More and more people are trying CBD every day. It is expected that CBD sales will hit $5 billion in 2019 and surpass $20 billion by 2024. Needless to say, the market has exploded over the past five years. People who had never heard of CBD are giving it a try to see what all the hype is about and whether or not it can benefit them and assist them in their health goals.
As more people consume CBD, they often have questions about how they know it is working or how long before they can tell whether it is helping them or not. We’ve mentioned before that at Urban Roots Hemp Co, the way we like to frame how CBD feels is by what you don’t feel.
Were you able to get out of bed without pain? Were you less irritable at the end of the day because you took CBD before getting home? Did you have less anxiety for your work meeting? Did you knees hurt less at the gym? Did you get more restful sleep and wake up less during the week?
How to Know if CBD Is Working or Not: Different Factors
The key thing to remember is that CBD does not have an intoxicating effect like its cousin cannabinoid, THC. Many people have the false perception that as soon as they drop some CBD under their tongue, they are going feel relief akin to taking a powerful opioid pain pill, or have a sensation similar to when they inhale or consume marijuana. This is not the case. You will not experience a state of euphoria and will probably not experience instant relief the first time you take it.
The fact of the matter is that the amount of time it takes for an individual to notice the benefits of CBD will vary from person to person. How quickly you feel CBD depends on a variety factors.
Mode of Consumption – Everybody’s body is different, and that means that different people respond differently to certain modes of consumption. CBD products can be ingested orally, inhaled, or applied to the skin in the form of creams or lotions. Inhaling CBD through vaping is often recognized as the fastest way to get feel the effects because inhalation bypasses the digestive tract. Oral consumption of CBD, on the other hand, is typically thought of as the slowest delivery method, because it must pass through your digestive tract and be filtered by the liver.
CBD Dosage – Apart from the method of consumption, the dosage of CBD that you take also plays a large role in how quickly you will experience its positive effects. Many CBD products will come with a recommended dosage, but it really depends on your own particular body. For that reason, it is necessary to experiment with dosage, start with a low dose and slowly increase it over time until you find your “sweet spot.”
Body Type – As with the majority of drugs or medications or substances you consume, your body type, weight, and metabolism all play a role in how and how quickly you feel the effects of CBD. For this reason, even if two people consume the same dosage of CBD at the same exact time, it’s likely that they will experience the effects differently and at a different rate. If someone has a larger body mass, then they will likely need a larger dosage. Your metabolic rate will determine how quickly the CBD enters your bloodstream if you are consuming it orally. Additionally, other factors like your level of stress or other unique health conditions will affect how and how fast CBD can impact your health.
Amount of Time Consuming CBD – Many CBD users find that taking a daily dose allows them to sustain a level of CBD in their body, stimulating their endocannaboid system and causing it to react more to external cannabinoids like CBD. Think of consuming CBD like a commitment—people typically report that they need to ingest it for several weeks or even several months before they see a difference with whatever health issue they are trying to improve.
Is CBD Working for You?
Once you find the right dosage and a consumption method that works for you, CBD should be absorbed into your blood stream in adequate concentrations. Once in your blood, it is then distributed throughout your body’s endocannaboid system where the CBD can bond with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body. This bonding is what will then trigger many of CBD’s possible effects.
What many people report feeling is very subtle. As CBD is distributed throughout their endocannaboid system, they may feel relaxed but not intoxicated. Others report feeling something similar to a “runner’s high”, which is essentially a flood of endorphins that lifts your mood in a completely natural way. Some users often experience a heightened sense of awareness, ability to focus better, and an overall sense of well-being.
These initial feelings will generally subside as you continue to consume CBD because they basically just become your new normal. Like we said, the most basic way that you know it is working for you is by recognizing what you are no longer feeling. Some people are skeptical of CBD because they are expecting to feel a strong feeling similar to what you feel when you take a pill. Those people are probably thinking they will be intoxicated and are not focusing on being aware of what is going on in their bodies.
Furthermore, if you strongly experience negative health issues like chronic pain or anxiety, you are more likely to notice the effects of CBD more strongly as well. For example, if you have anxiety every day, then you will likely notice the effects much more when you first start taking it and more than a person who takes CBD but doesn’t have bad anxiety. Over time of consuming CBD, though, this less anxious state should become your new normal and you will only notice that it’s working if you run out and don’t take it for a couple days.
What If CBD Is Not Working?
If you have been consuming CBD for several weeks or months and you are still experiencing chronic pain or anxiety or other health issue you are trying to improve, there are several things you can do. First, you can try a different method of consumption. If you are consuming capsules, maybe try tinctures, topicals, or vaping and see if you are able to notice it more.
Next, you can try changing up your dosage. Consume either more or less of your CBD product to see if it makes a difference. You don’t need to be afraid to take more than the recommended dosage, because that is only a guideline to get you started. Depending on your current state of health, you may need more than that initial starting dosage, so don’t be scared to experiment with the amount you take.
You should also ensure that you are consuming CBD from a reputable brand. As more and more CBD companies continue to pop up everywhere, many of them cut corners. One study even found that only 31 percent of the 84 CBD products they tested contained the amount of CBD they advertised. To ensure you are not getting ripped off, it’s important to both check for third part lab tests and read consumer reviews. At Urban Roots, our products are all tested multiple times to ensure they have the proper dosage.
Conclusion: Always Remember that CBD Is Subtle
Always keep in mind that CBD will not make you feel intoxicated. It’s important to be mindful about what you are feeling and what you are not feeling. If you are not experiencing any benefit from CBD after consuming it for an extended period of time, then change up the dosage, type of product, or switch to a more trustworthy brand.
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