If you’re purchasing your first ever CBD oil, you may be unaware of the best way to get the most out of the product, but most instructions will highlight that they need to drop it under their tongue. So why is this? Well, this is called sublingual (meaning placing under the tongue) and it is due to the greater absorption rate after consumption.
It should take 20 minutes before it works when placed under the tongue, whereas if you were to orally consume the oil then it will have to go through the digestive process.
You can thank the mucous membranes beneath your tongue for this faster action. Oral consumption can leave it as anyone’s guess when it will kick in, with multiple variants at play, such as how much you have eaten that day. In general, you can expect an orally consumed CBD oil to take effect after 1-2 hours.
By using the dropper right under your tongue, it can enter the bloodstream quicker and is more likely to still hold its bioavailability. The jury is out whether orally consuming does damage the bioavailability during the digestion stage, but you rest more assured with sublingual consumption.
Most rudimental studies claim that simply swallowing the CBD oil rather than sublingual consumption would lead to a 50-80% less bioavailability. You want to ensure as much as possible interacts with your endocannabinoid system, so you can reap the benefits.
As with anything in the CBD industry, the research is minimal at best and we are all going on experts and scientists based on small reports and tests, however time will tell us more.
I have taken CBD oil sublingually almost every day for over 4 years, as well as testing out a number of other consumption methods, constantly trying to see what delivers the best results.
How Long Should I Hold It Under The Tongue
Most brands and experts will agree 2 minutes is the optimal time. I was guilty of giving up in the past after 10 seconds, however I have found the results were slightly enhanced when I waited the full stretch.
Some will state 20 seconds on the packaging, while others state 1-2 minutes, nobody has a clearly defined time as the guidance online is mixed at best.
One little added benefit for those who don’t like the taste, by keeping it under your tongue you can’t taste it as much and by the time you are swallowing what ever is left in your mouth, the taste has subsided and is much more faded.
Product Consideration
I would love to say every brand delivers high quality ingredients and a perfectly constructed product, but not just is this simply not true, but also each batch could deliver varied results.
This is why it is always best to opt for reputable brands that issue their lab reports on their product pages, have good reviews online and follow safety guidance, using farms in areas where certain standards are required, such as the EU.
Other Methods
Considering we’re talking about CBD oil when we mention sublingual consumption, an interesting question was posed to me, what about if it’s an edible such as a gummy.
Well the answer lies in how the CBD oil is present, some are combined with all the ingredients, meaning they simply should be swallowed, while some others are on the surface area, meaning you could place it under the tongue before chewing and swallowing.
We’re seeing an increasing number of forms you can get CBD in, many of which don’t work as well as simply taking CBD oil, so I’d recommend avoiding any fads or crazy new types.
Brilliant content Tom as always, keep up the good work.
Great article Tom! keep up the good work 🙂