What to Do if I Don’t Feel the Benefits of CBD

With all the rage about CBD, you may feel like it is a hoax if you buy it and it just doesn’t work for you. Many people who don’t feel the benefits of CBD immediately, give up on CBD and believe it doesn’t work for them.

However, just because you don’t feel the benefits of CBD immediately, doesn’t mean it isn’t working for you. In this guide you will learn how CBD works in the body and what to do if you don’t feel the benefits of CBD.

How CBD Works

It is important to understand how CBD works in the body in order to use it the best way for your body.

CBD is an acronym for Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a phyto cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants such as hemp and marijuana.

Marijuana and hemp plants have over 100 different cannabinoids found within them. The first cannabinoid found in marijuana was THC.

Researchers wanted to understand how THC worked in our body and if we had any other chemical compounds that were similar in our own body.

What we found is that we do have chemical compounds similar to those in cannabis plants. These compounds are like a key to our cells found in our endocannabinoid system.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Cannabidiol

The Endocannabinoid System

Within each of our bodies, we have an endocannabinoid system. This system is a collection of cell receptors and molecules. Receptors are like locks on the surface of your cells.

The keys to these locks on the surface of your cells are called endocannabinoids. Our bodies actually produce two of them called: Anandamide and 2-AG.

When the cell receptors are unlocked, they give your cells specific instructions to keep your body in homeostasis.

What we have found is that CBD is similar to Anandamide and 2-AG. Therefore, it works with those receptors.

However, CBD actually works indirectly with your cell receptors as it is not a perfect fit into the lock.

Related: All You Need to Know About the Endocannabinoid System

How CBD Works with Receptors

The receptors in our endocannabinoid system are called CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC and endocannabinoids in our own body activate these receptors.

CBD, on the other hand, can turn down the activity level of the receptors when it comes in contact with them.

While it has the ability to decrease the cannabinoid signaling, it can also indirectly increase the signalling.

For example, one one study showed that patients with schizophrenia who were treated with 800 mg of CBD daily had significant increases in their levels of anandamide.

So, in essence CBD can both inhibit and stimulate your endocannabinoid system depending on your needs and how much you take.

So, if CBD isn’t working for you, you may be taking too much, too little, or not in the right way. CBD works differently for different people.

What if I don’t Feel the Benefits of CBD?

As stated above, CBD works differently with each person’s body. In fact, there are a lot of variables to consider if you are not feeling the benefits of CBD. Here are a few things to try before giving up:

Determine What You are trying to Treat

What benefits are you trying to accomplish? Do you have anxiety, depression, pain? Every person is different just as every ailment is different.

If you are suffering from pain, but are taking a dose that is recommended for anxiety, you may not be feeling the benefits. You need to take CBD based on the ailments you are trying to eliminate.

Below, you will find a list of the most common ailments and the dosages of CBD that is recommended:

Decrease Your Dose

If you have anxiety and you started your CBD intake at 600mg per day, and are not feeling the benefits, you may be taking too much of your CBD.

Remember, CBD can inhibit your endocannabinoid system meaning it can tell your body to make less anandamide.

So, if you are taking too much CBD, you may actually be triggering your cells to do the opposite of what you want them to do.

Try a lower dose.

Increase Your Dose

On the flip side, if you are not taking enough CBD, you may not feel the benefits of it. When taking CBD, it is recommended that you start with a low dose and gradually increase.

So, if you have anxiety, you will want to start at 40mg and work your way up until you feel the benefits. Take each new dose for at least 3 days before increasing it.

Take it Everyday

Take the same dose of CBD everyday. Being consistent with your dose of CBD maximizes the natural balancing properties of cannabinoid.

Many of the benefits of CBD are not seen right away. All cannabinoids build up in your system over time helping to keep your body in homeostasis.

In fact, some have found that taking several doses of CBD a day is more beneficial than taking just 1 dose.

If you are not feeling the benefits, try taking it everyday at a regular time.

Try Taking it a Different Way

Another thing that could be to blame for the lack of effects is how CBD is put into your body. Everyone’s body is different and thus may respond differently to the way you take it.

It is important to keep in mind that when you ingest CBD through a tincture or through edibles, you lose some of the potency of CBD.

This is because when you ingest it, the CBD must go through your gut, intestines, and liver before making it into your bloodstream.

By the time it makes it to your bloodstream and to the endocannabinoid system, it may not be an effective dose for you to feel the benefits.

If you want to bypass this and get the CBD directly into your bloodstream, you can smoke or vape the CBD instead. Many people report that vaping has been more effective for them.

Although vaping and smoking CBD is an effective method of getting CBD into your bloodstream, there are risks and benefits. Check out Your Guide to the Risks and Benefits of CBD Vape Oil before you switch to vaping.

If you still are not feeling the benefits of CBD, you may need to speak with a doctor who is knowledgeable in cannabis.

You could be eating something in your diet or taking certain medications that could be affecting the benefits of the CBD.

To find a doctor in your area that specializes in cannabis marijuana, CBD, and hemp, you can visit Leafly.

Is CBD working for you? Share your stories in the comments below!