CBD Oil – how long does it take to work?
There’s no denying it, Hemp CBD oil (cannabidiol) is one of nature’s most powerful compounds. At this time there is an impressive body of evidence showing that CBD can calm inflammation, ease joint discomfort, melt stress away, improve deep sleep, and even defy aging by fighting free radicals.
Many first-time users of CBD wonder how long it will take to experience these benefits. To this question, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. High quality CBD oil may take between 15-30 minutes to have an effect. But this number can vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors.
For example, if you take a cheap CBD oil that’s not designed for maximum absorption, it could take longer to feel an effect, if any at all. High-quality CBD oil supplements that are nano-emulsified are actually designed to quickly and efficiently absorb into your body. This results in a faster-acting CBD oil with effects that you can feel easily.
The time that CBD oil takes to work also depends on other factors as well, such as the method in which CBD is taken, how it was processed, the strength of your oil, whether or not you have an empty stomach etc.
It can get confusing, so this short guide will explain the different factors that affect how long it takes for CBD to take effect, so that you can achieve the results you want.
Different Methods of Taking CBD Oil
The time it takes for CBD to have an effect greatly depends on how you take the supplement. While there are a wide variety of ways to reap the benefits of CBD oil, the most popular include:
Sublingual Oil (Tincture):
This is by far the most popular and effective method to supplement CBD. It involves placing several drops of a CBD oil or tincture under the tongue, where it is held for 30 seconds before swallowing. From here, the tiny blood vessels found under the tongue rapidly absorb the CBD and allow it into your bloodstream without having to pass through your liver or digestive system. This method can take15-25 minutes to feel the full effects.
Topical Balms:
Another common method is to rub CBD oil directly onto areas that are giving you concern (such as sore muscles or stiff joints). When applied to the skin, CBD diffuses through lipids and your hair follicles and has direct access to the cells in the area. This method can take a bit longer to take effect (around 20-45 minutes), however it’s beneficial for targeted relief to specific areas that are bothering you. Topical balms are also really good for skin conditions/burns/bites.
Edibles & Capsules:
With the CBD market boom, there are now a variety of ways to consume CBD. This includes CBD Sublingual strips, CBD gummies, drinks, capsules, and even CBD chocolates. Usually the CBD in these products is an isolate, not full spectrum (which has the most health benefits). While these methods may be the most convenient, they are far from the best options when looking for fast relief. It can take well over 30 minutes to feel any effect because the CBD has to pass the digestive system and get processed in the liver. This lengthier process can lessen the effects of the CBD because of the time it takes to reach your bloodstream.
The Quality of CBD Oil Affects Your Results
The quality of your CBD supplement can also affect how long it takes to experience results. Not all CBD is created equal. Low-quality CBD supplements are poorly processed and weak. This can impede how well your body absorbs the CBD, resulting in a delayed effect— and sometimes there’s no effect at all which is a waste of your hard-earned money.
What makes a high-quality CBD supplement?
Without going into too much detail, a high-quality CBD supplement that is nano-infused (for improved absorption), organic, contain at least 20+ mg of CBD per serving, and is lab-tested for impurities is going to be your best bet.
Your Health Goals Make a Difference
The time it takes to work in your body can also vary depending on what results you want from CBD. Some results are seen faster than others.
If you take CBD oil to improve your sleep or mild anxiety, it’s possible to get results within the average 15 to 30-minute window. With the right CBD oil, you should feel calm and sleep like a baby in very little time.
But if you’re taking CBD because you want to ease the effects of more serious stress and inflammation, it may take a bit longer to notice results. Some people can feel relief from inflammation in a couple days and for some people it takes week or so. While the CBD may technically take effect in the body 15-30 minutes after a dose, it can take a week or two to notice significant results because it took awhile for the inflammation to reach that level so it may take awhile to calm it down enough to notice a difference.
One of the main things CBD does in the body is support ‘homeostasis’ which is the body’s internal balancing system. The more your body is out of balance, the longer it can take to reach a point where you notice significant results—even if you are slowly getting better from day one.
There are som factors that determine your results with CBD Oil. We are all individuals biochemically which is a fancy way of saying that everyone is different. We all have a unique genetic profile, body composition, and daily routine/environment.
As a result, everyone can be affected by CBD a bit differently. If two people took the same exact dosage and type of CBD, it could impact them in completely different ways. One of the unique things about CBD is that it is adaptogenic, meaning it goes to the part of the body or body system that needs support.
Here are some of the most common characteristics that can affect how long it can take for CBD to work:
Body weight:
Like any drug or supplement, your weight can impact how CBD affects you and how quickly. Generally speaking, a higher body weight may require a larger dose and vice versa. So, if you’re not feeling any results after consistently trying CBD, consider changing up the serving size.
Body awareness:
Some people are very in tune with their body. They can notice even the subtlest of changes in how they feel. These people tend to feel results from CBD very quickly. But because today’s fast-paced society, and bombardment of stimuli, very few people have this skill because the mind is always distracted and disconnected from the body.
One of the best ways to notice the more subtle effects of CBD oil is to track how you feel on a daily basis. Perhaps listing the concerns you have and your general feeling overall and scoring it on a scale of 1-10 daily. Some people like to track “pain level, sleep, mood” etc.
Metabolic Rate:
Metabolism isn’t just how quickly you burn calories while sitting on the sofa. It also controls how quickly you break down compounds in your body such as CBD. Depending on a person’s genetic profile and health status, their metabolism can operate at different speeds. This means some people will inherently feel the results quickly, whereas others will take more time to experience results.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve already tried CBD Oil and didn’t notice much of an effect, it’s important to take these factors into consideration and maybe try a higher quality oil. Most people do have very positive results and fairly quickly but in some cases it can take awhile to begin to notice the results. Be patient with your body and stick with it, because there is a mountain of evidence that proves CBD is highly effective for so many different things and it’s a worthy investment for anyone’s health and well being, and pets too!
