If you’ve paid attention to the fads lately, you’ve definitely noticed this new product called CBD; its sales have skyrocketed in the last 5 years.
From all the buzz around it, you’ve probably inferred it’s something similar to marijuana, but it’s not quite the same. And it might be some hippy alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs.
But that’s pretty much all you know about this magical CBD.
If you’re wondering: how do you take CBD oil? Then keep reading. We’ll tell you all about the ways to take it, as well as the dosages.
What Is CBD?
“CBD” stands for “cannabidiol,” which is cannabinoid found in marijuana and hemp plants. Another cannabinoid you may be familiar with is THC, which can be found in recreational and medical weed.
While both CBD and THC have similar effects on your endocannabinoid system (which is responsible for things like your mood, appetite, and pain), there’s one major difference.
While THC has psychoactive effects (which is the “high” you feel when you use weed products), CBD doesn’t. This means you can reap all the same benefits you’d get from THC, but without impairment of judgment.
Based on this fact alone, you can probably see why CBD is so popular with people of all ages and demographics.
How Do You Take CBD Oil?
As with marijuana, there are several ways to take CBD oil. The method will depend on your personal preference and what you’re using it for. Take a look below for the common ways for taking CBD oil.
Smoking or Vaping
If you want to feel the effects of CBD oil quickly, you’ll want to consider vaping or smoking it. This is because it goes into your lungs and capillaries, where the CBD is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream.
To smoke it, you have two choices: you can either use an “oil rig” (which is like a weed bong) or you can roll a joint as you would with marijuana using a CBD flower from somewhere like Organic CBD Nugs. The only downside to rolling a CBD joint is it’ll have some THC in it, which means you may experience a mild “high”.
If you want to vape CBD instead, you can purchase a vape pen to do so. This can be a better choice if you don’t want to smoke THC and/or you don’t like the harsh feeling that comes with smoking.
Of course, with smoking and vaping, these are the two most conspicuous ways of taking CBD oil, so you should probably only do this at home or somewhere private.
Edibles
Edibles are the most discreet way to take CBD oil. Like with marijuana, you can use the oil in cooking or baking, so you can infuse it with anything you eat. This means you can put it in anything from pasta to chocolate and cookies.
If you don’t want to do all the hard work, then you can also buy premade edibles from CBD companies. One of the most common edibles is gummies, which you can slip out and eat whenever you need CBD to work its magic.
The only downside to edibles is they can take a few hours to work, since the food needs to make its way down into your stomach and digest. However, out of all the methods on this list, it’s the one where its effects last the longest.
Sublingual Drops
Sublingual drops are ones you put under your tongue so they can be absorbed into your bloodstream. They come in tinctures with eyedroppers, so if you need some CBD oil at a moment’s notice, all you have to do is unscrew the bottle and put a few drops under your tongue.
Sublingual drops take a little bit of time to work, but they’re one of the methods that have longer-lasting effects. If you have any ailments that need long-term relief, sublingual drops may be ideal for you.
Drops are somewhat discreet, but you’ll have to be good at placing the drops into your mouth swiftly. You’ll also need to keep them under your tongue for at least 30 seconds, so if you need to speak to someone right after using the drops, you may sound funny to them.
Capsules
CBD capsules are very similar to those supplements you take each morning with your breakfast. Like flaxseed oil capsules, CBD ones contain a daily dosage you can easily take with some water.
Capsules aren’t as discreet as edibles since you need to unscrew the lid to the bottle, then take a capsule with some water. But if you incorporate this pill into your morning routine, then it’s not hard to add to your daily regimen. All it’ll be is one extra capsule to take with all the rest.
Topicals
Topicals are great for things like sore muscles, headaches, and migraines. You can also use CBD topicals to treat skin conditions, such as acne.
All you have to do is purchase the ointment or balm, then apply it whenever you need to.
While topicals are the least mild of all the methods, they work quickly to soothe your aches and pains. They’ll also wear off quickly, so you may need to reapply them often if the pain comes back.
Also, topicals aren’t as discreet, so you may be restricted to where you can use them.
CBD Oil Dosages
Now that you know the different methods for taking CBD oil, the next thing you should learn about is the dosages. While every person is unique and will require different dosages, you should still follow a general guideline.
Smoking or Vaping
The effects of CBD can quickly overwhelm you, especially if you’re smoking THC as well. The key is to start small. Whether your smoking or vaping, start off with a small amount of CBD oil.
If you don’t really feel any beneficial effects, feel free to up your dosage a little. Just remember to do it in small increments, or else you might suffer from side effects.
Edibles
If you have experience with marijuana edibles, you’ll know you have to tread carefully. Many novices ingest one, claim they don’t feel anything, then ingest more straight away…only to feel extremely sick in a few hours.
Again, start small. Reassess after a few hours, then eat a little more. Reassess in a few hours again if necessary.
Sublingual Drops
Sublingual drops come in different concentrations, so you’ll want to start with the smallest possible first. Then, you might only want to do a few drops per day.
If there are no effects after a few days, then you’ll want to up the number of drops you’re using. No effects after a few days still? Then maybe you’ll want to take drops multiple times a day.
Sublingual drops are tricky to get down, but highly customizable to the person taking them. Once you figure out what’s right for you, it’ll feel perfect.
Capsules
Capsules usually come with a “daily” dosage inside one pill. Start off with this and see if it helps with your aches and pains. If it doesn’t, you can maybe try taking a second capsule later on in the day.
Capsules are handy because you get your daily dosage in one convenient pill. However, this means the dosage is preset and adjusting in increments is harder; taking just one more capsule in the day means you’ll have doubled your dosage already.
Topicals
You can’t really go wrong with any dosage for topicals since they’re so mild. But to make sure you’re not wasting any product, start small first. If the little bit of ointment you’ve rubbed on isn’t really helping, try a little more.
Since the effects are mild and wear off quickly, you can do trial and error in rapid succession to find out what amount is right for you.
Possible Side Effects
As with everything you put in your body, there’s the potential for side effects. But with CBD oil, you’ll be pleased to know that not only does it have very mild side effects, but it’s also impossible to overdose on.
This means if you experimenting with dosage amounts, you won’t risk fatal consequences. If you take too much CBD for your body to handle, the most you’ll feel is sick.
With that said, some people do experience side effects from CBD, even at smaller doses. Some of the more common ones are:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
If you experience any of these side effects while taking CBD, consider either lowering your dosage or fully discontinuing use.
Try CBD Oil for Your Ailments
Now you know the extensive answers to the question: how do you take CBD oil? As it has little to no side effects, nor can you overdose on it, CBD can be a viable alternative to medications that may harm your liver in the long-run.
But before you embark on your CBD journey, make sure you tell your doctor first. Even though it’s a “natural” substance, CBD may interfere with some of your current medications and/or conditions. A consultation with your doctor can give you peace of mind and get you the green light for going ahead with CBD oil.
For more interesting lifestyle and health articles, please check out our other blogs.
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