Why Won’t CBD Oil Work For Me? Possible Explanations.
Is CBD oil not working for you? There are plenty of reasons why you may not experience the effects of Cannabidiol. We understand that you might get frustrated after reading all the articles about the perks of using CBD, along with testimonies from people praising its health benefits. Fortunately, nothing happens without a reason, and in this article, you will learn why CBD oil may not be working for you.
Many people believe that the versatility of Cannabidiol makes it some sort of a miracle cure. However, despite the growing body of scientific evidence discovering more and more benefits of CBD, and just like traditional medicine, it is, by no means, a quick fix or a cure for anything.
Yes, it can reduce your anxiety; yes, it’s also capable of staving off stress, improving the health of your skin, fighting inflammation, and sharpening your focus. But it doesn’t mean it will work for everyone because nothing is 100% effective – that would be a miracle.
What’s the Catch About CBD Oil Efficacy?
You see, among numerous positive opinions on CBD, some people suggest that it is a scam because it didn’t work for them. While we’re aware that the masses are not always right, if a substance works for thousands of people, excluding some individuals, there must be something to it. If governments are partnering with pharmaceutical companies to make products for consumers, there must be something to it.
So, maybe it’s not the CBD oil itself that doesn’t work, but it’s the CBD oil brand that doesn’t meet the required standards. Always check that the brand of CBD oil you use has at least a Certificate Of Analysis (COA). Or you may need high strength products to benefit your body due to genetics that makes the endocannabinoid system (ECS) less reactive to CBD. There are a few things to consider as to why CBD oil is not reaping the benefits that we know about.
In this article, we explore the reasons why CBD oil may not be working for you.
CBD Oil Not Working?
Here Are Some Possible Explanations:
Believe it or not, but there are many reasons why CBD oil doesn’t work for some. But, the sooner it is realized, the better. Some of those factors can seem odd, but yes, they DO play a role in how CBD affects your body and mind.
Let’s dig a bit deeper into this subject.
Inferior-Quality CBD Oil
This is probably by far the most common reason that results are not achieved. We live in a world where we always get what we pay for, and CBD is certainly no different.
Some companies are trying to convince the public that the words “cheap” and “effective” can go with CBD oil in one sentence. It doesn’t. What’s worse, they often succeed in luring more clients who are unaware of their shady practices with promising dialogue along with cheap prices. If it is too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.
As you may have guessed, the victims of these types of scams make for a large percentage of the total of people saying that CBD oil is not working for them.
Let’s make it clear, the whole process of manufacturing CBD goods is very costly in itself. From cultivation to extracting, packaging, and labeling, each stage undergoes strict quality-control procedures, or so it should. This is to make sure that the final product turns out pure and potent and safe to consume. Know someone that was physically sick from consuming CBD oil? Could be that they are taking a product that has not undergone a sound quality control procedure.
High-quality CBD oil will never be cheap, so do not be fooled. If it is cheap in price, then it is cheap in quality. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean it cannot come at affordable prices. Besides, you should always consider CBD oil as an investment – a very good, long-term investment that pays off with better health management.
If you choose the cheap path, it is likely you will join the group of customers who have been ripped off of their savings, and hopes of better health.
Always make sure that your potential CBD supplier provides third-party lab testing results (Certificate of Analysis) for each batch of its products and doesn’t make claims that are in stark contrast to what science has managed to uncover thus far. There are no secrets with CBD – the research and results are not hidden.
Dosage: Too Low or Too High?
CBD oil not working? If so, you might want to reconsider your dosing regimen. Yes, more does not mean that it works better. Our endocannabinoid systems work differently due to our individual needs and unique physiology.
CBD affects everyone differently and there is no such thing as the universal CBD dosage. It will never be like a generic dose of aspirin for a headache, for example. Thus, in order to experience the benefits of Cannabidiol, you need to start with low doses. This is commonly known as the ‘low and slow’ approach to dosing which is just like up-titration in the medical world.
As you observe your response to your CBD intake, you can gradually increase the ingested amounts measured in drops, and increase appropriately until you hit the ‘sweet spot’, or best efficacy dose that works for you.
