CBD Under the Tongue What’s The Science?
CBD is among the most popular supplement these days. There is a reason for its popularity. It is safe at recommended dosages and has many health effects. Very few health supplements have so many health benefits as CBD.
However, there are some issues, too. CBD is quite a large molecule, and the human body struggles to absorb it sufficiently. It means that bioavailability is a significant concern. Some studies suggest that CBD has just about 6% bioavailability on oral ingestion, which is pretty low.
It means that researchers must find ways to improve CBD’s bioavailability. There are many ways of doing it, and one way is to consider an alternate intake route.
The Science Behind Taking CBD Under the Tongue
6% bioavailability means that just about 6% of the ingested CBD would make it to the bloodstream. Rest would remain in the intestines and be removed from the body. That is pretty low bioavailability. It significantly reduces the effectiveness of any CBD health supplement.
However, bioavailability depends on the intake route. It means that one of the ways of improving CBD’s effectiveness is by taking it via another route. And one such route is sub-lingual or under the tongue. In this way, most of the CBD is absorbed by the tongue, as the lower side of the tongue has a rich blood supply and thin membrane.
What Is CBD Oil?
The cannabis plant or hemp plant has many cannabinoids. Studies suggest that there are more than 400 cannabinoid types in a hemp plant. However, among them, the most abundant and well-studied is cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD does not mix well with water, but it mixes quite well with oils. Therefore, manufacturers often produce CBD oil by mixing CBD in the so-called carrier oil or oil base. This carrier oil may be hemp oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or any other oil.
Generally, CBD oil contains CBD, natural oil, and other ingredients like flavonoids, terpenes, and even vitamins. These additional ingredients may boost CBD’s health benefits.
CBD is relatively safe and does not cause euphoria or addiction. It acts on the endocannabinoid system and has multiple health effects like reduced anxiety and pain, improved sleep, and more.
Benefits of Taking CBD Oil Under Tongue
Ingesting CBD is not a good idea due to poor bioavailability and, therefore, a need to use an alternate intake route.
Thus, one of the better ways to take CBD oil is sub-lingually. One can just hold a few drops of CBD oil below the tongue for a few minutes, and that is it. After that, it acts quickly, and most of the CBD is able to make it to the bloodstream.
One of the benefits of taking CBD under the tongue is instant absorption. It means that CBD reaches circulation without any delays. As a result, it is among the fastest routes of drug delivery after injectables.
Since one needs only a few milligrams of CBD to experience its health effects, thus sub-lingual route is one of the better ways of taking CBD. Moreover, when taken under the tongue, its absorption is not interfered with by food, gastric juices, etc.
Another distinct benefit of taking CBD under the tone is that it does not undergo the so-called first-pass metabolism, as it can bypass the liver.
One of the issues when taking oral supplements is the first pass metabolism. When supplements are absorbed via the intestine, they reach the liver via the portal vein. But, regretfully, a considerable number of supplements or medications are destroyed or metabolized in the liver before they can make it to blood circulation. This phenomenon is called first-pass metabolism.
Simply put, when someone takes CBD sub-lingually, it acts fast, reliably, has higher bioavailability, and may even act for longer. This also means that users can experience all the benefits of CBD at a much lower dosage.
How To Take CBD Oil Under the Tongue?
CBD oil remains by far the most popular CBD supplement. There is a reason for its popularity. It is relatively simple to manufacture and thus costs less than other CBD supplements like gummies or soft gel capsules.
Moreover, science has extensively studied CBD oil and its health effects. It has excellent bioavailability when taken under the tongue, unlike gummies, pills, or other ingestible forms of CBD.
When it comes to taking CBD oil, it is pretty simple. Most CBD oils would come with a dropper. One just needs to open the mouth and release a few drops of CBD oil under the skin. It is essential not to swallow it immediately. Instead, hold it below the tongue for a few minutes before ingesting it.
- Always take CBD oil under the tongue, as this ensures that the cannabinoid acts faster and ensures good bioavailability.
- To take CBD oil under the tongue, lift your tongue, and then squeeze the dropper to get the required number of drops.
- After this, close your mouth and hold CBD oil under the tongue for a few minutes before swallowing.
How Many Drops of CBD Should I Take?
There is no straightforward answer to this, as the number of drops one should take daily would depend on the CBD’s concentration of strength. Accordingly, reading the product label before using any supplements is always a good idea.
Hence, 2-3 drops of CBD oil with 750 mg strength may suffice. However, one may need just 1-2 drops if the strength is 1500 mg.
Here is a word of caution, when using any CBD supplement, read the product label carefully, as hemp oil and CBD oil are two very different things. Unfortunately, some unethical sellers try to sell hemp oil as CBD oil. However, hemp oil does not contain CBD, as hemp oil is a hemp seed oil which is naturally CBD-free.
How Long Should You Leave CBD Under Your Tongue?
Generally, taking a few drops sublingually and holding for a few minutes is a good idea. Generally, 2-3 minutes is the maximum that is needed, and one can swallow the CBD oil.
One can also keep it for longer if that is comfortable, but generally, a couple of minutes is more than enough.
Contact our experts if you want to learn more about CBD products, white label CBD, and private label CBD.
