The secret to getting the best out of CBD’s therapeutic potential is to understand dosing. Dosing refers to the exact amount of CBD you’re consuming in each serving. Gauging the right dose can make your CBD experience a lot more streamlined and precise. There’s a lot to factor in when it comes to finding the right dose.
It’s important to remember that you’re going to need to do a bit of trial and error experimentation to find a dose best-suited to your needs.
In this article, we’ve compiled research from reputable sources to help you find the perfect benefit from CBD to the fullest.
What Factors Determine How Much CBDd I Should Take?
CBD dosing is circumstantial, meaning it varies from person to person. The factors that you have to consider include:
- Weight: The heavier you are, the higher the dose you’ll need.
- The seriousness of your condition: For instance, if you have arthritis, you’re going to need a higher concentration of CBD per serving than someone who has slight pain.
- Tolerance to Cannabis: Everyone’s physiological profile varies. Some people already have a well-established tolerance to cannabis. Especially those individuals who are seasoned THC users might need more CBD than first-timers.
What Happens if My CBD Intake Is Too Low?
If you take too little, it won’t do you any good. It’s often the case that people get disappointed from CBD because they take such low doses that it doesn’t yield any benefits whatsoever.
What Happens When I Take Too Much?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cannabis has an excellent safety profile. This means that even if you consume large amounts in a single serving, you won’t overdose. The only known side effects of CBD are mild.
These include dry mouth, drowsiness, and a racy heartbeat in some cases. In the case of THC, the story is different. Too much THC can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and delirium, among other mental health issues. This is because THC is a psychotropic substance and has psychoactive properties that may alter brain chemistry.
How Do I Measure A “Dose”?
This decision depends on your ingestion method. Here’s a dosing breakdown to nudge you in the right direction:
- Oil: 1 dropper contains 1ml. You will also have markings on the dropper, each of which will equate to .25ml.
- Gummies: 1gummy will equal one CBD dose. You can read how much mg of CBD each gummy provides by checking the product packaging.
- Smoking: 1 dose equals one pre-roll. A single pre-roll will contain around 1g of hemp flower.
- Topical CBD: In topical applications, a single finger covered with cream or lotion will suffice.
How Long Does A CBD Take To Kick In My Body?
This depends on the delivery system:
- Oral or Sublingual: In this route, CBD is placed under the tongue, from where it is directly transported to the bloodstream. You have to leave the oil on the tongue for at least 60 seconds to make sure it is sufficiently absorbed into the mucus membrane. The effects may take 10-60 minutes to kick in. And the oil may last in the body for up to 12 hours.
- Ingestion: If you ingest CBD, you might not experience immediate effects. It might take up to 12 minutes for the product to kick in. This is because the CBD doesn’t directly interact with the bloodstream in this delivery system. It first goes to the digestive system for processing, which also makes it last a lot longer than oral or sublingual CBD.
- Inhalation: The fastest route. Effects are immediate and diminish faster. CBD spends 2-3 hours in the body before being flushed out.
- Topical: These are only good for localized treatments on the skin. They don’t absorb into the bloodstream. Onset is 6-15 minutes, and the duration in your system is about 5-6 hours.
Remember, these aren’t accurate numbers. The effects may vary depending upon your genetics, weight, metabolism, and other factors.
This Is All Good, But How Many Milligrams Of CBD Should I Take At A Time?
Most experts suggest titration when it comes to figuring out the right CBD dosage. What does titration mean? Titration means to start with low doses of CBD and then gradually pick up things to see where you stand. If you pick low doses initially and then “titrate,” you’ll eventually find your sweet spot and can easily build momentum from there.
Consider Why Your Health Would Benefit from CBD
Cannabinoids like CBD interact with the human endocannabinoid system. The human cannabinoid is a vast system that stretches throughout the human body. Therefore, by way of this system, CBD can be used as a viable treatment for various conditions, from Multiple Sclerosis to Epilepsy. Even individuals who don’t have a severe illness can significantly improve their overall quality of life with regular CBD use.
Below is a list of conditions that research has shown CBD to have the potential to treat:
- Pain (neuropathic, chronic, etc.)
- EpilepsyMultiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Parkinson’s
- Inflammation
- Acne
- Dyskinesia
- Psoriasis
- Broken Bones
- Mad Cow Disease
- Depression
- Bacterial Infections
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Schizophrenia
- Substance Abuse/Withdrawal
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Migraines
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Alzheimer’s
Keep in mind that this is no way near the complete list. CBD science is still in its infancy, and as more research comes to light, more conditions may come to light, which CBD may help with.
Can I Overdose On CBD?
As with any product, natural or otherwise, it’s important to consult your physician before taking CBD. CBD might interfere with some medications, especially those that have a similar reaction to grapefruit. These include 60% of drugs on the market, all of which undergo metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzyme:
- Steroids
- HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antihistamines
- Prokinetics
- HIV-antivirals
- Immune modulators
- Benzodiazepines
- Antiarrhythmics
- Antibiotics
- Anesthetics
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Anti-epileptics
- Beta-blockers
- PPIs
- NSAIDs
- Angiotensin II blockers
- Oral hypoglycemic agents
- Sulfonylureas
Please understand that CBD isn’t a one size fits all drug. This guide isn’t a prescription. It’s only to give you a slight idea of how to approach CBD dosing so that you can start on the right foot.
