When is The Best Time of Day to Take CBD Oil?

CBD oil has numerous benefits and an abundance of ways to administer it for its advantages. But when is the best time to take CBD oil?

There are a few key factors that can help to answer this question.

First, we’ll talk about CBD’s benefits to determine your reason for taking it. This information is essential in knowing when to take CBD. Then we’ll discuss your dosage and the different types of CBD. From here, you should be able to determine when to take CBD.

The Benefits of CBD

Over the years, CBD has become more and more noticed for its health benefits and symptom relief. Some of the health issues and conditions that CBD helps to relieve are:

Stress & Anxiety

Researchers believe CBD alters your brain’s response to serotonin; a mood regulator often referred to as the “happy chemical.” One study even showed that CBD reduces anxiety in those with social phobias and difficulty speaking in public.

Seizures

While research on this is still in the early stages, some studies have shown that cannabidiol may give hope to those with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

A 2016 study of 214 epilepsy patients over 12 weeks concluded they had 36.5% fewer seizures per month while on an oral dose of two to five mg of CBD per day. 

Alzheimer’s, MS, Parkinson’s and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders

CBD oil may reduce inflammation. In patients with neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation can make symptoms worse. Studies have also shown that CBD could decrease agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s.

Chronic Pain

Pain relief is the reason behind CBD use for about 40% of Americans. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, the cannabinoid affects your brain’s pain receptors and can relieve symptoms of:

• Arthritis
• MS Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Chronic Pain
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Headaches/Migraines

However, more research is still needed to determine if we should officially be using CBD for pain management.

Acne

Since CBD reduces inflammation, it can also help acne. In a 2014 study in humans, researchers found that CBD oil reduced activity in the glands that are responsible for producing sebum. Excess sebum production is what leads to acne.

Cancer

Experts are still researching CBD’s benefits in preventing cancer cell growth, but the known anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects.

Sleep and Insomnia

11% of Americans that use CBD are using it to help with sleep. Depending on what is causing your sleep issues, CBD may help to mitigate the reasons for your insomnia. If a racing mind is what keeps you up at night, studies show that the alleviation of anxiety can turn into better sleep.

Now that we’ve tackled some of the reasons people take CBD, knowing your own reason for taking it will help determine the best time. But first, it’s also essential to know your dosage.

CBD Dosage

First of all, we always recommend consulting your physician to talk about using CBD as ailment relief and the proper dosage you should be taking. Especially since CBD, like most potential remedies, does have its side effects.

Related: What Does CBD Feel Like Post-Consumption?

The amount of CBD you should take to relieve your ailments can depend on a variety of factors. Your body weight, metabolism, the reason for taking it, body chemistry, and the CBD’s concentration in the form you’re taking are among a few.

Since there is no official dose, it’s always best to start small and gradually increase as needed. 

Experts recommend starting your CBD dosage by body weight. Start at a daily dose of just 1mg of CBD per pound of your body weight. Then increase to 2mg of CBD per pound, all the way up to 6mg per pound. 

For example, a 160-pound person would begin with 160mg daily and work their way up to the point they can feel the difference.

Now that we’ve established your reason for taking it and its proper dosage, let’s talk about timing.

When is The Best Time of Day to Take CBD Oil?

When determining the best time of day to take CBD, it’s important to note the type of product you’re using. The bioavailability of the substance is a critical factor.

A substance needs to be absorbed by the body in order to deliver internal benefits. Bioavailability is the rate that reflects how your body will absorb the product. The smaller the percentage, the less of the CBD your body will absorb.

According to cfah.org, the bioavailability of different delivery methods is as follows:

• CBD topicals: <1%
• CBD capsules and edibles: 5-15%
• CBD Oil drops: 20-30%
• CBD vapes: ~56%

Topicals are measured at 0%, as the CBD doesn’t actually reach your bloodstream, only the receptors that exist in your skin and muscles. 

Because products like edibles and capsules need to be digested, they take longer to go into effect and last longer. A vape will have more immediate results, as it has the most bioavailability and hits your bloodstream quickly.

With CBD capsules and edibles, your metabolism can determine when and how long the effects will last. The time of day you should plan to take these depends on the symptom you’re attempting to alleviate.

For example, if you have anxiety during your 9-5 job, you may find it most beneficial to take the CBD in the morning a couple of hours beforehand so it can work at the right time. If you have insomnia, you’ll want to take ingestible CBD a couple of hours before bed.

With CBD tinctures, the oil is meant to be administered sublingually so the glands under your tongue can quickly absorb it. This method will get to your bloodstream quicker than the capsules and edibles because it doesn’t have to get digested to enter your bloodstream.

This method is recommended in the morning to start your day but may depend on your reasoning for using it. For aiding in sleep, you’ll want to take it before bed. 

With tinctures, you may choose to split the dosage and do half in the morning and a half at night to get more evenly spread out relief. For insomnia, you may choose to double your dose before bed.

With CBD vapes, you get the most immediate effect with instant relief. For this reason, it is the preferred method for conditions and ailments that need immediate relief, such as pain. You can use CBD vapes throughout the day, and timing will depend on when you need it. 

With CBD topicals, these should be applied as needed throughout the day. The CBD does not enter your bloodstream, so the time of day and bioavailability isn’t essential.

All in all, there isn’t one single simplistic answer for when to take CBD, as each and every person’s body is different. 

When it comes to truly determining the best timing for you, trial and error will help you determine what’s best for your individual ailments, needs, and body composition.