Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most popular cannabinoids or active ingredients of cannabis. In recent years, it has become known for its usage as an alternative remedy for many mental and physical conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and seizures.
If you are currently looking for the trusted CBD brands or related products to use for the first time, you may have a few questions on your mind. One of the most critical of these inquiries is how long it can take for CBD to show its effects.
The tricky part: There’s no precise answer to this question. The exact timeline of CBD effects upon each person and their body. Factors such as body weight and individual conditions play a big part. Whereas, your metabolism also contributes to this aspect.
With that being said, you can still understand the general timeline of how long it takes for CBD to work.
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The General Timeline Depends Upon Your Method of Consumption
CBD is obtained from the cannabis plant in the form of an extract. But apart from that, it is also distributed through a few other methods of consumption.
These include but are not limited to:
- Oil
- Gummies
- Brownies
- Candies
- Drinks
- Vape juice
- Lotions
- Creams
While products such as oils and gummies are edible and consumed in the form of food, topicals such as creams and lotions are applied on the skin. This gives you a few ways to consume CBD and make it an everyday part of your life.
When learning about the general timeline of CBD’s effects, it is critical to understand these methods. It is because the way you consume CBD heavily affects the time it can take for the compound to work.
How Different Methods Affect CBD’s Timeline to Work
While the exact interactions of CBD with the human body are still being studied, it is known that it absorbs into the bloodstream and also affects the central nervous system.
But to achieve that objective, CBD needs a way to access your system. The faster it can do that, the quicker it can show its effects.
This is where the methods of consumption play their part.
Ingesting CBD Through the Digestive System
If you use the best CBD oil in your food or use pre-packaged edibles, you consume CBD through your digestive system. It requires CBD to pass through your stomach and liver before it can enter your bloodstream. This can prolong the time it takes for CBD to work and take at least a few hours for you to experience its effects.
On the other hand, if you pour a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue and wait before swallowing, it lets the compound absorb into your mucous membranes. This can cut down the overall time by a couple of hours.
Inhaling CBD Through the Lungs
Inhaling CBD through vaping is also a popular way to consume the compound. Since it causes CBD to pass through your respiratory system, the effects are immediate for some people and start showing within a few minutes of usage.
However, vaping can have adverse effects and is currently being researched for any potential disadvantages.
Absorbing CBD Through Your Skin
Topical products such as lotions and creams can provide an easy way to consume CBD. Premium products from high quality vendors also use the best CBD oil based ingredients.
With that being said, it can take a few hours or even days for topical CBD to start working through this method. It’s because the compound first has to be absorbed by your skin before it can interact with your body proteins.
It is Important to Use CBD for a While Before You Judge Its Effects
Since CBD can take a while to absorb into your system, the general practice is to start with a low dosage and use it for at least 5-7 days. This allows you to see CBD’s effects in your everyday life in a safe manner.
However, if you take any traditional medications, reach out to your doctor to discuss your plans for CBD usage. This ensures that your current treatment doesn’t interact with your CBD use.