How To Take CBD
If you are new to the world of CBD, you might be wondering which cannabidiol products will suit you best, and how to take CBD. We understand that for first time users there’s a lot to navigate, so we’ve put together an easy to follow guide explaining the different products, dosage, and how to use CBD.
Whether oils, sprays, edibles, capsules, gummies or skincare products pique your interest, read on to explore what's available, what to expect, and the different ways you can incorporate CBD into your daily routine. For more information on CBD in general, visit our page explaining what CBD is and how it works.
CBD Oils, Sprays, Edibles, or Capsules?
With a variety of CBD products on the market, you can choose the best option to suit your preferences and lifestyle. Many people begin their journey with oils, while others prefer easy to swallow capsules. For those that want to maximise their enjoyment, delicious CBD gummies or chocolate are perfect for a sweet treat.
How to Take CBD Oil
CBD oil is really easy to add to your daily routine, and is a popular product for newcomers to the world of cannabidiol supplements. When choosing your first oil, you’ll usually have a choice between a pipette dropper, and an atomiser spray. Essentially the product in the bottle is exactly the same, it's just the delivery methods that differ.
How to Take CBD Oils with a Dropper
Dropper pipettes are perfect for precise dosing. This is because the pipette will draw a consistent measure of liquid each time.
First, squeeze the bulb at the top of the lid to draw the CBD oil into the pipette. Next, place the dropper directly under the tongue and try to hold it for 1-2 minutes before swallowing.
It is important to allow the CBD oil to sit under the tongue before swallowing. This is because this area of the mouth is full of capillaries and blood vessels. By holding the oil in this area, you facilitate fast absorption into the bloodstream, meaning you will feel the effects quicker and make the most of your oil. Repeat as necessary according to your recommended dose.
As well as speeding up absorption, taking CBD under the tongue will increase bioavailability. Bioavailability essentially refers to the ability for the CBD to be absorbed by the body. As the oil enters the bloodstream through absorption into blood vessels, it bypasses initial metabolism within the liver, maximising its effect.
How to Take CBD Oil Sprays
Taking CBD with an atomiser spray is very similar to using a dropper, as the cannabidiol extract is absorbed in the same way.
Simply open your mouth, lift your tongue and aim the spray either underneath the tongue or onto the inside surface of the cheek. Press the pump to release the spray and repeat as necessary, ensuring to only take your recommended dose. After each pump, hold the oil within your mouth for around 1-2 minutes to allow fast absorption through the network of blood vessels.
The beauty of taking CBD oil sublingually is that it is quick and easy, and won’t attract attention. If you live a very busy lifestyle, sprays are probably the best option for you, as you can literally take it on the move.
Finding the Right Dosage
Finding the right oil dosage can take some trial and error. We’ve written a complete guide on CBD dosage including handy tables that provide a suggested serving based on the strength of your CBD product.
It's important to remember that different people will react in different ways, and it may take a while to notice the benefits. As a result, we advise staying consistent with your use to allow time to feel the full benefits.
If you change your CBD product strength, make sure to make a note of your new dosage. You’ll need far less to achieve the same results when you invest in a higher strength oil.
How to Take CBD Edibles
CBD edibles include things like CBD gummy sweets, chocolate drops and chewable tablets. Instead of placing these under your tongue, you chew or suck them to release the CBD. A small amount will be absorbed through the small blood vessels in your mouth, but the majority will be absorbed through the lining of your digestive tract.
We recommend chewing your CBD edibles well to release as much of the CBD as possible. With chocolate and gummy sweets, you might want to let them dissolve completely before swallowing. This will help to release as much of the cannabidiol as possible.
Pay close attention to the dosage of your CBD edibles. It’s very easy to mindlessly nibble away and realise you’ve just consumed more than your daily dose.
Always check the packaging to make sure you know the cannabidiol content. For example, our CBD Jelly Domes contain 20mg of CBD per sweet, while our Clear Mind gummies contain 10mg per sweet. Generally, the total amount CBD in milligrams is stated on the packaging, along with the amount contained within each sweet.
How to Take CBD Capsules
CBD capsules provide a really easy way to take your daily dose. With capsules, you simply swallow your recommended amount with a glass of water.
We recommend taking capsules alongside food to increase bioavailability. This will aid absorption, especially when consumed alongside healthy fats. This is because CBD is fat soluble, meaning it dissolves better in dietary fats than water alone.
If taken on an empty stomach, stomach acids have the potential to alter the structure of the CBD which could impact its bioavailability, and ultimately, its effect.
What Is the Best Time of Day to Take CBD?
Creating your perfect CBD schedule is all about your preferences. You can take CBD at any time of the day, and many people take it multiple times a day to help support different goals.
Taking CBD first thing in the morning can help you to get your day off to a great start. Add it to your morning cup of coffee or stir a few drops into your green tea. You could even start your day with a CBD capsule to ensure a consistent dose.
You could also take CBD after a heavy workout, before a big presentation, or with your afternoon coffee. And finally, some people like to make it a part of their bedtime routine. Open up your meditation app, pop some CBD under your tongue, and get ready for a restful and relaxing night’s sleep.
As already mentioned, try to avoid taking CBD on an empty stomach because the harsh stomach acid has the potential to impact bioavailability. Instead, try to take it with a meal, ideally with foods that contain healthy fats. Adding your CBD to a creamy latte, for example, will help to increase the amount of cannabinoids your body can absorb.
How Use CBD Topicals & Skincare
You don’t have to ingest CBD to enjoy its abundant benefits! CBD skin care is growing in popularity and you can find products to help support your skin’s natural biome and restore the moisture barrier. CBD muscle balms, like our premium quality cannabinoid infused body salve are also incredibly popular and are often enriched with carefully selected botanicals to help soothe aching muscles, and hydrate dry skin.
With topical application, the CBD is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead, it is absorbed into the skin and interacts with endocannabinoid receptors found within the layers of the skin, helping to support the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes and rubbing cannabinoid extract into the skin can provide localised support for a range of conditions. You can read more about the endocannabinoid system here.
How Long Does CBD Take to Work?
We recommend taking your recommended daily dose of CBD for at least 2-4 weeks when you first start out. This is because it may take this long to notice any benefit. Furthermore, using cannabidiol extract alongside healthy lifestyle changes is one of the best ways to support your body. It goes without saying that each individual’s experience will differ, and the dosage will affect the overall result.
What are the Effects of CBD?
CBD doesn’t contain any psychoactive compounds such as THC, so you won’t feel high after taking it. The potential effects are unique to each individual and may include improved mood, and sleep, for example.
Some people believe CBD can also provide a number of health benefits to support conditions such as chronic pain, reduced inflammation, and stress and anxiety, but as clinical research is limited, there is no currently no widely recognised scientific evidence to back up any of these claims where consumer CBD is concerned.
You should not use CBD as an intended cure or treatment. Instead, you should try to see it as a way to support you on your path to wellbeing. It’s a supplement, so you’ll be rewarded best if you can take it consistently.
Does CBD Have Any Side Effects?
Although generally well tolerated, CBD may cause some side effects but these will differ from person to person. As always, our advice is to consult a healthcare professional before incorporating a new dietary supplement into your lifestyle. CBD products are also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those under the age of 18.
Ready to Try CBD?
If you’ve made the decision to give cannabidiol supplements a try,shop the Love Hemp range online. We offer fast delivery and all our products contain premium hemp derived CBD extract derived from 100% organically grown hemp plants.
