Cannabidiol, or CBD, has gained much traction in recent years. It has attracted the attention of people of all ages because of its ability to relieve pain and anxiety and its potential for treating depression, PTSD, etc.
As a result, the CBD market exploded into a £690+ million industry in the UK. After the USA, the UK is the second largest consumer of cannabidiol in the world. Today, CBD is found in almost everything, including drinks, food, skincare products, tea, etc. But what about CBD technologies? What more can you expect in terms of technologies used in the CBD industry? Let’s take a look.
Enhancements in Delivery Methods
Delivery methods are a critical area of potential development in CBD technologies. At present, you can take CBD orally in the form of capsules, edibles, or oils. It can also be applied topically in lotions and creams. However, these methods have limitations.
For instance, oral consumption takes some time to take effect because the CBD has to pass through the digestive system. On the other hand, topical application might not be effective for deeper problems like inflammation.
The development of new delivery methods is being worked on by researchers to address these limitations. For instance, there are companies developing inhalers. Inhalers will allow users to directly inhale CBD into their lungs. This could potentially offer faster relief for pain, anxiety, and other similar issues.
Transdermal patches are another delivery method that is being explored. These patches could be directly applied to the skin and would release CBD slowly over time. Users can expect longer-lasting relief.
Among delivery methods, another area where a lot of research is happening is vaporisers or vape products. Vaping is a popular method of taking CBD and is considered to be a healthier way of consuming herbs than burning them. At present, there are brands like MagicVaporizers offering advanced vaporisers with temperature control for a personalised vaping experience. As this is a continually evolving landscape, you can expect the following developments and trends:
- The use of alternative fuels, such as ethanol, butane, propane and other renewable energy sources.
- Smarter technologies like Bluetooth will be integrated so users can track their usage data and product content remotely.
- Cutting-edge designs for customisation of flavours.
Innovations in Extraction Techniques
In the coming years, the extraction of CBD from cannabis plants is likely to see massive advancements. Presently, using solvents like CO2 and Ethanol to pull CBD from the plant material is one of the most commonly used extraction techniques. This method is effective but time-consuming and expensive. Moreover, solvent extraction is a dangerous way to extract CBD because these chemicals are highly flammable.
Since the CBD industry is growing, there has been a push to develop new extraction techniques that can make the process more cost-effective, efficient and safe. One noteworthy research in this regard is exploring using ultrasound waves to extract CBD. If the research is successful, this technique can increase the yield of CBD while reducing the extraction time.
Other valuable research includes the investigation of nanotechnology and its use in CBD extraction. This involves using tiny particles to encapsulate the CBD molecules, which may improve the bioavailability and absorption of CBD in the body.
Revolutionary Product Innovations
The CBD market’s growth is unprecedented and poised to grow with each passing year. Hence, users can expect to see revolutionary products hitting the shelves. For instance, companies are already developing CBD-infused beverages like coffee and tea. You can even expect CBD-infused kombucha, iced tea and seltzer. These companies are focused on making CBD consumption tasty and convenient.
There are also companies developing CBD-infused cosmetics like moisturisers, lip balms and mascaras. These products can be included in one’s daily skincare routine without a fuss. Since beauty is already a multi-billion dollar industry, it shouldn’t take long for cosmetic brands to infuse CBD into their product line. This is also because CBD skincare products already exist, and they have received a big thumbs up from the users. Hence, you can expect more research and development in this area.
It is predicted that more companies will also incorporate CBD in breath mints. These breath mints would function similarly to tinctures and help to refresh your breath. Some CBD-infused breath mints are already in circulation. You can try them yourself.
You may see CBD supplements for birds, as there are CBD supplements for dogs, horses and cats.
Wrapping Up
The future of CBD technologies and the market at large looks bright. The use of CBD is expected to explode in the future because of its exceptional therapeutic and health benefits.
What do you think of these technological advancements? Which ones are you most excited about? What other technological advancement would you like to see in this industry? Leave a comment.
