consumption methods

How CBD Can Be Taken: 4 Different Delivery Methods

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CBD is a hot product, and we’re thrilled to see how much it is changing people’s lives around the world. As it grows in popularity, however, we’ve noticed that users and non-users both are often confused about how it should be taken.

In fact, many do not realize how many different CBD-based products there are or how many different ways CBD can be consumed! There might even be some options out there that might work better for you than how you are using CBD now.

Today, we’re going to break down the top four CBD consumption methods so that everyone reading can have a complete understanding of their options, the pros, and the cons. Let’s get started!

Method #1: Orally

The first way that CBD can be taken, and one of the most common consumption methods, is to take it by mouth. Taking CBD orally is very popular, so there are a lot of different products out there to allow for it.

Directly consuming CBD can be one of the least-effective absorption rates if it is not done properly. Why is that?

Oral Absorption Rate

CBD is full of molecules that can easily dissolve in fats, but they don’t dissolve in water very well. Due to how digestion works, this means that taking CBD directly has a low absorption rate. This can be slightly improved by mixing CBD into a carrier:

  • • Gummies
  • • Oils
  • • Edible food items
  • • Capsules with oil in them

The oil helps the CBD make it into the body more effectively, raising the absorption rate to between 6% and 20%. The final absorption amount will depend on how much your body takes away from the product during digestion and filtration.

Timing & More

When using CBD orally, it takes up to 2 hours to feel the effects. This is because the CBD must travel through the metabolic process before hitting the bloodstream and then being absorbed by the body.

Once the effects start, however, they tend to last much longer than other consumption methods. For this reason, many people prefer to use CBD orally as they are looking for long-term relief.

Method #2: Sublingually

Another way that CBD can be consumed is by putting it under the tongue. This delivery method, also known as taking CBD sublingually, isn’t as popular as oral consumption. 

How Is CBD Taken Sublingually?

One common way of extract CBD is to mix it into an alcohol-based extraction known as a tincture. Tinctures are very strong in their concentration, so you only need to take a few drops at a time for it to be effective. The user simply places a few drops under their tongue, and then the CBD will begin to enter the bloodstream.

Is Sublingual Consumption Effective?

When CBD is taken this way, it doesn’t need to make its way through the bloodstream. Instead, it is directly absorbed. Similar to tinctures, CBD sprays can also be sprayed straight into the mouth and be absorbed quickly.

CBD taken sublingually absorbs into the body much more effectively than taking it orally because it does not need to go through the metabolic system. This means that it encounters no enzymes the liver that would usually breakdown the CBD. 

As such, the bioavailability or absorption rate of CBD taken sublingually is usually between 12% and 35%.

Timing and More

CBD taken under the tongue works immediately as it enters the bloodstream right away. However, some of it is usually swallowed as well, so you will also have more longterm effects after the CBD makes its way through the metabolic system.

Method #3: Inhalation

Have you ever heard of vaping?

Using a vaporizing stick, also known as a vape, to use CBD is becoming very common. All that you need to do is load in a CBD cartridge. These cartridges are available in many different CBD oil percentages, so you can customize the concentration or type of cannabis strain that you want to use.

How Does Vaping Work?

A vape pen heats up the CBD oil without releasing any smoke in a way that vaporizes the oil. The absorption rate of vaping, on average, is around 33%. Still, the absorption rates can reach as high as 56% depending on the cartridge used.

Timing and More

CBD reaches the bloodstream incredibly quickly whenever using a vape. This is because the CBD comes through the respiratory system rather than the metabolic system. The respiratory system is full of very small, thin veins. As such, the absorption efficiency is incredibly high, and the CBD molecules can get into the bloodstream almost immediately.

As mentioned above, this is one of the most popular ways to consume CBD oil. The effects are immediate when used that way. The effect in the end, however, is determined by the strength of CBD cartridge used with the vape pen.

Method #4: Topically

CBD can also have beneficial effects when it is applied to the skin and allowed to absorb, but there are a few things that you should know about using it this way. Primarily, you should remember that the CBD won’t be reaching your metabolic system or bloodstream, so the effect will be quite different.

How Do Topical Products Work?

When topical CBD products are applied to the skin, they spread over the skin, and the CBD will eventually move through some of the skin’s layers. Then, it can bind and interact with cannabinoid system receptors located in the skin.

The CBD itself never gets into the bloodstream when this method is used. All positive effects are caused by the interceptors in the skin, not by more common methods of blood absorption. This typically means that the CBD concentration in all topical products needs to be very high for them to bring effective relief to the user.

