HOW TO CHOOSE THE STRENGTH OF YOUR CBD OIL
Choosing the right CBD strength for your CBD oil is difficult, but knowing the factors affecting CBD potency helps. Here is all you need to understand about choosing the right strength for your CBD oil.
CBD oils are the primary way to let CBD into your system, but it comes with many challenges, including how to dose it and choose the right CBD strength. The FDA does not look at CBD as a medication for any health challenge, so it does not recommend CBD strengths for the user. As a rule of thumb, a person should stick to low-potency and strength CBD oils while joining the CBD regime, but he can always work his way up the ladder as he ventures more into the cannabinoid. Still, many factors like CBD metabolism and body factors determine how strong your CBD oil needs to be, and after a series of trial and error, you may be able to figure out which CBD strengths would be your best fit. What is CBD, and how about CBD oil? Pros and cons of CBD oil as a CBD delivery method? This article answers these questions, helping you know the basics of CBD before venturing into it.
The Basics of CBD
First thing, you must know what CBD is before seeing how strong your CBD oil needs to be. CBD has become part of the mainstream, and many people are after the product. What, though, is CBD, and why do many find it relatable? According to Mascal et al. (2019) , CBD is a non-intoxicating chemical compound in cannabis plants. Such compounds are called cannabinoids, and CBD is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids in the hemp space. Still, CBD is among the most bought cannabinoids, the other being THC. Schlienz et al. (2018) noted that THC is intoxicating in its action while CBD does not have such high effects, hence why many relate to it. Besides, Watt & Karl (2017) reported that CBD is therapeutic, and most CBD users are after such therapy, although other CBD fans take it for general well-being. As the demand and hype for CBD increase, you can easily find CBD in different forms and products, whether you like shopping online or in-store.
What Is CBD Oil?
Early studies believe in therapy in CBD, and many users opt for the cannabinoid for this very reason. Sadly, CBD is not directly absorbed into the body as it must come in the forms the body can absorb for you to benefit from it. There are many ways to take CBD, CBD oil being one. It is an oil-based dilute form of CBD, featuring the cannabinoid in an oil base. Most CBD brands use hempseed or MCT coconut oils as the base carrier for CBD oil, but other oils also suit the function. CBD oils come in flavored and non-flavored options, providing the cannabinoid in the forms people enjoy the most. Besides, some CBD fans want CBD oil in kosher-certified grades, and you can also find such.
How Strong Should Your CBD Oil Be?
CBD oil may sound like a good idea until when you have to choose the right CBD strength to go for. How strong does your CBD oil need to be? The FDA and other regulatory bodies do not look at CBD as a medicine for any health challenge, so they do not recommend how to administer CBD oil or how strong your choice must be. One should visit a doctor before taking CBD oils to know what strengths are best for him. Some doctors have reservations about CBD oil and will not speak about it, but others will say something about it. As a rule of thumb, you must keep your CBD strengths and dosages low when starting a CBD regime, but you can always work your way up as need be and as you get used to the cannabinoid. Nonetheless, many factors come into play regarding the CBD strength, and you must know them to determine the right CBD strength for you.
Factors Affecting CBD Oil Strength
Are you set to enjoy CBD oil? You must know the right strength for you. CBD strength is how much CBD is in a unit volume of the CBD oil. It also refers to the CBD potency, denting the total amount of CBD in an ml of the oil. Your CBD metabolism and body factors are key in how strong the oil needs. The faster the CBD metabolism and the more your body factors affect CBD metabolism, the higher the chances that you might be able to take strong CBD oils and bear with them. Meanwhile, low CBD metabolism means you can only sustain a little less potent CBD oil. The CBD oil quality is also key on how strong the oil needs to be. The better the quality of the CBD oil, the less potent it needs to be to realize the same CBD effects. Why you are taking CBD and the severity of a condition also affect how much CBD you can take. For instance, low-potency CBD oils might be ok for general well-being, but a medical condition might only improve with stronger CBD oils. Besides, the more serious the medical condition, the stronger the CBD oil you may need.
