CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is a compound that is naturally occurring in cannabis plants like hemp and marijuana and it has many health benefits. Legal CBD used for consumption is predominantly derived from the hemp plant and it is extracted from its leaves, stem, flowers, seeds, and stalks. You can read more about it here.
Although it has been around for a while, CBD is a recent fad to a lot of people. It became legal in the United States with the passing of the Farm Bill of 2018. Keep in mind that the legal limit is a product containing 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the active ingredient that gives the cannabis plant its psychoactive effect.
Cannabidiol is just one of the many substances contained in the hemp plant. Others are flavonoids, terpenes, and omega-fatty acids. It can be made into different products including vapes, cigarettes, capsules, pills, oil, or lotion and these can be inhaled, smoked, or ingested. It can also be sprayed, applied topically on the skin, or for some, taken directly by mixing it with food.
There are about three ways through which CBD is used. These include:
Oral Ingestion
CBD can be ingested in the body by taking the oil directly or by adding it to food such as tea, cookies, coffee, honey, drinks, and other edibles. It can also be ingested via pills and capsules. Taking it this way allows the body to absorb all its available nutrients and makes it more efficient. For foods that will need to get digested, it can take a little while than others which do not need to go through that process. This method, although slower than inhalation and sublingual methods, lasts longer in the body.
Inhalation
This is maybe the most efficient method to use CBD via an inhaler, wrapping the flower and leaves in paper and smoking it, through vapes pens or ready-made CBD cigarettes. Since smoke and vapor travel easily through the lungs, it enables it to enter the bloodstream directly and it produces an instant effect. Note that this method is the shortest-lasting among the different methods.
Sublingually
This is basically taking CBD oil by dropping it under the tongue with the aid of tinctures. This enables it to enter directly and rapidly into the bloodstream as there is no need for it to undergo digestion. Its presence in the body does not however last as long as ingestion but is longer than the inhaling method.
Topically
This is principally done by applying the oil as a lotion directly on the skin. This can be more controlled as you can apply it to specific portions of the skin where you need it and from there it will diffuse and enter into the skin but not in the bloodstream so it is not easily absorbed this way.
You can check here https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-take-cbd to see more on how to use CBD.
How the Body Absorbs CBD
The body will absorb cannabidiol based on the mode of use or how it is administered. While some methods allow for easy absorption which is done in no time after taking it, some might take a while to get absorbed.
CBD works by binding to receptors in the endocannabinoid system or ECS for short. This is a system that plays an important role in carrying out several bodily functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and so on.
CBD is more active and effective when it directly enters the bloodstream and can easily bind to these receptors in the ECS before its effects fade away. Methods such as inhalation through smoking or vaping or through ingestion by taking the oil appear to be more effective.
With all of the above, it is apparent that CBD is absorbed at different levels into the body and this is determined by the method of use. This is what determines how much will be absorbed and how quickly it will be absorbed. You can view this site to understand more about all off these.
Conclusion
CBD is an effective drug that can be used to treat many ailments including arthritis, insomnia, cancer, diabetes, etc. Depending on what works for you, there are several methods through which you can use it. While some are more effective than others, the most important thing is that it is absorbed into the body and does its job of healing diseases and ailments.
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