed into coffee, tea, or smoothies. This method is easy, and you can mask the taste of CBD oil, which may be off-putting in some cases. Just know the onset is slower because the CBD has to be fully digested. It’s closer to edibles in terms of onset.
Another important caveat is that the CBD oil will be slightly less efficient in terms of bioavailability when you add it to a beverage. Efficiency drops compared to sublingual intake.
What’s the Right Dosage for CBD Oil?
There is no single dose that works for everyone. Our advice on the best way to take CBD oil is to start with the lowest possible amount - usually 10-25mg of CBD. Keep in mind there are quite a few factors influencing the optimal dosage, such as:
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Your metabolism and body weight
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Your experience with CBD oil
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The type of CBD oil (isolate, broad-spectrum, full-spectrum)
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The time of day/your goal with CBD oil
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How you take the CBD oil (sublingually vs in a beverage)
Most of our tinctures have instructions to use a full dropper. But not all of our tinctures are the same dosage, so that needs to be taken into consideration as well.
Choosing the Right CBD Oil Potency
Some of our tinctures have just 16mg of CBD per dropper. Others have 50mg per dropper. Part of learning how to take CBD oil is figuring out the ideal potency.
Potency refers to how much CBD is in the bottle and how much you get per dropper. Here’s a quick overview of some of our most popular CBD tinctures:
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Daily Relief CBD Isolate Oil: 16mg CBD per dropper
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Enhanced Relief Broad Spectrum CBD Oil: 33mg CBD per dropper
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Max Relief Full Spectrum CBD Oil: 50mg CBD and 2mg THC per dropper
What’s great about CBD oil is how easily you can increase or decrease your dose down to the mg. Increase slowly, usually by 5-10 mg at a time, and give each change a few days before adjusting again.
The goal is to find the lowest amount that produces noticeable results without unwanted effects. This is known as the minimum effective dose (MED). Taking more CBD for no reason is just going to mess with your tolerance.
Should You Use Isolate, Broad-Spectrum, or Full-Spectrum?
This is another really important aspect of incorporating CBD oil into your daily ritual. There are three main types:
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CBD isolate contains only CBD and no other cannabinoids.
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Broad-spectrum includes CBD plus minor cannabinoids, with THC removed.
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Full-spectrum contains the complete hemp profile, including trace THC.
Whether you want to buy CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, or even full-spectrum CBD, we’ve got you covered with Mother Nature’s finest at Medterra. There’s literally something for everyone, from CBD sleep products to CBD focus, relax CBD, and more!
Timing Your Intake
CBD oil can be taken in the morning, afternoon, or evening depending on your goal. It all comes down to why you’re trying to learn how to take CBD oil in the first place.
Is it to take the edge off of daily stress? You might start the date with a serving and take another in the afternoon or after work. Are you just trying to sleep better? Use CBD sleep oil roughly 30-45 minutes before bed.
Parting Thoughts on How to Take CBD Oil
That does it for our guide on how to take CBD oil! It’s one of the most versatile and clean ways to incorporate CBD into your daily routine. We hope you feel more confident in your next steps now.
There are no right or wrong answers on the best way to take CBD oil, really. What matters most is that you buy CBD products online from a brand you can trust, be it CBDistillery vs Charlotte's Web or Green Roads vs Purekana.
But of all the options online, Medterra is the most trusted source as a US Hemp Authority Certified brand with a 4.4/5 rating on Trustpilot. You can learn more about CBD oil vs gummies if you’re curious. Otherwise, it’s time to shop the best CBD oil online at Medterra today!