Types of CBD Oil
CBD strengths are just but one of the things you must know as you venture into the CBD world and choose CBD oil to be your key delivery method. You must also choose the right CBD type before trying any CBD oils. There are three types of CBD oil, and none is better than the other. You can enjoy CBD oil in one of the following three formulations;
i. Full-spectrum CBD; features the cannabinoid with THC, terpenes, flavonoids, and additional hemp compounds. For this reason, Russo et al. (2011) and VanDolah et al. (2019) refer to full-spectrum CBD as having a full entourage effect, which is why many CBD fans are after this type of CBD.
ii. Isolate CBD oil; is the other CBD extreme, featuring the cannabinoid in its purest form. Unlike full-spectrum CBD, having THC, terpenes, and flavonoids, isolate CBD oil does not have additional cannabis compounds.
iii. Broad-spectrum CBD; is more like full-spectrum CBD in composition but no THC. It is the best option to go for if all you need is to enjoy a THC-free full entourage effect.
None of the three types of CBD oil is better than the other, and your special needs and preferences should influence your choice. For instance, many CBD fans who want to enjoy a full entourage effect of CBD with and without THC go for full- or broad-spectrum CBD. Meanwhile, you may choose CBD isolate oil as your key CBD delivery method if you take drug tests occasionally and want no THC in your system.
Pros of CBD Oil
CBD oil is the primary method to deliver CBD into your system, and like many others, you likely wonder why this is the case. Of course, CBD oils and tinctures have flaws like other CBD products, but they are great. They have high bioavailability and potency, allowing you to feel CBD effects fast. Taking CBD oils and tinctures sublingually allows CBD to join the bloodstream fast, and you can count the effects of the cannabinoid in no time. This method also does not involve digestion; hence CBD only takes a short time before joining the bloodstream. The shorter it takes CBD to be in the body, the faster you can feel the effects. Do you suffer from gag reflex and find it challenging to swallow things? CBD oil is one of the few products that will not trouble your swallowing since they are really easy to take. Moreover, CBD oils are readily available like any other CBD product, and you can find them online and in-store.
Cons of CBD Oil
Despite the many pros, it is worth noting that CBD oils have cons. Taking CBD oils means dealing with many challenges which you must be ready to handle. Mostly, people complain about CBD oils and tinctures being bitter and earthy, but there are ways to mask this taste and enjoy CBD without feeling it. As much as CBD oils and tinctures are the most bioavailable methods to deliver CBD, they do not benefit the body from 100% CBD in CBD oils. Thus, they also compromise CBD bioavailability. Dosing CBD is a challenge every CBD user must deal with, regardless of the product he chooses to use in delivering CBD to the body, and CBD oils are no exception. If you choose them as your key delivery methods, you must determine how much CBD oil you need and in whatever potencies would be good for you. Moreover, the lack of sufficient scientific studies means we cannot gauge how well CBD oil can measure up to the health benefits linked to it. The CBD industry is largely regulated, and as the AP News (2019) and CDC (2020) reports note, you can easily allow contaminants and allergens into your body through CBD products. CBD oil has not been linked to toxicity cases, but it is better to err on the side of caution.
How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work?
Many people would like to know how long CBD oil takes to kick in the body once you take it directly or incorporate it into your meals. Like CBD strengths, no one figure represents the time it takes CBD oil to produce the needed effects for all CBD users. On the contrary, it ranges, and while one person might feel the effects fast, another might have to wait a long time for the effects to manifest. Generally, you could expect CBD oil to work after 15- 45 minutes, depending on the user’s inherent body factors and the oil. Long CBD history and fast CBD metabolism mean you can enjoy the effects of CBD fast, while slow CBD metabolic rates may mean waiting longer for the effects to surface. The quality and the potency of the CBD oil are key, and the better the CBD product, the faster you can expect CBD results to show up. Body factors also affect how long you will wait for the CBD effects since they can slow or fasten CBD metabolism. Ultimately, you must try CBD products to tell how fast CBD takes to work in your body.