This way, you will find out if your CBD dosage is too low because you will start to respond positively to an increased dose. Problem solved. You won’t feel the desired effects if you don’t use enough CBD oil to produce them.
On the other hand, if the dosage is too high, the initial effects may be too strong for you to enjoy the benefits of CBD. Simply put, if the body is flooded with a supplement, it just gets rid of it via excretion. This is a total waste of money and product. So, once again, use the dosing approach of ‘low and slow’ to find YOUR designer dose. It isn’t hard to do, and you will be glad you did.
CBD Oil Bioavailability Is Too Low
Simply put, bioavailability means the percentage of CBD that actually reaches your bloodstream. Different consumption methods show different levels of bioavailability.
For example, CBD administered orally, be it in the form of capsules or edibles, results in only 5-15% of it being absorbed by your body.
Sublingual tinctures, on the other hand, typically allow around 25-35% of CBD to actually enter the bloodstream. Currently, the most effective way to take CBD is vaporization. Vaped Cannabidiol exhibits the bioavailability of 40-65%.
Conclusions? You may be giving your body less CBD than it needs simply by picking the wrong consumption methods. So, the next time you start asking yourself why CBD doesn’t seem to be working also ask yourself if it has a high enough bioavailability to assist you.
You Have Developed Tolerance Over Time
Even though CBD is not addictive and cannot make you feel “high,” it can still cause you to build up a tolerance over time.
How to figure out that your tolerance to CBD is higher than, say, two months before?
It’s simple; you will find that your body needs a higher dose of CBD oil to get the same results. At some point, high tolerance to CBD can make it counterproductive in terms of the cost.
If you don’t feel the effects of CBD the way you used to anymore, you may want to take a little from CBD. This way, you will allow the cannabinoid receptors to readjust after the consistent influx of Cannabidiol.
After a few days or weeks, you can get back to using CBD oil and enjoy its benefits to the fullest.
Genetics DO Matter
Studies show that between 15 to 20% of people have a higher level of their bodies’ natural endocannabinoids. While some believe it to be a good thing – after all, who wouldn’t like to stay happy, focused, and relaxed for the most time – the higher level of endocannabinoids can make such people less reactive to the effects of CBD.
Simply put, you might just be naturally resistant to Cannabidiol. If that’s the case, opt for more concentrated forms of CBD, such as concentrates (shatter, wax, crystals, etc.).
You’re Not Using a Full-Spectrum Extract
Thousands of hemp aficionados – including patients, breeders, scientists, and recreational users – support the entourage effect in cannabis. The entourage effect is the synergy between cannabinoids when they occur together, meaning that CBD is more effective in the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Dr. Ethan Russo, an expert in the cannabinoid field, explains the entourage effect using the relationship between CBD and THC. In his research paper, “Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Entourage Effects,” Russo states that Cannabidiol can counter the intoxicating effects of THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol, in turn, boosts the painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD – and vice versa.
When you use a CBD isolate – i.e. pure Cannabidiol without other compounds – you’re supposed to draw fewer benefits from it, even though isolates contain larger concentrations of CBD.
Long story short, switch from an isolate to a full-spectrum CBD extract. It could do the trick.
CBD Oil Not Working? Here’s How to Increase the Efficacy of CBD
As you can see, there are plenty of factors that can make or break your experience with CBD. From inferior-quality products to high tolerance and unique genetics, you need to take caution when buying CBD oil.
At this point, we cannot help but give you a brief cheat sheet on the best ways to make sure your CBD oil will work:
- Always buy from a reputable source;
- Check if your supplier gets their CBD from organic and GMO-free hemp;
- Ask for third-party lab testing results to see if the label claims match the reality – this should be readily available from their website
- Start with low doses and gradually work your way up to the optimal dosage – ‘low and slow’ approach
- Use full-spectrum CBD extracts – isolate may not be enough to obtain synergy
- Don’t fall into the trap of buying cheap CBD oil – the ultimate fail!
But most importantly, remember that CBD is not a miracle cure. In order to experience the benefits of CBD oil, you use it as a supplement to your lifestyle. Our endocannabinoid system is more complex than we can imagine, and as such, there will never be a magical pill to solve every health issue out there. But we can manage our health better!