Learn how to find optimal doses and formats safely.
In recent years, the CBD oil industry has significantly risen, thanks to more people of all ages realizing that the compound has many beneficial therapeutic and health properties. The market is filled with new brands trying to make the mark, offering a wide variety of topical products with different strengths, flavours, scents, and sizes. Places like Blessed CBD sell a range of CBD products from oils to gummies and even creams.
If you have never taken CBD before, consuming CBD oil is a great place to start. It is easy to adjust your dose adding or subtracting a few drops, and it works faster than other delivery methods. It is the most recommended and reliable method of consumption, especially for people looking to help with their anxiety, sleep issues, arthritis, or whole-body issues.
Different Types of CBD Oil
You will notice that CBD products buy in a variety of types, the three main ones on the market are Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum and Isolate. Some brands (like cbdnol, Sarah´s Blessing, Holland and Barret), sell all of them, while others only offer CBD isolates products. None of these types of CBD oil is necessarily better than the other one, each form has its potential advantages, but you need to know the difference between them to choose the right one for your needs.
Therefore, Full-spectrum contains all cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis – including THC, but in a percentage less than 0.3%. Broad-spectrum is almost the same as Full-spectrum but does not contain THC. Finally, CBD Isolate only contains 99% CBD, as the name implies, and no other cannabinoids.
How Much CBD Should You Take?
If you are not sure how much CBD oil to take, there is no reason to worry about it. It is perfectly normal to be confused, you just have to keep in mind that you need to listen to your body and adjust the concentration accordingly.
That being said, the right dosage for you will depend on a variety of factors, such as your body weight and composition, the delivery method, and your desired effects from CBD.
Therefore, if you decide to start your CBD journey, be aware that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Once you have chosen a product containing CBD, start with a small amount and gradually increase your dose every week and continue observing the effects until you reach your desired level. If you do not like how you feel after sampling a certain product, do not try it again and move to another one.
Most adults report finding their perfect dose in the range of 25 to 75 mg, although many use dosages anywhere between 20 and 1,500 mg. A useful tip to track the dosage effectively is to record your experiences in a journal or online document and create your own CBD oil dosage chart of your favourite products.
How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of a network of specialized receptors (CB1 and CB2) located all over the human body, from head to toe, keeping internal functions running smoothly, known as homeostasis.
That being said, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system supplementing endocannabinoids and preventing them from being broken down. As a result, CBD plays a large role in allowing endocannabinoids to maintain balance, reducing stress levels, and easing pain.
That interaction, however, is quite complex. CBD has to travel around the body first, so it could take longer to be absorbed in heavier individuals versus lighter individuals.
There are a few delivery methods to choose from when it comes to taking CBD oil. The most popular are topical and drops under the tongue. The difference between them is basically how long the product takes to work, and how much time it remains in the body.
Topicals can take 45 minutes or longer to work themselves into your system because it takes the skin longer to absorb the compounds, but they last for several hours.
On the other hand, sublingual CBD is more CBD effective, as it absorbs quicker, although the effects remain for a shorter period of time.
How to Choose a CBD oil?
As mentioned before, the CBD market is filled with different companies and brands with various oil concentrations. While this may seem like great news, it can be confusing when deciding where to start, and there are also lots of shady companies seeking to scam buyers selling products with dangerous toxins, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals.
However, it is possible to find trustworthy CBD products, especially when precautions are taken.
So, when it comes to choosing CBD oil, the most important thing is to make sure to invest in a reputable, well-made, reliable product. Ask about the company’s hemp and method of extraction, as well as the list of ingredients. It will provide insight as to what health benefits it has but also let you know if it has unwanted additives or chemicals within its formulation.
CBD Legal Landscape in Europe
CBD oil has become increasingly popular over the last years in Europe, as more users enjoy its proven health benefits, which resulted in a wider movement to legalize all types of forms of recreational cannabis in the continent. In fact, Europe has the world’s second-largest CBD market.
In November 2020, the EU Court of Justice – Europe’s highest court – ruled that CBD extracted from cannabis plant should not be considered a “narcotic drug” under European laws, claiming that the compound has “no potential for abuse and no potential to produce dependence”. The decision was great news for the CBD industry and for CBD consumers.
However, it should be noted that each country has its own interpretations of regulations, resulting in some being more liberal than others. For instance, Germany is one of the most progressive nations on the topic, with CBD oil being considered to be a medicine, as long as the concentration of THC does not exceed 0.2% at any point during production.
