Taking CBD oil under the tongue

by Tom Russell June 23, 2026

Here's how you do it:

Place your CBD oil under your tongue, hold it there for 1-2 minutes, then swallow the rest. This gives the oil time to stay in contact with the thin membrane under the tongue, which may improve absorption compared with swallowing it straight away.

Do not rinse your mouth straight away, do not swallow immediately, and try not to touch the dropper against your tongue or mouth. This helps you get a better serving and keeps the oil clean.

For best results, take CBD oil at a consistent time each day. Many people take it before a meal or with food, as CBD is fat-soluble and may be better absorbed when taken alongside a source of fat, such as nuts, butter, oil, or yoghurt.

Step	What to do	Why it helps
1. Place	Lift your tongue. Place the drops underneath. If needed, use a mirror to count the drops.	The oil reaches the thin area under the tongue.
2. Hold	Put your tongue down. Hold for 1-2 minutes. Try not to talk or swallow.	The oil stays in contact with the absorbent membrane.
3. Swallow	Swallow the rest. Take it at the same time each day, ideally before a meal.	What remains reaches the gut for further absorption.

Find out more about how much CBD oil to take and the best times to take it.

The easiest and one of the most effective methods

Taking CBD oil under your tongue, known as “sublingual application”, may seem unusual at first. But it is one of the most common ways to take CBD oil because it is quick, simple and needs no equipment.

The word “sublingual” means under the tongue. This area has a thin lining and a rich blood supply, so CBD oil can sit close to the small blood vessels before you swallow the rest.

That is why CBD oil is usually held under the tongue for 1-2 minutes before swallowing. The main benefit is that it may help more CBD become available to the body than swallowing the oil immediately. It is easy to repeat each day and only needs the bottle, the dropper and a little patience.

Benefits of taking CBD sublingually
Comparing the different methods
How to take CBD under the tongue

CBD under the tongue - Fast facts

1. CBD oil is taken under the tongue so it can sit against the thin, absorbent membrane in the mouth.
2. Lift your tongue, place the drops underneath, then put your tongue back down.
3. Hold the oil under your tongue for 1-2 minutes before swallowing.
4. Once the time is up, swallow the remaining oil. You do not need to spit it out.
5. The most common mistakes are swallowing too quickly, rinsing straight away, touching the dropper to the mouth, or changing the amount too often.

Benefits of taking CBD sublingually

Most of our customers agree that taking CBD under the tongue is quick and easy. It requires very little effort and can be completed in a couple of minutes without having to use any special equipment. Drops can be placed under your tongue discreetly, whether you are at home or work.

As a bonus, taking CBD under your tongue means that a higher amount of the active ingredients will be absorbed for use when compared to simply swallowing it or taking capsules/edibles. This results in a greater effect from less CBD, meaning that you could save money when compared to eating your CBD, which has much lower bioavailability.

How does it compare with other methods of taking CBD?

Of the 5 main methods to take CBD, placing the oil under the tongue is one of the most effective. It isn’t as effective as vaping, but because it is so simple and safe it is still more popular.

The effectiveness of each method can be measured by the length of time it takes for you to feel an effect, and how much of the active ingredient reaches your bloodstream. Once CBD reaches your bloodstream, it is unlikely to be broken down further, and it will be transported around your body for use.

CBD absorption figures vary between studies, products and people. The carrier oil, serving size, whether you have eaten, and your own digestion can all make a difference. For everyday use, the main practical point is simple: holding CBD oil under the tongue before swallowing is usually more sensible than swallowing it immediately.

Method used	Uptake into your bloodstream	Time to take effect
Ingested (swallowed)	4 - 20%	30 minutes - 2 hours
Under your tongue (sublingually)	Up to 35%	15 - 25 minutes
Rectally	8 - 50%	20 - 60 minutes
Inhaled or vaporised	Up to 56%	10 - 20 minutes
Rubbed into the skin  (topically)	Can be up to 45% but stays localised (enters local tissue & small blood vessels only).	25 - 45 minutes

Eating CBD is the least efficient method

If you swallow CBD, it travels through your digestive system and your body automatically starts to break it down. This process can be slowed down by mixing the active ingredients with other substances such as fat or using an MCT oil carrier, but the difference is relatively small.

Most food and drink must take a ‘first pass’ through the liver, which removes toxins and breaks food into its component parts. Between 4% and 12% of the CBD will make it through and reach the bloodstream to be transported to cells for use. Because of the time it takes for your digestive system to process food, it can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours for that small amount of CBD to get to work.

