HOW LONG DOES CBD OIL TAKE TO WORK?

HOW LONG DOES CBD OIL TAKE TO WORK?

CBD oil in multiple forms; some infuse it in food and drinks, while others inhale it or apply it to their skin. But, the query in public is how long it’ll take to experience the outcomes of CBD oil after consumption. This article explains what CBD is, how it interacts with the body, and the factors determining how long the oil takes to work.

 CBD oil is a trending herbal remedy in the cannabis market. A few drops of CBD oil in your dish or beverage can relieve numerous challenges such as pain, inflammations, high blood pressure, tension, seizure, and many more. The cannabis derivative takes manifests differently from one body type to the other. Similarly, its effects on the body depend on the consumption methods and the concentration of CBD in a substance. 

WHAT IS CBD?

According to Johnson et al. (2010), CBD is an active compound derived from the leaves and flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD is domiciled in the hemp plant; the industrial hemp plant contains a high concentration of CBD compounds, with a relatively low level of THC. Notably, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is responsible for the psychoactive behavior associated with marijuana. Unlike THC, CBD is a non-intoxicating compound with healthy anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-depressant properties. Upon extraction from the hemp plant, CBD is diluted in an organic carrier oil, such as hemp seed oil, MCT oil, or olive oil, to improve its bioavailability. 

HOW CBD OIL INTERACTS WITH YOUR BODY

When you ingest CBD oil into your bloodstream, it interacts with body proteins and cannabinoid receptors. The interaction occurs within the endocannabinoid system (ECS), responsible for regulating imbalances such as pain, contamination, anxiety, sleep, and appetite. Cooray et al. (2020) said that CBD induces both cannabinoid receptors (CB1& CB2) to bind with body cannabinoids like anandamide; this enables the cannabis derivative to influence the imbalances mentioned above. It also increases endocannabinoid production and further prevents the breakdown of the natural compounds by enzymes to maintain homeostasis (body balance). In the brain, CBD binds with serotonin receptors to increase the production of cortisol; a high concentration of cortisol in your brain neurons increases traumatic memories.

FACTORS AFFECTING HOW LONG CBD OIL TAKES TO MANIFEST EFFECTS

Clinical observation shows that CBD oil takes around 2 to 3 hours for the effects to kick in. The difference in manifestation time is a function of factors like the method of intake, frequency of use, CBD potency, and dosage.

METHOD OF INTAKE

Consumption mode plays a vital role in the duration of CBD effects on the body. There are one-of-a-kind techniques to consume CBD oil, and every technique differs with the form of CBD products within the market. Nonetheless, each method influences the onset time:

INGESTION

The most common method of CBD oil consumption is ingesting the products through the mouth and allowing their breakdown through the digestive tract. It takes 60 to 120 minutes to feel cannabis’ effects. CBD products ingested through the gut include soft gels, edibles, and gummies. Users can also ingest CBD infused in foods and beverages.

SUBLINGUAL

It involves placing a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue and holding the liquid for 60 seconds before swallowing. This allows the compounds to diffuse into the bloodstream through the soft mucous membranes underneath the tongue. Since the method bypasses digestion and the metabolic process, CBD oil takes less than 5 minutes to work.

INHALATION

It includes smoking heated CBD oil or taking it from a vape pen. The vaped CBD oil passes through the mouth to the lungs, which is absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated inside the body. It takes approximately 2 minutes to experience the effects of the oil.

CBD OIL DOSAGE

VanDolah et al. (2019) explained that hemp-derived CBD oil dosage affects how long the compound lasts in the body system and the onset time. A dosage of 10 MG of CBD cannot have the same onset as 50Mg; the higher the dosage, the lesser time it takes for effects to show.

CBD POTENCY

CBD potency of the oil plays a crucial role in the onset period. White et al. (2019) stated that it is possible not to feel the supplement’s effects with low potency since CBD power is diminished. Consuming high potency products will take less than an hour for you to feel the therapeutic effects of CBD independent of any consumption method; a prolonged time indicates less potent CBD oil. 

FREQUENCY OF USE

If you take a medication regularly, your body craves the drug; hence any time you take it again, your body is ready for a breakdown. The same applies to CBD oil; the more you take, the less time it takes for the body receptors to interact and deliver the results. It can take up to two hours for first-time users to experience the effects of CBD oil.

CONCLUSION

CBD oils are popular additives in foods, beverages, or cocktails. However, understanding how CBD works and its onset time is still under investigation. On average, CBD takes between 2 minutes to three hours to manifest, depending on the consumption method and the dosage. Factors in the user’s body weight, frequency of CBD use, and metabolism determine the time taken for the drug to manifest in the body. While CBD is well-tolerated in the body, excessive consumption or an overdose could result in mild side effects.

REFERENCES

Johnson, J. R., Burnell-Nugent, M., Lossignol, D., Ganae-Motan, E. D., Potts, R., & Fallon, M. T. (2010). Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of THC: CBD extract and THC extract in patients with intractable cancer-related pain. Journal of pain and symptom management, 39(2), 167-179

Cooray, R., Gupta, V., & Suphioglu, C. (2020). Current aspects of the endocannabinoid system and targeted THC and CBD phytocannabinoids as potential therapeutics for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases: a review. Molecular Neurobiology, 57(11), 4878-4890.

VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.

White, C. M. (2019). A review of human studies assessing cannabidiol’s (CBD) therapeutic actions and potential. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 59(7), 923-934.

Elena Ognivtseva
Latest posts by Elena Ognivtseva (see all)

Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

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