What to do when CBD oil isn't working?

Cannabidiol has become quite popular in recent years, and people have flocked to the internet to share their experiences. The amount of research on this cannabis compound has also increased, which might be one of the reasons more and more people are giving CBD a try.

But, what happens when you follow the trend and don’t feel anything? Let’s see the possible causes of CBD oil not working for you, and what you can do to make it work.

Quality of the Product

One of the main reasons CBD oil might be not working for you is the quality of the product. Finding the best CBD oils on the market involves doing thorough research and trying out different products before finding the right one, as Miister CBD explains.

With this in mind, what checks should you perform to identify those products that are worth your money?

The first thing to consider is whether the brand is transparent about its products. Search on the website for details such as:

• Whether the hemp was grown organically
• Information about its business licence
• Certificates from third-party laboratories

But, let’s say you followed all those steps and bought your CBD oil from a legitimate high-quality brand, and it’s still not working—what else could it be?

Strength and Dosage

When shopping for the right CBD oil for you, it’s important that you pay attention to the strength and amount of cannabidiol per bottle.

Something you can do to ensure the best CBD oil experience is calculate the quantity of CBD per serving. Luckily, high-quality brands will usually present this information in a way that can be easily understood by the consumer.

But, as an example, let’s say you buy a 30ml bottle of CBD oil with a concentration of 1500mg:

• If you divide the 1500mg of cannabidiol by the 30ml, you will get 50mg of CBD per millilitre

• Droppers usually hold 1ml (about 20 drops), so you just need to divide the 50mg of CBD by 20 drops, which gives you 2.5mg of CBD per drop

With this information at your disposal, you can now experiment with dosage until you find your “sweet spot”. Just make sure to proceed slowly, and record your experience over the weeks or months of experimentation.

Type of CBD and Bioavailability

Not all brands display information about the type of CBD used in the oil; however, this is an important aspect to consider before making a purchase. There are three main types of CBD used in CBD oil:

• Isolate: Pure CBD (usually in crystal form) that doesn't contain any additional cannabinoids
• Broad-spectrum: Includes CBD and other cannabinoids, except for THC
• Full-spectrum: Includes all cannabinoids, including small amounts of THC

CBD oils made from full-spectrum extracts may contain hundreds of cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and nutrients. As a result, these components working in synergy may allow you to experience more noticeable benefits.

You should also consider the bioavailability of the oil, also called the absorption rate. This denotes the percentage of CBD that reaches your bloodstream, and varies according to the way you take your cannabidiol oil.

Delivery Method

As mentioned above, bioavailability plays an important role in what you feel after taking CBD. As such, it stands to reason that consumption method could also significantly impact the effects.

Let’s see how different delivery methods are absorbed:

• CBD topicals: Applying CBD to the skin will provide localised effects to your largest organ, but the CBD will not reach the bloodstream, making it unsuitable for holistic results.

• CBD edibles: Eating your CBD in or alongside food will result in slower-acting but longer-lasting effects. The cannabidiol has to make its way through the digestive system and liver before reaching systemic circulation.

• CBD oils or tinctures: By applying a few drops under your tongue, the CBD will be absorbed directly into your bloodstream, which might produce more noticeable results.

Length of Time After Consuming

Something else that varies widely between people is the period of time it takes for the body to react to cannabidiol. CBD interacts mainly with the endocannabinoid system, which is generally responsible for keeping the body in balance.

But, once again, all bodies are different, and certain people may have a less active/responsive endocannabinoid system. This means it can take longer for the body to react to CBD, and therefore longer for you to feel its benefits.

As mentioned, it’s important to experiment with different dosages, and you will see that, over time, you find the quantity that gives you the desired results. Moreover, as bioavailability plays an important role, perhaps focus on using CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue) for potentially faster effects.

Your Tolerance to CBD

Another aspect people often don’t consider when trying CBD oil for the first time is that their body may have a naturally high tolerance to cannabidiol. This tolerance may be due to genetics, metabolism, or other factors.

If you’ve followed the suggestions above and still don’t seem to feel any benefits from CBD, perhaps it’s time to increase the dose and wait a little longer. Trial and error is a part of using cannabidiol, and this is a very individual experience.

In the case that you’ve been using CBD for some time and suddenly stop feeling the effects, it’s possible that you’ve reached your tolerance level. At this moment, the ideal solution is to take a break for a few days and start with the same dosage once again.

Genetics and Metabolism

As explained above, genetics and metabolism also play a role in how you react to CBD. Everyone’s body produces endocannabinoids naturally; however, certain people may produce more than others.

In this case, it’s possible you have a higher tolerance to cannabinoids ingested in the form of CBD oil. In such situations, you may have a more difficult time feeling the effects of CBD, as opposed to someone who has a lower count of natural endocannabinoids.

Either way, the best option is to use high-quality products and keep trying different strengths and dosages until you find the ideal solution for your individual situation.

Your Expectations

Last but not least, your expectations might be too high. There are claims online that CBD is a wonder of nature and can solve any health issue there is; however, there just isn’t enough scientific research to prove that, yet.

As such, certain people, and even unprofessional brands, will share bold claims that are false. Although each person’s experience is valid, and some individuals may get immediate results the first time they take CBD, others may not notice any type of benefit for some time.

There is still a long way to go when it comes to understanding the full potential CBD has on health and well-being. As long as you set realistic expectations, and understand that your situation is your own, you will manage to find the right balance for you.