With more and more people learning about the health benefits of using CBD oil daily, we often get asked: when is the best time to use CBD oil? And does its effect depend on it?
Experts believe that both the dose and the time of day can actually affect how your body reacts to CBD. Read this article and learn how to maximise the benefits and effectiveness of CBD products.
This article will answer all the questions, help the reader choose the best time of day for CBD oil and advise on how much CBD to use to get the desired effect.
Reasons for using CBD products
People take CBD for many reasons: from treating anxiety, stress, insomnia, muscle or joint pain and acne to suppressing appetite, boosting immunity system etc. CBD is also a great supplement for a general wellness boost.
The versatility of CBD oil stems from its relationship with the endocannabinoid system, a prime regulatory network that keeps a balance between vital biological functions.
There are thousands of reliable studies on CBD available online. In fact, cannabinoids have been studied for their therapeutic properties more often than some very popular over-the-counter products. CBD starts to interact with your endocannabinoid system within minutes, although more noticeable effects come with long-term use.
This is because CBD is the modulator of the endocannabinoid system, regulating different body functions without directly binding to the cannabinoid receptors. CBD is also an adaptogen, meaning that it can improve your daily life without any negative side effects.
In addition, CBD oil can also contain other beneficial nutrients that are often deficient in the modern lifestyle. Full-spectrum CBD oil comes with a variety of important nutrients, including:
- Cannabinoids;
- Essential fatty acids;
- Vitamins;
- Trace minerals;
- Terpenes;
- Flavonoids;
- Chlorophyll.
Before we elaborate on the best time of day to take CBD oil, let’s talk about different CBD dosages.
How much CBD oil should you take?
The optimal dose of CBD will vary from person to person, depending on their unique body chemistry, tolerance level, symptoms and their goals with CBD.
CBD doses are measured in milligrams and can range from 2 mg all the way up to 200 mg per day (for serious conditions). The best way to find out how much CBD works for you is to start with the lowest dose possible and increase it until you can feel the result you want. If this is your first time using a hemp product and your tolerance level is low or you weigh less than 50 kg, we recommend that you start with a low dose of 10-15 mg to see how your body responds to CBD. Heavier people (+85 kg) may not experience any results until they reach doses of at least 25 mg.
Long story short, trial and error is the best way to determine your effective CBD dose. That being said, we have prepared a rough dosage chart for beginners based on a person’s weight and the type of effects.
How often should you use CBD oil?
Again, that depends on your individual preferences. However, it has been found that the best effects are achieved when CBD is taken every day. The most remarkable benefit is that CBD, along with other cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp, can help bolster the endocannabinoid system and its ability to produce natural cannabinoids to encourage equilibrium and homeostasis. Delivering daily doses of CBD helps keep a regular level of endocannabinoids in your system.
Depending on the type of CBD product you use, your CBD serving size and other factors that affect the absorption rate, it can take anywhere between minutes and hours for CBD to start interacting with your endocannabinoid system.
The duration of the natural compounds in your system is determined by the following factors:
- CBD content in milligrams;
- Total body weight;
- Body fat percentage;
- Frequency of use.
Many people prefer to consume several servings of CBD oil throughout the day to better ensure consistent concentrations of cannabinoids.
What’s the best time of day to take CBD?
Some people prefer using their CBD product in the morning, taking smaller doses to boost focus and relieve some stress. Others prefer taking their CBD serving in the evening or before bed. However, most users take CBD several times throughout the day (in the morning and in the evening) to maintain regular concentrations of endocannabinoids.
Below you will find a short list of specific effects depending on the time of day.
What can CBD give you in the morning?
Enhance your focus
When your morning brain fog is harder than usual, CBD may come in handy. The morning is the best time of day to take CBD oil if you want to stay focused and keep day-to-day stresses at bay. Here is a link to a study that found that lower doses of CBD in the morning can increase your morning alertness.
Help with stress
Life can throw unexpected things and events at us, so taking CBD in the morning may help you ease the anxiety you experience before going to work or when you are about to experience an important moment in your life. CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the brain (CB1 and CB2) to promote relaxation and the balance of hormones produced; it also modulates the activity of the GABA receptor (also known as the ‘handbrake’ for the brain), reducing hyperactivity, which can make it difficult to concentrate.
Relax your muscles
The body is just as important as the mind. When your body feels a bit stiff after a night of stillness, you can take CBD oil in the morning to relax your muscles. If you are using the Hempo CBD products, you can complement your morning routine with one of our broad-spectrum topicals.
Make your morning workout more effective
If exercising is part of your morning routine, consider throwing some CBD cream or CBD oil into your gym bag. Use it before a workout to stimulate your focus and warm up the muscles and/or post-workout to speed up regeneration processes in your body to help it rejuvenate after a tough gym session. Read more about the benefits of CBD for athletes in the article ‘CBD for sports: what benefits does it provide?’
What can CBD do in the evening?
Help you unwind after a hard day
If you feel tired and anxious after a big day, CBD is a great choice to relax your mind and body in the evening. Higher doses taken before bed can have a sedative effect, which can prove helpful if you experience difficulty falling asleep.
Wake up well rested
Not only does CBD help you maintain healthy sleep cycles, but it can also influence different stages of sleep. For example, CBD has been studied for its ability to reduce REM sleep disorders such as abrupt body movements, tremors, vivid dreams and vocalisations.
Slow down the stream of thoughts before bed
The fast pace we live in makes it difficult for a tired mind and body to slow down after a long day. CBD can help induce feelings of relaxation and tranquillity by helping you protect yourself from the stream of thoughts many of us experience before falling asleep.
Key takeaways on when to take CBD oil
Remember that everybody is different, so be patient and give CBD some time to interact with your endocannabinoid system.