How To Use CBD Oil & What To Use It For (Asthma, Sleep, Etc)
CBD is a huge product these days, and everyone seems to be using it for something. But for many people this leaves more questions than answers about how to actually use CBD and what to use it for.
CBD can be used in several ways, from isolate powders, oils, edibles and of course vaping. The most common way to use CBD medicinally is by taking an oil sublingually (under the tongue). Alternatively, many people swallow a CBD oil capsule one or more times per day.
Many people use CBD oil to aid with various medical conditions that involve inflammation. I personally use CBD to help keep my asthma symptoms under control.
CBD is available across the United States and many other countries without a prescription.
If you’re heard about the life-changing properties of cannabidiol, or CBD, then you’re probably wondering how to use CBD for asthma.
But when you start to research using CBD for asthma (or any condition, for that matter), you’re going to find so many different types of oil of different dosages that it might turn you off to the entire process. How are you supposed to take it, and how much???
This is especially true for us asthmatics, who can’t really smoke!
Don’t worry. I’m going to show you EXACTLY how to use CBD for asthma. I’ve done the research and experimenting, so you can start using this amazing natural remedy and beat your addiction to rescue inhalers right away.
Let’s jump in.
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How To Use CBD For Asthma: Methods
There are many different methods to get the CBD into your body so it can start to treat your asthma. Most are perfectly effective, but some are much better than others for those with asthma.
Note that cannabis is legal where I live – please be sure you’re aware of the laws in your area pertaining to cannabis and CBD.
Smoking (worst method)
Smoking cannabis is the most common and well known way people take CBD. Frequently this is done using a strain of cannabis that is high in CBD and low in THC.
However, this is not ideal for an asthmatic as the smoke and tar from combusting the cannabis can irritate your lungs and airways and leave you worse than where you started. No bueno.
Vaporization (better method)
Many people have heard of vaping by now. It’s an alternative method for “smoking” tobacco or cannabis that doesn’t combust plant material, and therefore it doesn’t create smoke and tar.
With a proper vaporizer, this might be an appropriate way for some to consume CBD while avoiding the harmful effects of traditional smoking. Again, you would need to choose a strain of marijuana that is
However, vaporizing still creates hot air, even if it doesn’t have smoke or tar in it. Asthmatics may find the air from vaporization too hot and dry. This can cause the airways to dry out and create more symptoms of asthma. Again, no bueno. But if you’re interested it might be worth a try to see how you make out.
Sublingual Or Ingesting CBD Oil
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In my opinion, ingestion is the best method for asthmatics to get all the benefits of CBD without having to smoke or vaporize anything. Ingestion gets CBD directly into your blood stream while avoiding any irritation to the lungs – win, win.
Some like to do this via “edibles”(cookies or brownies infused with cannabis) but I prefer to use oil filled capsules or oil itself (here’s a great oil option).
Another great bonus of ingestion over smoke and vapor is that capsules and oil can provide CBD without any THC, which means no psycho-activity or “high”. This makes ingesting CBD something that can benefit you at work, school or even while taking care of children.
How Much CBD Should You Take For Asthma?
First, it’s important to understand the difference between CBD and THC, both of which are present in cannabis (that’s weed for the layperson!). There are tons of resources out there that can explain all the intricate details about the two , but let’s keep things simple.
I believe the main reason CBD is so good for us asthmatics is because it’s proven to be anti-inflammatory (SOURCE) and asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways (SOURCE). Cut out the inflammation, and your lungs are going to be so much happier.
(Learn more about exactly why CBD is my secret weapon for asthma here).
For now, suffice it to say that both THC and CBD have medical benefits, but most of the medical benefits of cannabis come from CBD. Most importantly, CBD will not get you ‘high’ like THC.
Because of this, I’m only discussing my recommended dosages for CBD. CBD is something you’re likely want to take everyday, even if you don’t want to get high.
It’s important to start off slow when experimenting with CBD for the first time. You want to make sure you’re getting enough of a dose, while still making sure there are no negative counteractions with any other medication you might be taking.
(The one downside of CBD is that it can interact with other medication. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions).
With that being said, it’s extremely difficult to take “too much” CBD and it’s unlikely that you will have a bad reaction (SOURCE). It’s more about being economical and not taking more CBD than you need to get the results you desire.
I’d start off with 20MG of CBD per day. That’s how I started. Pay attention to the effects (and consider keeping track in a journal), and up your dosage as necessary.
I should also say though, that I’d already had a lot of success treating my asthma and beating my ventolin addiction before taking CBD. So I just needed the minimum amount to start seeing a dramatic difference. If your asthma is quite severe and/or untreated, you may find you want to start with a higher dose.
(And please don’t miss my guide to other natural ways to get asthma relief here).
Try to up your dosage by 5-10MG at a time if you’re not getting the results you’re looking for.
What to expect
CBD is the kind of supplement that won’t give you an immediate effect. You won’t feel the instant relief that you would from your albuterol or ventolin rescue inhaler. It’s more similar to a preventative inhaler like flovent in the sense that you’ll only start to reap the full benefits after taking it regularly for several days.
So don’t expect massive changes all at once and wind up frustrated when you still have asthma. CBD is also not a panacea—you’ll need to incorporate all of the other lifestyle changes I recommend on this site, like a good diet and proper exercise, in order to get the best results.
Finally, like with anything, you might want to consult with your doctor before taking CBD to make sure there aren’t any medical reasons why you shouldn’t take it. But note that if you have conditions like anxiety, nausea or epilepsy, there may be even more reasons to try it!
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If you have asthma and you’ve tried CBD, please let us know in the comments below about your experience. And if you have any questions about how to use CBD for asthma, let us know below!
Thank you for the blog. I am ready to start CBD to treat my asthma and your blog has been a great help! I have got CBD isolate which I have infused with coconut oil (1 gm isolate to 1 cup coconut oil). Would it suffice to say I should start with 1 tsp of this oil? Of course I am nervous, but I need to take care of this now. Thanks.
Hi Dave! Thanks so much for checking out the blog and congratulations on getting serious about your asthma.
As to your question, I recommend people start with a standard 20-30mg dose of CBD, but really there is no risk to taking more and I think most people get better results with a higher dose. There’s no reason to be nervous at all!
So, if 1 cup has 40 tsp, that means each tsp should have approximately 25mg of CBD. That’s a perfectly fine dosage to start out with, but don’t be afraid to take more. Especially since you’re using the CBD isolate which is super cheap.
Thanks again for reading and feel free to get in touch with any more questions.
Nick