Cannabinoid, or CBD, has significant health benefits. Those with different health issues can rely on CBD oil to enhance their overall wellness and ease discomfort. But as the popularity of CBD continues to increase and different forms of CBD products are made, questions are still being asked about which methods of intake are the best.
For instance, why do some people prefer taking CBD gummies for pain or CBD vape oil for anxiety? Well, these questions can be answered when we discuss CBD’s bioavailability.
What Is Bioavailability?
It refers to how quickly CBD gets absorbed into the bloodstream, depending on the mode of administration. Bioavailability is important since it helps to determine the ideal dosage to attain certain effects. It’s worth noting that bioavailability not only depends on the form of CBD but also plays an influential role in determining when the body will fully experience the highest concentration of CBD.
CBD Bioavailability
CBD bioavailability simply depends on the mode of administration. You can take CBD sublingually, as an oral edible, smoking, or even topical application. All these techniques have varying degrees of bioavailability. Recent research studies indicate that if you consume CBD with fat, then the absorption rate and bioavailability will subsequently increase significantly.
Below is an overview of different forms of CBD products and their bioavailability.
CBD Edibles: Gummies, Capsules, Soft gels
You need to take CBD edibles orally. They act similarly to other medications that are taken with meals. Examples of CBD edible products include CBD drinks, capsules, soft gels, and gummies. Taking CBD in the form of these products means that the compound must undergo the process of digestion, including passing through the liver, where metabolism normally takes place.
The CBD compound will then be absorbed into the bloodstream after getting metabolized. Oral CBD products have the lowest bioavailability, between 10-19%. This means that CBD edibles aren’t readily absorbed after ingestion, and as a result, most of the compound ends up being excreted without exerting noticeable effects.
Besides that, the digestive enzymes and acids usually destroy a significant portion of CBD before much of it gets into the bloodstream.
Sublingual Intake: CBD Tinctures and Oral Sprays
It’s a faster method that delivers quick results. This is because the CBD compound gets directly absorbed through the mouth and nose’s mucous membrane. You need to place the recommended oil drops under the tongue wait for a minute or so before swirling and spitting the oil out. CBD tinctures and oral sprays have a bioavailability range of 13-19%.
Transdermal CBD: Topical CBD and Transdermal Patches
The topical application involves applying topical CBD to the skin. This can be through a transdermal patch, CBD balms, lotions, etc. However, the skin has a water-soluble layer that repels the highly fat-soluble cannabis compound. Some reputable brands usually combine CBD with around 1/3 ethanol to make CBD more water-solution.
Of course, this effectively increases topical CBD’s absorption rate by almost four-folds. Because topical CBD works with only local receptors around the applied region, it won’t reach the bloodstream. This makes it ineffective for treating conditions that depend on the central nervous system and brain receptors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety.
Topical CBD’s bioavailability hasn’t been quantified until now. However, its bioavailability is still expected to be quite low. That’s why such products are only effective in providing localized effects.
Inhaled CBD: Smoking and Vaping
Inhalation involves the CBD compound passing through the thin membranes in the lungs’ air sacs into the bloodstream.
- Inhalation by Smoking: The consumer takes a CBD-rich hemp cigarette, normally composed of unprocessed CBD-rich hemp buds. Generally, smoking has one of the highest bioavailability, around 31%. It’s been established that a 19 mg of CBD cigarette can peak in the body within just three minutes.
However, smoking isn’t safe since burning other by-products in the cigarette can irritate and damage the lungs. - Inhalation by Vaping: It’s a safer alternative to smoking since it’s less irritating to the lungs. To vape CBD, you need a vaporizer pen. This device draws the vape CBD after the CBD oil in the cartridge is atomized past a certain heating point.
How to Increase CBD’s Bioavailability
While the form of CBD is significantly influential in determining bioavailability, it’s possible to increase it. You can achieve this by:
Using Emulsified CBD
Manufacturers can use Nanotechnology to create new CBD products that are emulsified. Well, the emulsification process involves the breakdown of CBD molecules into smaller molecules. It should be noted that when CBD molecules are tinier and even more dispersed, they become more bioavailable. This is because it’s easier for micro molecules to pass through the cell membrane and reach the bloodstream quickly than bigger CBD molecules.
Take CBD-Infused Snacks
CBD products available in the form of snacks have high bioavailability due to their high-fat content. Please note that CBD is a chemical compound that’s highly soluble in fat, which means that it dissolves in fatty oils easily.
The fat and fatty oil combination can break large CBD molecules into smaller ones, making them more absorbable by the body.
It’s worth noting that some of the best snack choices that can help dissolve large CBD molecules include:
- Nuts
- Butter
- avocados
- Peanut butter
- Hemp hearts
Note: consider dissolving the CBD in olive, coconut, or hemp seed oil since these are highly effective carriers that can make it easier for the body to absorb the molecules.
Use Supplemental Terpenes
Supplemental terpenes contain high amounts of essential fatty oils. It’s worth noting that terpenes are responsible for the plant’s fragrance, flavor, and aroma. Like all other plants, you can naturally find terpenes in hemp plants.
Terpenes are usually extracted alongside CBD and other compounds during the extraction process.
All these compounds work together synergistically to produce the entourage effect, as in the case of full-spectrum CBD. Some of the best terpenes that are effective in improving CBD’s bioavailability include:
- Alpha-pinene: It helps to enhance memory function and alertness. Additionally, it has anti-cancer properties. It’s mainly found in black pepper, sage, and rosemary.
- Limonene: It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties. Found in large amounts in grapefruits, lemons, and lemongrass.
- Menthol: it’s rich in anti-bacterial properties and helps increase the transdermal availability of CBD.
Use Supplemental Herbs
Another great way of making CBD more bioavailable is by consuming it with a balanced diet. In this case, you should consider using supplemental herbs, which are highly beneficial in increasing CBD’s bioavailability. A great type of herb is black pepper.
Other types of supplemental herbs with similar benefits include:
- Piperine: It’s an alkaloid that acts against the metabolic effects of the liver, increasing CBD’s bioavailability.
- Spicy peppers: It’s rich in capsaicin compound with a similar CBD structure, while spicy peppers supplement can increase the bioavailability of CBD. It can also help reverse the harsh side effects of cancer.
Chamomile flowers are rich in apigenin compound that prevents CBD content produced naturally by the body from breaking down.
Conclusion
CBD has changed the way people use alternative sources of medicine. It’s an organic compound with a wide range of properties. Besides that, it exists in many forms, which means that it has different absorption rates. The conversation regarding the best form of CBD or the best way to take a CBD product boils down to its bioavailability. How fast can this cannabinoid get into your bloodstream?
Generally, inhaling has the highest bioavailability, followed by sublingual intake. CBD edibles and topicals have the lowest bioavailability.
So, your overall experience will be determined by how you choose to take your CBD product. But regardless of the technique you use, ensure that you only take CBD in the recommended dosage.
