Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a beneficial plant compound derived from Hemp. Not everyone is aware of CBD yet, and the people that have heard about it, associate it with oil. We all know that oil and water don’t mix well. Most products and supplements that we use are not oil-based.
CBD, in its natural oil form, can
only be effectively incorporated into the body through a narrow range of uses.
Common oil-based delivery methods, like tinctures, are not meant to be
swallowed, and for good reason, bioavailability!
Bioavailability indicates how
much of any given substance is actually able to be absorbed by the body.
There’s a bodily process that prevents effective uptake of CBD oil in the
stomach, called first-pass metabolism.
First-pass metabolism, or “first-pass effect,” is a physiological phenomenon
in drug delivery science where the concentration of a compound is greatly
reduced before it is absorbed into the blood stream for circulation.
CBD can’t effectively make it through hepatic portal vein system when swallowed in its natural oil state. The decrease in bioavailability affects a number of compounds, many found in cannabis. First-pass metabolism only affects the bioavailability of CBD when consumed orally! There are creative chemistry techniques to get around it.
Topically rubbing CBD into your
skin or placing some tincture under your tongue allows the CBD to directly
enter systemic circulation. CBD tinctures work quickly and effectively. Holding
the CBD oil under your tongue for 1-3 minutes, it is absorbed by the mucous
membranes of the mouth, where it makes its way into the bloodstream. These delivery methods don’t go near any of the
mechanisms associated with the first-pass effect, and bioavailability IS NOT negatively affected.
What’s The Issue?
The first pass effect greatly decreases the bioavailability of CBD oil when swallowed. Unfortunately, nearly all CBD oil capsules that you see on the market will have very poor absorption rates. That translates to taking a 20mg capsule and only actually absorbing around 5mg!
Scientist have developed
techniques that are now common in drug delivery science and are super important
because almost 40% of new drug compounds are hydrophobic and have the same oral
bioavailability issues as CBD. [Source]
Why Water-Soluble CBD?
One of the primary ways to
overcome the first-pass effect is to convert the naturally oil-soluble CBD
extract into a water-soluble form. This makes total sense, especially when
considering the fact that the average adult is somewhere from 50–60% water. The technique is known as Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System
[SEDDS], and possesses
unparalleled potential in improving oral bioavailability of poorly
water-soluble drugs. [Source]
Think of CBD extract as a big
blob, in oil form. When it enters your stomach it’s too large to pass through
your stomach lining and enter systemic circulation without being broken down by
enzymes and passed along the liver for processing. When CBD oil is converted to
a water-soluble powder the end result is an off-white, water-soluble,
micro-encapsulated, full-spectrum, CBD hemp extract.
Why Should It Matter to You?
Water-soluble CBD powder makes
the most sense for widespread adoption and use in our everyday lives. When we look
at the shelves in the health and wellness aisles of natural food stores, we see
an overwhelmingly large amount of capsules and drink-powders. Only by
converting CBD oil into a water-soluble powder can we effectively incorporate water-soluble
CBD into our daily health and wellness routine
In Conclusion
Supplementing your wellness routine
with a powerful plant compound like CBD does not need to be a chore. We have an
incredibly complex and important Endocannabinoid System in our body that helps
to regulate the function of our nervous and immune systems. Activating this
system with CBD supplementation is something that everyone can benefit from.
What is extremely important to know is that water soluble CBD IS NOT the only answer, as many
purveyors of water soluble CBD are claiming!! Yes, it does allow for a variety
of oral delivery methods, but it is not the HOLY GRAIL of CBD delivery! Taking
CBD oil sublingually allows for a quicker delivery method because it doesn’t
have to pass through the digestive tract and liver before reaching the
bloodstream and working its magic.
