If you’re like most people who try CBD for the first time, you may feel nothing. What?! But you are not alone in why this happens – there is so much confusing information out there on how much CBD to take, at what strength, and how often. Stay with us to learn why and how you may not feel the full effects of the CBD you just took.
How to tell if CBD is working
Some background on CBD: Cannabidiol is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant — specifically hemp.
It’s part of the phytocannabinoid family, which means it comes from nature and can be consumed safely without worrying about psychoactive effects. Research studies show significant potential for phytocannabinoids to support health & wellness.* There are over 85 different phytocannabinoids (some say up to 200!) including the commonly known Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). Many Warfighter Hemp customers use CBD to manage their anxiety, but we also have customers who use it to help with pain, nausea, and inflammation.
Here are other conditions that CBD has been studied extensively to potentially assist. (Warfighter Hemp recommends communicating with your doctor before using CBD for any treatments of ailments.)
- Alleviating skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis
- Assists with sleep disorders. (Read our blog on “Tips for Better Sleep and Healthy Sleeping Habits”)
- Inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Reducing seizure frequencies in some forms of epilepsy
- Slowing tumor growth and calming side effects of cancer therapies
CBD can be used by itself — that’s what we’re focusing on here — or as a part of a holistic approach to address the underlying causes of those issues simultaneously.
CBD oil isn’t an either-or thing. In other words, one serving might not work for you (this is completely fine), but more than one serving may actually be what you need. Additionally, then there’s a timing element to consider.
While you may feel acute effects from an oral CBD supplement (especially when taken on an empty stomach), it doesn’t mean that a CBD topical (such as Warfighter Hemp’s 1500mg CBD lotion) won’t address something else entirely. It might take trial and error to find what works for you. And it’s worth noting that there are other forms of CBD — such as capsules or gummies — and other options beyond oil, so don’t write CBD completely off when you try a single form and it doesn’t feel quite right.
How long do you have to wait to see the effects?
It depends on your goals. Some Warfighter Hemp customers tell us that when they are looking to reduce pain from arthritis, for example, the effects can be felt within minutes.
But if you’re looking to manage your anxiety or help with insomnia, it may take a little bit longer. Some Warfighter Hemp customers say they feel the effect of CBD immediately, but others say they see an effect after ingesting multiple times over the course of a week or more.
The important thing is that you recognize the difference between being “high” and actually experiencing relief from chronic pain, anxiety, or another symptom. These guidelines can help you figure out if CBD has helped you in a way that’s significant for your health needs (we’ll talk about dosage next).
How to know how much CBD oil to take
Since CBD is non-intoxicating, you can take as much or as little as you want. If taking a high dose doesn’t seem to be the right thing for your body, start with lower doses and work up. Just remember: everyone responds differently!
We recommend reading our blog “CBD Dosage: How Much CBD Should I Take?”
Published reports show that some dosages that have been used in research studies for different conditions include:
- Anxiety: 300 to 600 mg
- Bowel disease: 10 mg per day
- Cancer-related pain: 50 to 600 mg per day
- Parkinson’s disease: 75 to 300 mg per day
- Poor sleep: 25 mg per day
- Psychosis: 600 mg per day
One 2020 review of studies found that participants showed improvements in anxiety levels after single doses of CBD ranging from 300 to 600 mg.
Keep in mind that these are guidelines. Everyone is different: if you’re not getting results at 15 mg, don’t double the dose to 30! Instead, work up slowly and use a little common sense.
Now, if CBD isn’t working for you, before you give it up entirely, try a different brand. Some brands are more potent than others, which may be precisely what you need. At Warfighter Hemp, we’ve heard several stories of customers using another brand and it not working, and they try again with our CBD tinctures, and not only does it work, but they can also use fewer milligrams per serving. This is a win-win all around.
Can you build up a tolerance to CBD?
It’s possible to develop some tolerance with any substance — including CBD. When you ingest this supplement over and over again, your body starts to adapt.
Levels of anandamide (a chemical produced naturally by your body that’s part of the endocannabinoid system) might actually decrease, which means you need to consume more CBD.
To help with this, use intermittent dosing: take a few days off after every week or two (or three) of consistent use.
That will give your body some time to return to normal and give your endocannabinoid system a break. Some Warfighter Hemp customers report they need to do this to get the same benefit from CBD, and it’s true for both oral and topical consumption.
