Key takeaways

  • CBD tinctures are alcohol-based extracts placed under the tongue, where they may absorb in 15 to 45 minutes. They differ from CBD oils, which use carbon dioxide extraction.
  • Research suggests CBD may help reduce inflammation, manage chronic pain, and relieve anxiety. However, evidence is still limited, and the only use approved by the FDA is for specific epilepsy treatment.
  • CBD has a generally good safety profile, but possible side effects may include sleepiness, changes in appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, and low blood pressure. Talk with a healthcare professional about possible medication interactions before use.

The cannabis plant contains over 100 plant chemicals called cannabinoids. CBD is one of the most widely known, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, unlike THC, CBD is not responsible for the high that many people associate with the cannabis plant.

CBD is available in various products, including edibles, capsules, oils, and tinctures. Growing research supports its potential health benefits for some people. However, CBD research is still relatively new. As such, more studies are necessary to look at its long-term effects.

Since the Farm Bill removed hemp from cannabis’s legal definition in 2018, some hemp-derived CBD products are legal under federal law as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.

Some CBD products contain more than this but are still legal in some states, so check local state legislature for CBD laws before attempting to use these products.

Medical News Today has sole editorial control over this article. The uses that we suggest for these listed products are not based on any of the manufacturers’ health claims.

The information in this article is intended to be general, and it should not be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. MNT encourages people to make treatment decisions with their doctors.

A CBD tincture is a liquid extract of CBD that manufacturers make by soaking the plant in high-proof alcohol. The alcohol draws the active ingredients from the CBD, forming a liquid.

People take CBD tinctures from a dropper under the tongue. Administering the tincture this way allows it to absorb through the mucous membranes.

Alternatively, people can mix tinctures into beverages such as tea. If a person swallows a tincture instead of taking it under the tongue, they may absorb it more slowly, similar to an edible or capsule.

Some labeling and consumers confuse CBD oils and tinctures, but they are different products. The main difference is how manufacturers extract CBD from the plant and put it into the liquid.

Manufacturers make oils using a process called supercritical fluid extraction, which involves using carbon dioxide to extract CBD. CBD tincture production, on the other hand, uses alcohol. This production process means that tinctures may taste more bitter than oils.

Is one better than the other?

Oils are more widely available than tinctures, but both might be effective. Tinctures may also contain additives such as sweeteners or flavorings to mask the bitter, unpleasant taste.

Choosing one over the other may be helpful for those who have allergies to certain carrier oils in CBD oil products, such as coconut oil, or alcohol sensitivity in tinctures.

People may be able to use oils on the skin, but tinctures have no effect.

A small 2023 study in the UK compared the actual CBD content of oils, tinctures, and other CBD liquids with the advertised content. The researchers found that the oils in the sample were more likely to have a CBD content closer to the advertised percentage than tinctures.

However, oils may take much longer than tinctures to take effect, as they have to work through the digestive system and do not absorb as quickly. As tinctures sit under the tongue, they may start to work in 15 to 45 minutes, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Studies on CBD tinctures are limited. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) advises that the only use of CBD, with approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is in a specific treatment for epilepsy called Epidiolex.

Evidence suggests that most people can tolerate CBD well. Additionally, some research indicates that CBD may demonstrate certain health benefits:

  • Reducing inflammation: A 2018 study found that oral CBD may have anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Managing chronic pain: Around 94% of people involved in a 2019 study reported that CBD use reduced chronic pain and helped them restore quality of life.
  • Relieving anxiety: A 2019 study concluded that CBD might reduce anxiety and support life with anxiety disorders.

A 2018 review found that tinctures provide higher levels of plant compounds than water-based extracts, such as infusions and decoctions. However, this review looked at a plant other than cannabis, and the extraction process might affect cannabinoids differently than other plant compounds.

However, higher quality, longer-term studies are still necessary to confirm these benefits and help clinicians suggest an ideal dosage and form for these conditions.

CBD has a good safety profile. People have taken doses up to 200 milligrams (mg) for less than 13 weeks without health problems.

However, some possible side effects of CBD may include:

  • decrease in alertness
  • sleepiness
  • changes in appetite
  • mood changes
  • gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea
  • hypotension, or low blood pressure
  • dizziness and light-headedness
  • sleepiness

It is also important to note that CBD may interact with other medications. If a person wishes to use a CBD product, it may be advisable to consult a doctor about possible drug interactions.

People administer CBD tinctures with a dropper under the tongue or add it to food and beverages. An individual can hold the tincture under their tongue for 60 to 120 seconds, allowing mucous membranes to absorb it directly into the bloodstream.

Starting with a low dose can help people determine whether they tolerate CBD tinctures well and benefit from them.

The Arthritis Foundation recommends taking 5 to 10 mg twice per day at first before scaling up the dose in 5- or 10-mg increments if a person does not feel the benefits after 3 to 4 days. However, no formal CBD usage guidelines exist.

People should feel the benefits of CBD within several weeks. If they do not, CBD may not be right for them, and they may wish to stop using it.

When choosing a tincture, pick products that are safe, free of contaminants, reliably tested, and legal. Look for the following when selecting a CBD tincture:

  • It contains a maximum of 0.3% THC, in line with the Agriculture Improvement Act.
  • The manufacturer does not have a warning letter from the FDA.
  • The manufacturer has used gamma radiation rather than pesticides to remove contaminants and harmful microbes from the product.
  • The product should have proof of third-party testing from an independent lab with ISO-IEC-17025 certification. This testing should show that the product is free of heavy metals, mold, microbes, and pesticides.
  • The manufacturer should provide a certificate of analysis (COA) for all of their products, showing the CBD and THC content, the content of other cannabinoids, the terpene content, and the safety test results for contaminants.

Other important considerations include:

  • the product’s CBD content and potency
  • the price
  • the manufacturer’s reputation
  • the retailer’s reputation
  • online customer reviews

CBD tinctures are CBD products in which manufacturers extract CBD using high proof alcohol. A person can take CBD using a dropper under the tongue, or add the liquid to food and drinks. CBD tinctures may taste bitter, so manufacturers often add flavorings and sweeteners.

CBD tinctures have a different extraction process than CBD oils. People also cannot apply CBD tinctures to the skin in the same way as oils.

CBD may have benefits for inflammation, pain, and anxiety management. However, more research is still necessary. If purchasing a CBD tincture, it is advisable to pick an independently assessed, contaminant-free CBD product from a reputable manufacturer that comes with a certificate of analysis.