What is the Bio Availability of CBD?
Thanks to the recent legalisation in California as well as a few other states, cannabis and more specifically CBD is available in a variety of different forms and varieties.
From tinctures to edibles and oils to capsules, CBD is available in almost every form you could care to imagine. This makes CBD consumption highly versatile and can be fitted or moulded for anyone’s specific needs or requirements. Many people who are using CBD or are looking into using CBD for the first time all have different reasons and various wellness objectives. Due to the variety of forms and availability of CBD, almost any CBD product can be found to suit an individuals specific needs.
It is important to be aware of the fact that the different forms and varieties that CBD comes in all have different strengths and potencies. In addition to this, the CBD products will have different ways and manners in which the compound will be absorbed or entered in the endocannabinoid system. The manner in which you intake the CBD, as well as the form of CBD taken, will determine the bioavailability of the CBD in your system. Bioavailability means the percentage of the compound or substance that is actually entered into the bloodstream after it has been processed by the various other body functions (these functions will depend on the form of CBD as well as the manner in which the CBD is consumed).
The consumption method that gives a 100% bioavailability rate is by the intravenous process. This is where the CBD is entered directly into the bloodstream, and foregoes any of the other bodily systems that other methods of consumption put the CBD through. The other consumption methods are then compared to this intravenous intake method in order to record and rate the bioavailability percentage.
These percentages have been shown to vary amongst the studies however there are common threads that create a common link between the intake methods. There are some intake methods that are more widely used than others and these are the methods that are the most commonly studied.
The three most common known CBD intake methods are the following:
- Inhalation
- Oral
- Sublingual
The Bioavailability of CBD with the Inhalation Intake Method
The CBD is inhaled in many different forms, not only through smoking. Vapes can be used as well as smoking. Vape oils and vaporisers have been growing in popularity in the recent years and it had been found to be a relaxing and enjoyable manner in which to consume CBD. Vape CBD oils are usually used and the vaping method has grown even more popular since the introduction of organic and natural CBD oils especially created for vaping. The initial vape oils consisted of VG/PG blended oils that faced some controversy however these new natural CBD vape oils have been welcomed with open arms. CBD enters the bloodstream via the lungs. Once the CBD enters via inhalation, the CBD passes through the lung’s alveoli. These little air sacs are responsible for exchanging CO2 and O2 between the lungs and the bloodstream. The CBD then move through the alveoli walls and enters into the bloodstream. The bioavailability of CBD through inhalation is higher than the oral method.
THC has a bioavailability percentage of approximately 56% through inhalation however that percentage can range dramatically, depending on the manner of inhalation. Inhaling CBD via a vaporiser has an efficient and a fast acting bioavailability.
Bioavailability via the Oral Consumption Method
The oral consumption of CBD can include anything from capsules to oils and edibles. The oral method of CBD consumption is a growing method amongst many users due the growing popularity in CBD oil. Consuming CBD orally is a simple, easy and discrete way to consume (and in many tasty edible cases, enjoy) CBD. However by consuming CBD orally the CBD compound passes through various body systems before being absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that in many cases the CBD bioavailability is much lower than other intake methods however there are many users who report that the effects are much longer lasting.
The CBD has to pass through the digestive system once it has been orally consumed. After it passes through the digestive system it then has to move through the liver, which has its own system. This is known as the ‘“first pass metabolism” and these systems dramatically reduce the bioavailability of CBD. After CBD is consumed orally it has to pass through various systems including the liver, the digestive tract, the lungs and then eventually into the bloodstream. The reduced bioavailability of CBD means that the amount of CBD in the bloodstream is reduced.
And Finally, the Bioavailability of the Sublingual Consumption
When something is consumed in the sublingual manner, it means that it has been placed under the tongue and absorbed in this way. This manner of consumption is usually used with concentrate, sprays, tinctures and oils as well. CBD oils can be used in both the sublingual and the oral consumption manner. The oils will often be suggested to be used via the sublingual manner due to the higher bioavailability and hence the higher efficiency of this intake method. Once a compound is placed under the tongue it is absorbed via the mucous membrane. This mucous membrane that is located beneath the tongue contains many tiny capillaries which then act by diffusing the CBD compound. The CBD is then absorbed into the blood. Therefore the CBD completely bypasses any first-pass metabolism systems and has a much higher bioavailability percentage.