Introduction
Versatile and packed with potential therapeutic benefits, CBD is increasingly a supplement of choice for many adults. In fact, the UK has over 1.3m regular users1.
People choose CBD for both physical and mental wellness - the reasons can be as individual as each person is.
Likewise, CBD comes in various user-friendly forms. One of the most popular is CBD oil. But what are the best ways to take CBD oil? Its very versatility can sometimes be confusing.
Our CBD oil UK guide covers getting started, ways to take CBD oil and how to work out the best CBD oil methods for you:
What is CBD oil?
Ways to take CBD oil
Establishing a Routine
What is CBD Oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) comes from hemp or cannabis and is the second most prevalent of the plant’s many compounds. Unlike its cannabinoid cousins, notably THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive so won’t make you high. It’s legal in the UK (*see below) and considered non-addictive2.
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid receptors. The Endocannabinoid System3 plays an important role in a range of functions from inflammatory responses to regulating emotions. This is one reason a growing number of people use CBD oil to help manage things like stress, pain, insomnia, anxiety and general well-being.
But what are the best ways to take CBD oil and what should you be aware of when starting out?
The first thing to know is, how CBD is extracted from hemp affects its purity. To be legal in the UK, a product should contain no more than 0.2% THC*. The best way to be confident a CBD product is safe and pure is to choose a reputable, transparent supplier.
Voyager, for example, uses only CO2 or ethanol extraction methods which leave behind pure CBD in its crystalline form. All Voyager products are clearly labelled and lab-tested on site, with test reports available4.
The different strengths of CBD oil on the market can also cause confusion. The strength of a CBD product means how much CBD you will get in each drop. In the UK, the recommended maximum dose is 10mg5. CBD oil drops usage also depends on individual factors eg your weight and age.
Ways to Take CBD Oil
Your choice of CBD oil routine and CBD oil methods may depend on what you want to achieve.
Sublingual Method
This is a highly-effective way to take CBD whereby a few drops of sublingual CBD oil are placed under your tongue. The simple steps are:
- Measure your preferred dosage. A clearly-marked mg pipette (like that included with Voyager CBD oil products) allows you to know how much you’re taking without reaching for the calculator!
- Place the drops under your tongue using the pipette
- Hold for one minute to give CBD time to absorb before swallowing
Sublingual CBD oil is the most efficient way to consume CBD oil. Tiny blood vessels in the skin (mucosa) beneath the tongue readily absorb CBD into the bloodstream.
Remember. Every person’s CBD journey is different and it’s best to start with the lowest dose. Some people find this is enough - others may need to build up to a higher dose to achieve the same results.
A regular routine of CBD oil drops usage can optimise the therapeutic benefits you’re aiming for. It’s also crucial not to expose CBD oil to temperatures above 176C.
Oral Method
Sublingual CBD oil is the quickest, most efficient way to consume CBD oil, but, for various reasons, you may prefer other CBD oil methods. CBD oil can also be taken in capsules or added to food or beverages such as coffee/tea.
Here, CBD has to pass through the digestive system before reaching the blood, so will be slower-acting, with less active ingredient absorbed. However, the oral method’s relatively slower absorption and sustained release may mean the effects of your CBD last longer.
As a rule of thumb:
- For persistent issues, chronic pain or long-term anxiety, say, the oral method could be one of the best ways to take CBD oil
- Because it’s absorbed faster sublingual CBD oil may be more suited to acute problems such as a short-lived stressful event or sudden pain
Another advantage of the oral method is you can flavour CBD drops with almost any food/beverage of your choice. How about coffee, cheese sauce or raspberry ripple ice cream flavour? CBD is insoluble in water, though, so it’s best to mix it with food or drink that contains some fat.
Why You Should Establish a Routine
Whatever your CBD oil methods, most experienced users find consistency is key to reaching goals - be those anxiety-/pain-relief, better sleep or other motives.
As a novice, building a regular CBD oil routine can maximise your product’s effectiveness and allow you time to discover what works best. This may take patience - don’t worry if you don’t instantly achieve your goal. Effects of CBD are apparent for some and more subtle for others, so listen to your body. A daily routine can also help you spot any side-effects which might include lowered appetite, stomach upset or dry mouth.
Why do you want to start using CBD? Base your routine on that and take your drops at the same time each day. For insomnia, for example, CBD oil drops before bed could establish good sleep patterns and a calm frame of mind. Keeping a CBD log – noting times, effects etc – over a few weeks will help you track results and find the optimum routine.
Example routine (based on typical experiences)
Susie loves being Deputy Head of Pastoral Care at a busy secondary school in the East Midlands. But the job can be extremely stressful. Peak is the meeting every morning ‘like Judgement Day’ before students hurtle through the gates – and an Ofsted visit is looming.
Susie began taking eight mg of CBD oil with her porridge. After two weeks she felt calmer and more focused at the morning meetings, as noted in her CBD diary.
On the afternoon of the Ofsted inspection, Susie felt extra sick with nerves. Having spent time working out best ways to take CBD oil she added a 2mg dose of sublingual CBD oil before the Ofsted meeting. Sublingual CBD oil disperses fast, so by the time inspectors arrived she felt completely on top of the situation.
As the above shows, you don’t have to take your CBD oil in a single dose. Identify your peak times of need, split the dose – it’s about what works for you (but we recommend you don’t exceed your total preferred dosage). Got an exercise class every Monday afternoon? Incorporate a drop in your drink to help reduce muscle twinges.
Conclusion
However you choose to take CBD oil, there are a few important things to help you on your journey.
If you’re new to CBD, the first is understanding the CBD oil methods available and what’s right for you. Often, this depends on your reasons for choosing CBD.
A slower-release, oral method, with less CBD entering the bloodstream but where effects may last longer, could be a great approach to persistent or chronic issues such as ongoing anxiety or back pain.
If you want faster-acting relief with more product absorbed into your blood, sublingual CBD oil may be the route for you.
Establishing a regular, daily routine and keeping a CBD journal can optimise your CBD oil methods’ effectiveness. Arm yourself with the facts from this CBD oil UK guide and your own research. Allow yourself space and time to discover what works for you. And you’ll experience the potentially life-changing benefits of CBD for many years to come.
1An overview: The UK’s CBD market in 2022 Association for the Cannabinoid Industry
2 CANNABIDIOL (CBD) WHO Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report, Expert Committee on Drug Dependence June 2018
3 CBD: Health Benefits and Risks WebMed CBD (Cannabidiol) Health Benefits by Sarah Amandolare, January 23, 2025
4 Certificates of Analysis | Voyager Life Limited
References:
Report-_-CBD-in-the-UK.pdf Centre for Medical Cannabis/Association for the Cannabinoid Industry
Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don’t Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don't - Harvard Health
