What You Need to Know About Doing a THC Detox
The cannabis plant is a wonderful all-natural tool, but it can leave plenty of residue behind, which is a part of what helps to build up a consumer’s tolerance levels to THC. For some people, that fact really doesn’t matter, but for others, it’s an issue that they would like to tackle in the most effective way possible.
To do that, there are a few necessary tidbits of information that you will need to equip yourself fully, which can help to ease the transition from toking daily to staying sober. Here we will take you on a journey to a better understanding of how slowly the human body processes cannabinoids like THC, and everything else that you will ever need to know about a marijuana detox.
What is a detox?
A detox of any kind is to rid the body of toxic substances, in this case, marijuana. This will mean completely quitting ingesting the element in question and doing your very best to help along with the processing of it so that it leaves the system as quickly as possible. The goal of a detox is to cleanse the system of any traces so well that they will not show up on any kind of drug test.
Why you need a weed detox
A marijuana detox is technically a THC detox, as it is the cannabinoid that creates the proteins that are sought in commercially used drug test kits, which is why it is most often done by consumers who are facing a drug test. However, there are other ways that a weed detox can be beneficial, including improving lung health, enhancing sensitivity to the psychoactive element THC, and reducing the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that are often experienced by regular users that suddenly run out of the pot.
How long marijuana stays in your body
Some people think that the manner of ingestion is pertinent to the length of time that THC hangs around in the body, but that is only true in the context of how long the effects might last. With edibles being the longest-lasting and most potent, and smoking or micro-dosing being the lightest and shortest-lived experience.
The thing is no matter how you choose to use it, traces of cannabis will remain in your system long after the effects wear off, and how long they remain will depend on a few things including the frequency of consumption, amount used, fat content, diet, levels of physical exercise, and more. Despite that vast range of possible influential factors, we do have some basic guidelines to go by, and they vary according to the frequency of use, which is the thing that is most likely to affect how long the remains of THC linger.
Occasional users - Occasional consumers require the shortest period of THC detox because it only stays in the system for an average of 30 days.
Regular consumers - This category is for those who enjoy a toke or other cannabis goods at least 2 times per week, and they tend to need a slightly longer amount of time, which is around 45 days for the THC to leave the system.
Heavy users - These consumers are the true cannabis enthusiasts that enjoy smoking or eating activated goods on a daily basis. For them, a successful marijuana detox can take up to 60 full days on average.
How long does a detox take?
How long a THC detox takes will depend on the reason that you have chosen to attempt it in the first place, what you do to cleanse the body, and of course, how long it has been since your last use. On average, a marijuana detox can take anywhere from 30-90 days to complete, but the cravings for it can continue to last much longer than that.
How to detox safely
The absolute safest way to detox is naturally, and we will touch on that in a bit, but not everyone has the luxury of time on their side which is necessary for a truly, natural cleanse. The weed detox product market is a booming one that is filled with options that promise to be the ultimate solution to all of your problems. Unfortunately, some of them have been known to be damaging to the skin and dehydrating, so it is important to follow the instructions carefully and stay hydrated throughout your detox treatment.
What works and what doesn’t
Success rates from consumers who have used detox products are all over the map, and that is likely because everyone processes cannabinoids differently, and some have fewer proteins remaining in the first place, but since this is an unregulated industry, there is little for scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of any THC product on the market today. That is why we highly recommend searching through reviews and using personal recommendations to guide your buying decision, but it also helps to know what’s out there before you start.
Below, you will find some of the most popular marijuana detox options and instructions on how to take a more natural approach.
THC detox kit
A THC detox kit might consist of a variation of the two below products combined or focus entirely on ingestible items to help to flush out the body. It might include daily pill supplements that are filled with a combination of herbs and spices, drinks that are meant to be taken just before a drug test, or edible goods like protein bars that contain similar ingredients. All of which are meant to be taken orally and work together to provide the highest rates of success at passing a saliva, urine, or blood test.