This can be good news if you find that CBD helps with some symptoms, but not others or doesn’t help as much as you want. Returning to intermittent dosing gives your endocannabinoid system some time to reset itself, meaning you should feel the same kind of relief from symptoms as before.
If the CBD stops working for you entirely or isn’t strong enough anymore, it might be time to try an edible or a topical. It’s worth a shot!
CBD not working?
If you’ve been using CBD for a while without many benefits, there are two main things this could mean: something is going wrong with your endocannabinoid system, or you’re not taking enough CBD. Here are the five main reasons why these scenarios could be happening.
1. Your Endocannabinoid System Might Be Unbalanced.
If you’ve been using CBD for a while and it suddenly stops working, you could have an issue with your endocannabinoid system.
This happens when receptors become desensitized or work incorrectly, which can occur if the body is stressed out from poor lifestyle habits (excess sugar or alcohol) or specific diseases (like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia).
Learn more about the endocannabinoid system here.
2. You Aren’t Taking Enough CBD.
When you think of “not taking enough” CBD, you probably don’t think about overdoing it! But a person with an endocannabinoid deficiency may need more than the average person to get any effects at all.
This is because our bodies produce fewer endocannabinoids than average when we’re tired, stressed out, or sick. That makes it even more important to use the smallest effective dose possible (especially with CBD). This applies to topical and edible forms as well.
3. Your Body Might Not Absorb CBD Well
If you’ve been using a form of CBD that doesn’t get absorbed well by the body, it may not be working. The CBD molecule is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier in oral tinctures and capsules, while oils and topicals can better affect this part of your body.
You can also break down some forms of CBD more effectively than others, depending on whether they’re absorbed through the digestive system or skin. Some Warfighter Hemp customers even report they absorb larger doses of CBD better than smaller ones, so it’s important to know your own body and adjust your use accordingly.
4. You’re Using a Low-Quality Form.
If you’ve been struggling with finding effective relief from symptoms using CBD, it might not be the CBD’s fault. Some companies pay more attention to marketing than quality control, so you may not be using a form of pure CBD or one with optimal concentrations.
This could lead to low-quality products with little cannabinoid content or are laden with other foreign substances such as extraction solvents that take a toll on the cannabinoid’s efficiency.
Any reputable CBD brand will offer third-party testing, called Certificate of Analysis (also just referred to as “lab results”) and made available easily on their website. Some companies ask you to email them for the results. At Warfighter Hemp, we feel that is a roadblock for the consumer, so we post our third-party testing results on our website here. We believe that the best way is to be transparent.
5. You’re Taking CBD for a Condition It Doesn’t Solve.
CBD is not approved by the FDA and may not be effective for all conditions. A good example is taking CBD for cancer. The cannabinoid may help with slowing down tumor growth, but not with dealing with the effects of the malignancy. We highly encourage you to read more on this issue before buying CBD, or assuming that CBD will help you in this instance.
If you’ve been using CBD for a condition it doesn’t treat; then it’s possible that you won’t get much relief from your symptoms. If you’re taking it for a different condition, talk to your doctor before continuing treatment.
One more reason why CBD doesn’t work for you
· You’re Taking Too Much
How much CBD are you taking every day? If there’s too much CBD in your system at once, it may, in fact, cause you to feel anxious or paranoid.
Too many cannabinoids overwhelm the system and magnify their side effects. Also, if you are taking cannabidiol alongside conventional treatments, beware of the grapefruit effects.
This is when the CBD and drugs fight for liver sites where they are broken down. This leads to having higher than normal concentrations of either the drugs or CBD indirect circulation.
If this is the case, consult with your doctor before mixing CBD and any other drugs. Also, start by taking less CBD at a time (such as half of what you normally take) and see how it affects you.
Wrapping it Up
CBD oil, or Cannabidiol oil, is a popular supplement for taking care of chronic pain and anxiety. It’s also used to manage other conditions like nausea and vomiting on occasion.
However, it doesn’t work the same for everyone, so you may need to experiment with different dosages as your body transitions into new lifestyles or stages in life.
You can try out CBD topicals (salves, lotions) if topical relief does not help the discomfort from an injury or sore spot.
With oral supplements (capsules), start by trying half what you’re currently taking before increasing dosage because too much at once could cause paranoia instead of relaxation!
If all else fails and nothing has been working up until this point, then speak with a doctor about whether or not CBD is suitable for you.
All in all, the secret to CBD that actually works is buying pure and potent CBD. And that is what Warfighter Hemp is all about.
