This is the ultimate guide for seniors using CBD – and the only guide you’ll ever need! Find out how to pick the best CBD products for seniors here.
As I noted in an earlier article, there are known health benefits of CBD for seniors. CBD has gained immense popularity in recent years and there are great reasons behind this new health and wellness trend. This compound can help older adults manage or overcome a myriad of issues but it might seem overwhelming at first to navigate the CBD world.
In this guide, we’ll start by giving you a simple six-step process to choose the best CBD products where we’ll explain all the CBD jargon you need to know to make well-informed decisions when buying CBD products. Then, we’ll go over our suggestions of the best CBD products for seniors, including products for arthritis, anxiety, sleep, and back pain among others.
We’ll finish by answering the most commonly asked questions about seniors using CBD.
How to Choose a CBD Product in 6 Simple Steps
The CBD world might seem a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many different products and jargon that you may feel intimidated. We’ve compiled the six steps you need to take to start your CBD journey in the simplest way possible.
Step 1 – What Do You Want to Achieve by Using CBD?
First and foremost, you need to define what your goals in using CBD are. There are so many different products in the market that if you don’t narrow them down by intent you’re left with… well, all of them!
That’s way too many products to browse through, analyze, and compare. After you know your purpose, you’ll know if products with CBD only are more helpful than those that also have THC. We’ll go through your options shortly, on step two.
You’ll also want to know what delivery method suits you best. If you have a skin condition, for instance, topical products may be better for you than CBD oil. This is just a simplified example to show you the importance of knowing your goal. We’ll get into detail on step three.
Step 2 – What Are the Different Variants of CBD Products?
There are three major variants of CBD products:
- Isolate CBD: only contains CBD at a high purity level.
- Broad-spectrum CBD: contains CBD and all other compounds in cannabis, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, except for THC.
- Full-spectrum CBD: contains all compounds in cannabis, including THC.
CBD is federally legal across all of the United States as long as it was derived from hemp plants containing less than 0.3% of THC, but THC is still illegal in most states. So, all the above types of CBD products are legal where you live as long as they were made from hemp plants within the legal limits.
Note: some states have purposefully made it illegal or restricted it to medical use, so make sure you know the regulations where you live. But you can also find full-spectrum CBD with a higher percentage of THC if you live in a state where cannabis is legal.
All of these type have advantages and disadvantages. Broad-spectrum and, especially, full-spectrum CBD are believed to be the most beneficial since all the compounds in cannabis act together synergistically to produce better and stronger results – this scientific theory is known as “the entourage effect.”
If you’re using a product with a high percentage of THC, you’ll most likely fail a drug test if you’re subjected to one – so that’s one point you must consider. Broad-spectrum CBD is a great alternative in this case.
Regarding isolate CBD, its greatest advantage is that you’ll be sure you won’t get an allergic reaction to any other ingredient since it only contains CBD.
The bottom line is that you need to consider your individual needs and the pros and cons of each one of these before going into each type of product – from simple oils to topicals you can find these variations in all of them.
Step 3- What Are the Different Ways of Consuming CBD?
After you’ve chosen between isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum CBD, you can start browsing through the different products available. There are plenty of options – you’ll surely find something that suits your taste, your lifestyle, and the issue you’re targeting.
CBD Oils and Tinctures
Oils and tinctures are some of the most versatile and effective options. You can simply ingest them, leave them under your tongue for at least one minute before swallowing, or add them to food or drinks.
The main difference between CBD oil and tinctures is their formulation – tinctures have more bioavailability, meaning that your body will absorb it faster due to certain ingredients in their composition. With these, it’ll take at least 30 minutes to feel the effects, which is longer than with most other options, but they’re also more long-lasting and act on your whole body.
Moreover, there are plenty of flavors to choose from. You can go for natural flavor or others, like the ones Plant Power offers – mint, rosemary, lemongrass; orange, cinnamon, ginger; or coconut, pineapple, lemongrass.
CBD Edibles and Capsules
If you don’t want to add CBD oil to food or beverages, you can choose to buy pre-made edibles. You’ve got plenty to choose from but the most common are gummies. As previously mentioned, you can find full-spectrum gummies or gummies containing only CBD.
