How Much CBD Can the Body Absorb

Among new CBD oil users, one of the first questions they ask is: “How much CBD can the body absorb?” This is perhaps the most common question because new users want to make sure they get the right amount of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids in their system, without any unwanted side effects.

Unfortunately, there is no exact answer to this question, because everybody absorbs CBD differently. Based on how you take CBD oil, it could take longer for the potentially beneficial compounds to make a difference. Based on the research available, here’s what we know about how much CBD the body can absorb.

CBD Absorption Research in Peer-reviewed Studies

The topic of how much CBD the body can absorb has been widely studied since the popularity of CBD oil spread across the internet. Doctors and researchers from universities and medical systems have spent hours on the topic, trying to understand not only how the body absorbs CBD, but how best to administer it.

One of the biggest studies on the topic was a literature review conducted by four researchers published in 2018 by Frontiers in Pharmacology. After reviewing over 700 different studies, the team concluded that while the body did absorb CBD oil, how much stayed with you depending on how it is taken. The most effective way was found through chronic oral use, like that of a CBD oil tincture. With regular use, cannabinoids found in organic, full spectrum CBD oil can stay in the body anywhere between two and five days. This was the longest effective time among all ways to administer CBD oil.

How much of that actually gets into the system? A 2009 study published in Phytotherapy Research by an Italian research team looked at that exact question. According to their research, those who took CBD oil sublingually absorbed between 13% and 19% of the CBD oil. While other routes allowed for higher concentrations to enter the body, its efficacy also decayed quicker.

Additional research suggests that how much CBD your body can absorb is directly affected by how users take it. A clinical trial presented to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggested that when taken in a capsule form, CBD was poorly absorbed by the body. When administering capsules of different types, the researchers concluded the body only absorbed 6% of CBD.

The good news is that it is very difficult to achieve intoxication from normal, recommended use of CBD oil. According to the 2009 Italian study, toxicity would only happen if a user took 20 to 50 times the amount of CBD orally than those administered by IV. Their conclusion was rather clear: “Cannabidiol exhibits very low toxicity in humans and in other species,” they wrote.

How You Take CBD Affects How You Absorb It

From the data available on how organic CBD oil is absorbed, we know that the body absorbs CBD in different ways based on how you take it. But what does that mean for your body, and how much CBD is best for you?

Although there are many different ways to take CBD oil – ranging from CBD oil tinctures to soft gels, to infused products – science suggests that the best way to get the most benefit from CBD oil is through sublingual tinctures. When taken under the tongue from a tincture drop, not only does CBD stay in the system longer, but it also has a higher absorption rate compared to other forms.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of using a CBD oil tincture is that users can figure out what serving amount works best for them. Everyone reacts to CBD differently, meaning there is no “one size fits all” approach to CBD oil. Through experimentation, individuals can discover the amount that’s right for them.

Can the Body Absorb Too Much CBD?

When trying to figure out how much CBD the body can absorb, another common question is if users can take too much. As the Italian study noted above shows, it would take a significantly high amount of CBD oil (20 to 50 times the recommended serving) to reach toxicity.

However, cannabinoids do have some noted interactions with a number of prescription medications. The NIH warns those who take Clobazam (Onfi) or Valproate should not take CBD oil because of side effects.

As with anything new taken for possible health benefits, be sure to discuss CBD or hemp oil with your doctor. With their help, you can come up with a plan that will maximize the prospective benefits of cannabidiols.

While understanding how much CBD the body can absorb may seem difficult, it doesn’t have to be. By taking a CBD oil tincture sublingually, the research shows your body can absorb CBD best, delivering the most probably potential results.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.