Here are the five primary ways you can get CBD into your body:

Oral Ingestion:  Capsules & edibles: However, the easiest way is not always the best way.  When CBD is ingested, it enters the digestive tract and before being absorbed into the bloodstream, it must travel through the portal vein into the liver, where it is metabolized. The result of this passage through the liver is a reduction of the concentration of CBD that can actually get into your bloodstream. 

Sublingual: Concentrates infusions and tinctures: Sublingual administration is when an isolate, tincture, or spray is administered and absorbed under the tongue. Usually the CBD is held under the tongue for 60-90 seconds before being swallowed. When CBD is held under the tongue, some of the cannabis extract compounds are directly absorbed into the mucous membranes. The remaining CBD that is swallowed, then passes through the liver. The CBD is absorbed by the mucous membranes more rapidly and effectively, reaching the bloodstream without being broken down by first pass metabolism. This method carries with it a slightly higher bioavailability than simply swallowing the CBD compounds.

Inhalation: Vaporized:  Inhaling CBD is becoming one of the most popular methods of consuming CBD thanks to its quick time to onset and high effectiveness.  Inhaling CBD has up to a 5x higher bioavailability than oral ingestion thanks to the large, highly permeable surface of the interior of the lungs. Inhaling also has a consistently quick onset in only a few minutes. Inhaling CBD has a faster onset but also has a shorter period of effectiveness. 

Topical: Lotions, balms, bath bags: Administering CBD directly to the skin is another way to utilize the health promoting properties of CBD. Topicals are a viable way of getting CBD into your body because our products are made transdermally meaning they can be absorbed by the skin.

One of the best ways to dose yourself with cannabinoids is to follow the guideline of 5 mg per 100 lbs of person. Otherwise, there is no official dosing due to the present lack of research. So, there is no one size fits all with CBD. It is always wise to start small and gradually increase your dosage, until you have achieved desired results.

All of our products contain dosing suggestions and measured droppers, when applicable, making them easy to microdose to find out your personal optimal dosage. 

According to the National Cancer Institute,“Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, lethal overdoses from cannabis and cannabinoids cannot occur.” 

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized a lot of CBD, but not all of it. Most importantly, it redefined what hemp and hemp products are by federal law. Hemp is legally defined as a cannabis plant or part of the cannabis plant that has a THC concentration “of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”  If the THC concentration is higher, however, then it’s classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. That means the US Drug Enforcement Administration believes it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.  Other than the 0.3 percent THC rule, there’s one other major stipulation as to whether a certain CBD product is federally legal: It has to be derived from hemp grown by a licensed business that is approved by the federal and state government. The marijuana plant itself is now legal in 30 states plus Washington D.C. for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Due to the lack of extensive research, the choice of what CBD product is right for you really depends on you and your willingness to try a couple of routes of administration and see what works for you.  Although there is not one CBD product to fit all, there are several important factors to consider when you do choose a CBD product.  

We recommend that you make an appointment with Robin Swan, the founder and owner of Swan Apothecary, who can assist you in finding which medicine will meet your specific needs.