What you need to know about taking CBD
CBD is an alternative treatment that’s seen a lot of study and publicity recently. Doctors generally prescribe it to relieve symptoms rather than the conditions themselves. There’s a wide range of products these include creams, hemp salve, oils and more.
If you plan on asking your doctor about CBD, be sure to discuss dosage and type of product.
Each product is prone to differ in terms of:
- The amount of CBD per dosage in mg
- How long the CBD will take to set in
- When and how often one should take it.
Timing is particularly important. This will likely depend on what condition you’re trying to treat and what you need to get done throughout your day. CBD does present the risk of various side effects. This should be carefully accounted for if you are considering this treatment.
Your doctor will also tell you that a lot more research on CBD is needed. We don’t know much about how it works or how much it might be able to help us.
Experts believe it interacts with a chemical messaging system in our bodies. That through this system it may contribute to regulating our bodies.
What is CBD and how does it work?
The hemp plant contains 100s of natural compounds. The two most popular and well-understood are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is the basis of most of the treatments you may have heard about.
On the other hand, THC is mostly known for its psychoactive component. The feeling of a ‘high’ that it produces. Cannabidiol is not psychoactive.
Science suggests that CBD engages the endocannabinoid system.
This system manages many vital bodily and mental functions. From sleep to learning and memory. It passes chemical messages to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which in turn contribute to maintaining balance throughout your body.
Specifically, CBD attaches to the CB2 receptors.
These are located in and work for:
- Brain
- Central and peripheral nervous systems
- Immune system
- Digestive system.
Though not all cannabidiol products contain THC, there’s some evidence to suggest that they work well together. We call this idea ‘the entourage effect.’ It stipulates that the potential benefits of these compounds are amplified by each other’s presence.
CBD products are divided into full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate CBD. Full-spectrum contains THC. Broad-spectrum may contain it in trace amounts, but isolates are pure CBD.
Ask your doctor if any form is appropriate for you and your needs.
Should I take CBD in the morning or evening?
The time of day CBD is taken is down to the individual. The most important factor to consider is the side effects. CBD has been known to induce increased anxiety, nausea, fatigue and more. Any side effects are generally minimal, but they do exist.
You may experience them, or you may not. This is why it’s important to start with small doses. If you’re looking for a sleep aid, the best time to take CBD is before bed. If you’re looking for help to get through the day, take it in the morning.
For most general purposes, small periodic doses throughout the day may work best.
On that note, oils and hemp salve may be easiest in terms of dosage control. They generally contain around 5 – 10 mg per drop or gummy, for instance.
If it your doctor considers CBD as an appropriate treatment option, and has the necessary approvals, they will decide on a dosage routine that suits you. They will consider all factors that contribute to how quickly or how slowly CBD takes effect. This includes your body fat percentage, height and weight, diet and more.
They’ll also help you set up a plan that fits the condition you’re trying to treat.
How can I purchase CBD products?
With all this talk of doctors, you may have guessed that CBD is only available via a doctor’s prescription. At this point, there are no cannabidiol products that can be bought over the counter. The manufacturing and sale of CBD are tightly controlled.
There are, however, a huge number of unregulated products available both in stores and online.
These unregulated products come with a lot of potential issues:
- You cannot guarantee that the product contains exactly what it says it does
- There is a much higher chance of potential side effects
- Their manufacturing and purchasing are illegal.
If you’re considering cannabidiol as a treatment, don’t risk your health with unregulated products.
Summary of when to take CBD
Everyone will have to establish their own routine with cannabidiol. You’ll want to slowly pace your dosage too. That way you can gauge the side effects and how well it addresses your condition.
Be sure to carefully note how it makes you feel and how it affected your day. If the smaller dosage doesn’t seem to help, steadily increase your dosage and consult your doctor as you go. Hemp Salve and CBD oils are a more appropriate option in this area due to the generally low dosage.
The evidence for CBD’s efficacy is still somewhat lacklustre. There are a lot of positive signs so far, but nothing conclusive.
We can only say for sure that CBD works with the endocannabinoid system and somehow contributes to homeostasis or physical and cognitive balance.