I am a firm believer that CBD oil can help some people with aches and pains. People often ask when is the best time of day to take CBD oil? I don’t have a perfect answer to this question because it has so many variables. But there are some guidelines you may follow.
For example, I know one girl that takes her CBD oil at night because it makes her sleepy. She swears that it is because she has Adult attention-deficit disorder (ADD). There is very little to no evidence to support her statement that CBD oil will make her sleepy because of ADD.
I know a guy who takes his oil in the morning because it energizes him. He has no claim of ADD and appears steady and calm.
So you see, the variables are broad, and not all of them have detailed research to back them up. There are some guidelines one can follow to help determine the best time of day to take CBD oil.
Let’s explore these guidelines:
- How does CBD oil work in your body?
- What dosage do you take?
- What is the reason you are taking CBD oil?
- Can your body metabolize and absorb CBD oil?
How Does CBD Oil Work In Your Body?
Our bodies have a system known as the ECS or the endocannabinoid system. We have receptors in our bodies that take up CBD. These receptors are like tentacles that are a part of our nervous system. They reach out and take in the CBD when we ingest it.
The central nervous system and peripheral nervous system tentacles are different in each person. Some will fill up faster in one person, and in another, they require more CBD oil to accomplish a goal, which we will talk about in the reasons for taking CBD oil.
When Is The Best Time Of Day To Take CBD Oil?
Because of these receptors, the time of day to take CBD will vary for each person. We are all unique individuals; therefore, you must listen to your body and know what type of uptake system you have.
I broke this explanation down to help you understand the process of CBD oil in your body. For a more detailed description, take a look at the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
What Dosage Do You Take?
CBD is not regulated by the FDA, which means that the amount of cannabinoids in a dose may vary, and there is no recommended dosage. To figure out the amount of CBD to take can be a daunting process. I do have some suggestions for you.
- Start low
- Increase slowly
- Note improved symptoms
- Watch for side effects
Start Low
The dosage range for CBD in the oil form is 300mg to as high as 1500mg per bottle. I have also seen up to 2000mg. The dosage you take depends on what problem you are treating, which we will talk about more as we move forward.
If you choose to follow these guidelines, I am saying to start with the lowest dose available of 300mg. Going up is much easier than clearing high amounts from your body once the receptors are saturated. The saying “more is better” is not always the case when we are talking about a medication that can build up in your system.
I do know a girl who was taking CBD oil from one company and switched to a new company. She purchased the same 1000mg bottle from the new company, but because the dosage within the oil is not regulated, the new one was stronger. She developed side effects with the new CBD taken from a new company.
I want to take this moment to tell you that I am a Registered Nurse with years of experience in the medical field. I am in no way diagnosing you or saying you should take a specific dose. I am providing guidelines for you if you choose to follow them.
I do know that CBD oil can interfere with some medications and is absorbed differently for each person. Some people may not be candidates to use CBD oil. For these reasons, you need to consult with your medical doctor to have a clear understanding of the potential benefits and dangers of CBD oil.
However, I do recommend personalized testing to determine the effectiveness of CBD oil for your individual needs. Again as we move forward, I will speak more on this subject.
Increase Slowly
Most bottles of CBD oil come with a measured dropper. You can start with a shallow dose of 0.2cc of a measured dropper and increase it every few days to get the desired effect. Again these are suggestions from a very conservative nurse who is always cautious. CBD oil, although not FDA regulated, is, in my opinion, a medication we take to improve health conditions.
Note Improved Symptoms
Keep a diary from the very beginning. Please write down the reasons for taking the oil, and each day make note of the time you took it and did the symptoms improve. Also, take note of what dose of oil you were taking when your condition began to improve.
Watch For Side Effects
In your diary, also note any ill effects you may have when you take CBD oil: such as diarrhea, dry mouth, poor appetite, fatigue, and drowsiness.
Note the time of day you took the dose. For instance, if you took it in the morning and noted drowsiness, you may be a better candidate for night time dosage instead. Or if you took it in the evening and felt energized, you may want to take it at noon or in the morning.
What is the reason you are taking CBD oil?
Since our peripheral nervous system and our central nervous system uptake CBD oil by way of the endocannabinoid system, everyone is taking CBD for a different reason. Some reasons cited in the literature are to control:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Sleep
- PTSD
- Moderate depression
- Seizures
- Acne
- Appetite
- Systemic inflammation
- Pain
- And the list can go on and on.
Regardless of the reason, the process is the same. Consult your physician to find out if any medications you are taking will interact with the CBD and, start low then increase slowly. Keep a diary and note improvements, side effects, and the time of day you took your CBD.
Can Your Body Metabolize And Absorb CBD Oil?
How often have you heard someone say to you, “you should take CBD oil; it helped me so much?” This is not always a true statement. CBD oil is not for everyone. It can be harmful to some if taken in too high of a dose. Some people do not metabolize CBD well, and it accumulates in their receptors. On the other hand, if it works, then you may have relief of your symptoms.
How do you know what is right for you? You can take CBD, and when it builds up, you will have side effects and back down. But for some to clear, this oil out of your system can take weeks. No one wants to have side effects for weeks.
DNA Testing For CBD
That’s right! Incredible, isn’t it? You have DNA that you share with your family. BUT you also have a small percentage of DNA that is unique to you. You can have a test run on this small portion of DNA to determine how you metabolize it.
Your results can also help you determine when is the best time of day to take CBD oil.
What Can You Expect From A DNA CBD Test?
First and foremost, you can expect confidentiality. We here at DNA is the WAY follow the HIPPA guidelines to protect your health information. As a Registered Nurse, I do understand how important your data is to you, and we take extra steps to keep your information confidential.
Secondly, we test for more than just how you metabolize CBD. We take it further to check on:
- CBD metabolism-do you have sufficient CYP enzyme activity to metabolize CBD
- Systemic inflammation-what is your likelihood of having increased inflammation in your body.
- Sleep duration-what do your genes say about your sleep pattern that can affect your health.
- Pain Tolerance-do you have characteristics of high or low Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity which determines your pain tolerance
- Social Anxiety-are you genetically susceptible to social anxiety.
- Stress Tolerance-are you more or less likely to have daily stress
- Alcohol sensitivity-are you more or less likely to have a sensitivity to alcohol
- Chronotype-are you a morning, afternoon, or evening person? Knowing this information can help in your decision of the best time of day to take CBD oil.
When these biomarkers are not at an optimal functioning level, they can affect your health and may also affect how and when you take your CBD oil. Or if you need to take it at all.
We just recently developed CBD DNA testing. While DNA testing is at least ten years old or more, the CBD testing is state of the art and a breakthrough in determining your metabolic ability to take CBD oil and when to do so.
Don’t just guess at your health. Know what your body needs. Empower you with the knowledge of your genetic makeup. Liberate yourself and eliminate the guesswork.