You've tried traditional medications for your anxiety, insomnia, or chronic pain, but nothing seems to provide relief while still allowing you to be fully functional in your day-to-day life.
In walks CBD (cannabidiol). The supplement that is on its way to becoming one of the most multi-use additions to many young adults' daily routines.
In fact, more than 14 percent of Americans already use CBD regularly, regardless of age.
But how do you begin the search for the best CBD product for you?
If you're also asking the following questions: how does CBD work? How is CBD best absorbed? Is it really going to be worth trying?
The answers that you're looking for are awaiting you below, so keep reading.
The CBD Lineup
You may have been wary of CBD in the past because of its relation to marijuana and THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana).
While CBD comes from the same plant as THC, it is not psychoactive, nor does it have to be smoked to experience its benefits.
A few other ways you can use CBD are through edibles, tinctures, and intranasal delivery. Each of these methods has a varying absorption rate, depending on how quickly or slowly you want to feel the effects, and how long you want them to last.
Ultimately, the best way to use CBD is up to individual preference, experience, and accessibility.
How is CBD Best Absorbed
Smoking and Vaping
A tried and true method for getting your cannabidiol fix is by smoking it. Or, if you prefer its younger, trendier cousin, you can also ingest CBD through vaping.
Inhaling CBD through smoke or vapor is one of the faster ways to absorb it into your bloodstream if you're looking for immediate relief and support. The effects should begin to present in less than 10 minutes.
By traveling in a gaseous state, the CBD can more easily enter the bloodstream, as opposed to going through the digestive system and the liver.
Although the absorption rate varies depending on the study, most will agree that you will absorb more than 30 percent of the CBD inhaled.
However, the side effects and potential consequences of smoking and vaping are ever-present. Any foreign substance, including smoke, which enters the lungs can cause damage to the tissue, which is something to keep in mind as you consider the best option for you.
Edibles
You've probably heard of pot brownies and gummies, but you can also purchase solely CBD-based versions of these traditional marijuana-infused treats.
Comparably, edibles will last longer than smoking, but they also take time to digest into the bloodstream (up to 6 hours).
While the effects can linger in your body for almost a whole day, the absorption rate and dosage your body will accept are more difficult to predict. The average absorption rate is only about 6 percent.
Although there is an element of unpredictability with taking edibles, there is less of a need to readminister dosage throughout the day as the CBD slowly works its way through your system.
And with the ever-expanding variety available of CBD-infused candies, snacks, and even entire meals, it doesn't hurt to try out just a few.
Intranasal
A lesser-known method of CBD consumption, intranasal administration is known to be one of the more uncomfortable methods of dosing CBD.
Using the intranasal method is one of the quickest, often taking less than 10 minutes for the CBD to incorporate into the bloodstream. It is known for not being as enjoyable because it requires spraying up into the nasal passages.
Still, this method allows for the CBD to almost immediately enter the bloodstream. Due to its swift transfer throughout the body, it has even been used to help stop seizures and relieve migraines on short notice.
Despite the brief discomfort, intranasal sprays have a similar, if not higher, absorption rate to smoking, ranking over 33 percent.
Tinctures
Tinctures have a couple of uses and methods for CBD consumption. They can be added to teas, coffees, or other beverages as part of your morning routine. Or, they can be taken sublingually, through drops given under the tongue.
Even though tinctures have a lower absorption rate, averaging about 10 percent, they are among the most versatile and discreet methods for CBD intake.
When releasing drops under the tongue, it is best to let them sit in your mouth for about 30 seconds before swallowing so they can begin absorbing through the veins in your mouth and tongue before being digested.
You can also customize your tinctures by mixing your own concentrates.
Since CBD is not naturally water-soluble, using a water-soluble liquid can help ensure peak absorption rates. To get started, you can check out this bulk water-soluble CBD for sale.
Best Use for You
While the best way to absorb CBD depends on the person and their desired effects and dosage, there truly is something for everyone when it comes to cannabidiol.
That being said, these tips for taking CBD are not indicative of how they may affect you, so tread carefully and make sure to consult a doctor if you are currently taking any other medications.
It's Worth It
Hopefully, now you feel prepared to answer a few of those lingering questions about “how is CBD best absorbed,” its benefits, and some of its varieties.
As CBD continues to amass research studies and popularity, its calming and pain-relieving effects will also become more normalized and in-demand. And with that, absorption rates may increase as ingestion methods are improved.
For now, enjoy the relief. You deserve a break from whatever pain you've been living with.
