The CBD form factors you use have a significant impact on how CBD affects you. Whether you ingest it, inhale it, take it sublingually or apply it topically, the way you use CBD will influence the location, duration, and even the intensity of the cannabinoid’s effects.
There are many different ways to take CBD, and each of the delivery methods is designed to target different parts of the body and produce specific results. The form factors work differently for different people, meaning it requires precision to pick the best delivery methods for you. But thankfully, genetic testing can help you determine the form factors that will yield the best possible results for you.
Why Should DNA Dictate Your CBD Form Factors?
Most CBD users pick their form factors based on personal preferences. They may enjoy vaping or using a topical that’s convenient and easy to incorporate into their day-to-day life. But these delivery methods won’t necessarily be the most effective way to harness the benefits of CBD. In truth, it will always take some trial and error for you to find the ideal form factors and dosages for you.
While it can be daunting to know where to begin, examining your DNA and considering what your body needs from CBD are great places to start. For example, if you carry specific variations on the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genes, which influence the degradation of CBD and THC, then there are certain form factors you shouldn’t use. Variants of the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 will cause your body to break down cannabinoids less efficiently, making certain form factors unsuitable.
Because of your body’s slow breakdown, edibles with THC could cause you to experience a much longer and more intense high as well as extended periods of lethargy than someone without the genetic variants. More appropriate form factors, however, would be vaporizers and sublinguals because THC and CBD would bypass first-pass metabolism, preventing you from feeling any unwanted side-effects from the cannabinoids.
It’s also worth considering that your genetics directly impact your metabolism. CBD is fat-soluble, meaning that, if you’re a slow metabolizer, certain form factors — such as the ingestion of CBD oil — could theoretically cause CBD to accumulate in your liver and interact with other substances that you’re using, making a topical the best route for you. This information is especially pertinent if you’re taking fat-soluble medications, as it’s possible for unknown reactions to occur or for fat to accumulate and form liver cirrhosis.
These are just a couple of examples of how the wrong form factors can produce undesirable results. But if you know about your genetic variations, it’s possible to choose the right delivery methods and give yourself the best CBD experience possible.
The Most Popular CBD Form Factors: Which Are Best?
To identify your optimum CBD form factors, you must first learn the specific conditions that you are genetically predisposed to developing. Then, it’s merely a matter of learning which CBD form factors are best-suited to treating them.
There are three popular delivery methods (and one surprising fact) to consider based on the condition you’re targeting.
1. Inhalation
Inhalation is the delivery method that works most quickly. This form factor is ideal for treating symptoms that require rapid relief, such as high pain sensitivity or anxiety, both of which you want to combat the moment they arise.
2. Edibles
If you’re genetically predisposed to conditions like celiac, inflammatory bowel disease, or sleep disorders that last an entire night, you’ll require more gradual and long-lasting relief. In this case, edibles are optimal.
Be sure you know the difference between sublingual vs. edible cannabis!
3. Topicals
Certain types of pain and pain sensitivity require you to use treatment that targets precise areas of your body. This insight is particularly true if you experience pain sensitivity, much of which is caused by nociception, the sensory nervous system’s response to harmful external stimuli that is detected by nerve endings found primarily on the skin.
Topicals are the best form factor if you want to target painful areas of your body. The effects of topicals are relatively long-lasting (though not as enduring as edibles). If you have a predisposition for conditions like arthritis, topicals are a highly recommended CBD form factor.
4. No form factor at all
In some situations, it’s advisable not to consume any CBD whatsoever. One such case is if you have a genetic predisposition for glaucoma, a primary cause of blindness in America.
High intraocular pressure is the key risk factor for developing glaucoma, and CBD actually increases that risk even more. While certain conditions related to eye health, such as age-related macular degeneration or cataracts, are alleviated by CBD, ailments that result from intraocular pressure become worse because of CBD. If you have a predisposition for developing glaucoma, you should avoid using CBD at all costs.
How to Pick Your Form Factors If You Have Multiple Conditions
If you have multiple conditions, each with seemingly different needs, picking the best CBD form factor might seem more challenging, but it’s easier than you’d think.
All you have to do is determine the conditions you’re genetically predisposed to developing and your likelihood of developing them. Then, you need to use that data to create a pie chart that displays how much you should focus on each condition.
For example, if you have a severe risk of developing arthritis but a moderate risk of suffering from anxiety, it would be advisable to prioritize topicals. Fifty percent of your dosage could come from topicals, 30% from vapes, and the remaining 20% could come from sublingual products.
This approach uses statistics to help you tailor your consumption to your personal risk levels and bases your CBD form factors on your individual needs.
How to Determine the Right CBD Dosage
Once you’ve picked your form factors, it’s vital that you also identify the correct dosages that you should take.
This decision can be made simply, with the use of a CBD dosage calculator. There are many online options that advise adequate quantities of CBD to achieve low, medium and high doses, based on factors such as your weight, gender, and genetic predispositions. The calculator should also provide personalized information regarding the optimum dose for each form factor, allowing you to consume the right amount of CBD overall.
Create a positive CBD experience
Genetic testing enables you to learn about your ideal CBD form factor and determine just how much CBD you should consume. The right amount of CBD and the proper form factors are different for every individual, and working it out may seem daunting. But by using data about your DNA, you can identify the best form factors and dosage for your health to ensure you have the best CBD experience.