Your Checklist: Best Ways to Make CBD Work for You

You’ve heard about CBD products on the news, people talking about the effects, and it seems like everywhere you go there’s a CBD flag flying in the wind telling you that your local store now carries a line of CBD products.

With so many different variables, you need a CBD checklist just to know how to find the right dose and product for you. It can be downright overwhelming. Thankfully, we’re going to help you break down both the basics and important factors to consider, so you can find the best ways to make CBD work for you.

Important Considerations:

• What concern are you trying to address? Does it need immediate attention and a quick-acting product, or something more long-lasting that eases and soothes your circumstance?
• How strong of a product are you seeking out? Have you thought of dosing, and the amount needed to get the effect you’re hoping for?
• Have you talked to your doctor? If you’re taking medication daily, check with your doctor to make sure CBD products will not negatively interact with your medication.

Make CBD Work For You: The Right Type of CBD Product

With multiple products on the market, you’ll want to decide which type of CBD you’re looking for. Recognizing the many choices can help you narrow down your options.

Is it hemp extract? First, CBD from hemp doesn’t cause the “high” that CBD from marijuana does. This is due to a lower THC factor. If a clear head is important to you, you’ll want to opt for the hemp extract version of the CBD product.

How often will you need to repeat the dose? If you need something that’s slow and steady, and delivers soothing relief for a couple of hours, you may opt for a topical CBD patch, a product that time-releases the CBD oil so you get continual relief. By sidestepping the digestion process that oral CBD components have, patches are absorbed into the bloodstream easier. These are a great choice for localized pain, and can last for hours or days, based on the patch you purchase.

Need something quick acting? A CBD tincture–sometimes called CBD drops, might be a better choice for you. Use them by placing them under your tongue, which helps for quick absorption. One benefit of this type of CBD is that it can also be added to your food or drink, to slow the absorption rate, which means you determine how quickly you want the product to offer you relief.

If the idea of drops doesn’t appeal to you, there are also CBD pills or capsules you can take. Just so you’re aware there’s another oral option, along with edibles which come in multiple forms, such as gummies, taffy, or chocolates.

Inhalation is another method of ingesting CBD. The effect is the same whether via vaping, inhalers, or smoking. You’re inhaling the product into your lungs, and you control the amount of product you consume.

Choosing and Consuming Quality CBD Products

When choosing the best CBD product, quality matters. Buy from a reputable source who offers third-party lab test results, and are transparent about their practices such as growing and processing.

Start with a small dose and build up to find the right amount for you. Everybody is different, and the way our bodies react to products and chemicals is unique. It’s recommended to start with a low dose until you know how it affects you. Once you’re taking the product, increase the amount you take slowly until you find the desired effect.

If you feel like the product isn’t doing its job, you may want to try a different delivery method. So, if for instance you started with a patch, you may find that drops will work better for you, or maybe a CBD softgel. You may need to experiment to find the right dosage and product that addresses your problem.

Another thing to consider is that many drops are mixed in with a carrier oil. When learning how to take the product, look not at the amount of product in the bottle, but rather how much CBD you will get per dose. This will help you understand what is effective, because two companies may offer something very similar, but the actual dose of CBD in the product may make all the difference in your results.

Understand how long it will take something to work. For example, vaping and drops may start working in 15-30 minutes, while edibles can take 1-2 hours. Topicals can take up to an hour to start fully working as well. This can help you prepare for your day ahead to decide when to take your CBD.

Be aware that CBD may cause side effects. If one product bothers you with something such as dry mouth, intestine trouble, or fatigue, it can be helpful to stop that CBD choice and try another. Alternatively, you can speak with your doctor to see if it could be reacting to one of your prescription medications, such as blood thinners.

As with anything, it may take a couple of weeks to find the right dose to help you. With different types of CBD products, different qualities and delivery systems, it may be a matter of trialing a couple of products to find what works best. Unfortunately, while there are lab-tested results for some companies, with the absence of FDA approval for CBD as a treatment and cure (other than one specific product used for seizures, Epidiolex), there is no one “right” dose.