As the CBD market continues to grow, more people are beginning to wonder about the various benefits and effects. CBD has been shown in studies to help with various ailments from soreness and stress to mood balancing and dietary concerns. People are using CBD as a daily supplement to their health regiment, as an emotional aid helping with mood, or as a topical cream on aching muscles and joints.
Whether you’re curious about how to take CBD, how long it takes to kick in, how long the effects last, long-term CBD use, or how much you should take, this article will help you make informed decisions about how CBD can best work for you.
What is CBD
Your body has what is called an endocannabinoid system that processes cannabinoids like those we find in hemp plants. Regardless of whether you have ever used hemp products, this system to process cannabinoids already exists in your body. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a type of cannabinoid that works with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system, including your internal CBD receptors. CBD comes from hemp and can be processed and used in many ways.
When your body processes cannabidiol, you can experience relief from certain problematic symptoms.
Why Take CBD
Research into CBD is not necessarily new, however, CBD products are still relatively new on the market. CBD has been shown in a plethora of clinical studies to treat a variety of issues and it has been helpful with:
- Muscle and joint soreness
- Mood balance
- Restfulness
Because there are a variety of applications for CBD, there are different ways you ingest or apply the product. Depending on what you want to accomplish by taking CBD, there will be different ways to use CBD. Let’s take a look at how people are using CBD today.
How to Take CBD
How you ingest CBD can affect the time it takes to reach peak levels. The peak level is the time during which CBD is most potent in your body. Topical creams and edibles, like CBD gummies, can take up to 45 minutes to kick in after application. Currently one of the most popular ways is to orally ingest it via a CBD oil or CBD tincture.
Several factors may influence peak levels and effectiveness, as well. These factors can include whether you take it on a full stomach, if you’ve had any alcohol when you take your dose, if you take it at the same time of day consistently, or if you are taking other medications. It is best to keep your daily routine consistent to achieve the best results. This could mean taking CBD oil drops at the same time every day or applying a salve to your sore muscles once a day.
Decide which method will work best for you and choose your CBD products accordingly.
How Much CBD to Take
There is no specific answer as to what your dosage should be. Components like diet, metabolism, the reason why you are taking it and other factors will play a role in how your body absorbs CBD. It is always best practice to start low and increase gradually. It is essential to be consistent and patient while you are waiting for your desired results. Starting with too high of a dosage can lead to unwanted side-effects, though too low of a dose may not produce any results.
Let’s explore how to measure the amount of CBD you ingest so that you know how much CBD will work best for you. Then we will cover the different methods by which you can take CBD so you can decide which method will work best for you and why.
How to Measure CBD
CBD is best measured in milligrams, so you can easily track how much you are taking. While dermal patches work well to help with sore muscles and make it easy to keep track of dosages, CBD oil is the easiest way to keep track of milligrams and can be taken for a variety of benefits. Oils come in tinctures starting around 300mg of CBD up to 2400mg CBD per bottle, so there is a wide variety of dosages to choose from.
It is best to start low and work your way up each day until you’ve reached the desired result. You can generally start safely with about 10mg and increase your dosage by 10 or 20 milligrams until you are satisfied with the results.
If you are looking for immediate relief, try 10 milligrams every 90 minutes until you feel it take effect. If you are looking for more long-term benefits, stick with 10 milligrams a day and increase your dose every few days until you see a noticeable change.
It is important to note that you cannot become physically dependent on CBD, and CBD is not addictive. If you find that you have to stop taking CBD immediately for any reason, you will not go through any physical withdrawals, though you may notice a return to how you felt prior to introducing CBD to your health regimen.
How Long Will It Last?
There are many factors that affect the length of time CBD will benefit your system after you take it. This includes the milligram dosage you take, whether the method of ingestion is eating or using a patch or in a balm on the skin, and metabolism. These all play a role in how quickly the CBD will work in your body and how long it will affect your system after taking it.
CBD’s effects can last anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on the factors above. Here is a basic rundown of approximately how long the effects of CBD will last depending on how you take it:
- Tinctures, oils, or alcohols infused with CBD kick in after 20-30 minutes and can last 4-6 hours.
- Edibles or Capsules, containing CBD oil, take about 30-45 minutes to kick in fully and last 4-6 hours.
- Topicals applying CBD to the skin works in as little as 10 minutes for some and help you with sore muscles, localized discomfort, and skin irritations
Regardless of how you ingest your CBD, you will most likely stop feeling the desired effect after about seven hours. However, CBD may stay in your system for a while longer, which can help with long-term benefits.
What if you don’t feel anything?
CBD works differently for different people, and the quality of the CBD you buy can make a massive difference in the effect you will experience. Some products work better long-term like low-dose edibles, while other products produce more substantial, more immediate results, such as taking a 25mg dose of CBD oil. The critical thing to remember is to be patient and experiment responsibly with dosages.
It could be possible that you may not have taken enough to get the results you are looking for. If this is the case, wait about an hour to be sure that you’ve given the CBD proper time to work through your system and take another dose. It takes a little experimenting to find the appropriate amount for each person. It is also essential to buy your CBD from a credible source with good reviews from previous customers, like EcoLife Supplements. Some companies sell CBD products with added and occasionally unhealthy ingredients.
If you choose to experiment with higher CBD dosages, be sure that you are in a calm environment and avoid driving or operating heavy equipment. You don’t want to find yourself in an unfamiliar scenario if a high CBD dose kicks in unexpectedly. The most important thing to remember is that finding your proper dosage requires experimenting and patience.
Making the Decision
CBD is a healthy and all-natural way to improve overall wellbeing. If you are looking for something to help balance your mood, CBD may be the answer. If you are looking for something to help with recovery after physical activities or exercise, CBD may be the answer. If you are looking to gain mental clarity, CBD may be the answer. The benefits of CBD are seemingly endless.
Experiment with your dosage and find what works for you. Remember that it can take a while for the CBD to take effect and reach peak levels, so be patient. Understand that CBD is not addictive physically or mentally, so it is safe to practice your daily regimen by increasing your dose gradually. The most important thing is to be patient and safe.
If you have questions, or aren’t sure what dose is right for you, feel free to contact us at: info@ecolifesupplements.com