There are many ailments that CBD can be used for and many ways to administer it. With such varied methods for using it, many people are unsure of how much they should be using. The answer, in short, is that there is no short answer. It all depends on your anticipated outcome, tolerance, and method. But rest assured, there are ways to work it out.
When preparing to take CBD there’s an important thing to remember: you won’t overdose. In fact, there are absolutely zero fatal overdoses related to overindulgence in cannabis. Although too much THC could conjure up some unpleasant side effects, even the psychoactive portion of the plant is incredibly unlikely to cause bodily harm on its own. And since most CBD products contain no THC, you’re not at great risk even for those.
Enough is enough
Given the safety of cannabis, CBD dosing allows for trial and error. There are some guidelines and pointers that may come in handy when starting out. Overall, it’s about testing it out and seeing what works.
All humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that responds to cannabinoids. These receptors are found throughout the body and send messages to the brain. Since these messages are often calming, CBD may be used for pain management. The right dose of CBD has impressive therapeutic properties, ranging from help with depression to rheumatoid arthritis.
CBD works against many afflictions but doesn’t act in accordance with the normal threshold to which other medicines might. It isn’t confined by body measurements. Clinical trials have shown that some children, especially those affected by intense seizures, can respond well to as little as 10 mg of CBD. This low dose may be just as beneficial for some adults as well.
There can be side effects as a result of any supplement when the dose is not right. For newcomers, it’s recommended to “start low and go slow.” This experimentation will allow you to test out your reaction to it and adjust as needed. While taking too little may not provide the strength of results or relief you expect, taking too much can cause other unwanted side effects.
Through the various methods of using CBD, there are many ways that can be tried to see what works best. Edibles, vaping, and sublingual uptake through tinctures are some of the most widely used ways to consume CBD. The doses will vary with each method, as their potency differs once it enters the body.
CBD Oil Dosage for Edibles
Since edibles became a staple of DIY highs, they’ve been made into cookies, brownies, gummies, and many other treats. They offer a discreet way to ingest cannabis without blowing your cover. Now that cannabis is being more widely used, people are finding the familiar way of eating edibles to be a preferred choice for CBD consumption–without the high, of course.
Just like their cousin THC edibles, CBD takes time to kick in. It will have a lasting effect of several hours, but it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half for you to begin to feel the effects.
CBD edibles are often offered in servings of varied milligrams. 10 milligrams is a common serving size for a gummy, allowing you to increase the dose as necessary. This dose is considered a reasonable dose that’s somewhat of an industry standard.
While some people will hardly feel anything from 10mg of CBD, others may experience some of the uncommon side effects like nausea or sleepiness. Though you can’t overdose on CBD, there are still possible side effects to be aware of so as to not disrupt your daily routine.
In terms of bioavailability, edibles provide relatively little. Whereas THC edibles produce double the effects that smoking would, CBD edibles offer about 15% of its full potency. When ingested, the liver will do its job and break it down in the “first pass,” sending less to the bloodstream than entered the body. Also, CBD is “hydrophobic” and doesn’t like to stay in your bloodstream for long, preferring the density of fatty tissue.
The dosage of edibles varies widely with the presentation. Though gummies may contain about 10 mg each, some other edibles can pack in upwards of 1500 mg. Though you lose some of its potency when it’s digested, 1500mg is still a large amount. Those who are new to CBD would fare well starting off with a low-dose gummy and adjusting from there.
CBD Oil Dosage for Vaping
Vaping is the preferred choice for many people for several reasons. Some people–especially those who are trying to cut down on tobacco use–enjoy the act of vaping since it mimics that of smoking. It also doesn’t have the telltale smell of marijuana, so it’s still somewhat discreet to partake in without too much attention.
On a more clinical level, vaping is the fastest way to administer CBD to the body. It kicks in immediately as its absorbed by the lungs and will last for a few hours. However, it’s important to note that there is some concern about the safety of vaping in the medical community.
For those who use CBD to treat anxiety, vaping is sometimes considered the best choice. When an attack is coming on or they feel overwhelmed, waiting on an edible to hit the bloodstream may be too late. Vaping CBD provides a more rapid onset.
Many vape cartridges will detail how much CBD is in it overall, but how much you get from each pull is difficult to quantify. The range of potency can be anywhere from 2-56% depending on a number of factors like the length of pull, duration held, number of pulls, etc.
Since these numbers are so vague, the rule for dosing remains: start with a little and see how far it gets you before trying some more. For a vape, it may be just one or two pulls that provides the ideal relief.
CBD Oil Dosage for Sublingual Uptake
Sublingual uptake involves tinctures or oils being administered directly under the tongue. The mucus membranes in this fleshy area are ideal for absorbing the active chemicals into the bloodstream quickly and without the interference of other organs breaking it down.
Through means of the dropper, sublingual uptake is one of the easiest ways to control the dosage you’re taking. Since this method allows for increased bioavailability and ease at gauging the administered amount, starting low is a good idea. For instance, in the treatment of severe seizures, just 3-4 milligrams of oil per pound of body weight has proven to produce effective results.
In the end, the right amount of CBD could be as little as 5mg–the equivalent of a few drops. In other cases, doses of 100-800mg per day are effective. What’s nice about this method is you can take small doses throughout the day until the effects occur.
CBD Oil Dosage for Topicals
Dermal application may seem counterintuitive, but it has been a godsend for many. Those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD by applying it directly to the skin.
This application can deliver relief in less than 10 minutes and last for hours. Since it doesn’t go through the harsh environment of the liver and the bloodstream, it is one of the most effective ways to deliver a powerful dose of CBD for joint and muscle pains.
In the case of balms, salves, and ointments, a dose of CBD can be hard to quantify. The containers are often labeled with the CBD concentration in milligrams, and you’ll have to use your best judgment as to how much will be administered in a scoop.
Since there are ECS receptors in the skin and topical application of CBD has proven its efficacy, a little will go a long way.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right CBD oil dosage is a personalized process. Though the amount needed for relief varies, it’s generally well-tolerated in doses up to 1500mg.
As a general rule, around the 200mg mark is where behavioral changes may occur, but that’s not to say this dose isn’t appropriate for some conditions. It all depends on tolerance and response of the individual.
Although it can be tempting to go full steam ahead, taking your time to introduce CBD into your supplement routine is important. Moderate amounts can have a higher therapeutic impact than large doses. Finding your sweet spot takes patience. Once you’re there you can fully enjoy the benefits of CBD daily.
