Here’s when experts recommend taking hemp oil, based on your needs. If you’re looking to use hemp extract to unwind from the day, board-certified practitioner of family medicine Rob Rountree, M.D., recommends taking it about one hour before bedtime (and maybe following it up with a sleep-supporting supplement, too).* This gives its beneficial phytocannabinoids some time to interact with your endocannabinoid system, also called the master regulatory system, and bring your body back into balance.* Functional medicine gynecologist Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA, echoes this advice, noting, “If you’re taking it to assist with sleep or stress related to sleep, then nighttime before bed is best.”* Physician Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., adds that if your stress levels vary throughout the day, you’ll want to note when they feel the highest. Is it correlated to any particular task or time frame, like before meetings or after checking emails? That’s valuable information, and it can inform how you handle those stressors. Taking hemp extract before those tasks isn’t a bad idea, as long as it doesn’t make you sleepy or make it difficult to focus. It shouldn’t because by nature, hemp plants have an extremely low THC content (with European hemp oil have the lowest levels at < 0.2%) and aren’t associated with the “high” of genetically distinct cannabis varietals (aka marijuana). Again, the right time to take it for mood support will vary from person to person. Notice what time during the day your mood and outlook tend to dip, and try hemp oil an hour or so beforehand to help mellow things out.*
