There’s no shortage of CBD products on the market these days. With oils, topicals, soft gels, gummies, and more in the market, it can be difficult even for savvy consumers to understand which CBD product they need and, once they have it, how to take it.
Before we talk about how to take CBD oil, it’s important to evaluate a few things.
WHY ARE YOU TAKING CBD?
Research suggests that CBD may have an array of health benefits, including:
- Improving sleep and reducing insomnia
- Reducing anxiety and depression
- Soothing pain and inflammation in muscles and joints
- Promoting heart health
- Improving symptoms of IBD
- Reducing seizures in individuals with epilepsy
- Moisturizing skin
- And more!
Is your need localized and near the skin (such as joint pain)? Or is it a more internal and non-localized need (such as anxiety)? Knowing why you are taking CBD is important because there are multiple methods of taking CBD, some of which may be more ideal depending on the benefit you are seeking.
CHOOSE THE BEST CBD PRODUCT FOR YOUR NEEDS
If your area of need is very localized and close to the skin’s surface, you may wish to use CBD topically. Both our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Oil and our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Cream can be rubbed over the surface of your skin to help with joint pain, sore muscles, or even to just moisturize and refresh your complexion.
Sublingual or oral ingestion of CBD oil is the most effective and efficient method of getting CBD into your bloodstream to work with your body’s own system. Ingested CBD oil can also target joint pain (just like the cream), so it really works inside and out.
One other thing… remember that you don’t need to have an “issue” for CBD to improve your overall wellness. Many of our customers report that even though they did not have any specific complaints before taking CBD, once it became a part of their daily routine they felt generally better, more balanced, refreshed, and even younger.
WATCH HERE: WHAT IS CBD?
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR CBD DOSAGE
Research has indicated that different people respond to different doses of CBD, and at this time there is no federally regulated dosage recommended. Pure CBD has been found to be low toxicity, and doses of up to 1,500mg per day have been shown to be well tolerated by humans.
Many variables can affect your dosage needs, including your weight, unique body chemistry, and the reason you’re taking CBD. We recommend starting low and working your way up. Our suggested serving size of our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is one-quarter to one-half of a dropper, which would contain between 20-40mg of CBD. If you want to ease yourself in even more, you can even start with an eighth of a dropper and work your way up from there, if needed.
One other thing—we do recommend talking to your doctor before using CBD if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any prescription medicines.
HOW TO TAKE CBD OIL
So, you’ve considered your goals, figured out what kind of product you need, and thought about dosages. Now, how do you actually take CBD? Here are the methods we recommend for our products.
Sublingual
Sublingual ingestion of CBD oil is the most efficient and effective method for taking CBD oil, and it is what we recommend. Sublingual simply means that you hold the oil beneath your tongue for 1 to 1.5 minutes to allow it to absorb into the oral mucosa. This area of your mouth is capillary-rich and allows for the CBD to arrive in the bloodstream much more quickly than other methods.
After holding the oil beneath your tongue for 1 to 1.5 minutes, simply swish it around your mouth and then swallow. The oil that you swallow will be ingested orally, so you’ll get combined effects of the sublingual and oral methods.
Oral
Oral ingestion of CBD oil is also a popular method. The oil is swallowed and travels through the digestive tract and liver (some of it breaking down along the way) before entering the bloodstream. Because the oil must travel through more systems, it takes longer to reach your bloodstream than with the sublingual method.
So why use this method? The taste of our oil is strong and all natural. While we take pride in the fact that it contains all the benefits of hemp, including chlorophyll (which many other companies remove), the natural taste is not one that everyone likes.
If you enjoy the benefits of CBD oil but do not like the flavor, you can mix it into other substances to reduce the strength of its taste. Tea, smoothies, coffee, and juice are all easy options—just remember that it will take longer for the CBD to take effect if ingested this way.
Topical
If you are looking for relief from sore muscles, joints, or other areas closer to the skin’s surface, you may wish to use a topical application of CBD instead, as this provides more targeted benefits. With this method, very little (if any) CBD enters the bloodstream. Both of our products—our oil and cream—can be used to this end.
Our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Cream is a 2oz container with 300mg of CBD. This product is moisturizing and comes with a hint of bergamot, and we recommend applying every 4 to 6 hours as needed. If you are struggling with severe joint or muscle pain, you can apply our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Oil directly to the area—and for extra umph, you can even layer some of the cream on top of that.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE CBD TO TAKE EFFECT?
In general, CBD’s effect in the body is cumulative. Unless you are taking CBD to help with joint/muscle pain or insomnia, you probably won’t notice an “effect” like you might if you took some aspirin for a headache. The most important thing is the consistency of use within your therapeutic routine.
We’ve provided some general guidelines for how efficient each application method is for getting CBD into your bloodstream—but remember that when it comes to better overall health and generalized conditions (like anxiety), CBD isn’t providing a “high” or an immediate solution, and you might not be able to “feel it” when it hits your system. CBD provides long-term therapeutic benefits when used as part of a consistent wellness routine.
Sublingual
This is the most efficient way to ingest CBD, and generally it takes between 15-45 minutes to get into the bloodstream. Some studies suggest that there may be a link between absorption rate and whether or not you have recently eaten (which can increase blood flow to the capillaries in your mouth), so consider having a snack beforehand.
If you are using CBD before bed to help with insomnia, you may feel more of an immediate effect than if you are using it to help with something more generalized (such as anxiety).
Oral
As we mentioned, oral ingestion is not quite as efficient as sublingual. It can take between 45 minutes and 2 hours for orally ingested CBD to make it into the bloodstream. Studies also suggest that absorption of CBD may be higher if taken on a full stomach, so consider ingesting it during or directly following a meal.
Topical
Topical applications of CBD are extremely variable, depending on the target area. However, most people report feeling the effects within an hour. We recommend reapplying our cream every 4-6 hours. Consistent use of topical CBD is necessary for the CBD to get absorbed below the skin and begin working with your body to make a difference.
Don’t forget that CBD needs to be a regular part of your daily routine for the positive benefits to compound over time. Instead of thinking of CBD like ibuprofen or Bengay—taken when needed for a one-time benefit—think of it like eating healthy or exercising. Having a salad or going for a run every once in a blue moon won’t make much of a difference to your overall health, but making those things part of your daily habits certainly will!
WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE CBD?
When to take CBD is another subjective area. Some people report that taking CBD helps them feel more alert and clear-headed—or even energized—and so taking it in the morning works best for them. Others say that CBD helps calm them down and reduces insomnia, so taking it at night is ideal. Try it for yourself and see how your body responds.
Rational Hemp is regulatory-compliant and contains trace levels of THC under 0.3%. While we know of no instance where a drug test came back positive after using our Hemp Extract, we cannot guarantee this result. Speak to a physician before using CBD if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medications.
