In recent years, the popularity of CBD-related products has gone through the roof, and the substance has now well and truly become a staple in today’s society. This is down to a range of factors, chief of which is the plethora of health benefits that come with utilization. One query which still floats around the minds of consumers and potential users alike, however, is just how CBD can be absorbed by the body.
The element within your body which absorbs most of the CBD is your bloodstream – and it’s worth noting that certain assimilation methods work faster or slower than others. Certain aspects, such as metabolism rate, or your BMI, can also have an effect on how quickly or slowly certain intake processes work.
For CBD to have an effect over our bodies, this organic, non-psychoactive compound must first be immersed into our bloodstream, where the process of consumption will then begin. First, your bloodstream will carry the CBD’s minerals throughout the body, by interacting with our endocannabinoid system (add hyperlink to article here!), and our non-cannabinoid receptors. The main feature behind how your body will absorb CBD depends on just how you consume it, which in-turn will impact how successful the cannabinoid medication will be.
Generally speaking, there are four principal means of consuming CBD, and they are as follows:
- Ingestion
- Inhalation
- Sublingual
- Topical
Which of these four consumption methods works best will vary from person to person, depending on, as explained earlier, a variety of factors. Distillates can be taken sublingually, by adding them to food and drink items, or by applying them directly on to your skin. Concentrates and vape oils are used either with a pin, or by being inhaled via a vapour-emitting pen. Edibles can be swallowed as they are, and topicals can be placed directly above the affected region.
INGESTION:
In essence, ingestion refers to the process of consuming food, drink, or other substantial items into the body by either swallowing or absorbing it. This is an extremely common way of taking CBD and is often referred to as ‘’oral ingestion’’. When you ingest CBD oil, it is absorbed through the digestive system and thereafter broken down by the liver, eventually sending its active minerals into your bloodstream. This form of dispensation is exactly how vitamins and other daily supplements are most typically taken.
Ingestible CBD products offer the largest variety of forms, ranging from drinks and capsules to edibles. The oil’s can be integrated into a glut of food and drink items, with one of the most common methods being to include it with a cup of morning coffee, whilst capsules can be consumed in much the same way – a bottle of refreshingly cold water being the go-to choice.
Despite being, by some margin, the easiest way to consume CBD products, ingestion has one vital drawback – it isn’t the most effective way of allowing the substance to enter your body. In fact, a lot of the crucial nutrients will be lost along the way, unless you’re able to take it alongside some form of fatty acid. This needs to be done in order for the CBD to bypass the metabolism complex, so an increased amount of CBD will be ingested.
INHALATION:
The most common means of using CBD is through inhalation, a process which is carried out by using a vaporizer, usually in the form of a pen. It should be noted that this choice is strictly for adult usage only.
The reason why vaping CBD is the most common means of consumption is because it is, for most people, the fastest way of getting the compound into your body, which then means that it will reach your bloodstream, and then through to your lungs, at the quickest possible rate. Other plus points include the fact that CBD vape fluids are often created by using a minimal number of ingredients and additives, meaning it is the consumption method which is as close to natural as you can find.
The fact that most people’s bodies will absorb the compound faster through vaping, as opposed to other means, is what really places this consumption method above the others. You might be wondering exactly how that is, and here’s the answer:
The compounds are absorbed via the alveoli in the lungs, which offer a large, absorbent surface area. A vaporizer heats CBD oil just enough to distribute its active compounds, preventing the toxic by-products that are formed during combustion. During vaporization, the compounds enter your lungs, thereafter, diffusing directly into your bloodstream.
Seeing as there is no need for it to enter your body through the digestive system or liver, the CBD enters your circulation faster. In addition to this, less CBD is lost during vaporizing compared to the ingestion method, making it an extremely pure means of consumption. The CBD particles are then instantly shifted into the bloodstream. In contrast with ingestion, the inhalation method allows more CBD to be absorbed and offers faster absorption.
SUBLINGUAL:
Sublingual means to situate or apply something under your tongue – a frequent and provocative sight in night clubs and bars across the world. Though, you can rest easy with CBD-related sublingual products, especially ours, because it won’t be considered ‘outside the law’ if you’re seen doing it. Its popularity is mostly due to the speed of effectiveness, seeing as it enters your bloodstream directly via oral consumption.
Applying CBD oil beneath your tongue and keeping it there, for around one minute, sends the substance immediately into your bloodstream. When CBD oil is dispensed sublingually, it should be held under the tongue so that the mucus membranes in the mouth can absorb the oil’s active ingredients. Simply put, let your body dissolve the CBD until you can no longer feel it there.
Provided you’ve consumed the right amount, you’ll feel relief within a minimum time of 45 minutes, and a maximum time of 60 minutes. The advantage of ingesting CBD oil sublingually is that the absorption method circumvents the digestive system and liver metabolization, meaning the substance will be able to interact and influence your endocannabinoid system promptly.
TOPICAL:
Topical methods of applying CBD all practically consist of smearing them straight onto your skin, anywhere on your body, in the form of a lotion or salves. The reason for this is, as you’ve guessed, to treat pains and stresses across the outer layer of your body, just beneath your skin, and for issues with the skin itself.
CBD is absorbed through the application spot, thereafter, interacting with the cells that are near the surface of your skin without ever entering the bloodstream. Human skin, typically, has low absorptivity levels, which means it stops most substances from entering. The skin has an especially low absorption rate for cannabinoids. Despite this, when the CBD extract is applied freely, the CBD is able to penetrable the skin through its pores.
TO SUMMARIZE:
The above methods are the most common means of CBD consumption, and as previously stated, the effectiveness and time duration it takes to weave its magic on your body will vary from individual to individual. Whichever method and product you choose, Wisp CBD has you covered – scroll through our stock now to grab yourself an incredible saving.