Don’t feel like reading? Listen instead! (8 minute 30 second listen/read)

Spoiler alert…

It’s a trick question! There is no “best” way to consume CBD products. The real answer is: it depends! That being said, we are going to help you understand the differences between each method so you can make the best choices for you and your unique needs.

How you take your CBD matters!

Different consumption methods come with different onset times, different absorption rates, and different benefits. Like we said, there is no right or wrong, it’s just a matter of understanding what your needs are and what to expect. The other disclaimer we’d like to provide is that the quality of your CBD matters, regardless of how it’s consumed.

Always be sure to check the product’s certificate of analysis, read the ingredients, and verify before you try!

First, let’s define some key terms and concepts to help you understand how to judge the pros and cons of each consumption method.

First Pass Metabolism

First-pass metabolism influences the body’s exposure to compounds, making the way CBD enters your bloodstream via oral route quite different from inhalation or transdermal application.

First pass metabolism also increases the amount of time it will take for CBD and its metabolites to make their way into the bloodstream. Makes sense, right? If it has to travel through the GI tract and liver before entering your bloodstream, then there is going to be a bit of a delay between ingestion and effect.

Bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to how much is actually available in your bloodstream to be distributed through the rest of your body.

Onset Time

Time to onset describes the amount of time between consuming the product and feeling its effects.

Now, let’s break down the most common types of CBD products and the pros and cons of each.

Edibles / Ingestibles

From gummies, to capsules, to chocolates, the ingestible product market is vast – and often delicious! But, how do these products actually perform in your system?

The most important factors to consider with ingestible CBD products are their relatively low bioavailability and slow onset time. Ingestibles are subject to first pass metabolism, which delays onset and decreases overall bioavailability.

When you eat that CBD gummy, the compound travels from your GI tract to your liver, where it transforms into metabolites. Once the metabolites and the remainder of the original compound leave your liver, they enter your bloodstream, where they get distributed throughout your body.

Once the cannabinoids have been deployed through your bloodstream they can get to work on delivering benefits like calming anxiety, reducing inflammation, regulating immune function, boosting brain health, and more!

Bioavailability of Edibles / Ingestibles

You can expect approximately 10-15% of the cannabinoids in an ingestible product to actually enter your bloodstream and become active in your body.

This means that if you’re eating a gummy with 20mg of CBD, about 2-3mg will actually be fully active in your system after first pass metabolism.

Onset Time of Edibles / Ingestibles

Studies have shown cannabinoids become present in the bloodstream approximately 30 minutes after ingesting, but peak blood plasma levels do not occur until 1-2 hours after ingestion. 

When you’re talking about THC edibles, understanding onset time is of paramount importance. You might feel like that edible hasn’t done anything after 30 minutes, but that does not mean you should pop another to feel the effects. Edibles can take up to 2 hours to reach peak levels in your bloodstream, with the strongest effects hitting shortly after that peak occurs. So, if you’re consuming THC edibles, wait at least 2 hours before deciding to go for seconds.

CBD, on the other hand, is not quite as risky when it comes to dosing because it is non-intoxicating. You can expect the same onset time of 1-2 hours for peak effects, though.

The metabolic process is why onset time can vary from person to person. Everybody’s metabolism is different! If you have a fast metabolism and healthy liver function, you will likely feel the effects faster than somebody with a slow metabolism and sluggish liver function.

• FUN FACT: Black seed oil has been shown to support healthy liver function. Black seed oil can be found in our Chill, OG, and Flex tinctures.

Onset time and bioavailability can also be affected by whether you’re taking CBD on an empty stomach or after a meal.

Tinctures

Tinctures are technically ingestible products, but with a little twist. If you’re familiar with tinctures, then you have likely heard that it is best to hold the drops under your tongue for 30-60 seconds prior to swallowing. The reason we have you hold it under your tongue is to increase bioavailability and onset time! The absorption under the tongue happens via the abundance of blood vessels there, and a relatively thin layer of skin.

By holding your CBD drops under your tongue, it’s like you’re giving the compound VIP access – bypassing first pass metabolism and opening the velvet ropes to your bloodstream.

Bioavailability of Tinctures

If you take that extra 30-60 seconds to hold the oil under your tongue, you can expect an average absorption rate of 15-20%. An improvement from edibles, but not a huge difference.

While holding the oil under your tongue definitely boosts bioavailability and shortens time to onset, there’s still one problem: it’s oil. Now, what do we mean by that?

