A Beginner’s Guide to Buying CBD Products
Cannabidiol, or CBD, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. You many have seen signs advertising its availability at stores near you, or heard about it from a friend or on social media. Proponents of CBD claim it is an all-natural remedy for everything from anxiety to inflammation to acne, but if you’re thinking about trying it for the first time, you may have a lot of questions about what it is and how to use it. Read on for our introduction to buying CBD products.
What Is CBD?
First things first, what is CBD? Cannabidiol is a chemical compound that derives from the cannabis plant. It’s a naturally occurring substance that can help create a calming feeling. Unlike the other primary component of the cannabis plant, tetrahydrocannabinol, it doesn’t provide any psychoactive effects. That means when using CBD, you will not experience the characteristic high associated with using marijuana.
Determine How You Want to Take CBD
The world of CBD can be confusing if you’re just starting to explore your options. That’s because CBD products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from candies to topical ointments and much more. Knowing why and how you want to use CBD is essential for helping you determine the best product for you.
There are three fundamental categories of CBD products: inhalables, edibles and topicals. Let’s explore each of these in more detail.
- Inhalables: Inhalable CBD enters the bloodstream immediately via your lungs, which makes it ideal if you need rapid relief throughout the day. For example, if you have anxiety-related insomnia and need help going to sleep quickly, inhaling CBD using a method such as a vaporizer can provide a quick solution. However, long-term smoking or vaping can damage the delicate air sacs in your lungs.
- Edibles: If you are on the go and looking for a way to use CBD that’s both discreet and long-lasting, consider edible products like CBD capsules, gummies or tinctures. Edible CBD usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes to begin working, and can provide relief for several hours.
- Topicals: For people who want a “set-and-forget” method of using CBD products, you can look for transdermal patches that deliver CBD continuously for more than 24 hours. Meanwhile, topical creams and lotions infused with CBD are excellent for helping improve a variety of skin conditions.
Decide What Dosage Is Appropriate for Your Needs
Once you’ve chosen your favorite delivery method for using CBD products, you’ll need to determine how much CBD you want to use at any given time. While medical researchers are just beginning to scratch the surface on the correct dosage for specific conditions, a CBD-friendly doctor can help you decide how much to use. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the dosage that alleviates one patient’s symptoms might not be helpful for you, and vice versa.
If you are taking CBD orally, you also may want to experiment with different dosage amounts by starting small — for example, 25 milligrams — and incrementally increasing how much you take. Maintain this dosage for at least three weeks before ramping up or stepping down how much you are using. CBD takes time to build up in your body, and this “low-and-slow” approach can help you find your ideal amount. Remember, more is not always better with CBD.
We hope this guide has been a helpful starting point to introduce you to the realm of using CBD products. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to us for helpful answers.
