Despite how modern civilization continues to progress, more and more of the population are returning to all natural remedies for healing. Why? For many, it’s the idea of using nature’s herbs and plants to achieve overall wellness. For others, it may be the avoidance of side effects from man-made medicines.
Regardless of the reason, thousands of new CBD consumers enter the world of holistic health each year. But unlike those pharmaceuticals or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, there’s fewer instructions on the suggested dosage of CBD.
Again, you may be asking… why? CBD is a highly individualistic compound that’s effects will vary from person to person. Even more, its effects can vary at varying doses. Before you get even more confused, rest assured - we’ve made the dosage of CBD as easy as 1-2-3.
Understanding the Dosage of CBD
Before diving into the specifics on the dosage of CBD, it’s first essential to understand some of the fundamental science surrounding this compound. CBD, AKA, cannabidiol, is a natural compound produced by the hemp plant. Upon consumption, it interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a lesser known physiological system that's crucial in maintaining overall health, and balance in physiological functions.
For instance, it’s network of receptors is responsible for regulating various functions including:
- Mood
- Pain perception
- Immune response
- Sleep and wake cycle
- Appetite
In addition to understanding how CBD works, it’s important to understand what type of physiological factors can affect its effects. Unlike prescriptions or OTC products, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the dosage of CBD. So, next, let’s get into the various factors that influence how much CBD individuals often consume.
CBD Oil Doses: Factors that Affect Effects
Have you ever heard someone say, “CBD just didn’t work for me”? Well, that could be true if that person didn’t have the patience or time to explore the unique CBD daily dosage that worked best for them. It also explains why or how CBD experiences can be so different from person to person, and again, why it’s important to find your own dosage of CBD and not just take the word of someone else.
With that said, here are the most important facts to be aware of that will play a role in the dosage of CBD.
- Size and weight - Every person will have a varying reaction to CBD depending on their unique stature, size and weight.
- Tolerance and metabolism - Your unique body chemistry or sensitivity to cannabinoids, even your body’s metabolism will influence how your body responds to CBD.
Even more, it’s important to understand that the ECS may require time to upregulate and become more sensitive to cannabinoids. In this case, you might not even experience the full benefits of CBD immediately. Stay patient, and stick to a consistent CBD daily dosage, for several days or up to two weeks before adjusting your dose.
Dosing CBD: Tips for Success
In general, most medical experts and sources recommend beginning at a dose of 5-10 MG. Of course, because the dosage of CBD is individualistic, here are some tips and best practices to find yours successfully.
Go Low and Go Slow
Taking what you learned above into consideration, sticking to a consistent, low dose for up to two weeks will first help your body acclimate to the new cannabinoids entering your system. From there, experts recommend adopting a “low and slow” approach. This means, starting with a low CBD dosage and gradually increasing it until you find the sweet spot where you experience the desired effects.
By doing this, you also minimize the risk of potential side effects and allow your body to acclimate to CBD gradually. Remember, it's better to be patient and cautious rather than rushing into high doses that might not be necessary for your specific needs.
Monitor and Track Your Progress
To supplement your CBD journey, it helps to pay close attention to how your body responds to different doses, and the various outlying factors that may have affected the response. Think, what you ate that day, or the time you took your dose, even how well you slept the night before.
In the beginning of learning how to dose CBD for you, keep a journal or notes to track the effects of CBD at various dosages and how long it takes for the effects to kick in. In the journal include this type of information, so you can look back and assess what factors and doses helped you achieve optimal wellness.
If you experience any adverse effects, such as dizziness, nausea, or fatigue, consider lowering your CBD dose. Remember, CBD is generally well-tolerated, but everyone's body is unique, and finding the right dosage might take some time.
Talk to Your Healthcare Professional
If you have pre-existing health conditions or are taking prescription medications, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating CBD into your wellness routine. CBD has the potential to interact with certain medications, and a healthcare expert can offer personalized advice based on your specific health needs.
Quality Matters
When it comes to CBD products, not every brand can be treated equally and quality certainly matters. Choose products from reputable brands that provide third-party lab test results, ensuring that their CBD is free from harmful contaminants and meets the advertised potency. Most importantly, don't be swayed solely by low prices; investing in high-quality CBD products will yield better results and a safer experience.
Dosing CBD: Which Product to Choose
CBD is available in a variety of product types, each with its own unique dosing considerations. Which means, the next factor you’ll need to consider when exploring the dosage of CBD for you, is which product works best for your needs. To help, here are some of the most common CBD product types and the way in which they are dosed.
CBD Oils: CBD oils or tinctures are the most versatile products to use. They come with a dropper that allows for precise measurements, and also supports simple and versatile consumption. For instance, you can use the dropper to place your desired dose under your tongue and hold for 30-60 seconds before swallowing. This would be a sublingual CBD oil dose, which facilitates faster absorption into the bloodstream. You could also use the dropper to swallow the dose or to add to your everyday food and drinks. In that case, the oil will be absorbed through the digestive system and take a bit longer to kick in (see below to find out just how long).
CBD Edibles: Edibles offer pre-measured CBD doses, which makes taking your desired dose convenient - once you know what that is! It’s important to note that when swallowing your dose (even CBD oil) it takes anywhere from 30 minutes - 1 hour for the dose to kick in. That’s because the compound is metabolized by the digestive system, which takes much longer to absorb than the sublingual method.
CBD Topicals: Topicals, such as creams and balms, are applied directly to the skin and offer localized relief. Their dosing is relatively straightforward; apply a small amount to the affected area and massage it gently into the skin.