Munching on CBD gummies, such as those from established brands such as Every Day Optimal, is one of the easiest ways to get your regular dose of cannabidiol. Not only are gummies easy to carry in your pocket, you can also dose up at any time of the day without causing much fuss. Since popping gummies in general can be quite enjoyable and habit forming because they taste good, is there a chance that you can eat too much CBD gummies for your own good?
Unless you have been using and supplementing with CBD for a while, you’ll likely know the answer to this question. To those who have recently taken interest in CBD supplementation, here’s all you need to know about CBD supplementation, and in particular, supplementing with CBD gummies. First, this discussion will take a quick look at CBD basics.
CBD: What It Does For You
Cannabidiol or CBD is a chemical compound that is present in the cannabis sativa plant family such as in industrial hemp and marijuana. Hemp is a rich source of CBD and unless indicated, most CBD products in the market today come from this cannabis sativa strain. Although hemp is a cannabis sativa strain, it only contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is the psychoactive compound in marijuana. About 20% of THC is needed to get you high and marijuana contains between 30 to 40 percent of this chemical compound.
Hemp, on the other hand, contains only .3% THC, which means that supplementing with CBD won’t get you high. With CBD, you’ll get to enjoy the touted benefits from medical marijuana without the mind-altering effects of THC. So what exactly are the benefits of CBD supplementation?
It is important to note that there used to be limited research on cannabidiol. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, however, helped raise awareness of its potential medical application. A number of significant studies on CBD is underway, but some medical experts believe that most of these will serve to confirm the supposed benefits that its users are already enjoying. Other experts believe that more medical applications will also be discovered in such studies.
Here are the most common benefits attributed to CBD supplementation.
1. Treating Epilepsy in Children
The first entry on this list is not the most popular benefit of using CBD, but it has the strongest scientific evidence as of this writing. Studies have shown evidence that CBD can treat the most unkind epilepsy syndromes such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut. Anti-seizure medications do little to none in managing these two epileptic conditions. The studies mentioned gave compelling evidence that CBD can effectively reduce epileptic episodes and even prevent the seizures completely.
2. Anti-Inflammation
Cannabidiol has long been part of a few organic skin care ointment solutions owing to its ability to ease flare-ups and inflammation. Users swear by its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of psoriasis and acne.
3. Pain Control
A study that was published in the European Journal of Pain showed that applying CBD ointment on the affected area can effectively help ease the pain due to arthritis. Some users who have been using CBD for pain management, self-administer by ingesting tincture oils prior to the advent of CBD edibles. What makes CBD a viable option for pain management is that it doesn’t stress out the liver and kidneys unlike pharmaceutical painkillers.
4. High Blood Pressure Management
Initial research into CBD has confirms its ability to lower blood pressure. Suche research have shown that CBD has vasodilating properties or the ability to open up and relax the veins, allowing the blood to flow more freely and resulting in lower blood pressure. This effect also eases the stress on the heart and kidneys, which can help prevent heart and kidney diseases.
5. Anxiety Management
Early studies into CBD suggest that it also has anxiolytic properties and some users have long been using it to manage anxiety attacks and depression. While testimonies about its effectiveness in this regard abound, more studies need to be conducted to further substantiate these claims.
Can You Take Too Much CBD Gummies?
Since CBD gummies taste good and are just too convenient to carry around, some may worry that they may ingest too much CBD. The good news is that as of this writing, there has yet to be any documented case of anyone overdosing on cannabidiol. CBD is tolerated well by humans, with some regularly self-administering up to 1,500 milligrams regularly with beneficial results.
Does this mean that you can chew on as many CBD gummies as you want without having to worry about overdosing?
Unfortunately, while taking large doses of CBD may be safe, it definitely isn’t the best route to go if you are planning to supplement with CBD. When it comes to CBD supplementation, more does not necessarily translate to better. Studies have shown that there’s no universal dosage that suits everyone. In other words, some users may respond well to 20 milligrams daily, others may require on the upwards of 1,000 milligrams to enjoy the same benefits.
How do you figure out the number of CBD gummies to munch on regularly?
Finding Out Your CBD “Sweet Spot”
There are several things that you should consider when figuring out the number of CBD gummies that will work for you. These include your weight, the results that you’re after and the amount of CBD in each gummy. CBD gummies usually come in 10mg, 15mg and 25mg per gummy. To begin dosing with CBD, start out with the minimum dosage and start working your way up, gradually increasing your dose while taking careful note of the effects with each incremental increase.
Once you feel any adverse effects at some point or if the positive effects diminish, you may have likely overshot your CBD dosage “sweet spot.” Make sure not to mistake the effects that come with overshooting your ideal dose, to the common side effects associated with CBD supplementation. These side effects may include nausea, dizziness, low blood pressure, fatigue and upset stomach.
IMPORTANT: Before you start taking CBD supplements, it is vital that you consult with your physician before doing so. Cannabidiol interacts with certain drugs, which can make them dangerously more potent or render them ineffective. It is best to hold off CBD supplementation until your physician gives you the green light.
