CBD oil is a natural substance that is derived from the cannabis plant, most often hemp. While it may be all the rage right now, many people are still unsure how to use CBD oil sublingually and how different methods of ingesting CBD have different effects.
Understanding how sublingual CBD administration works and putting it to use can dramatically increase how well your CBD works.
CBD oil has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its natural health effects and ability to treat many ailments from aches and pains, inflammation issues, anxiety disorders, sleep problems, depression symptoms and more.
In this article, we will discuss how to apply CBD oil sublingually to get the maximum effects.
What does sublingual application mean, and how does it apply to CBD oil?
Sublingual means that CBD oil is put under the tongue and held there for 30-60 seconds. The CBD then enters the bloodstream and allows it to bypass the liver and digestive system; these can break down CBD before it reaches the bloodstream when swallowed orally (like with capsules and gummies).
This is one of the main reasons that sublingual application works so well; because it allows for higher bioavailability and maximized effects.
The bioavailability rate of CBD is the body's ability to absorb and use the CBD you ingest. In short, bioavailability is the percentage of the administered dose that reaches the bloodstream.
When CBD is swallowed, its bioavailability rate tends to be about 6-10%.
However, when it's administered sublingually, this number shoots up to around 20%, and in some cases reaching 30-35%; this means that a higher percentage of the CBD you ingest will actually reach your bloodstream and have an effect.
What are the benefits of using CBD sublingually?
Above all else, one of the biggest benefits of taking CBD sublingually is its increased bioavailability rate. The sublingual application also takes effect faster than other CBD consumption methods: 10-15 minutes for full effects.
This means that those struggling with chronic conditions such as anxiety or depression and pain can feel relief faster, without waiting for other methods that may take longer to take effect.
How to take CBD oil sublingually
When you purchase CBD oil in Canada, most of the bottles will come with caps that have droppers attached to them.
As the name suggests, CBD oil dropper caps are a dropper attached to the cap of the bottle. They are easy to use - all you have to do is insert the CBD oil into the dropper and squeeze it to dispense it.
The first step is measuring out the dose of CBD oil you want to use. A standard dropper full is 1ml and will contain approximately 20 drops. The concentration of CBD oil will vary between users, so use a CBD dosage calculator to figure this out beforehand.
Next, you want to administer the drops underneath your tongue. If you are going by drops and not by measurements on the dropper (1/4, 1/2 dropper, etc.), you may want to look in a mirror to ensure you are using the correct amount.
The optimal time to hold the CBD under your tongue is at least 30-60 seconds, longer if you can manage it; once the time has passed, swallow the remainder that is in your mouth.
The effects of taking sublingual CBD are usually felt within 10-15 minutes.
Does taking sublingual CBD work faster than oral CBD (gummies or capsules)?
When taking CBD orally, whether it is in gummies or capsules, for example, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours for you to feel the full effects.
This is because the CBD must travel to your stomach, then to your liver to be processed, and then it finally hits your bloodstream.
In contrast, with sublingual CBD oil, these effects are usually felt within 10-15 minutes due to bypassing all other processes.
Sublingual administration is most useful for people looking to get quick results. Keep in mind that you are unlikely to experience instant therapeutic effects after taking CBD oil, as it does take some time to build up in the body first.
However, the rate at which you experience the therapeutic benefits of CBD is likely to be faster with sublingual application than oral CBD products like gummies or capsules.
How much CBD oil should you take?
Dosing CBD can be difficult because there is not a lot of scientific research on it.
Doses of up to 1500mg of CBD have been recorded without any adverse side effects, so it is safe to say that you'll have a hard time overdoing it; in fact, the majority of CBD users start at too low of a dose and don't see any effects because of it.
CBD works on a bell curve scale. Take too little, and you won't see very many effects; take too much, and the results start to diminish. So what you're looking for is somewhere in the middle, commonly referred to as the "sweet spot."
This is the dose that will effectively treat your symptoms without overdoing it or wasting the product.
Everyone has a different Endocannabinoid System, so it is hard to tell what dose of CBD oil you should take. You may need to try different doses until you find one that is right for you.
It is recommended to start with 5-10mg twice daily and increase slowly until the desired results are achieved.
For some people, this may be all they need; for others, it may require double or even triple the amount. No one can say for certain, and more research in this area is much needed.
Final thoughts on sublingual CBD
CBD oil is a natural product that comes from the cannabis plant. The CBD molecule has anti-inflammatory, and pain relief properties without any psychoactive effects like THC does.
To quickly reap the benefits of CBD, you can take it sublingually - this means under your tongue instead of swallowing orally (like capsules).
This allows for faster bioavailability rates because there's no need to wait for digestion before reaching your bloodstream; plus, it takes effect within 10-15 minutes instead of 30 minutes to 2 hours when taken internally in other forms such as gummies or pills.
If you're looking for an effective and fast way to manage chronic conditions such as anxiety and depression, then taking CBD sublingually may be the best option to start with.