How does taking CBD oil work?
Taking CBD oil is quick and simple. You simply put a few drops under your tongue and let it sit there for a minute. Then you swallow it. This way the oil is absorbed directly by the mucous membranes in your mouth.
An advantage of this way of taking it is that it works almost immediately and that it has a pleasant taste. Some people do not like this taste, though, or find using drops under the tongue inconvenient. They prefer other ways of taking CBD:
- Swallowing CBD capsules
- Eating edibles, such as cannabidiol gummies
- Applying a CBD patch
- Spraying water-soluble CBD into the mouth.
How CBD oil works in the body, step by step
To understand how CBD works in your body, it helps to look at how the CBD is absorbed step by step and does its work in parts of the body. Put very simply, CBD works in four steps:
- Absorption of CBD
- Distribution through the body
- Interaction with the endocannabinoid system
- Effects begin
1. Absorption of CBD into 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? Then a large part of the active compound is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth. The rest goes through the digestive tract. With edibles and capsules everything is absorbed through the digestive tract, and with patches you absorb the CBD through your skin.
2. Distribution of CBD through the blood
Once the CBD has entered the body, it ends up in the bloodstream. Once in the blood, it is distributed throughout the body, until it reaches the receptors of the endocannabinoid system.
3. Interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system can be seen as the body’s own cannabis system. Every mammal has this system, which is able to bind cannabinoids such as CBD, CBC, CBN and THC. For this it is equipped with receptors: CB1 and CB2. So when the CBD encounters a receptor of this system through the bloodstream, the CBD is recognised and binds to such a receptor. This activates the endocannabinoid system.
4. Effect of CBD
After activation of the endocannabinoid system, you may start to notice the first effects. What people experience differs from person to person and is related to the general state of the endocannabinoid system and the rest of the body. Much is also still unclear about exactly how CBD oil acts 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 research does and does not say about that can be found in our article about CBD and sleep.
When does CBD oil start and stop working?
How long after taking it the CBD starts to work depends on various factors. Think of the way you take it, whether you have just eaten and your overall metabolism. Taken under the tongue it takes about 15 minutes on average for the CBD to start working. Taken through the digestive tract you should allow for about one to two hours. Patches release CBD very gradually over about eight hours and also start working within a few minutes of being applied.
How long CBD works also differs from person to person, but on average you can expect about four hours at a standard dose. Most people use CBD over a longer period rather than one-off. How to build that up calmly can be found in a good CBD routine in 5 steps.
How CBD oil works: full spectrum vs broad spectrum
When you start looking for CBD oil, you will soon notice there are two kinds: full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD. The difference is that broad spectrum is entirely free of THC, while full spectrum contains all the cannabinoids, so THC as well. Do not confuse broad spectrum CBD with pure CBD, incidentally, because broad spectrum contains terpenes and other cannabinoids alongside CBD.
Full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum work in a comparable way, because both kinds are rich in other compounds that occur in cannabis. The entourage effect is often mentioned in this context: the idea that the compounds from the plant complement one another when they occur together. Full spectrum contains the complete spectrum, including the legally permitted amount of THC. Do you want that complete spectrum? Then choose full spectrum. Would you rather not take in any THC, because of travel or work for instance? Then choose broad spectrum.
Would you like to know more about CBD oil, or are you unsure between two products? Feel free to get in touch. We are happy to think along with you.