Detox pills
Detox pills are similar to drinks, but they come in capsule form and do not include all of the extra ingredients that can be found in marijuana detox kits, which is why they are preferred among those with allergies and sensitivities. Unlike drinks and other ingestible, THC detox pills are meant to be taken as a daily supplement to hasten the processing of cannabinoids as they are ingested rather than immediately before a drug test.
They work much more slowly, and according to consumers, are slightly less effective for those who need to pass a drug test at any time in the next 30 days without having taken them for several weeks prior. These tools are often utilized by consumers who are facing a urine or blood test.
Detox shampoo
Detox shampoo is, as the name implies, meant to be used on the hair to cleanse the follicles of any THC caused proteins that might be traceable in a hair follicle test. These products often contain harsh chemicals and bleaches which can damage the hair, and they have mixed results as far as how effective they are.
How to naturally detox using supplements
As we mentioned before, the safest way to perform a full marijuana detox is to do so slowly and naturally by speeding up how quickly the cannabinoid is processed and eliminated from the system. To do this, it helps to understand how that happens on its own.
When a person uses cannabis, the THC initially enters the bloodstream, which triggers the potent and often intense release of effects, but by the time those euphoric sensations wear off, the cannabinoid has been mostly turned into a protein that clings to the fatty tissues throughout the body. The most effective way to burn up that fatty tissue is by taking a healthy approach to life and doing the following things:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat nutritious meals
- Participate in consistent physical exercise
- Reduce sugar and salt intake
- Supplement with natural fish oils
Coming down from weed/withdrawal symptoms during a THC detox
There are so many benefits to completing a detox that the idea is appealing to many, but it is important to know that there are some potential side effects that might occur once you begin to cleanse your system of THC including:
- Insomnia
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Lack of motivation
- Vomiting
- Agitation
- Change in taste/smell
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Mood swings
- Stress
How to soothe withdrawal symptoms
Over time the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal will slowly fade away, but for the first few weeks, it can be difficult to manage, so it can help to keep these useful tips and tricks in mind.
- Eat a balanced diet to keep your strength and energy up.
- Get exercise to burn fatty tissue.
- Stay busy to avoid cravings.
- Head to bed early in case it takes a while to fall asleep.
- Stay hydrated to speed up the detox and flush impurities from the body.
Detoxing for a drug test
For those who are seeking a positive result on a drug test, it is important to recognize how the different drug tests work, and how far back into your consumption history they will go. Most drug tests are only good at successfully finding cannabis use from the last 30 days, but a few can go a bit further back than that. So it is incredibly beneficial to find out what kind of test you will be taken to know how long you should be detoxing before it happens.
Types of drug tests
These helpful drug test guidelines are excellent tools, but it is important to remember that the more you use, the higher the chances are that you could test positive long outside of these timeframes.
Saliva
This kind of drug test for marijuana is often conducted on the side of the road after an accident or erratic driving incident that has led an officer to believe you might be impaired. That is because of their short window of validity that is intended to predict current use versus prior consumption. These drug tests are sensitive enough to pick up cannabis use within the last 12-24 hours.
Urine
A urine sample test is most commonly implemented by employers, and it will show any cannabis consumption that has occurred in the last 30 days. These tests may take place at home, at work, or in a clinical setting.
Blood
Blood drug tests are more sensitive and can accurately seek out cannabis use that has taken place at any point in the last 60 days.
Hair
When you smoke or eat cannabis, it enters the bloodstream and some of it makes its way to the base of the hair follicles where it enters each strand. From there it must grow out at least one inch to no longer test positive, which will take an average of 90 days.
How do drug tests work?
All drug tests use different methods for testing, but they all look for the same component which is a protein element that is created by the body after THC is processed. The THC doesn’t hang around in its pure form after the effects wear off, and therefore specialists are able to gather an accurate idea of your prior consumption, even though you don’t still feel high.
