What is Nano CBD? Your Questions Answered

Written by Cathy Rozyczko — Edited by Jason Brett on September 27, 2021

Like many people, it is likely that you have seen an increase in the popularity of CBD in the last couple of years. With everyone from athletes to celebrities advocating for CBD use and touting the natural benefits CBD oil can provide, it should be no surprise that CBD use is on the rise.

In fact, it is estimated that 7% of Americans currently use CBD oil on a regular basis. And this number is only supposed to grow in the coming years.

However, whether you are new to CBD or you consider yourself a CBD aficionado, you may have come across nano CBD products at some point and wondered what they are, and how they differ from regular CBD oil.

Recent trends have seen nano CBD products become more popular, but many consumers are still confused about what sets these products apart from standard CBD and whether they truly work better than traditional CBD oil. If you are unfamiliar with this new CBD trend, here is a look at what you need to know about nano CBD.

What is Nanotechnology?

The first question you will likely find yourself asking is what the “nano” in “nano CBD” stands for. In this instance, “nano” is short for “nanotechnology” .

While you may have heard the word nanotechnology used before, it was likely in the context of a Sci-Fi TV show or movie, which may leave you wondering what it has to do with CBD. Essentially, nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of compounds at the molecular level (which is really, really tiny; about one billionth of a meter). In short, nanotechnology shrinks molecules.

Nanotechnology involves the use of molecular industrial processes, and it is most commonly used in the pharmaceutical and medical industries to help deliver compounds to our cells.

For instance, nanotechnology has been used in the beauty industry to get ingredients in lotions through the skin. The pharmaceutical industry has used nanotechnology methods to protect ingredients from degradation in the digestive tract.

What is Nano CBD?

Now that you know what nanotechnology is, you will likely wonder what it has to do with CBD. As we previously mentioned, scientists leverage nanotechnology in order to help medications and dietary supplements better survive the harsh environment of our digestive tract. This way, they are better absorbed and able to work more effectively.

This can be particularly helpful for CBD, as oral consumption of CBD has been shown to provide a variety of natural benefits. But the bulk of the CBD you consume is broken down in the gastrointestinal system and made unusable to the body. In fact, research indicates that only about 6% of the dose of CBD you swallow on average reaches the bloodstream.

Thus, nano CBD is now being used in order to help improve the absorption of CBD in the body. To make nano CBD, CBD is broken down into small particles and coated in an emulsifier called a carrier. Micro-carriers such as liposomes– a type of fat pocket– help enhance the absorption of CBD into targeted cells in the body, which can significantly increase its bioavailability (to as high as 80%).

What Are the Benefits of Nano CBD?

Once you understand what nano CBD is and how it works, you may find yourself with more questions than you started with. Primarily, you will likely wonder if there are any benefits to nano CBD or if it is just a marketing scheme meant to increase prices.

However, studies have shown that nanotechnology can provide a variety of benefits by increasing the efficacy of CBD. Here is a look at just a few of the benefits of using nano CBD.

Promotes Bioavailability

While we have already talked about the increased bioavailability of nano CBD, it is worth noting again, as this is perhaps the greatest advantage these products provide over standard CBD. The bioavailability of CBD or any substance is the rate and degree at which it enters the bloodstream.

The oral consumption method of standard CBD has an extremely low bioavailability rate between 4% and 20%, which means that a lot of the CBD you consume is lost and wasted before it reaches your bloodstream.

However, the carrier that is added to nano CBD can protect it and help it to quickly be absorbed by your body before it is broken down by digestion. This not only makes it more effective, but it also helps it to take effect faster.

Improved Efficacy of Topical Applications

When talking about nano CBD, most of the spotlight is placed on oral consumption and the ways in which nano CBD improves bioavailability through digestion. However, nano CBD can prove superior to standard CBD in topical applications as well.

What many people do not realize is that nano CBD often contains ingredients belonging to a class of chemicals called penetration enhancers; this includes chemicals like ethanol, propylene glycol, and other compounds that are used to coat CBD and help increase the movement of these molecules across the skin. This can be beneficial in topical applications of CBD, as it can help to improve the absorption and effectiveness of CBD topicals.

Less Is More With Nano CBD

Since nano CBD can increase the bioavailability of CBD to as much as 80%, this can make it easier to achieve desired effects without having to use a lot of CBD. If you were previously taking 100mg of CBD oil per day, you may find that you only need 50mg after switching to nano CBD. This can make using CBD simpler and more cost effective, as you would not have to take as high of doses with nano CBD. This can be particularly helpful for those who use CBD regularly, as you likely will not have to buy CBD as frequently as you did in the past.

Takeaway

While CBD has been shown to provide a variety of potential health benefits, its one downside tends to be its poor bioavailability. However, the latest in nanotechnology has made CBD oil more effective and user-friendly than ever before.

 

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