Cannabidiol is thought to be good for pain, sleep issues, stress, and a host of other health conditions. You might have heard about the health benefits of this hemp-derived substance and might be looking to purchase it. Cannabidiol comes in numerous forms, including balm and oil. There are so many options to pick from, so it can be slightly tricky to choose one product. Here, we will look at how CBD balm and cannabidiol oil compare.

CBD Oil

This form of cannabidiol can be ingested into the body. As per health information website namely Healthline, cannabidiol oil has the potential to help you deal with mental depression, anxiety, pain, acne, etc. CBD is legal, and the World Health Organization says it is usually “well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

Still, many wonder whether it is safe to consume cannabidiol mainly because it comes from hemp, which is associated with marijuana. The latter plant is related to cannabis, and it does not help that there is a stigma over cannabis.

You do not have to worry that consuming CBD will get you the kind of mind-altering effect, associated with cannabis use. Firstly, some CBD products you find in stores are hemp derivatives that contain just 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol. That THC content is just not enough to give you a psychoactive ‘high’. So you will not be stoned out of your mind by consuming legal CBD oil unless you take too much of the product at once.

That said, if you are looking to consume CBD with regular medication, it is best to talk to your doctor. That consumption might lead to drug-drug interaction, with undesirable effects.

CBD Balm

Topical CBD products including the balm give localized pain relief. In other words, by using CBD balm or another cannabidiol-filled topical item, you will have relief from pain in the affected area.

When you apply the CBD topical on the body, it will be involved with cannabinoid receptors situated in the peripheral nervous system. Pain signals go through the PNS up to the spinal cord. So the topical application of cannabidiol is suited for localized pain relief.

CBD will interact with the receptors in the skin, so it will not go into the flowing blood. Therefore, you will have the effects of the balm quicker than with cannabidiol oil.

The balm contains natural ingredients such as carrier oil, essential oils, beeswax, and hemp isolate. Manufacturers of CBD products add essential oils to the balm for their fragrances and unique healing effects. The following are these healing properties in a nutshell.

  • The lavender essential oil has a soothing scent that potentially helps to treat depression, insomnia, anxiety.
  • Peppermint essential oil has a scent that possibly improves the clarity of mind, gives relief from stress and headaches, and helps to manage muscle pain.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil has a scent thought to help tackle inflammation.
  • Rose essential oil has a scent that potentially eases anxiety and stress, plus offers mental and physical relaxation.

Type Of Cannabidiol Oil

CBD comes in three different forms: ‘Isolate’, ‘Broad Spectrum’, and ‘Full Spectrum’. One of these types of CBD is not better than another because every person will respond in a different way to the substance.

  • CBD isolate contains almost pure cannabidiol and has no THC content at all. From a safety point of view, that is great, because it contains no amount of THC for someone to even unknowingly overdose themselves.
  • Broad-spectrum CBD also does not contain THC, but it has more of the substances sourced from hemp than CBD isolate.
  • Full-spectrum cannabidiol oil has 0.3% THC and other substances from hemp.
Criteria CBD Balm CBD Oil
Effects Quicker (For Pain) Not As Quick (For Pain)
Bioavailability Lower Higher
Way Of Use One More than one

So Should You Choose CBD Balm Or Cannabidiol Oil?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. Truth be told, the choice is a matter of how you would like to consume cannabidiol and for what condition.

There are some important differences to note between the two products. Earlier in this post, we have said that the balm gives relatively quicker effects because it interacts with the receptors in the skin. This does not necessarily mean that it has a higher bioavailability than CBD oil, consumed through the tongue or sublingually. For an uninitiated, in the case of CBD, bioavailability means the rate and level at which cannabidiol is taken into the flowing blood.

It is worth noting that when you add CBD oil to food and eat it, then its bioavailability will be lower. This is because, when you consume CBD oil this way, cannabidiol should go through the digestive system before entering the blood.

Despite the balm’s bioavailability being lower as compared to the oil, you will still have a quicker relief from pain by using it. For non-skin health issues, the oil might just be a better option.