What's Your CBD's Bioavailability?

We are learning new things every day about how to use the incredible set of cannabinoids known as CBD. It doesn't matter if you're a pro and newbie you should constantly be asking yourself:

How do I get the most out of my CBD?

The answer is simple. Know the potency of your CBD, meaning look for third-party testing AND know the bioavailability of different CBD products. How you consume CBD is almost as important as the quality of the CBD when it comes to effectiveness.

If your head is cocked to the side right now you might be wondering what is bioavailability?

Bioavailability for CBD Oils Explained

From Pure Hemp’s huge product line you might have noticed CBD is available in as many forms as one could dream of including lotions, tinctures, oils, e-liquids, capsules, edibles and more. Each CBDs typically comes in multiple concentrations like 100mg or 300mg. 

With so many different options for CBD consumption, this can become very confusing, especially for newer users.

You may want to try CBD, but where do you start and how much CBD should you take? These questions can be explained by understanding what CBD bioavailability means.

By definition, bioavailability is the degree and rate in which a substance is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Bioavailability determines the strength and how many CBD cannabinoids actually made it into your bloodstream to affect your body.  

So the bioavailability of CBD changes based on how you take it and the actual concentration of CBD in the product. Be sure to not just take the brand’s word for it. Ask for third-party testing.

What’s the Best Way to Use CBD?

Now, if you want to get the most bioavailability out of your CBD, the most direct route for any substance is also the least fun, intravenous administration, or a shot.

While an injection guarantees 100 percent delivery of any substance including CBD into the bloodstream, it probably isn’t your most favorite option. Who wants to get a shot every day?

For anyone who doesn’t prefer to stick themselves with a needle, there are many other options for using CBD, and how each affects CBD bioavailability.

Most of us know how oral consumption means to consume something through your mouth. Common oral consumption types include CBD capsules, CBD edibles and CBD beverages.

While oral consumption does offer many benefits, substances consumed orally have to pass through our entire metabolic and digestive systems, which filter out a lot of the CBD. This drastically reduces its bioavailability.

A 1986 study reported an oral consumption’s bioavailability at a rate of 6%, while a more recent 2009 study reported between 4% and 20%. While these differ significantly, both are pretty low. You’d want to target a bioavailability rate of at least 20%.

For example, if you eat an edible with 300mg of CBD, only 60mg will actually reach your bloodstream. Now 60mg could be more than enough to ease your unique alignment, but like with anything used medically you won’t know until you test it over time. This is the only way some people can stand to consume CBD so this is the best method for them.

If you’re looking for stronger options, don’t worry though – there are many other ways to increase your CBD’s bioavailability.

Consuming Sublingually

Under your tongue is a vein called the sublingual gland. When a substance is placed on the sublingual gland, it absorbs directly into the bloodstream there. This is called sublingual consumption and is very common in the medical community, particularly with vitamins. Common sublingual consumption methods include CBD tinctures, CBD lozenges, CBD full spectrum oils and CBD isolate sprays.

What is CBD Isolate vs CBD Full Spectrum?

Because under the tongue goes directly into your bloodstream, it impacts the body faster and deeper than oral consumption. This method maintains a higher availability, only being degraded by enzymes in your mouth’s saliva.

Only a few factors truly impact CBD bioavailability including the quality of the CBD oil itself. The rate depending on the CBD quality can range from 12%-35%, which is higher than oral consumption.

Consuming through Vaporizer

Vaporized consumption is the act of inhaling CBD directly into your lungs, typically through a battery operated heated coil pen or vaporizer.

This form directly enters the lungs, then your CBD quickly and directly enters the bloodstream, with a significant lower breakdown and a consistently higher bioavailability. Again, as always the tested quality of your CBD vape cartridges is what will matter most for bioavailability.

With numerous studies show vaporized bioavailability between 34-46%, and some even reporting up to 56%. This shows vaporizing CBD is by far one of the most effective methods in terms of bioavailability and one of our most recommended methods.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2937482

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22716155

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20545522

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/