The CBD industry is booming with new products every day. Research is ongoing and many studies show how CBD may support health conditions like pain, anxiety, stress, sleep, epilepsy, PTSD, and glaucoma among others. With so many options on the market, how do you know which product to use or for that matter how much of that product to use? In this article we will discuss how the bioavailability of CBD in its many forms and how it can benefit your overall health.

What is CBD Bioavailability and Why is it Important?

Bioavailability of CBD refers to the amount of CBD absorbed in the blood and thus remains affective in your system. In order to know how much CBD to take, one needs to know the bioavailability of what they are taking. Take, for example, a CBD product containing 100mg/dose to one that contains 10mg/dose, if the 100mg/dose product doesn’t have any bioenhancers (a substance that promotes bioavailability), then a majority of the product will be wasted and won’t stay in your system as long as the 10mg/dose would. This will help you determine which type of CBD products to take so they are effective in helping you reach your health goals. Check out our dosing guide for more information.

Bioavailability of CBD in Different Forms

CBD can be administered to the circulatory system in many ways. Continue reading to learn the differences between these types of CBD applications, their bioavailability and which ones might be right for you.

Vaporizer - Intranasal Bioavailability

Intranasal bioavailability of CBD ranges from 34% to 46%, and in some instances as high as 56%. When inhaling CBD through your lungs using vape oils, pens or a vaporizer, the CBD is absorbed almost immediately, which makes this the most effective method for achieving a high bioavailability. After it is absorbed, the CBD will remain in your system for a time, the amount of time can be increased with bio-enhancers. You can subsequently inhale more CBD for a continuous dose, so it produces the intended effects quickly, perhaps only in 10 minutes or less. If vaping is not your preferred method, as many don’t like the negative effects that can come from inhaling substances, we will take a closer look at sublingual, edible and topical CBD products that have shown to have very few, if any, negative side effects.

Oil Drops - Sublingual Bioavailability

Oil drops, tinctures and sprays have become very popular delivery method for taking CBD because it is administered under the tongue (sublingually) and has a bioavailability rate of 13% to 19%, and in some cases as high as 35%. You must place the oil drops under the tongue for 30-60 seconds. Increasing sublingual bioavailability is dependent on your bioenhancers and encapsulation methods for CBD. These effects can be felt within 20 minutes of taking it, not as quickly as inhalation, but still quick. CBD oils and tinctures have been found to have few or no negative side effects, which is why many people choose oils over vaporizers.

Gummies/Edibles - Oral Bioavailability

Edibles come in many forms, which is why they have become so popular. You can find CBD in gummies, chocolates, hard candies, and baked goods, which are fun and flavorful. You can also choose capsules or concentrates that you mix with a food or beverage that have little to no flavor. Although edibles are popular, they have lower bioavailability rates than both inhalation and sublingual. Edibles have a bioavailability rate between 10% and 20%, and in some studies, as low as 6%. It is so low because the CBD must pass through your digestive system before it can reach the bloodstream, which also makes this delivery method slower to achieve the intended effect. CBD effects can be felt in as little as 30 minutes or in some case, it can take up to 2 hours, while in the meantime the CBD can get lost in the liver or digestive track, which makes it less effective overall. Using proper encapsulating methods to create a double polarity liposome, much of the loss in the digestive system can be avoided as well as the hepatic portal to the liver. The goal is to get the CBD to the villi and then microvilli of the small intestines.

Creams - Topical Bioavailability

As opposed to the previous delivery methods discussed, topical CBD is rubbed into the skin. Instead of taken through the mouth, it works with the endocannabinoid receptors in your peripheral nervous system, which may allow for it to be applied for targeted pain relief like arthritis or sore muscles. Using cream, lotion, lip balm, or serums enables CBD and other cannabinoids to be adsorbed with the dermis or skin, enabling a more focused relief strategy. In order to get the desired effects of a topical, you need to apply it liberally to the exact area that needs relief. Bioavailability for subdermal cannabinoid products can be enhanced with terpenes like menthol and other cosmetic enhancers allowing the encapsulated cannabinoids to pass freely through some layers of the dermis. We recommend going with a topical cream with a higher concentration of CBD in order to get the maximum benefits. Additionally, transdermal patches are now being offered and have shown higher bioavailability rates than traditional topicals.

ProMED’s New Products with Higher Bioavailability

We know the only way to progress in the CBD industry is to produce products with higher bioavailability (quantity of CBD remaining in blood plasma over time) in your body over a period of time which may produce maximum benefits for our customers.

Due to the unique, ultra-low viscosity particle size of our carrier solution and the natural bio-enhancers used, ProMED products tout a higher bioavailability, currently undergoing testing, compared to other CBD oils’ 6-19%. Additionally, we offer a max strength topical cream with 2000mg of CBD per bottle, in addition to our 250mg and 1000mg topical cream options, which allows for higher amounts of CBD to be absorbed.

We are proud to say, our Nano-Bio CBD tinctures are more effective than most other CBD products in the market and 5X more cost effective.

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