Capsules are a great alternative to oils and tinctures if you want to make dosing easier. Each one comes with a specified concentration and you can have one or more at a time depending on your regimen.
You can find CBD products, including gummies and capsules, that were specifically formulated to target certain issues or go for general ones if you just want to feel more balanced. Avid Hemp is a great shop here. They offer a great variety of gummies with different concentrations and flavors.
Both of these types work the same way as oils and tinctures. You ingest them and the effects take at least 30 minutes to be felt but they last longer than with most of the other options and act on your whole body.
CBD Vapes
CBD vapes work like regular vapes – you just take a deep breath and hold the vapor in for as long as you want – the longer, the greater the absorption. Vapes are incredibly convenient since you can easily take and use them anywhere. They’re also discreet and you’ll feel the effects in less than ten minutes – making them perfect for quick relief.
If you’re just getting started, you should wait those ten minutes before you take a second puff and repeat the process until you’ve attained the desired effects. However, vaping can be quite harsh to your lungs, especially if you buy from untrustworthy brands that use low-quality materials and harmful chemicals in their CBD e-liquid composition.
If you want to try out vaping, our recommendation is that you go for Sauc’s vaping device. They are the first and only brand offering a lead-free, leak, clog, and tamper-proof cannabinoid delivery system.
You can also buy CBD vape pods, fillable pods, and e-liquids on their website or choose CBD e-liquids (a.k.a. vape juices) from other manufacturers once you feel like trying something new.
Since they only have three CBD e-liquid flavors available, we recommend you get Sauc’s fillable pods and Danker’s vape juices to fill them up. They have so many flavors to choose from!
CBD Flower
CBD flower is like regular cannabis flower but with a high CBD concentration and no psychotropic effects – no, you won’t get high! You can smoke it with a bong, pipe, or in joints or blunts. It offers quick relief, just like vaping.
Jeffrey’s is one of the best retailers of CBD flower. They offer premium, indoor-grown, 100% organic, AAA quality, craft hemp flower. You can opt for a relaxing strain to help you cope with anxiety or sleep problems or for an energizing strain that’ll keep you active and creative throughout the day.
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals encompass a wide variety of products, like creams, lotions, salves, massage oils, and shampoos, among others. These are the best option for targeted action. You can simply apply them over the affected area if you have a skin problem, like acne, eczema, or psoriasis, or muscle, joint, or bone aches or discomfort. They are great for people suffering from arthritis, for example.
You can get the best results if you combine topical application with systemic use – ingesting or inhaling CBD.
A great CBD cream for seniors is PurCBD’s hemp intensive relief rub. It comes with 500 mg of CBD and menthol. It uses cryotherapy to help the cream penetrate quickly, offering fast relief for muscle and joint aches.
But there are also CBD cosmetic creams, like PurCBD’s wrinkle serum. Thanks to its composition, it brightens uneven skin tones, nourishes dehydrated skin, and increases circulation.
What You Need to Know About CBD Product Labels
You need to know what to look for in labels to find the best CBD products. You also need to remember that hemp seed oil is not the same as CBD oil – it might not even contain CBD at all.
A trustworthy brand has nothing to hide – they’ll include all relevant information in their labels or, at least, make it available on their website. A reputable CBD brand usually includes the following in its product description:
- The manufacturer or distributor’s name;
- The Supplement Facts panel;
- The list of ingredients;
- The net weight;
- The amount of CBD per serving, the total amount, or the potency in percentage;
- Whether it’s full or broad-spectrum or isolate CBD;
- The batch or date code.
How to Find a Reputable CBD Manufacturer or Seller
Finding a reputable seller is very important when searching for the best CBD products. It all starts with quality hemp – preferably grown without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Then, you have to look at the CBD extraction method. Some methods are cleaner and lead to purer CBD than others. The C02 extraction method is the best one – hemp goes through high pressure and low temperatures without using harsh chemicals, like ethanol and butane.
But what really makes a trustworthy seller stand out is third-party testing. These analyses search for impurities and confirm the CBD potency and THC content. The results come as Certificate of Analysis (CoA) that companies make available to customers on their websites.
