If you find yourself on this page, there is a good chance you’ve tried CBD in the past and have been frustrated with the results. Perhaps you’ve heard friends and family rave about the results, but you haven’t noticed any change after starting your own CBD routine.
First and foremost, you’re not alone. Many people try CBD and find that it doesn’t have the desired results. You may find that you need to try a different product, a different serving size, or a different schedule to achieve the desired effects. And in some cases, you simply need to adjust your expectations.
If CBD isn’t working for you, there are so many reasons this could be the case. Since 2016, we have been supporting customers as they discover CBD for the first time. We’ve learned a lot in this time, particularly from individuals who don’t have the experience they were expecting. Based on anecdotal evidence from our customers, we’ve compiled this list of the most common reasons CBD might not be working for you.
Before we delve into why CBD might not be having the desired effect, it’s important to remember that CBD is not a medicine intended to treat or cure any condition. If you have been sold CBD on a wild promise, then you should prepare for disappointment.
It isn’t a medicine, so it cannot be used to treat or cure any particular condition. While you might find anecdotal evidence of individuals using CBD for specific concerns, this is not a guarantee that it will produce the same effects for you. With this in mind, here are some common reasons CBD might not feel like it is working.
Taking too much or too little CBD will reduce its efficacy. CBD has a biphasic effect, which means it has a different impact depending on the serving size. If you’re taking too much CBD, you may be experiencing adverse side effects that prevent you from enjoying the balancing effects.
On the other hand, if you are taking a very low-strength product, or you’re taking a small serving size, then you might find that this isn’t enough to produce the effects you’re after.
CBD isn’t a medicine, so we don’t have standard dosing guidelines we can follow. Instead, individuals need to find their ideal serving size and schedule. We recommend starting low and increasing slowly, paying close attention to how it makes you feel.
Once you have found your ideal serving size, you need to take it consistently. It’s common for individuals to give up after a few weeks because they assume it isn’t doing anything.
Many CBD oil products will contain enough for a whole month of use, and we recommend sticking with it for at least this long to see the positive benefits to your sense of wellness.
When you ingest CBD oil, the body gets to work filtering it out. The cannabinoids need a chance to build up in your bloodstream before you can enjoy the balancing effects.
There are a few reasons your CBD oil might not contain any cannabinoids.
It’s difficult to know if the company you are dealing with is reputable, particularly if they will go as far as faking lab reports. It’s also possible that you could have purchased a counterfeit product which looks similar to a reputable brand. If in doubt, go to a well-known retailer, and be sceptical if the price seems too good to be true.
If you have opted for CBD isolate, this might not be as effective as a broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD product. While CBD isolate is great in topical products, it’s less effective when taken orally. This is because it does not contain the full spectrum of beneficial cannabinoids and plant compounds that contribute to the entourage effect.
CBD is not a miracle cure, and it won’t fix everything overnight. It’s easy to fall for the marketing hype, and this will leave you with unrealistic expectations of what you can achieve.
As we have mentioned countless times before – in this article and in others – CBD is not a medicine. We simply don’t know enough about the endocannabinoid system and CBD to be able to test if it is working or not.
And if you have unrealistic expectations of what it will feel like when you take CBD, then you’re unlikely to continue, because it’s really quite an unremarkable experience. A bit like taking your morning vitamins.
It’s possible that the CBD oil is doing exactly what it is supposed to do and providing support to your endocannabinoid system, but you aren’t aware of any significant changes. The effects aren’t always noticeable, but your body is experiencing support on the inside. Give it time and learn to tune into your body.
Everyone will have a different experience with CBD depending on your body composition, metabolism, the product you use, the serving size, and your individual chemistry. Even what you ate that day could have an impact on your experience with CBD.
But it's not just physical; your lifestyle and mental habits will also influence the effectiveness of CBD and any other supplements.
While CBD can be beneficial for many people, others simply don’t notice any changes and choose not to stick with it. This doesn’t mean that CBD is a fake product or a scam, it simply means that it doesn’t have the same benefits for everyone.
If you’re unhappy with the results of your CBD product, don’t give up just yet. This checklist will help you to decide your next steps so you can continue your journey of CBD discovery.
It’s tempting to dismiss CBD oil if it doesn’t have an immediate and profound impact on your health but try not to be so hasty. CBD isn’t a miracle cure; it should be treated like an everyday health supplement. When taken consistently, trust that it will support your endocannabinoid system, perhaps in ways that aren’t immediately obvious to you.
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Laura Howarth
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Laura Howarth is a specialist CBD author based in Manchester, UK. She is passionate about sharing her love for CBD through educational articles and in-depth guides.