CBD is one of the most exciting products to hit the market in decades. With an increasing body of scientific research suggesting that CBD can be useful for all sorts of health and wellness purposes, it isn’t surprising that millions of people around the world are now using it daily. There is one aspect of CBD, however, that can make it difficult for new users to know whether they’re really getting anything out of it. It’s the fact that CBD isn’t psychoactive and doesn’t really have any overt effects on the body.
When you take CBD, in other words, you won’t feel much of anything.
The hope, of course, is that if you take CBD to combat a specific condition, you’ll know that the CBD is working because that health condition will be improved in some way. What happens, though, if you take CBD and don’t notice any change at all? Have you got a bad batch of CBD? That’s not likely if you bought it from a reputable Pittsburgh CBD vendor like Vapor Connection. We still have much to learn about CBD, and it’s possible that it simply isn’t helpful for your specific condition – or it isn’t helpful at the dosage you’re using.
It’s also possible that you aren’t taking CBD in the most effective way – and that’s the topic of this article.
So, how long do you hold CBD oil under your tongue? It’s time to answer that questions.
How Long to Hold CBD Oil Under Your Tongue
You should take CBD oil by placing the contents of a full dropper under your tongue and holding the oil there for about 60 seconds before swallowing it. You can hold the oil under your tongue for longer than 60 seconds if you prefer. You can also swallow the oil after waiting for less than 60 seconds – but understand that if you swallow the oil too quickly, less of the CBD will enter your bloodstream. It’ll also take longer to reach your bloodstream.
Why do you want to ensure that you’re holding CBD oil under your tongue for a sufficient amount of time? The answer to that question is “bioavailability,” and that’s what we’re going to discuss next.
Why Do You Use CBD Oil Sublingually?
The reason why you use CBD sublingually is because it has the ability to absorb through the skin and mucus membranes. When you hold CBD oil under the tongue, it enters your circulatory system through the sublingual artery. That’s close to the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain. So, sublingual administration gives you two benefits: direct entry into the bloodstream and close proximity to the brain. The fact that the sublingual artery is so close to the brain may be beneficial to you depending on your specific reasons for using CBD.
Holding CBD oil under your tongue also has a second benefit: superior bioavailability compared to CBD taken orally. When you take any supplement or medication orally, your liver metabolizes a portion of the active ingredient before that ingredient reaches your bloodstream. The liver’s enzymes, in other words, render that portion of the ingredient inert before it can enter your system. When you hold CBD oil under your tongue, the CBD that absorbs through the sublingual artery isn’t broken down by your liver and enters your bloodstream at full strength.
Do I Need to Hold CBD Oil Under My Tongue?
You don’t need to hold CBD oil under your tongue if you don’t want to. You can also mix the oil with a beverage, drizzle it over food or just swallow it directly. As we’ve just stated, though, there are significant benefits to holding the oil under your tongue – and if you aren’t going to take it sublingually, there isn’t much of a reason to use CBD oil at all; you could simply use a different CBD product that fits your preferred administration style instead.
CBD Capsules vs. CBD Oil
Suppose, for example, that you don’t want to hold CBD oil under your tongue because you don’t like its taste or simply don’t like having oil in your mouth. If that’s the case, you can use CBD capsules instead. With CBD capsules, you’ll have the benefit of a completely consistent CBD dosage, which is difficult to achieve with a bottle of CBD oil and an eyedropper. You’ll also have the benefit of not tasting the flavor of hemp each time you take your CBD.
CBD capsules do have two significant downsides. As we’ve just mentioned, using any supplement orally means that your liver will metabolize some of the active ingredient before it can reach your bloodstream. If you switch from sublingual CBD oil to oral CBD capsules, you’ll need to increase your dosage slightly to compensate for the metabolism of the liver.
The second drawback of CBD capsules is that you won’t get anywhere near the fast rate of absorption that you get from holding CBD oil under your tongue. Depending on the efficiency of your digestive system, it could be up to two hours before the CBD reaches peak levels in your bloodstream. If you’re not happy about waiting that long, there’s another alternative you might consider.
CBD Vaping vs. CBD Oil
If you don’t want to hold CBD oil under your tongue but also don’t want to wait up to two hours for absorption, CBD vaping is a second option to consider. Inhaled CBD is even more bioavailable – and enters your bloodstream even more quickly – than CBD administered sublingually. If you’re taking CBD to alleviate a health condition that may involve sudden flare-ups, having a CBD vape pen that’s filled and ready to use might prove extremely beneficial. When you vape CBD, though, it’s important to remain aware of the fact that the ingredients of your e-liquid are of the utmost importance. You should never inhale any vaping product containing Vitamin E or any oil such as MCT oil or mineral oil. Instead, look for CBD e-liquids diluted with propylene glycol, an ingredient that’s been used for nicotine vaping for more than a decade with no known ill effects.