When you buy from sellers who openly show their CoA’s, you can be sure of the CBD and THC content and that their products are free of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, solvent residues, and chemical thinning agents.
Mind the Cost of CBD Products
Sometimes prices might seem too high for such small amounts of CBD but those products usually last for a while since you don’t need much of them. A high price doesn’t always equal quality but when it comes to high-quality CBD products, the licensing, expensive and labor-intensive processes, and third-party testing all contribute to the final price tag.
If you find cheap CBD products, those brands are likely cutting corners and lowering the quality of their products. Never compromise on third-party testing and quality raw materials and processes – always choose high-quality CBD products.
Best CBD Products for Seniors
In this section, we’ll give you product recommendations for specific issues you might have to help you get started on your CBD journey. It’s important to know that you will interact differently to different types of CBDs, how they are consumed, and that how one CBD treats one person could have a very different effect on someone else. What follows are suggestions rather than absolutes. To know what truly works best for you you have to try a product and monitor the effects it has on you.
What’s the Best CBD Oil for Seniors With Arthritis?
WelCel CBD Oil – 1000 mg
This CBD oil comes with 33.33 mg of full-spectrum CBD per serving. It also contains turmeric oil, peppermint oil, and ginger oil – each bringing more beneficial properties to the table.
You should shake the bottle well and then have 1 mL orally. Just hold it under your tongue for 30 to 60 seconds before swallowing.
Client reviews highly praise this oil. People report pain and discomfort relief in their joints, bones, and muscles. Some clients have said that after starting using this oil, they no longer needed painkillers – “No aspirin or ibuprofen for the last 8 months!” stated one happy customer.
Others report better sleep, more clarity during the day (even for Alzheimer’s patients), quicker muscle recovery, and decreased muscle spasms.
PurCBD Muscle & Joint CBD Oil Capsules – 750 mg
CBD capsules are incredibly convenient and easy to use. These in particular are full-spectrum, non-GMO, and were made from hemp grown with no pesticides. Each contains 25 mg of CBD – you can choose to have more than one.
They were specifically formulated to help with muscle and joint issues, making them perfect for those suffering from arthritis. They also have other beneficial ingredients in their composition, including turmeric root powder and a special herbal blend.
What’s the Best CBD for Seniors With Anxiety?
WelCel CBD Oil – 500 mg
This oil has the same composition and ingredients as the previous one, just a lower concentration of CBD – 16.66 mg per serving.
According to customer reviews, this is the best CBD for anxiety and anger. Additionally, we chose this lower concentration since, usually, you don’t need as much CBD to calm your anxiety as you do for pain relief but you can use them interchangeably and this one is more beginner-friendly.
One client review reads “This product helped my anxiety so much!” while another stated, “I was pleasantly surprised how much this full-spectrum CBD helps my anxiety!” Moreover, customers report that WelCel’s 500 mg CBD oil helps them keep a clear head, sleep better, and lower heart rate and blood pressure.
What Are the Best CBD Products for Back Pain?
SOAR Body Bettered Soothing Patches (3-Pack) – 150 mg
CBD patches aren’t too common – yet! They’re only starting to gain popularity this year. But we believe these are the absolute best for targeted pain relief – not just for back pain but anywhere you need!
They can help you relax tense muscles and soothe pain. And SOAR’s patches come with 50 mg of CBD each, while other brands’ patches usually only have 25 mg.
What makes patches great is that you can place them on your skin and forget about them. They’ll offer you a soothing feeling for up to 72 hours – whether you’re sleeping or going about your day.
SOAR’s customers love these patches! They claim that they’re helpful for tense neck, shoulders, back, and arms. A client stated that this was the first real solution she found for debilitating, chronic pain.
Best CBD for Sleep For Seniors
SOAR Sleep Secured CBN Tincture – 650 mg
This lemon-flavored CBD tincture was specifically made to help you sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed and energetic. It combines broad-spectrum CBD with cannabinol (CBN), melatonin (the sleep hormone), lemon flavor, and stevia (a natural sweetener).