Oil, and oil-soluble compounds like cannabinoids, are larger, heavier molecules. Molecules of that size and structure don’t have the easiest time passing through the mucous membrane. So, there is still going to be a decent amount of CBD that you end up swallowing. The remaining CBD that is swallowed will be subject to the same rules of first pass metabolism as other ingestible products.

Onset Time of Tinctures

After about 30-60 minutes, you should feel the effect of the cannabinoidss in your tincture getting to work. Just like with edibles, this time can vary depending on your metabolism and what else, if anything, you’ve eaten prior to dosing.

What about water soluble nanoemulsions?

You may have heard about water-soluble, or “nano” CBD, and that it touts a higher bioavailability than traditional CBD preparations. The reasoning behind that is that the molecules have been made small enough to pass through those mucous membranes, and into the bloodstream, more efficiently and effectively. There is nuance to the conversation around efficacy and actual absorption because there are different nano emulsion methods that can yield different results.

The other thing to be aware of with nanoemulsions and water soluble products is the use of surfactants – chemicals that allow oil and water to stay together rather than the oil just floating up to the top. Without diving too far into the nitty gritty, let’s just say some surfactants are more favorable than others. But, if you’ve ever tried a nano CBD tincture and wondered why it tastes like caustic chemicals, the answer is: surfactants.

Inhalants

Inhaling your CBD is actually one of the most effective ways to consume! Inhalation fully bypasses first pass metabolism. Your lungs provide direct access to the bloodstream. Once cannabis smoke or vapor enters the lungs, it passes through the bronchi and into the alveoli (air sacs), where the cannabinoids enter into the bloodstream and get distributed through the rest of the body.

Inhalant products include both flower products and vaporizer products.

Bioavailability of Inhalable Products

You can expect 30-35% absorption rate when you inhale your CBD. That means you are able to get twice as many cannabinoids active in your system through inhalation than through oral ingestion.

Onset Time for Inhalable Products

Cannabinoids can be detected in the blood within five minutes of inhalation, and the effects are typically felt within 10 minutes. The fast onset time makes it easy for you to dose – take a few puffs, put down your joint or vape, and simply wait 10 minutes. If you feel like you need more, take a few more hits. You don’t have to worry about the creep-up effects like you would with ingestible products.

Topicals

Topical products have a very important distinction from any of the product types listed above: they work locally, rather than systemically. This means that standard topical products do not circulate through your bloodstream, resulting in localized action within the tissue where the product is applied.

Looking to soothe the tension in your back? Topicals will be a great choice. Want to curb anxiety? Not so much.

Basically, topicals are the best choice to address localized pain or skin irritations. They are most commonly used for pain relief, but it’s important to understand what kind of pain you are dealing with and where it is stemming from. For example, if you have arthritis in your knee from worn down cartilige then a topical is perfect. If you are dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which stems from immune dysfunction, then an oral or inhalable or transdermal product would be a better choice.

How are transdermal topicals different from standard topicals?

By penetrating through the skin, transdermal delivery allows CBD to reach the central blood flow and travel through your body. The benefits of this administration method include skipping first-pass metabolism.

You can expect fairly immediate results from topical applications. Typically, as you continue to apply, the effects will start to build up and last longer!

Other Product Types

Suppositories are a really great solution for systemic relief that bypasses first pass metabolism and doesn’t require inhalation. Suppositories can be used anally or vaginally and are most effective for pain relief. If you suffer from severe period pains, vaginal suppositories can be a great way to provide you with powerful relief. Bioavailability is an impressive 70-80% – even higher than inhalation!

CBD Pillows: don’t do it.

CBD Socks: don’t do it.

CBD athletic wear: don’t do it.

…and yes, we’ve actually seen these products out there.

Closing notes

Remember that CBD dosing is very individualized. The concentration and receptivity of your endocannabinoid receptors, your metabolism, your diet, and your general state when consuming the product will dictate how exactly you feel the effects.

If you are just starting your CBD regimen, be patient. Stay consistent with your dosing for about one week before making adjustments.

Account for the changes in bioavailability and onset time when using different products. You might need different dosages to get the same effect as you move from product to product.

If you are consuming cannabinoids orally – through edibles, capsules or tinctures – having some fatty foods alongside your dose can help boost biovailability. Cannabinoids bind to fat molecules, so the more they can latch on to something as they move through your system, the better off they are!

Click here to view all the products available from TONIC!