How Much CBD Oil Do You Need/ CBD Oil Dosage
Besides CBD strength, you must know how much CBD oil you need to feel CBD effects. As with CBD potency, no one dosage fits all CBD users, and you must determine how much of the oil you need. What one CBD user finds overwhelming might not be enough for other CBD users, clearly showing that people have varying CBD needs. As a rule of thumb, your CBD dosage and strength must be low as you start the CBD regime, but you can always work your way up. CBD metabolism also affects how much CBD you can take since faster CBD metabolism allows you to sustain more CBD than you would if you had slow CBD metabolism. The potency of the CBD oil is also key; you will need more CBD oil to feel CBD effects if all you focus on are low-potency CBD options. Meanwhile, working with high-potency CBD products means you only need a little CBD oil to feel the effects of the cannabinoid. Moreover, inherent body factors like weight and genes are key in determining your CBD dosages since they can affect CBD metabolism negatively or positively.
How to Take CBD Oil
Do you have your CBD oil ready? You need to know how to take it. CBD products are easy to use, and CBD oils are not exceptional. They are easy to use, besides being the most effective way to take the cannabinoid. The primary way to take CBD oil is the sublingual administration of the cannabinoid where you out CBD oil drops below the tongue, allow 30- 60 seconds to pass, and swallow the drops. Putting the oil drops below the tongue and allowing time to pass before swallowing them allows the blood vessels below the tongue to pass the oil to the bloodstream fast, ensuring faster CBD delivery and effects. The other way to take CBD oil is to put oil drops on the tongue and swallow them, which is ideal but not as effective as sublingual CBD intake. Oral intake of CBD oil involves the digestive system, and the longer the oil takes in the digestive tract, the more it loses potency and bioavailability.
CBD Oil in Meals
Oral or sublingual administration of CBD oils and tinctures allows you to feel CBD effects fast, but is this enough? While they are effective, some CBD users shy away from them since they let the tongue feel the bitterness and earthiness of the oil. Do you share the same sentiments about CBD oil? You could put the oil into your meals and drinks, allowing you to feel CBD effects without the bitter taste. You can add CBD oil drops to your tea or coffee or whisk CBD oil into smoothies and sauces. How about adding CBD oil drops to cooked foods? This is a good idea, allowing you to take CBD oil through the foods you love the most. Others add CBD oil to butter and cooking oils, ensuring that baked products and foods they prepare have CBD in them.
Finding the Best CBD Oil
The availability of CBD products is something to marvel at since you can easily find them. Still, how do you spot the best CBD products in the masses? The best products may appeal in theory but be impractical when you have to shop for CBD. There are many CBD brands, and when each claims to offer the best item, it becomes challenging to separate rumors from the truth. That said, we recommend the following as the key factors to focus on while choosing your CBD oil;
i. Environmental factors; ensure you buy organic CBD products which do not feature inorganic items and contaminants.
ii. Source of CBD; the 2018 Farm Bill regards hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3% THC as legal and not otherwise.
iii. Source of hemp: while hemp can do well in any part of the world, focus on brands that ensure environmental stewardship and safe farming practices while farming hemp.
iv. Extraction method; safe extraction processes are key in producing quality CBD oils and products.
v. Contaminant purity; ensure the CBD oil you are buying does not have toxins, heavy metals, and other standard contaminants.
vi. Reputation; reputable CBD brands offer 3rd party tests as proof of upholding safe production standards.
Shopping CBD Oil
Are you set to shop for CBD oil for general well-being or some health conditions? Choosing CBD strength, potency, and concentration is key. You must prepare to dose the CBD oil the right way to get the most out of it. When choosing CBD oil to walk home, you must also consider the above factors. CBD formulation is key, and you must determine the type of CBD that features in CBD oil. Cost is a factor many consider in buying CBD products, but it should not be the reason you compromise on the quality of CBD oil. Where can you shop for CBD oil? You can look up your ideal CBD oils and products online and in-store and you must choose the brand to go for.
Conclusion
One challenge every CBD user faces with CBD oils and other products is how to dose CBD oil. The FDA does not state how much CBD you can take and the ideal strength for the CBD products. As a rule of thumb, you must keep your CBD potency, strengths, and concentrations low when joining the CBD regime but you can work your way up as you get used to a CBD routine. Many other factors come to play in determining the right CBD strength for you, including inherent body factors, CBD history, and CBD metabolism. Talking to your doctor helps you know how to start off the CBD regime, but if you have to determine your CBD oil’s strength, this article guides you through it.
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