Customers love this tincture! One stated that “This tincture not only tastes great, [but] it [also] allows me to sleep through the entire night…which is worth its weight in gold!” And added that it helps you fall asleep and prevents you from waking up multiple times throughout the night.
SOAR recommends you place 1 mL under your tongue, before sleep, for 30 seconds and then swallow. But a client mentioned that 0.5 mL is all it takes for her to sleep like a baby. “It’s a miracle product,” she added.
Avid Hemp CBD Nighttime Oil – 1,000 mg
If you find that SOAR’s tincture isn’t potent enough for you, Avid Hemp’s 1,000 mg oil is the best alternative. It also contains melatonin in its composition but comes with a minty flavor, fractionated coconut oil, and full-spectrum CBD instead of broad-spectrum.
Best CBD Edibles for Seniors
SOAR Time Taken Daily Gel Caps – 750 mg
These capsules come with 25 mg of CBD each. They offer full body and mind support since they have broad-spectrum CBD and a blend of ancient, adaptogenic herbs – you’ll always feel at the top of your game!
These adaptogenic herbs include ashwagandha, known to decrease stress and support cognitive function; astragalus, which stimulates the immune system; and Rhodiola to promote endurance and strength.
One customer stated that these capsules are her greatest ally against everyday stress, while another claims to be using them to manage back and neck pain. Another customer said: “I love this product. I feel like my memory and brain fog has improved!” So, yes, you just found your miracle pill!
What Are the Best CBD Gummies for Seniors?
Prosper Wellness Joint Restore Gummies
Aside from having 20 mg of CBD per gummy, which helps fight pain and inflammation, they each contain 200 mg of Boswellia, a natural joint-restoring herbal extract.
According to research, Boswellia decreases inflammation and can help those suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. By decreasing inflammation, it allows your body to heal your joints instead of perpetuating the chronic inflammation cycle.
A customer reported that after four days of taking one of the gummies before bedtime, his pain was gone, which also helped him sleep better. Another customer stated that they work better than any over-the-counter medication and that her joint stiffness and pain were gone in two days with just one gummy per day.
Prosper Wellness has made its products available in bundles, as well, so you can save a few bucks on your orders.
Best CBD Cream for Seniors
Prosper Wellness Pain Freeze Cream
This cream is packed with awesome ingredients, including CBD, aloe, castor oil, peppermint oil, arnica, green tea extract, willow bark extract, menthol, and vitamin E.
This powerful combination is perfect to manage pain in specific areas and its high menthol percentage makes sure all those other ingredients penetrate deep and quickly into your skin.
All client reviews agreed that it reduces their pain, whether it’s on their joints or muscles. However, some state that its effects are immediate, others claim that it takes around 30 minutes, and one said that it took repeated use over some days to start noticing improvement.
Best CBD Beauty Products
Prosper Wellness Blossom Nighttime Ageless Serum with CBD + Retinol
This stellar cream has broad-spectrum CBD oil, retinol, jojoba oil, pro-vitamin B5, coconut oil extract, vitamin E, vitamin C, and spilanthes flower extract in its formulation.
First, it can smooth wrinkles and fine lines thanks to CBD’s ability to repair collagen and elastin and to eliminate inflammation and redness, which is especially beneficial if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or other autoimmune skin condition.
Additionally, retinol speeds up cell replacement leading to fresher and smoother skin – as proved by 17,426 clinical studies!
Vitamins C and E repair damaged skin and support collagen growth – your skin will get thicker, smoother, and more vibrant.
Finally, jojoba oil, coconut oil extract, spilanthes flower, and pro-vitamin B5 act on the muscle structure under your skin, restoring its strength.
Following is a sampling of some client reviews:
“I’ve tried many natural products but this one really does make a difference! My skin looks brighter and firmer! I highly recommend [it]!”
“I am 62 and have very dry skin. I have seen improvement already.”
“I’ve been using this product for a couple of months and noticed sagging skin on my neck has tightened. Very pleased!”
PurCBD Neck Cream
As you could see from the last client review we included, you can use the previous cream on your neck as well. But if you’re looking for something specially formulated for this area, PurCBD’s cream is by far the best option.
