Some turn to cannabidiol (CBD) to relieve stress. Another demographic uses it to sleep at night, while still others find relief for a growing list of other conditions. With the rising popularity of this safe and non-intoxicating compound, it can feel as if the answer to every question ends up being “CBD.”
But, what if you’ve tried it and you don’t feel anything? Are you the only one this supposedly miraculous compound doesn’t work for?
The problem with CBD is the lack of official guidance on it. While international health organizations have confirmed cannabidiol is safe and well-tolerated, there are almost no established medical protocols about the method of consumption, dose size, and formula.
With this lack of official advice, it’s no wonder some people come away from a personal CBD journey feeling let down. So, at Elevated Wellness, we’ve decided it’s high time to demystify some of the most common misconceptions about this hemp-based cannabidiol.
If you’ve tried CBD and it didn’t work, let’s troubleshoot.
Select the Right Method of Consumption
Rubbing in a CBD-infused cream to relieve chronic stress might not do what you’re hoping for. The same goes for placing a few drops of CBD tincture under your tongue to soothe sore muscles.
When it comes to CBD, choosing the right product formulation and the delivery route can dramatically improve the chances of feeling the beneficial effects.
For example, topically applied CBD penetrates the surface of the skin to work on the endocannabinoid receptors located in the epidermis — but it never goes deeper.
On the flip side, CBD tinctures and oils that are dropped beneath the tongue absorb through the lining of the mouth (or via the digestive tract) to flow through the bloodstream and eventually to the brain.
You can go one step further by dialing in on advanced formations. Elevated Wellness offers broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD formulas to pull in benefits from a myriad of other cannabinoids and terpenes for synergistic benefits known as the Entourage Effect.
A Few Pointers on Getting the Dose Right
Just as important as the method of consumption is dose. The effects of cannabidiol are biphasic or dose-dependent. Small to moderate amounts produce one set of effects, while larger amounts another.
This is most apparent when it comes to CBD for sleep. Lower doses seem to stimulate wakefulness, while larger doses (over 300 mg) help to improve sleep. Another study examining CBD’s anti-anxiety effects found a significant reduction with 300 mg of CBD but none with 100 mg or 600 mg.
With no regulatory guidance on dosage, it is no wonder consumers get frustrated trying to find the right dose. Of course, it is always a good idea to “start low and go slow,” but patience is key. It can take a few days (or even a few weeks) to titrate up to these larger doses.
Is it Time to Give CBD Oil Another Go?
If you’ve tossed your bottle of CBD because you ‘felt’ nothing, it may be time to try again.
Elevated Wellness is on a mission to help provide better guidance on method, dosage, and formulation. Take it slow, and have patience as you experiment with dose.
A few takeaways as you restart your CBD journey. First, match the right method for your condition. Second, select full- or broad-spectrum CBD oils with advanced bioavailability. Third, CBD is biphasic and may require a higher daily dose than what you’ve been led to believe.
Chris Adlakha, PharmD operates compounding pharmacies in Texas where his Elevated Wellness line of CBD products is produced in state-of-the-art, regulated laboratories using pharmaceutical science.
