Using CBD Oil: 7 Mistakes to Avoid for Beginners

Nov 10, 2023Nathan Baker

Getting the most out of CBD oil requires knowing what can hinder your progress. Here are mistakes to avoid when using CBD oil for beginners.

Did you know that the CBD market has an expected compound annual growth rate of 21.2 percent from 2021 to 2028? This shows that more and more people are demanding these products, especially with the increase in their acceptance across the country.

However, you need to learn how to use CBD oil in order to gain all of the supposed benefits. From helping people with chronic pain to easing anxiety, you can enjoy these benefits and more if you avoid some of the common mistakes beginners make.  

With this in mind, here are seven common mistakes that beginners make when it comes to using CBD oil! 

1. Starting With a High Dose

Since it’s a supplement, it’s important to start with a low dose and slowly increase the dosage till you find a number that’s comforting and effective. Although there aren’t any universal guidelines, the perfect dose is based on your:

  • Height
  • Weight
  • Overall health
  • Genetic factors

For this reason, we recommend seeing if your doctor has a recommendation for the proper CBD oil dosage. If not, you may want to start with taking a low dosage of 20 mg to 40 mg a day. After a few days to a week, increase your dosage by 5 mg.

Although this may take longer than you’d like, this will help you avoid negative side-effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. 

2. Staying With a Low Dose

Similarly, it’s important that you gradually increase your dosage if you feel as if the CBD dose you’re on isn’t benefiting your pain, anxiety, mood, and more. You don’t want to be discouraged if you find that you’re not getting the benefits of CBD oilwhen you first start taking it.

Remember that CBD is a supplement. As with all supplements, they aren’t miracle drugs that show their benefits overnight. It can take up to a month to see a change in the issues you’re experiencing. 

3. Swallowing the Oil

You’ll also want to keep in mind that the way you take the CBD oil drops also matters. Many people make the mistake of swallowing it immediately.

However, if you want to experience better results, we recommend placing the drops under your tongue and holding them there for about 30 to 90 seconds before you swallow.

The reason for this is because the beneficial components of the oil can absorb into your bloodstream more efficiently!

4. Buying the Cheapest Product You Can Find

We understand that CBD oil isn’t cheap, so we don’t recommend purchasing the most expensive product you can find. However, consider your budget and then try to find a high-quality oil that’s reasonable.

You’ll want to make sure that the CBD oil you’re purchasing is organic and non-GMO. Natural flavoring is also a great sign of quality, though it isn’t necessary. However, you’ll have a far more pleasant experience with the oil if you’re holding it under your tongue for a minute or longer. 

More importantly, it’s imperative that the online CBD oil store you choose lets their customers know that they use 3rd-party lab testing. This means that you can trust that their lab tests are non-biased and accurate.

5. Not Doing Your Research

You’ll also want to make sure to do your research on CBD oil stores before you decide to make a purchase. Consider their online Google My Business reviews and see if they are mostly positive. You may also find testimonials on their website or reviews under the specific products they’re selling. 

If you’re purchasing the products online, make sure that the website has a clear contact form, address, and phone number in case something goes wrong. You want to be able to contact a human in order to rectify shipping mistakes, order processing issues, and more.

6. Not Talking to Your Doctor

If you’re seeking CBD as a way to relieve symptoms from chronic pain or illness, it’s important to talk to your doctor first. This is because CBD shouldn’t be a replacement for any medication you were taking before unless under the direct supervision of your doctor.

You’ll also want to make sure that the CBD you’re taking doesn’t interfere with any medication or therapies. If you’re not sure how to broach the subject, here are some questions you can ask your doctor: 

  • Will CBD oil help my condition or illness?
  • How many mg should I take per day?
  • Will CBD interfere with any of my medications?
  • What kind of CBD oil do you recommend?

Keep in mind that if your doctor doesn’t know the answer to your questions, they’ll most likely be more than happy to refer you to someone who does.

7. Not Taking Notes

Since you’ll be increasing your dosage slowly over time, it can be hard to even determine if the CBD is working if you’re not taking notes. You can forget what dosage you were taking previously, or you aren’t recognizing that positive changes in the quality of your life could be due to CBD.

With this in mind, use your smartphone or your notebook to make simple notes each day. Write the date, the dosage, and your symptoms for the day.

Using CBD Oil Today

If you’re interested in using CBD oil today, we recommend doing your research beforehand and then making the jump. Not only will you find that the CBD is more effective, but you won’t experience negative side effects from taking a dose that’s too high.

Even better, you’ll have more balanced expectations of what to expect. CBD isn’t a miracle drug, but you’ll experience relief over time with the right dosage.

Ready to start trying out CBD oil today? Take a look at all of our options! 

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