What is CBD Bioavailability?

As a CBD enthusiast, you must have asked yourself how CBD gets absorbed into the body. You might also be at a loss of how different CBD products give varying results. To answer these questions, let’s first define CBD bioavailability.
CBD bioavailability is the amount of CBD that gets absorbed into the bloodstream. The more potent the CBD product, the more the effects. CBD bioavailability depends on the type of workout and how you take it.

Is CBD Bioavailable?

CBD is highly bioavailable. The high bioavailability means that a large percentage is absorbed into the system regardless of the dosage. However, each product has a unique absorption rate, depending on its concentration and how you consume CBD.

What is the Bioavailability of CBD?

The bioavailability of CBD is still unclear. On average, CBD has a bioavailability of 6%-,46%, depending on the product’s potency and consumption method.

Understanding the CBD bioavailability is vital to users in many ways. First, it helps you to get the optimal benefits without trying. Second, understanding bioavailability helps you to minimize the side effects of some CBD products. Let’s look at the most common consumption methods and their bioavailability rate.

CBD Oil Sublingual Bioavailability

Sublingual bioavailability occurs in two forms; tinctures and sprays. Tinctures might be in the form of CBD oil, while the spray occurs in minute droplets.

Sublingual administration of CBD yields a bioavailability of 13% to 19% in the oral form. In rare cases, the bioavailability of CBD might be 35%.

Oral sprays have a low absorption rate, and therefore you should use them in large doses. The CBD effects in a 5mg dose might take 3 hours after holding the spray in 30 seconds. The low bioavailability in oral sprays is due to the low CBD concentration.

How does sublingual bioavailability occur?

When you hold CBD drops under the tongue, the CBD gets absorbed via the sublingual glands into the bloodstream. Effects may kick in after 20 minutes and last up to one hour, depending on the CBD concentration.

How to improve the absorption of sublingual CBD

Novice CBD users might record minimal or zero effects after sublingual administration due to their limited experience. So, how can you improve the absorption rate of sublingual CBD? The best way to increase the absorption rate is by holding the CBD drops for 60 to 90 seconds under the tongue before swallowing.

Holding the CBD under the tongue also allows the mucous membranes to absorb most of the chemical compounds. After most CBD penetrates the membrane, you can swallow the remainder to increase the absorption rates.

Transdermal CBD Bioavailability

Is a topical application of CBD products effective? To answer this question, we need to analyze several things concerning the application of CBD. First, transdermal bioavailability refers to CBD absorption via the skin after applying one or several of these CBD products: CBD salves, CBD suppositories, CBD serum, CBD lip balms, CBD creams, and lotions, CBD transdermal patches.

After applying CBD topically, the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) absorb it. The interaction between CBD and cannabinoid receptors helps in the management of various skin conditions.

The catch in transdermal bioavailability is that it does not enter the bloodstream. The CBD cannot trigger reactions in the central nervous system or the brain. Therefore, applying topical CBD products may not help manage conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety.

The effectiveness of transdermal CBD bioavailability

Regardless of CBD concentration, a topical application might be a significant challenge. The skin pores are less porous than the mouth and hence the bioavailability. You can overcome this challenge by applying force on the skin during the application process.

The low bioavailability of transdermal CBD might be a blessing in disguise. The low absorption suppresses adverse effects that are common with other methods of taking CBD. Experiments on how to increase the absorption rate of CBD have been underway for some time.

In one of the experiments, the people applied CBD through the rectum. The investigation gave a bioavailability of 13.5%.

Intravenous CBD

In rare cases, experts might recommend an injection of CBD through the skin into the bloodstream. The process is regarded as the only way to attain a 100 bioavailability. However, this method suppresses the body’s ability to adapt effectively. Using CBD intravenously might also damage the skin.

CBD Oral Bioavailability

Oral CBD products come in many forms. You can grab CBD capsules, edibles, liquid drops, or even tinctures. An oral CBD product might be the most common in the market but with the lowest bioavailability.

The main reason for the low bioavailability in oral CBD products is that only a small percentage gets absorbed into the bloodstream. Most of the CBD is excreted together with other waste products, resulting in lower effects. Another reason for this phenomenon is CBD is only soluble to fat, hence the low bioavailability.

Third, enzymes and digestive acids in the digestive tract destroy many chemical compounds in the CBD. The remaining percentage of CBD might be destroyed by the liver, leaving no trace of CBD. These conditions push the bioavailability of oral CBD down the scale. The phenomenon also explains why oral CBD has low bioavailability.

Other factors that suppress oral CBD bioavailability

Short half-life: Oral products take a short time to remove half of the body’s CBD components than other products. For instance, 750-1500mg of CBD has a half-life of 10 to 17 hours.

Low peak hours: It takes a long time for CBD effects to manifest than other forms of the cannabinoid. In most cases, the peak hours for CBD take between 1.5 hours to 3 hours.

Advantages of oral CBD

There are two significant benefits of oral consumption of CBD. First, the CBD effects might last for a longer time once they enter the bloodstream. For example, a single CBD molecule takes up to 4.2 hours, unlike other CBD molecules that take just 3.3 hours.

Second, CBD effects from oral products give a more substantial mental effect compared to other products. The digestive system, therefore, ensures that the little CBD provides the head with a good vibe.

How to Increase CBD Bioavailability

The internet is awash with “hacks” on how to increase the bioavailability of CBD. Sadly, there is no simple way that you can use to increase the bioavailability of CBD. However, with enough knowledge, you can modify the consumption method to absorb the CBD’s right amount.

Please note, the bioavailability rates recorded above can only be achieved by experts carrying out studies. If you register a lower bioavailability level than what the experts give, you should not worry.
It is advisable to carry out prior research before taking CBD in whichever form. You can calculate the ideal CBD dose by calculating its bioavailability with the amount available.

If a 1500mg tincture is measured using a 1ml dropper, and every dropper contains 50mg of CBD, the tincture might give you between 6mg to 17.5mg of the cannabinoid.

As aforementioned, the bioavailability of CBD topicals is low. The low bioavailability rate of CBD means that you have to keep experimenting for better results. It is advisable to be cautious when following instructions that come with the label.

Learn More About CBD Bioavailability

How bioavailable is CBD oil?

The bioavailability of CBD oil depends on how you take it. If you decide to use it as a tincture, a large percentage of it gets absorbed into the body. On the other hand, infusing the oil into edibles reduces the bioavailability.

Can CBD oil absorb through the skin?

The human skin contains pores that allow CBD to penetrate and bind with the cannabinoid receptors. However, the pores are small, and therefore they limit the amount of CBD that can penetrate through them, unlike the mouth.

How much of the CBD you take gets absorbed and used?

The amount of CBD that you can take and have it absorbed into the body depends on two things. First, CBD concentration. The higher the concentration, the higher the absorption. Second, the method of consumption. Sublingual CBD has the highest absorption rate, while transdermal CBD has a lower absorption rate.

How can I make my CBD more bioavailable?

A user can make CBD more bioavailable by holding sublingual CBD for 60-90 seconds before swallowing. This allows absorptions of cannabinoids into the bloodstream via the mucous membranes.

What increases the bioavailability of CBD?

CBD bioavailability is fixed and cannot be increased. To increase bioavailability, use a sophisticated method to achieve optimal benefits. The science behind CBD bioavailability is still in the infant stages. Besides, CBD products have different concentrations and may give different results.