For many people, vaping is something that people do to help them to give up smoking. It is much better for our health than conventional smoking, as well as being a lot more sociable, doesn’t expel harmful smoke, doesn’t make your clothes smell and certainly doesn’t make the walls turn that dingy shade of yellow.
People are turning to vaping for another reason too – CBD. Vaping CBD is a very effective way to get your dose of cannabidiol.
First things first – why vape CBD?
CBD is one of the cannabinoids which is found naturally in cannabis. It can do wonders for our general health as well as help some people with some more specific health problems.
You can find out more about CBD here.
For CBD to work effectively it needs access the to endocannabinoid system in the human body. The endocannabinoid system works on the premise of the interaction between endocannabinoids (cannabinoids which are produced naturally by the body) and cannabinoid receptors which are concentrated in a number of areas around the body.
One of the best ways for the CBD to reach the cannabinoid receptors is through the bloodstream, and vaping is one of the best methods for getting the CBD into the bloodstream.
When you vape CBD, the vape oil is heated by an e-pen or vaporiser to a temperature which doesn’t destroy the CBD, and it is vaporised and then inhaled. The vapor goes into your lungs and then goes into the bloodstream through the lungs.
This means that it is quickly absorbed, quickly comes into effect, but also doesn’t stay in your system for very long, compared to the other methods of consuming CBD.
CBD Isolate
When you are making vape oil, you need to use CBD isolate. This is the purest form of CBD that it is possible to get – usually around 99%. It is worth getting the best quality CBD isolate that you can – and you can often tell its purity not only on the labeling but also by its colour. CBD isolate with impurities in it is usually a browner/yellower/dirtier looking substance – compared to the purer white colour of a better quality isolate.
CBD isolate usually comes either in a powder form or in crystals which will need to be crushed.
Making CBD vape oil
Although it is possible to buy good CBD vape oil, some people prefer to make their own. This not only gives you complete control over how much CBD you are taking but also what else is in the liquid that you are vaping. This means that you know exactly how much CBD you have in your vaporiser and can customise your vape oil flavours to exactly what you like. So, if you like donut flavoured vape oil with a touch of custard you can go right ahead and make it for yourself.
Making your own CBD vape oil is easy, and you will need:
Equipment
- An accurate and sensitive weighing scale for weighing your CBD isolate
- A clean container which has been sterilised where you can make your CBD vape oil
- A funnel and a non-absorbent stirrer
- Sterile bottles for storing your CBD vape oil or e-liquid
- Pestle and mortar if you need to grind up your CBD isolate crystals
- Pan of warm water
Ingredients
- Unflavoured vape oil (or flavoured if you already know what you like)
- CBD isolate
- Terpenes for a better effect or your chosen flavours
Method
The first thing to consider when you are making your vape oil is the dose that you are wanting to include. You should work on the premise that 1g of CBD isolate will give you about 1000mg of CBD.
So, if, for example, you put in 0.5g of isolate, you will get about 500mg of CBD if you vape it all.
Some people find it easier to fill up the chamber of the e-pen with e-liquid once a day and vape it all throughout the day. This can give as accurate an idea of the dose that you are taking as possible.
To calculate, therefore how much CBD isolate to add, you need to first find out the capacity of the chamber.
If, for example, it has a capacity of 5ml, and you want a dose of 25mg of CBD, you will need 25mg of CBD (or 0.025g of isolate) PER 5ml of unflavoured vape oil.
- Crush up your CBD isolate crystals if it is not already in powder form.
- Gently heat the desired amount of unflavoured vape oil – either over a pan with warm water, or even just by leaving it on a warm radiator.
- Put the vape oil into the sterilised container and mix in the isolate powder until it is fully dissolved.
- Add your flavouring – if you have already got the flavours that you want, just mix them in. Depending on the strength of flavour that you are after, mix in between about 5% and 15% of the overall e-liquid. This is something that you will need to experiment with – after all, everyone’s tastes are slightly different.
- Some people like to add terpenes for both flavour and added effectiveness to their e-liquid.
Terpenes are other compounds which are found in a plant, and those which are responsible for giving it its smell amongst other things. In the hemp plant, the terpenes can act in conjunction with the CBD to help to make it more effective. By adding terpenes to your vape oil, you can not only take advantage of the aromatic benefits of the hemp plant but also boost the effectiveness of the CBD itself.
There are dozens of terpenes in the hemp plant and you can buy these in an isolate form to be added to your e-liquid. Although there is not enough medical research to say that they are medicinal, according to some aromatherapists and herbalists, some terpenes are said to have particular effects on the body.
Some of the most common include:
- Mycrene (said to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, also found in lemongrass, mango, cardamom and thyme)
- Limonene (said to be energising and elevate your mood, also found in citrus fruit rind)
- Terpinolene (said to be anti-bacterial and antioxidant, calm the nervous system and help with sleep, also found in lilacs)
- Caryophyllene (said to have anti-inflammatory properties, also found in cloves, hops, basil, oregano, black pepper and lavender)
- Pinene (said to be anti-inflammatory and boost alertness and concentration, also found in turpentine, dill and pine needles)
You can simply add the terpenes that you fancy to your e-liquid, to create the perfect balance for you.
CBD effects everybody differently and if you are thinking of trying it for the first time, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor first – especially if you are taking medication – as CBD can affect the way that some medication is processed in the body.
Whether you like the control that you have with dosing, the flavours or just prefer to make your own vape oil because, well, most things that are home-made are better, the process is easy and quick. It also allows you to experiment with your different options until you find what is right for you – or for a change from what you normally have.
So, if you’re a seasoned vaper or are just starting out, why not give making your own CBD vape oil a go and see what you come up with?
