CBD Didn’t Work For Me. Why?
On occasion, I’ve recommended CBD to people looking to find relief for a various conditions. Sometimes the reply has been “CBD doesn’t work for me. Why?”
Are you wondering the same thing? Well, the answer may be more simple than you would expect and I may be able to fix that for you.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill passed, CBD has become overwhelmingly popular, saturating the market with a variety of products. Knowing which products are made with quality ingredients and which products may be the most beneficial can be a challenge. Honestly, it can be quite overwhelming!
The quality of the CBD product you’re interested in play a key role into whether or not it may be useful. This is also important in understanding what dosage might work best for you. Just like any supplement or a prescription drug, everyone has a unique level of tolerance and recommended dosage in order to experience the full benefits.
So the answer may be as simple as this; Research the brand and products you are interested in trying. Important questions to ask are where was the plant sourced? Is the product all natural or organic? What other ingredients are in the product and how will my body react to those ingredients? These are all answers you should seek when searching for the right product.
In addition, how much CBD you consume is also a key factor on whether or not you’ll find the relief you are seeking. The first thing to consider is what kind of relief you are looking for.
Are you looking for better sleep? Are you in need of anxiety relief? Are you looking for pain relief or to treat a chronic condition? Each one may require a different amount of CBD. That amount may also depend on your tolerance, weight, metabolism and how you consume it.
Before diving in to a few recommendations, a brief disclaimer. Please speak with your primary care physician to determine if CBD is a good option for you. I am not a medical professional and my recommendations are based solely on my own research, industry knowledge, personal experience, as well as anecdotal feedback.
Here are a few simple guidelines to help you with your healing journey.
Products Varieties:
Tinctures: This is one of the fastest ways to experience relief. Putting a few drops under the tongue and holding it there for 30-60 seconds could provide relief within roughly 15-20 minutes. How quickly and how effective the tincture is can depend on a few factors. Those factors include if the product is water soluble, alcohol based, oil based and the concentration of CBD.
Capsules & Edibles: The amount of time it takes to feel any relief from capsules or edibles depends on a few factors including body size, metabolism and how recently you ate. You should also consider what the other ingredients are in the product, such other herbs, sugars, oils, etc. Estimated time for relief could be anywhere form 30-60 minutes, sometimes a little longer, depending on your metabolism. The benefit of capsules or edibles is you may experience longer lasting relief.
Topicals: It’s really important to look at the ingredients of topicals, especially if you have sensitive skin or if you are sensitive to smells. Purchasing a topical with ingredients that may irritate your skin or offend your senses, isn’t going to give you the relief you’re seeking. The wrong product could distract you from its CBD benefits.
In addition, it’s important to know that CBD topicals may be most beneficial for muscle & joint pain. Some CBD topicals may be formulated to treat various skin conditions such as eczema too. There are several studies that provide encouraging data of the potential benefits using CBD for skincare.
Overall with topicals, the ingredients are as important as the the level of CBD the product contains.
Some Important Tips, Tricks and Recommendations:
Did CBD make you sick?
If you had previously consumed CBD via a tincture or capsule and you didn’t feel well afterwords, look at the ingredients in that product. Some people have a sensitivity or allergy to MCT oil, an ingredient most commonly in capsules and tinctures. For some people, MCT oil can cause nausea, abdominal pain or even diarrhea. If you experienced those symptoms previously, try a product that uses olive oil or hemp oil as its carrier oils, or find a product that is water soluble.
Do you have body pain?
If you are dealing with deep tissue pain or sever inflammation caused by something like a sports injury or arthritis, consider combing a topical with a tincture or capsule. Attacking the problem from the inside and out may likely offer the most relief. A great starting point would be a 30mg capsule and a 500mg topical.
Also consider making a CBD supplement part of your daily routine for more of a long term, overall daily relief.
Do you need a good nights sleep?
CBD has been shown to have calming properties that can aid you in that much needed rest. CBD itself is not a sedative, however it may help with relaxing your muscles, calming your anxiety and overall giving you a sense a calm that can help you transition into a deeper, more restful sleep. If you are dealing with insomnia, consider finding a product that also contains CBN.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CBN FOR SLEEP HERE >
Do you need stress relief?
If you are experiencing stress or anxiety, a tincture will likely provide the fastest relief but a 25mg CBD gummy might be the perfect antidote. You know the saying “a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down”.
What is the right amount to take? Studies show that up to 1500mg a day was well tolerated in humans.
Before you say “CBD didn’t work for me”, start light and work your way up. A light dose of 10-15mg may provide just the right amount of relief. The average dose is 20-30mg (for light pain or anxiety), which most people I’ve talked to find to be the perfect amount. Others experiencing more chronic conditions or higher levels of pain may require much higher doses. I personally consumed around 500mg of CBD a day after I had ACL replacement surgery in order to manage my pain.
So the answer is research and experimentation! To learn more or to speak with an Certified Medical Consultant for help finding the right products for you CLICK HERE >
