One of the bigger questions we get at AHS is, “How long does it take for CBD to take effect?” The answer is luckily fairly simple, depending on the product you take.

For something like our gummies, that can take anywhere between half an hour to forty-five minutes, depending on the person. The gummies go through your digestive system, allowing the CBD to help with potential inflammation in your body as well as anxiety and stress. This is usually a go-to for CBD consumption because of how easy it is to ingest and how easy it is to carry around.

Along with that, we have CBD vapes. This is the fastest way to get CBD into your body. What’s so great about these vapes is the do not cause popcorn lung in anyone who uses it, which makes it a better alternative to cigarettes and other vapes alike. Like regular vapes, they also come in many different flavors. They don’t give you that feeling of intoxication either, with any CBD product in out store, everything with any form of THC is within the legal limits (0.03%). So you don’t get that “high” feeling, but will feel more relaxed and clearer headed over all. These are a good way to quickly get CBD into your system and have a quicker relaxation.

We also have CBD cream that takes about thirty minutes or so to take full effect. This product is used for topical pains such as back pain and skin irritation. The cream can go about four layers into the skin, allowing it to work deep into the tissue, though you should not put this product near your eyes or other sensitive areas on your body. We also have is our CBD patches. These work very similarly to the cream
and can be a good alternative in case you don’t like the creamy feeling on your skin. In addition, the patches can help with fatigue, irritation, and muscle tension.

There are also our tinctures/CBD oil, that can be held under the tongue for thirty seconds to a minute. This allows the CBD to enter the blood stream easier and take effect. While you can put the oil in either food or drinks, it will take most of the efficiency away from the product. Otherwise, the oil stays in your system for longer than most other products, especially if you take it in the morning and at night. This is another popular form of intake due to the CBD to go through the entire body and stay in your body for longer.

If you have any questions about CBD or how it can interact with any medication you may be taking, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff at AHS who can help with whatever you may need.

Fibromyalgia was thought to be a mental disorder in the early 1800’s, it is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and extreme sensitivity to pressure. Although the root cause of this condition is unknown, what is known is that disturbances in sensory pathways of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves caused patients to suffer from abnormal and intensified pain sensations.

The first scientific research studying fibromyalgia was done in 1981, but the first medication designed to manage the incapacitating symptoms was not approved by the FDA until 2007. While usually less than 40 percent of those suffering from fibromyalgia experience symptom relief from pharmaceutical medications, medical cannabis is often a successful therapy option to an otherwise resilient condition. Fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain, fatigue, sleep deprivation, and mood instability or depression, can be efficiently treated with the use of medical cannabis because the organic chemical compounds that make up the plant, called cannabinoids, mimic the body’s own naturally produced endocannabinoids.

The cannabinoids in cannabis bind to the same endocannabinoid receptors that are responsible for regulating many body systems including pain, appetite, mood, and memory. Even though the increase in the number of states legalizing the use of medical cannabis may seem new to some, it is actually history repeating itself. Medical cannabis tinctures were available for over-the-counter purchase in drugstores throughout the United States until the 1930s. Phillip Leveque, the Oregon-based doctor known for being a pioneer of medical marijuana activism, was alive when cannabis tinctures could be found on store shelves, and he was also one of the first doctors to recommend medical cannabis once it was legalized in 1998. Leveque reported that he was in care of roughly 100 patients suffering from fibromyalgia, at any given time, and they all found medical cannabis to be a highly effective treatment. Many patient statements support what experts and researchers have revealed about the symptom relief that results from the use of medical cannabis.

Multiple cannabinoids are known for easing symptoms of fibromyalgia. For example, THC can significantly reduce or even eliminate pain and nausea while helping to improve mood, and CBN is a powerful sleep aid. While single cannabinoid therapy, like the use of just THC or just CBN, will be effective, the efficacy of medical cannabis increases dramatically when multiple cannabinoids are able to work together in a process known as the entourage effect. An example of this is revealed in the results of a recent online survey of fibromyalgia patients, conducted by The National Pain Foundation. Sixty-two percent of participants found medical cannabis to be “very effective” in the treatment of multiple symptoms.

A study conducted in Spain and published in 2011 revealed that medical cannabis can provide fibromyalgia sufferers with both symptom relief and better quality of life. After using medical cannabis, participants reported a substantial decrease in pain and stiffness as well as increase in relaxation, and a rise in sleeping abilities. Patients also noted feeling an improved sense of well-being after the introducing the use of medical cannabis therapies.

Always consult your primary care physician before starting any new treatments.

Our team of specialists are always available to provide you with education and assist you with any questions regarding CBD, CBN, or other cannabinoids you may be curious about.