Another popular CBD topical product is a transdermal patch. These patches deliver a specific amount of CBD to the body over time. Due to added chemicals that allow CBD molecules to make it into the bloodstream, when delivered via a patch, the CBD will have a higher absorption rate.

Kratom Capsules: Is This Less Common Method Worth It?

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There are a lot of unique things about kratom, and we love being able to take some time to share these things with you. For instance, did you know that there are dozens of different chemicals that make up kratom leaves, similar to the way that there are dozens of cannabinoids that make up marijuana leaves?

Pretty cool, right?

Another thing that we find awesome about kratom is the consumption methods are very versatile. While many people prefer to make kratom tea and drink it, this is far from the only way that you can consume it. In fact, there are easier ways.

Today we’ll be talking about the arguably easiest way to take kratom: kratom capsules. Are kratom capsules better? That’ll be up to you to decide, but we’ll share what we know about this unique delivery method.

What Are Kratom Capsules?

Kratom capsules are small pills that are filled with kratom powder. These pills can be taken in lieu of a direct serving of kratom or a glass of kratom tea, and many people like them because they’re generally easier to get and use.

How Are Kratom Capsules Made?

Kratom capsules aren’t harvested off of trees; they need to be made! When you decide to try kratom capsules, you’ll have to decide how you want to go about getting them.

Premade Capsules

The first way that you can try them is to buy premade capsules. Many kratom vendors like us sell capsule versions of some of our most popular or most requested strains. These capsules make it easier for consumers that are busy to simply have them.

Make-Your-Own Capsules

If you want to save a little money or make your own kratom blends when you prepare capsules, you can actually make your own kratom capsules at home instead of buying them premade. It is very easy to buy empty capsules in bulk, and they can be bought in different sizes.

At home, you just need to fill them up! You can do this by hand, or you can buy a capsule maker tool. This tool holds the side of the capsule so that you can easily fill it up before closing the capsules off using the tool.

When filling the capsules, you can put in any combination of kratom strains and serving size that you prefer. This personalization option is one of the reasons that a lot of people choose to make their own capsules rather than buy premade ones.

The Pros and Cons of Kratom Capsules

Now that you know a bit more about how kratom capsules are and can be made, let’s talk about what is good and what is not so good about using them. As with every consumption method, there are pros and cons to using kratom capsules. To determine if these are a good choice for you, take a closer look at all of the pros and cons.

Pros

There are quite a few reasons why we think that you might love using kratom capsules. Of course, we know that they aren’t for everyone. Still, we think it is worth considering changing up your kratom routine to include these.

Better Taste

For some people, using kratom capsules is key because it prevents them from having to actually taste the kratom! Kratom tea is great, but it’s undeniable that the flavor can be hard to stomach at times. If you find the taste of kratom off-putting, trying kratom capsules may be a good idea.

Convenient

Another benefit of trying kratom capsules is that you’ll get to experience how convenient they are to use. You can easily take one of these capsules when you’re on the go without any issues. When you only take kratom tea, you need to have that prepared in advance or have the space to prepare it in order to take your serving.

Customized Serving Size & Blends

Kratom capsules allow for a lot of flexibility in your consumption. Not only can you choose exactly how much kratom to add to each capsule if you make them yourself, but you can also mix up the blends that you use.

For example, you can mix up a green Malay strain with a white strain while you are making your capsules so that you can get the perfect balance of the strains that work best for you whenever you take your capsule each day.

May Save Money

Finally, it’s good to know that you might be able to save some money with capsules. While premade capsules can be pricey, making them yourself can save you a lot of money if you buy them in bulk when they’re empty.

Cons

Of course, there are also some potential negatives to trying out kratom capsules. Some people find that taking kratom through a pill is harder on their stomach, causing symptoms like nausea or vomiting. This side effect is likely to be more difficult if you take a large daily serving.

Other people find that making their own capsules is too tedious, and buying them premade is too expensive. If you’ve already figured out a system that works for your time and your budget, don’t feel like you need to change it just to try kratom capsules!

Will Capsules Work For You?

You’ll have to be the one to decide if kratom capsules make sense for your lifestyle. The best way to make this decision is to think about when you like to take kratom, how much kratom you usually take, and if it would be more convenient to use capsules.

Another thing to consider is the time investment. Some people find that making kratom tea is quick and easy while filling capsules is tiring; others feel the opposite of that. Only you can decide how you feel about kratom capsules.

We think kratom capsules are a super unique and efficient way to take your kratom, but you don’t have to use it if you don’t like it! Take some time to test out kratom capsules, and then you can decide what is going to be best for you.