It’s possible that you’ve tried CBD previously and have felt no recognizable effects. Or, maybe you’ve recommended CBD to someone else and they felt none of the effects you felt yourself. Cannabidiol or CBD is a compound just like any other medicine, that interacts internally with your body to enact its effects. But CBD products aren’t all the same, either. Some are full-spectrum, some are isolate, some have higher strengths and some aren’t CBD at all…Confused yet? What we’re getting to is, depending on the type of CBD you consume or the specific person…effects may be felt differently. So, to answer the question…why doesn’t CBD work for me? We’ve compiled your complete guide to how CBD works with the top 4 factors that may affect its efficacy.
How CBD works
CBD is just one of the non-psychoactive compounds called ‘cannabinoids’ that are found in cannabis and hemp plants. Along with THC, CBG, CBN, CBDA and THCA, CBD and a plethora of cannabinoids react with the body’s endocannabinoid to enact their individual effects. Hence, why CBD won’t get you ‘high’, but THC does.
The endocannabinoid system is a system of messengers and receptors that send signals throughout the body, and varying systems. CBD acts as an agonist to some receptors, an inhibitor to others, and influences each cell differently. Take into consideration, that we all don’t have the same inner-body systems…so, you can already see why CBD can vary in effects for each individual person.
Even though CBD is still in its infancy in research and use, compared to other common medicines and prescriptions, so far experts have uncovered a few unique traits about the compound. Some of these unique characteristics like needing to consume it for weeks before effects are felt, might confuse some with ‘CBD just doesn’t work for me’. Before you quit, or when others say the same to you let’s brush up on the top reasons why CBD might not work as well for you, as it does for others.
- CBD Takes Time
CBD is more like an antibiotic needing to be taken regularly as a regimen over an extended period of time, for its effects to be fully felt. Basically the foreign compounds need to be built up in your system to work properly. CBD influences receptors in your endocannabinoid system, to trigger specific responses from cells. This is a process that doesn’t just happen overnight.
To promote the process, it just takes the commitment to consistently consuming CBD and sometimes increased dosages. Normally, you’ll begin low and slow with CBD to gauge how it affects you individually. You may begin at 10 mg twice daily and feel nothing at all for a full week. But, that’s where you can’t give up. CBD can take anywhere from 1 week – 1 full month before its benefits take effect. So, it’s recommended to increase your dosage after a week and again, keep consistently dosing.
What many CBD users do to help this initial phase, is journal their dosages and effects. By tracking how much you took when, and what you felt, you can see the tolerance build as you go and make adjustments when necessary, too.
- Absorption and bioavailability
If you’ve tried CBD already you know how many products are available on the market. From tinctures to capsules, to edibles and products you can vape or inhale…it’s hard to choose which one is for you. But the choice you made, or make, can affect the effects you feel, too. That’s because each differing delivery method is absorbed and metabolized differently.
Bioavailability is a term that’s increasing in use across the industry. What it means, is how much ‘available’ CBD is absorbed into your bloodstream as your body processes the compound. As an example, when consuming a tincture sublingually by holding it under your tongue, the compounds are absorbed directly into your arterial bloodstream with a direct delivery to the brain.
On the flip side, when eating a CBD edible like a gummy, the compound is processed through the digestive system. Stomach acids can deteriorate more delicate cannabinoids or compounds, as they travel through the digestive tract meaning less is available to be absorbed into the bloodstream. So, if CBD hasn’t worked for you previously it’s recommended to try a different delivery method to increase bioavailability for your individual body’s system.
- Type, brand or strength of your CBD product
While there are many reputable, trusted and verified CBD brands on the market today, like Nature’s Pure…let’s be honest. There’s some brands that aren’t in it for the right reasons. These brands often take shortcuts in their formulas or label their marketing to catch sales…not to actually make an impact on someone’s life or health.
So with CBD, choosing your brand and confirming the product’s ingredients and potencies is very important. You’ll want to ensure they are transparent with their testing and supply a Certificate of Analysis confirming the product’s cannabinoid levels, terpenes, and any other additives.
Beyond the brand you’ve selected, the type and strength of your CBD is even more key. Making it important to understand the common terms used when labeling CBD goods. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil contains whole plant matter – terpenes, vitamins, phytonutrients, flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids. The only difference is full-spectrum may contain levels of >.3% THC while broad-spectrum is THC-free. Together, this combination produces an ‘entourage’ of effects. The compounds all work symbiotically, amplifying one another. But, CBD ‘isolate’ products are CBD and CBD only and may not be as potently felt.
- Genetics and overall health
If you’ve tried all of the above, and are still not feeling results – it could just be you. What we mean by that, is your genetics or overall health could be affecting the way CBD internally interacts with your endocannabinoid system. The way your body absorbs and reacts to CBD depends on your metabolism, chemistry make-up, and your genes.
A study found that almost 20% of Americans have a genetic mutation that affects their levels of endocannabinoids. Since endocannabinoids mirror cannabinoids so closely, having an abundance of them in your system will make CBD less effective. Your specific biochemistry and metabolic rate will also affect the influence CBD has on internal receptors, or how much is actually absorbed.
If at first, you don’t succeed…try CBD again
CBD is an incredibly dynamic cannabinoid whose full potential is still being uncovered. Of course, with all of the hype surrounding the compound, there’s bound to be naysayers or those who are uninformed on proper use. For the most part, if CBD isn’t working for you it’s typically a ‘user’ error from being inpatient, or choosing the incorrect product strength or type. In rare cases, those who can’t feel effects could just have an internal system that doesn’t interact the same way as others. Like any medicine, it’s not always for everyone. But, if you’re in the position of wanting to try CBD for its many benefits for the second (or first) time, choosing a trusted brand and product is a must. Look no further than Nature’s Pure with our wide selection of CBD goods, with the quality to back.