Water-soluble CBD is one of the hottest terms in the hemp industry today. It is particularly common in the pharmaceutical and supplement industries. So, should you go for CBD oil or water-soluble option? To help you make the right decision, here is a closer comparison of the two.
What is the Difference Between CBD and Water-Based CBD?
CBD is a thick and oily substance derived from cannabis plants. Notably, CBD is hydrophobic, implying that it does not dissolve in water. Indeed, it forms a crystalline substance when added into water. It is also important to point out that CBD is free from THC, the psychoactive component of the hemp plant. So, you will not get high for using CBD oil.
Water-based CBD is a type of CBD that has undergone further processing to make it soluble in water. It is broken down into small droplets, which are mixed with a surfactant that emulsifies the particles. This means that when the CBD is added to water, the particles remain stable without regrouping.
Note that the process of making CBD water-soluble does not change its properties. Indeed, the CBD particles do not dissolve in water, but they disperse evenly via the liquid. Furthermore, water-based CBD is available in different forms, such as edibles, drinks, capsules, and tinctures.
The Main Technologies Used to Make Water-based CBD
The commonest technologies used to prepare water-soluble CBD are nanoemulsions, liposomes, and macroemulsions.
- Nanoemulsions: This method uses mechanical processes that create 10-100 CBD nanoparticles. The main advantage of using nanoemulsions is that they require low quantities of surfactants.
- Liposomes: These are spherical structures that range from 50-5000 nanometers. Liposomes are designed with a hydrophilic compartment that is surrounded by a hydrophobic bilayer. CBD particles are stored in the bilayer membrane, which makes it pretty easy to deliver through the cell membrane. The downside of this technology is that it requires very advanced manufacturing processes and a lot of surfactants.
- Macroemulsions: This technology creates 100-500 nanometer droplets through solubilizing CBD oil in water. Like liposomes, macroemulsions have the downside of using a lot of surfactants.
CBD-Oil versus Water-based CBD: Bioavailability
When you take CBD oil orally, it has to be broken down in the liver before entering the general circulation. During this process, a lot of CBD gets damaged in the liver so that only a very small percentage reaches the circulatory system. Studies show that only about 4% of the CBD that you take reaches the circulatory system. This means that about 96% of the CBD you take becomes waste.
Water-soluble CBD was prepared to address the problem. By breaking down CBD into nanoparticles, the process of absorption is faster compared to using CBD oil. So, if you have a severe migraine or menstrual cramps, among other issues, water-based CBD will be able to address it faster.
While it is true that CBD oil comes with many benefits, using water-based CBD will deliver even more. It helps to increase bioavailability, which implies you only use a small amount and get faster relief. So, if you have the option of selecting between CBD oil and water-based CBD, the latter is the better option.
