A Beginner’s Guide To Using CBD

Gone are the days when cannabis products were unheard of on the market. As many countries around the world start to legalize the growth or usage of marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD) products have seen massive growth in popularity.

You’ve probably had someone talk to you about CBD or mention the potential health benefits one can experience as a result of CBD use. It’s often recommended for reducing stress or for pain relief. Still, though CBD is usually available wherever it’s legal, there may be some uncertainty around what it is and how it should be used.

Keep reading for a basic guide on using CBD.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a chemical that comes from the cannabis or hemp plant. It’s one of the two most active chemicals or cannabinoids found in the plant alongside THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). 

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the cannabinoid associated with the psychoactive effects on a person’s mental state—or the ‘high’ known to come from marijuana. Cannabidiol is the non-psychoactive component (it doesn’t cause a ‘high’) and is instead associated with positive mental and physical benefits. 

Cannabidiol found in commercial products is most often extracted from industrial hemp, a species of cannabis containing little or no THC. The extract is then made into different consumable products like oils and topical solutions—you can find more information on a wide range of such products on sites like wovenearth.com. 

Using CBD

To experience the effects of CBD, you need to get it into your system. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to take CBD. It can be found in various configurations, which lets you experiment and find a method you enjoy most. 

Keep in mind that different methods of taking CBD may result in stronger or weaker noticeable effects. Some methods may also take longer before effects become noticeable. 

1. Oil

Cannabidiol oil is probably the simplest and most well-known way to take CBD. It’s typically easy to find and relatively affordable. The oil is generally taken sublingually or dropped under the tongue.

As such, taking CBD oil isn’t too tricky. All you need to do is use a dropper to put a few drops under your tongue. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before you eventually swallow what remains. This allows the CBD to be absorbed into your bloodstream quicker than if it were immediately swallowed, letting you feel the effects sooner.

Check the bottle for the correct dosage—usually one to five drops. If you’re unsure what to take, start with one drop a day and increase by one until you’re satisfied (or reach the maximum recommended dosage on the bottle).

2. Capsules

Much like oils, CBD capsules are readily available. However, these are taken orally rather than sublingually. When taking capsules from shops like Woven Earth, you know exactly how much CBD you’re taking per capsule. Furthermore, they’re as easy to ingest as any other capsule or pill.

Capsules are suitable for those who want to know their exact dosage or like the idea of CBD just being a quick, tasteless capsule. Some CBD capsules may be marketed to help with specific problems. The only drawback of capsules is that they take longer to take effect than a sublingual oil.

3. E-Liquid

It’s no wonder that vaping CBD has become quite popular, considering that it takes little time to feel the effects. This method involves inhaling CBD-infused e-liquid through a vape device. Here, you get to choose the concentration of CBD in the e-liquid, but can’t control how much you consume per drag.

That said, vaping is likely the least healthy method of consumption. The medical community is still on the fence about how harmful vaping could be to the body. Additionally, never try to vape CBD oil—you may risk serious damage to your lungs. E-liquids and oils aren’t the same. Only ever vape proper CBD-infused e-liquids from a reputable vape store.

4. Food

You may find CBD edibles to be the most enjoyable of all consumption methods. Yes, CBD can be worked into all kinds of food. Some of the most common forms of CBD edibles include candies, chocolates, gummies, and beverages. They’re tasty and tell you the exact CBD dosage when bought from a store. On top of that, edibles are among the most subtle consumption methods.

The downside of edibles is that, like capsules, they usually take a while to kick in.

5. Topicals

Body butter, lotion, cream, balm, and many other topical solutions can contain CBD. The goal of these isn’t as much to feel internal effects as it is to aid with skin or muscle issues. Topicals allow the CBD to be absorbed through the skin slowly. This is the slowest way for it to enter the bloodstream but allows you to target specific areas with CBD.  

Why One Might Take CBD

As briefly mentioned earlier, CBD is associated with several mental and physical health benefits. Medical research on CBD is still relatively new and lacks conclusive proof, for the most part. But current research has uncovered evidence that leans in favor of CBD’s many claimed benefits. 

A CBD medication called Epidiolex has been approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy. Other benefits may include relief from physical pain such as chronic muscle pain, improved sleep, reduced stress, and possibly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Finally, CBD might be able to help with treating cancer. 

Despite being relatively new, CBD products are becoming increasingly popular on the market. There are now many ways you could possibly use it that you may feel overwhelmed when you first decide to try it. Don’t fret—you’ll soon find a method you enjoy. The consumption methods discussed in this article should all be easily available where it’s legal. Remember that information about CBD is all over, and you can easily find answers with a quick search.