CBD is fat-soluble, so food can matter. A recent pharmacokinetic study found that a high-fat meal increased CBD bioavailability compared with taking CBD while fasting. This does not mean you need a heavy meal, but it does support the practical idea of taking CBD with or near food that contains some fat, such as yoghurt, eggs, olive oil, avocado or nuts.

More than two-thirds of our customers notice a difference when switching from edibles like CBD capsules and gummies to the sublingual application of CBD oil.

Topically applied CBD doesn’t travel in your bloodstream

Rubbing a balm or cream into your skin, unlike the other methods, doesn’t give you a whole-body effect. This is because it only goes to the cells, tissues and small blood vessels close to where you’ve applied it. It can have a localised effect within 25 - 45 minutes and up to 45% can reach the target area.

Vaping CBD can be faster, but it has some caveats

Vaping involves heating CBD e-liquids in a device to produce a vapour you inhale. The CBD crosses the thin, moist membranes in your lungs directly into your bloodstream. This means that the effects can often be felt within 10 - 20 minutes and up to 56% of the CBD can reach your bloodstream.

Most people find this method less appealing, and there are health concerns around the additives usually added to vapes.

Taking CBD rectally gives inconsistent results

Inserting CBD rectally is regarded as a quick and effective way of taking it. However, the speed of its effect and how much reaches your blood, depends on which of the rectal blood vessels absorb it and how the CBD is prepared. The effect of this method can also be reduced by health issues such as constipation and haemorrhoids.

It is currently seen to be a better method than eating CBD, but until CBD has been specifically prepared for rectal use it is not as consistently effective as taking it sublingually or using a vape.

Why sublingual application is one of the best ways to take CBD

While vaping CBD e-liquid is the most efficient method, it comes with extra steps. You need to buy a vape, keep it topped up, purchase specialised CBD vape oils, and use it only where their use is allowed.

Placing CBD under your tongue might not be the top method when it comes to absorption, but it's a close runner-up and it’s certainly safer and simpler to use than vapes. When you put oil under your tongue it is absorbed directly into the blood vessels. Because the vessels there are very close to the surface it allows the CBD’s journey to the bloodstream to be quick and uneventful. Substances taken this way are absorbed quickly, take effect in about 15-25 minutes and because they don’t have to pass through the liver you can expect as much as 35% to reach your bloodstream.
Another advantage of taking CBD oil orally is that it stays in your system for up to 10 hours. When you vape, the effect is faster, but CBD stays in your system for only up to 2 hours.

How do I take CBD under the tongue?

Taking CBD oil sublingually is a simple process. Lift your tongue and place the recommended number of drops in the space behind your teeth. Place your tongue back down and hold the oil there for one to two minutes, making sure it stays in contact with the membrane beneath your tongue the whole time for optimal absorption.

If you are having trouble with this process, there are a couple of tips that can aid you:

1. Stand next to a mirror or ask a friend to help you position the dropper and count out the drops. Once you’ve done this a couple of times, it gets much easier.

2. CBD sprays are a great way to apply the oil directly under your tongue with no fuss. Brands like CannabiGold have specially designed pump dispensers that make it easier to take a specific amount without any guesswork or the use of a mirror.

Do I swallow it?

Yes, swallow the remaining oil after holding it under your tongue for 1-2 minutes. You do not need to spit it out. Holding first gives the CBD time to sit against the membrane under the tongue, while swallowing afterwards means the remaining oil is not wasted and much of it will still be absorbed in the gut.

Why does CBD oil burn under my tongue?

When you first take CBD, you might be struck by a distinct, bitter undertone. This strong grassy taste often comes with unfiltered, high-quality oils that use the entire hemp plant (This is why they’re called “whole plant CBD oils”.) It’s not the most pleasant sensation, but it's not harmful. A sip of water or some food can help neutralise the aftertaste.

If you get any reaction that goes beyond this slightly bitter taste, stop using it immediately. These reactions are usually due to:

1. Using inferior quality oil. Sadly, not all oils on the market meet the high standards set by responsible companies. Some could contain harmful contaminants.
2. Because you are allergic to one of the additional ingredients. This is unlikely as great care is taken to choose natural ingredients with low risk of reaction, however, it is always worth checking the label before you purchase.
3. Having purchased a tincture rather than an oil. A CBD tincture uses alcohol rather than an oil as the carrier and this can cause a burning sensation when held under the tongue.

Why should I take CBD under the tongue?

CBD is commonly taken under the tongue because it is simple, practical and easy to repeat each day. For best results, hold it for 1-2 minutes, swallow the rest, keep your timing consistent, and start low if you are new to CBD.

If you would like help choosing a CBD oil, feel free to email us, call us or use live chat. We’ll happily guide you towards a strength and format that suits your routine.

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