CBD Starter Guide
Not sure where to start? We've narrowed it down.
Everyday CBD - Start Simple
Whether you are turning to cannabinoids for sleep, pain, or calming, CBD on its own is a good place to start. It gives you a chance to see how you respond to CBD without introducing CBG, CBN, or other cannabinoids at the same time.
Our picks:
- Angel CBD Isolate Tincture — an adjustable tincture for everyday use.
- BioSpectrum CBD Capsules — a high potency single dose capsule.
Tinctures make adjusting your dose easier; capsules make taking the same amount every day convenient.
Sleep - CBD + CBN
CBN is commonly included in nighttime cannabinoid formulas, and combining meaningful amounts of CBN with CBD can give the formula a distinctly different nighttime character than CBD alone.
Our picks:
- Free Bloom Sleep Tincture — our go-to adjustable nighttime tincture.
- Free Bloom Berry Balsam Gummies — if you prefer gummies.
- Canna River Sleep Softgels — for a consistent nightly routine.
Pain & Recovery - CBD + CBG
CBG shows up frequently in some of our most popular formulas for daytime discomfort and recovery, often alongside CBD. If relief is your primary reason for trying cannabinoids, it's one of the first formulation differences worth paying attention to.
Our picks:
- Angel Zoom Tincture — a CBG-forward tincture particularly well suited to daytime use.
- Free Bloom Curse Lifter Gummies — a spicy, CBG-rich gummy for people who prefer edibles.
- Canna River Pain Capsules — a convenient capsule option for consistent dosing.
Calm - CBD + CBG + CBN
The combination of CBD, CBG, and CBN in more balanced amounts has become one of our favorite formulations for substantial calming support without making the product exclusively a sleep formula. That makes these good options for either daytime or evening use.
Our picks:
- Angel Rainbow Calm Tincture — an high potency multi-cannabinoid tincture and one of our favorite all-around formulas.
- Canna River Calm Capsules — a pre-measured alternative built around the same general CBD + CBG + CBN approach.
Topicals - Lotions and Balms
Topicals are different from everything above: you apply them directly where you want to use them. That makes them an easy starting point for someone primarily interested in one particular muscle, joint, or area rather than whole-body effects.
Our picks:
- Angel Ease Muscle Lotion — a straightforward CBD topical that's easy to apply exactly where you want it.
- Biospectrum Lidocaine Roll-On — a light weight, fast drying topical combining numbing lidocaine and CBD
- Dragon Balm — a convenient cooling salve stick for sore muscles and joints with a strong menthol and camphor feel.
Topicals also don't necessarily have to replace an oral product. Many people use a topical alongside a tincture, gummy, or capsule when they want both approaches.
The CBD Wiki
For more information about getting started with CBD see our CBD Starter Wiki.
About the Author
Before launching Herbal Edge, Avery Martz operated one of Idaho's largest CBD retailers, reviewing products, working with independent makers, and helping hundreds of people learn about CBD.