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Introduction
It’s Dr. Chou here with another article about medical marijuana. Today we’re going to talk about cannabidiol (CBD) and why it might not be working for you.
Whenever someone tells me that CBD is not helping them, I ask them to check 5 things.
I’ve found that if you check all five of the above, most patients are able to figure out why CBD is not helping them and make appropriate adjustments
Check your symptoms
Although CBD has the potential to help a lot of people with a lot of different symptoms, it’s not a miracle cure and it won’t help every symptom out there.
So what are some of the potential positive effects of CBD?
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-anxiety
- Pain relieving
- Neuro protective
- Anti-tumor effects
- Seizure reducing
So if you have one of the above symptoms, CBD might help you. If you have something else, CBD might still help you, but it’s less certain.
Check your timing
If you compare CBD with THC, you’re basically comparing a mini-van with a convertible.
The effects of THC are noticeable and pronounced. It’s like riding in said convertible on a winding mountain road with the top down. You’ll feel every moment of it.
CBD, on the other hand, is that trusted mini-van that you’ve been driving around for the past 10 years. It’s not sexy and no one notices it. It’s probably not even fun to drive.
But when you look back at all the times your mini-van went to Disney, took the kids to soccer, and drove the dogs around, you’ll realize you got more out of it than you realize.
The same is true of CBD. You might not notice the effects right away. But if you pay attention after a few months, you might notice that you’re getting some positive effects from the CBD that have crept up on you over time.
That’s why I always recommend patients track their symptoms and medical marijuana usage with a symptom journal
Check your labeling
If you look closely at the labeling for many CBD products, including some of the most popular national brands, you’ll find a lot to be desired.
Some companies clearly state the CBD amount present in the entire bottle and per serving. That’s the way it should be.
Others fudge the numbers hoping you won’t notice. They might label the total amount present in the bottle, but not in an individual serving size. In this case, you think you’re getting more CBD than you actually are.
They may label the product as “hemp extract” or “total cannabinoids” without specifically telling you how much of it is CBD. In a situation like this, the CBD is often times only a small percentage of the total product.
Make sure to check the labeling on the product you are using and that they clearly identify the total and per serving amount of CBD that you are receiving. Using a high quality product with proper labeling is very important.
Also, go online and make sure that the company provides you with a 3rd party independent lab analysis to prove that they’re telling the truth.
Check your dose
Different doses are required for different symptoms. In general, lower doses are required for general wellness, anxiolytic effects, and sleep.
Higher doses are required for pain, immune modulation, and disease modification.
You might be taking a dose that’s too low for your particular medical situation.
Check your medications
CBD that’s taken orally (such as in capsules or gummies) can affect the processing of your other medications, causing the level of these other medications to be too high or low.
The most commonly affected medications are psychiatric medications, heart rhythm medications, cholesterol pills, and blood thinners.
However, the opposite can also occur. Medications that you take can affect the blood level of your CBD.
Your medications might be revving up your body’s cytochrome p450 system, inactivating the CBD before your body can use it.
One solution is to use CBD as a sublingual tincture rather than orally.
Summary
Thanks for reading my article about CBD. I have many other articles and references about CBD on this site, and I encourage you to check them out.
Thanks for reading.
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