How does taking CBD oil work?
Taking CBD oil works quickly and easily. You simply drip a few drops under your tongue and let it sit here for a minute. Then you swallow it. This way, the oil is directly absorbed by the mucous membranes in your mouth.
An advantage of taking it this way is that it works almost immediately and gives a nice taste. However, some people do not like this taste or find dripping under the tongue not convenient. They prefer other ways of taking CBD:
- Swallowing CBD capsules
- Eating edibles, such as cannabidiol gummies
- Sticking a CBD patch
- Spraying water-soluble CBD into the mouth.
This is how CBD oil works step by step in the body
To understand how CBD works in your body, it is good to see how CBD is absorbed step by step and gives its effect in parts of the body. Very simply put, CBD works in four steps:
- Uptake of CBD
- Diffusion through the body
- Interaction with the endocannabinoid system
- Starting effects
1. Absorption of CBD in the body.
The first step is the absorption of a certain dose of CBD (along with the other cannabinoids and terpenes) into your body. Are you taking CBD oil? If so, much of the active ingredient is absorbed through the mucous membranes in your mouth. The rest goes through the digestive system. With edibles and capsules, everything is absorbed through the digestive system, and with patches, you absorb the CBD through your skin.
2. Diffusion of CBD through the blood
After CBD enters the body, it enters the bloodstream. Once in the blood, it is distributed throughout the body until it arrives at the receptors of the endocannabinoid system.
3. Interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system can be thought of as the body’s own cannabis system. Every mammal possesses this system, which is capable of binding cannabinoids such as CBD, CBC, CBN and THC to itself. For this purpose, it is equipped with receptors: CB1 and CB2. Thus, when CBD encounters a receptor of this system through the bloodstream, the CBD is recognized and binds to such a receptor. This causes the endocannabinoid system to be activated.
4. Effect CBD
After activation of the endocannabinoid system, you may already begin to notice the first effects. These effects can vary depending on your symptoms and the general state of your endocannabinoid system and the rest of your body. Thereby, much is still unclear about the exact effects of CBD oil on this system. What we do know is that it plays an important role in memory functions, mood, the immune system, body temperature, digestion and stress regulation, among other things. What we notice ourselves and regularly hear from others is that CBD is very nice for pain and stress-related complaints such as difficulty sleeping. It doesn’t so much take away the symptoms, but often makes them more bearable.
When does the action of CBD oil begin and end?
How long after ingestion the CBD begins to work depends on several factors. Consider the method of ingestion, whether you have just eaten and your overall metabolism. When taken under the tongue, it takes an average of about 15 minutes for the CBD to start working. When taken through the digestive system, you should allow for about one to two hours. Patches release CBD very gradually for about eight hours and also start working within minutes of sticking.
The duration of CBD’s effect also varies from person to person, but on average, you can expect about four hours at a standard dose. Additionally, keep in mind that depending on your symptoms, it may take some time before you really notice relief. With more severe symptoms, it often happens that although people feel better the first time, the symptoms only really subside after taking CBD daily for a week or more. With more severe symptoms, the body simply needs time to recover to the point the noticeable symptoms subside.
Operation CBD oil full spectrum vs broad spectrum
When you start looking for CBD oil, you will soon find that there are two types: full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD. The difference is that broad spectrum is completely free of THC, while full spectrum contains all cannabinoids, including THC. By the way, do not confuse broad spectrum CBD with pure CBD, because broad spectrum contains terpenes and other cannabinoids in addition to CBD.
The action of full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum is similar because both strains are rich in other substances found in cannabis. Because of this, the entourage effect occurs, which ensures that the effect of each individual substance is amplified separately. Only with full spectrum, the entourage effect is even greater, because of the THC in it. So do you want CBD oil with maximum effect? Then choose full spectrum? Do you absolutely want to ingest THC, for example because of travel or work? Then choose broad spectrum.
Want to learn more about how CBD oil works or have questions about how CBD works for your symptoms? If so, please contact us without obligation. We are happy to help you.
