Health
Finding the Right CBD Oil Dosage for You
Elsa Olofsson, Unsplash
How Much CBD Should You Take?
An effective dose of CBD is different for everyone. The most important thing is understanding how to measure and take CBD in an effective way. Only then is it possible to gradually increase dose until a result is achieved.
Quick Introduction
- CBD dosage varies for every person
- It's important to know how much CBD is in a product
- Research on dosing for conditions like sleep, anxiety, and pain is limited
- Consult a doctor about possible drug interactions
Calculate Serving Strength
A bottle of CBD oil, if properly labeled, will list the total number of milligrams of CBD contained in the bottle. Some typical concentrations include 300, 750, or 1000 milligrams.
One can calculate the strength of a serving by dividing number of milligrams in the bottle by the number of servings in the bottle. For example, a 1 oz bottle that uses a 1 mL dropper contains about 30 servings. If the bottle contains 300 mg of CBD and 30 servings, there are 10 mg of CBD in each serving.
Consider Your Weight
Your body processes CBD at a different rate than your neighbor’s. However, you can use your weight as a starting place for understanding dosing.
One general guideline suggests 1 to 6 milligrams of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight, increasing the dose based on the severity of symptoms.
A dose may be higher or lower depending on the condition one is trying to treat. A dose for sleep may be different than a dose for pain.
Dosages used in clinical trials are often much higher than servings listed on bottles for commercial sale. If you read a study that suggests CBD cures anxiety, make sure you look to see what dose was used in the trial.
Compare Delivery Methods
After reading the label and using weight to estimate a dose of CBD (number of milligrams) that may provide relief, choose an effective way to take a dose. Options include oils, gummies, capsules, and vapes or flower. Each delivery method works differently and takes a different amount of time to work.
Give products time to work before taking more. Especially with CBD gummies or edibles, it’s not smart to take multiple doses before understanding how the CBD is working in your body.
“How Many Drops Should I Take?”
It’s a common question, but the answer is a little less straightforward than you’d think. Not all CBD comes in a tincture form that can be taken sublingually using a dropper. CBD products can also be consumed as capsules, gummies, or topicals, just to name a few.
If you’re considering purchasing CBD oil, be sure to consider whether it’s the best application method for your palette and dosing preferences.
CBD oil is one of the more popular CBD application methods, and for good reason. It’s easy to take, just by putting a few drops under your tongue, and it usually takes effect within 20 minutes.
It can produce results that last for much of the day, easing symptoms or improving the efficacy of certain bodily processes. Before using CBD oil, try taking some of the following precautions so you can achieve your desired effects.
Always Read the Label
Despite this, CBD has yet to meet the approval of The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This doesn’t mean it has harmful effects, but that it hasn’t been studied enough to know what its long term effects will be. So, until it is FDA-approved, keep in mind that CBD is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. It has, however, shown itself to be an effective aid in the managing of certain symptoms.
If you are thinking about making use of CBD’s anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, or other symptom-reducing properties, take care to read the product label and any information you can find about it online, from product review sites and the like. Hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil will have varying amounts of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, as well as terpenes and other compounds.
CBD products generally have below the legal limit of 0.3% THC, although some brands do a better job of meeting that requirement than others. Because of the minimal regulation the CBD industry receives, you as a consumer need to do your own research to determine what brands are trustworthy enough to buy from.
Take Your Time
To determine the correct dose of CBD for your condition, you should first look to the label and find the product’s concentration and serving size. The term concentration means the amount of CBD present in the product, and will be listed in milligrams. The serving size or the number of servings in the product should also be in milligrams. With CBD oil, you will need to determine how many milligrams of CBD is in a full dropper’s worth of oil, then how many drops you should take for one serving.
CBD is considered generally safe to use, with minimal side effects. So it’s okay if you don’t get your dosage right the first time. Taking too high a dosage might result in excess feelings of drowsiness, which can be prevented by using the following method.
Start with the smallest recommended dosage or serving size, take that, and see if that dose achieves your desired effects. Wait until the next day to take a second dose. If you think you need a larger dose, try that and see if it produces the right kind of relief. Always start small and work your way up incrementally. That way you’ll be able to pinpoint the dosage that’s best for you.
Other Safety Tips
Because the CBD industry is unregulated, it’s up to the consumer to do his or her own research and pay close attention to product labels to ensure brands aren’t misrepresenting the product’s contents in the way they market them. It never hurts to seek medical advice concerning CBD use, especially if you have a serious medical condition.
Remember that CBD is a wellness supplement that can be effective in helping to manage symptoms, but should not be taken in place of your prescribed medication. If you have an existing medication that could potentially interact with CBD, be sure to consult a doctor. No dosage or application method is right for everyone. Your weight, metabolism, and other factors may affect how your body responds to CBD oil.
Be Careful and Protect Yourself
Every person is different, and every body will react differently to cannabis. To learn more about how CBD works in your body, read these helpful resources.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This guide is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk to your doctor before you make any changes to your healthcare plan.