This cream was specifically formulated to reduce inflammation and itchiness, protect against wrinkles, moisturize, and recover skin elasticity in your neck, shoulders, upper chest, and cleavage.
Best CBD Massage Products
Avid Hemp CBD Massage Oil – 300 mg
CBD massage oils are a great way to incorporate CBD into your routine. You can even bring it in and ask your masseuse or physiotherapist to use them instead of their regular oils.
Besides full-spectrum CBD it also comes with lavender oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, sesame seed oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and vitamin A – leading to a powerful synergy between all ingredients for the ultimate massage experience.
CBD for Seniors – FAQ
In this final section, we’ll answer the most commonly asked questions regarding CBD and seniors.
1 – Is CBD Good for Older Adults?
Yes, CBD helps your body return to balance faster. When your body is out of balance, you can feel pain, notice excessive inflammation, or have anxiety and upside-down sleep cycles.
These are all problems commonly affecting older adults that CBD can reduce or manage. Preliminary research also indicates it might help prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s.
2 – Is CBD Oil Safe for Senior Citizens?
Most doctors believe CBD is safe for older adults while others classify it as “possibly safe.” There haven’t been any documented CBD overdoses. Side-effects caused by CBD are usually mild and harmless – somnolence, dry mouth, lack of appetite, and headaches are among them.
What’s important to remember is that side effects are correlated to dosage. The higher the dose, the more likely you are to experience them. You should always start with a very low dose and progress from there.
3 – Does CBD Help Anxiety?
A 2018 research study concluded that CBD does have anxiolytic properties. This has been corroborated by plenty of other clinical studies and anecdotal evidence.
4 – Is CBD Good for Arthritis?
CBD can improve the life quality of people suffering from arthritis by suppressing persistent inflammatory pain and chronic neuropathic pain.
Even though most of the research in this area is still at an early stage, results are promising and there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence supporting these claims as well.
5 – Which CBD Products Actually Work?
The problem with CBD products that don’t work is that there’s no CBD in them. A lot of less-reputable companies are taking advantage of the lack of regulations to sell CBD products that contain less cannabidiol than stated on the label or none at all.
If you follow the steps above, you’ll be able to find trustworthy brands that can get you the desired results – you can also purchase from the tried-and-tested brands we’ve suggested throughout the article.
All there’s left is figuring out your ideal CBD dosage and regimen. Of course, everyone is different – you might not respond to CBD therapy like some people don’t respond to traditional therapies but this way you know you’re actually getting CBD.
6 – What Are the Strongest CBD Products?
The strongest CBD oil that we found is from Avid Hemp. They developed a 30 mL oil with a total of 5000 mg of CBD – about 167mg/ml. Just beware that this is not recommended for beginners.
Seniors Using CBD – The Bottom-line
For someone new to the CBD world it might seem a bit hard to navigate. We hope this guide on CBD for seniors has been helpful for those looking to get into this new trend.
Every time you buy a CBD product, don’t forget to check the label for CBD potency, THC content, and other ingredients. This way, you can predict how long the product will last you and be sure there aren’t any harmful chemicals.
We also hope we’ve enlightened you on CBD terminology by explaining terms like isolate, broad, and full-spectrum as well as the Certificate of Analysis and third-party testing. You should always check the CoA and past client reviews of products and brands.
Finally, we hope we’ve answered the questions that all seniors using CBD might have and that our product picks suit you and any ailments or issues you’re trying to target.
Sources Cited
- HSOA Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine: Cannabidiol and Contributions of Major Hemp Phytocompounds to the “Entourage Effect”; Possible Mechanisms
- Leafly: What is CBN (cannabinol) and what are the benefits of this cannabinoid?
- Healthline: 12 Proven Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
- Healthline: Astragalus: An Ancient Root With Health Benefits
- Healthline: 7 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea
- Healthline: Boswellia (Indian Frankincense)
- NCBI: Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age
- NCBI: Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors
About the Author
Inês is a freelance SEO writer and copywriter specializing in helping cannabis and CBD businesses increase traffic and sales. Outside of work, you can find her traveling, getting lost in nature, or cooking (and indulging in the outcome) – always with a smile on her face and a contagious smile.
