Before you breakup with it, consider these reasons
I tried CBD, but it didn’t do anything for me.
Why isn’t CBD working for me?
Is all this CBD hype just a scam?
Sound familiar? If you’ve tried CBD products without any results, you’re not the only one — but that doesn’t mean the whole industry is a scam.
People are using it to help manage a number of ailments, including:
- chronic pain
- inflammation
- anxiety
- insomnia
- seizures
1. You need to build it up in your system
Finding the right dosage of CBD can be a tricky endeavor. The appropriate amount varies for each individual, as every person has a unique biology that results in a different reaction.
So how do you figure out what’s right for you?
Start with a low dose and slowly increase it over time until you find your “sweet spot.”
Some folks find that taking a daily dose can help sustain a level of CBD in your body, which might stimulate your endocannabinoid system(more on what this is, below) to make it react more to cannabinoids like CBD.
And many people use a microdosing technique to find their personal dosage and adjust it as needed over time.
You may find it helpful to use a journal to log your results. Keep track of how much you’ve taken, how you feel before dosing and at several time intervals afterward, and any changes in symptoms that you notice.
Over time, this info can help paint a picture of how CBD affects you.
BUILDING UP A TOLERANCE
Keep in mind that it’s possible to build up a tolerance to CBD, like many other drugs and chemicals. So if you find that it’s not working as well after a while, try taking a few days’ break to reset your system before starting with a low dose again.
2. You need to give it more time
The first time I tried CBD, I wondered if I’d wasted my money on some overhyped trend. I put some drops of an oil tincture under my tongue, expected near-instant relief from my chronic pain, and got… nothing.
My experience isn’t at all unusual, because immediate results aren’t all that common.
In fact, many people take CBD for several weeks or even several months before they see a difference.
Exploring the effects of CBD isn’t as simple as taking a couple of Tylenol and calling it a day. It actually requires a certain level of commitment to put time and thought into your process of uncovering the long-term effects.
Patience is key, and while it can be frustrating to keep trying with no results, you may end up feeling super grateful that you didn’t give up.
3. You need a different delivery system
It seems like I’m hearing about a new CBD product just about every week. You can find everything from CBD coffee to bath salts and lube.
Common forms of CBD
- tinctures
- topical creams
- vape oils
- capsules or suppositories
- edible treats like gummies and chocolate
So if you’ve been trying one delivery system with no luck, it’s possible that a different form would work better for you.
One factor to consider is bioavailability, which essentially refers to how much of the CBD actually gets into your bloodstream.
For example, if you eat CBD gummies, they have to go through your digestive tract before you can absorb them, and the amount that ends up in your system may be relatively low.
On the other hand, if you take a tincture sublingually — which means under the tongue — you’re absorbing it directly into your bloodstream. So you could get quicker, more noticeable results than you would from waiting for your digestive system to process it.
In addition, your most effective method may vary depending on what type of relief you’re looking for.
For example, a topical balm won’t help you with your panic attacks. But it can offer potential relief for, say, sore muscles, if you zero in on that particular area.
4. It’s just not for you
CBD may be popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s a miracle drug that will work for everyone. After all of your efforts, it’s possible that you’ll find that CBD simply doesn’t work for you.
Your level of absorption and reaction to CBD depends on a variety of factors including your:
- metabolism
- biochemistry
- genetics
Your endocannabinoid system is the system in your body that interacts with the active compounds in cannabis, and each person’s operates a little differently.
In fact, a professor of clinical psychiatry noted 20 percent of Americans may have
If you have that mutation, you might be prone to lower levels of anxiety, but because you already have extra endocannabinoids you might not see much of a difference when you take CBD.
Check with your doctor about other options that may work for you.
And if you have persistent friends, don’t be afraid to tell them to stop bugging you about giving CBD a try. After all, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment!
CBD isn’t as well-researched or regulated as many other treatment options like prescription medications, and people within the industry are still trying to narrow down the best practices for taking it.
But one thing’s for sure: It’s not as simple as taking some standard dosage and seeing immediate results. It takes time, patience, and ongoing research.