New to CBD? Here's How to Get Started
With so many CBD products on the market right now, it’s no surprise that you’re curious about how to implement it into your daily routine. If you’re new to CBD, knowing what to purchase and how to use it can feel overwhelming. Don't worry, we've got you covered! We are going to break down everything you need to know so you can get started taking/using CBD.
What is CBD?
First, let’s talk about what CBD is. CBD is a cannabinoid that comes from the cannabis plant. There are over 100 cannabinoids that have been identified so far in the cannabis plant, with THC and CBD being the most researched. All cannabinoids have different properties and can affect your body in different ways. Unlike THC, CBD doesn't typically give you the "high" effect that THC does, while still providing many benefits to our bodies. We are still learning more about CBD and the other cannabinoids - including all the potential benefits when used on/in our bodies. If you want to know more about CBD, you can read the What is CBD? blog post here.
How CBD Works
CBD works in your body by influencing your endocannabinoid system (ECS). Your ECS’s main job is to keep your body in balance, and CBD supports your ECS in doing just that. You can learn more about your ECS by reading the blog post The Endocannabinoid System. When your ECS is out of balance you can experience: trouble sleeping, anxiety, inflammation, and more. CBD supports your ECS to get things back in balance - which is where you want to be!
CBD works best with the presence of other cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes from the plant. The therapeutic impact of the plant together is greater than the sum of its individual parts. This synergy of all the parts working best in combination is known as the “entourage effect”.
- Isolate: single-molecule CBD. No THC or other compounds. No entourage effect.
- Whole plant: the whole plant and all its therapeutic components. Takes advantage of the entourage effect.
- Full-spectrum: the plant has been processed but has maintained the terpene profile and other components and kept them intact. Takes advantage of the entourage effect.
Choosing a CBD Product
It is easier than ever to find a CBD product that works best for you and your body. With so many products on the market, it’s important to know exactly what you are getting. Make sure that any product you choose has a label the includes ingredients and potency, as well as a link to a Certificate of Analysis that you can view. You can read more about How to read a Certificate of Analysis here.
There are several factors when determining what type of CBD product will best meet your needs.
- What is your purpose for taking CBD?
- How quickly do you want it to take effect?
- How long do you want the effects to last?
Knowing what your purpose is for using CBD for will help you determine what product would would be best for you. Ingestibles will provide support for your body overall, while topicals are typically thought of more as helping the "surface" of your body.
Ingestibles
When comparing ingestibles, extracts are typically the fastest acting because they enter the bloodstream quickly. Gummies are often appealing to people because they can feel less daunting to take but typically take longer - usually 15 minutes to one hour, to take effect. While it all depends on your body size, dosage, and your individual response to CBD, most people feel the benefits of extracts within 5-30 minutes, and gummies within 15-60 minutes.
Topicals
When looking for a topical keep in mind they are great for “spot” treatment. You can put a salve, lotion, roll-on, or cream right where you are wanting the benefit - whether an elbow, knee, neck, etc. Because the CBD must enter your body through your skin, not as much of it enters your bloodstream, which is why it's more of a "surface" treatment.
People often take multiple forms of CBD each day - from an extract for overall support of their body, to a salve or lotion for spot treatment on sore or achy areas on the body. There's no right or wrong way to use CBD, only what works best for YOU.
How to Get Started
Now that you have an idea of what type(s) of CBD you want to try, let’s talk about how to start using CBD. When it comes to CBD, the best way to think of dosing is to “start low and go slow.” This means that you want to start with a low dose and slowly work yourself up to the dosing that is right for you. Because everyone’s body is different, we can all have a different amount of CBD that works best for us. The easiest way to determine the dosage right for you is by tracking your CBD usage. You will want to keep track of:
- What type of CBD you're taking (we recommend trying one product at a time when you first get started)
- Why you're taking it (the purpose)
- What time of day you are taking it
- How much you are taking
- The effect it had on your body
This may sound like a lot of information to keep track of, and it is! But never fear - we have made it easy for you to track all this information. Our CBDiary has room for you to track your CBD usage for 2 weeks - and we have made room for you to use it with two different products. You can download your free CBDiary here.
Ready to get started? Treadwell Farms Starter Variety Pack is a great way to try our three extracts
- Essential Blend: our original extract with “just the essentials”. No added essential oils or flavor, this is a great extract to begin with.
- Citrus Spice: our Essential Blend with additional botanicals that aid in digestion and absorption as well as giving it a wonderful “citrus spice” flavor
- Evening Blend: created to support a restful night’s sleep.
The Starter Variety Pack includes about 2 weeks worth of each of these products, making it easy for you to try our extracts and determine your perfect dosing. Click here to purchase a Starter Variety Pack.
See Treadwell Farms line of full-spectrum CBD products by clicking HERE.
Would you like to learn more about CBD and how it works with your bod? We suggest you start with these posts:
Sources:
CBD and Your Endocannabinoid System
