Understanding the Right CBD Dosage For You: 6 Key Tips
Posted by Richard Broke on Dec 29th 2020
CBD is officially everywhere. What once was a niche, wellness-market, has exploded into a $4 billion industry. Today you can enjoy CBD in your coffee, your mac-and-cheese, and everything in between.
What is the right CBD dosage for you? While there are no one-size-fits-all answers to that question, we can offer you some tips to help you make an informed decision.
Let's go!
1. Determine What You Want to Treat
If you're just getting to the party, welcome! CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol. It's one of the main compounds in the cannabis, or marijuana plant.
Research on the health benefits of CBD is ongoing, and preliminary findings are very promising.
So far studies confirm that CBD may be good for treating anxiety disorders, inflammation, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and arthritis. When determining how much CBD to take identify what you are treating and how severe your symptoms are.
2. Determine What Kind of CBD Product to Use
CBD takes many forms. You can find it in tinctures, gummies, smokables, soaps, lotions, and more. With such variety, there is truly something for every taste or preference.
Depending on what you are treating, there may be one mode or another that's best. For anxiety oral ingestion is recommended, while for eczema using something topical is better.
3. Determine The Product's Bioavailability
Bioavailability also plays a role in determining the best dosage. This is how much CBD your body can actually absorb into the bloodstream.
For reference, here is the bioavailability of four popular methods of ingestion.
- topicals: <1%
- capsules and edibles: 5-15%
- tincture/oil: 20-30%
- vape pens: ~56%
Bioavailability along with your specific health conditions, symptoms, personal tolerance, and medical history will impact how much CBD your body will absorb. Every body is chemically unique, which makes blanket statements about dosages unwise.
4. Talk With Your Primary Care Doctor
Before introducing new elements to your wellness-routine it's wise to discuss it with your primary care provider.
While most people can take CBD with no negative consequences there may be some contraindications and medicines not to be mixed. Play it safe and talk to your doctor before dosing yourself.
5. Build Up Your CBD Dosage
You can always take more, but you can never 'take back' a dose. Start with either the recommended dosage or less than that.
Experts suggest dosing by weight. Ingesting one to six milligrams of CBD per pound. Low doses help you monitor the effects, while safely building-up to your perfect dose.
6. Keep Records
Make sure to log your treatments as you go. Keeping good notes empowers you to take an active role in your wellness journey. Giving you what you need to make the most informed decisions.
Good records track your progress and monitor how your body reacts to CBD. Making it easy to adjust your dosage or methods.
The Bottom Line
Studies about CBD, and therefore about CBD dosage, are in their infancy. However, there is enough evidence to support its application in treating some common ailments. Such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, and inflammation.