When it comes to how much CBD oil you should take, you will not find a set recommendation. That is because there is no officially recommended CBD dose, as early research indicates that it varies by person.
Even with such a non-satisfying and unspecific answer, there are still some things that you can learn that will help you determine how much CBD oil to take.
What Affects Your Ideal Dose
As mentioned, the ideal dose of CBD in any form, including CBD oil, depends on the individual. It will vary based on your body weight, your body chemistry, and your goal with taking it. In other words, the effects that you want to get out of the CBD oil and the strength of the effects that you need will impact it.
Your Medications
Another factor that can affect your ideal dose of CBD is the medications you are currently taking. CBD can interact with certain medicines, especially those that interact with grapefruits, so you should use caution. Ideally, anyone regularly taking medicine or supplements should consult a doctor or pharmacist before starting to use CBD to check for potential interactions. At the very least, you need to make sure you start with a low dose and pay extra attention to possible interactions.
Start Small
As a rule of thumb, you should always start with a small dose of CBD and then increase it over time if it is not strong enough. As you are working up to your ideal level, aim to increase the CBD by about 5 milligrams a week, not more.
To help you determine when you reach the right dose, it can help to keep track of how much you take as well as how you feel.
Examples of Some Doses
Because of the limited research into CBD and the fact that everyone reacts to it differently, most people rely on example doses from research or anecdotal evidence from others to get an idea of where they may want to start. So far, studies have shown the use of the following doses of CBD for specific conditions:
- Chronic Pain: 2.5 to 20 mg CBD
- Epilepsy: 200 to 300 mg CBD
- Glaucoma: 20 to 40 mg CBD
- Huntington’s Disease-Related Movement Problems: 10 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight
- Loss of Appetite (due to cancer): 2.5 mg THC and 1 mg CBD
- Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: 2.5 to 120 mg THC/CBD combination
- Schizophrenia: 40 to 1,280 mg CBD
- Sleep Disorders: 40 to 160 mg CBD
Recommendations for beginner doses range from 5 milligrams to 25 milligrams.
You will notice there are some extreme variations, so you should always start at the lower end of this spectrum, or with an even lower dose. Remember that these are not recommendations, only the amounts used in research so far.
Calculating How Much Oil to Take Based on Dose
Depending on the CBD oil you choose to take, you may have to do some basic math to figure out how much liquid to consume to get your selected dose. Many bottles will tell you how much CBD is in a milliliter, and all will show you how much is in the entire bottle. If the container does not say the dose per milliliter, divide the total amount in the bottle by the number of milliliters in it.
Most CBD oils include built-in droppers on the cap to make dosing easier. Some of these may be labeled with measurements to help you determine the accurate dose.
In many cases, however, you will want to take a few drops of CBD oil at a time, not even full droppers. A drop should be around 0.05 milliliters, so there are 20 drops in a milliliter. So, to calculate how much CBD is in each drop, you would divide the dose per milliliter by 20.
Keep in mind that unless you measure the CBD oil carefully, there may be some slight variations in how much you consume per drop, but it is unlikely enough to make a significant difference.
You Do Not Have to Worry About Taking Too Much
The good news is that you should not be overly concerned about accidentally consuming too much CBD. Studies so far have indicated that even high doses of up to 1,500 milligrams are typically tolerated without a problem by humans.
The primary safety concern would be interactions with your medications, which is why it is so important to consult your doctor before starting to use CBD if you are already on prescriptions.
You may notice a few side effects of CBD, such as appetite changes, fatigue, and diarrhea. These symptoms are usually minimal, and you are less likely to experience them if you stick to a lower dose.
Remember That Oils Are More Bioavailable Than Some Other Methods
Another factor to keep in mind as you choose your CBD dosage is bioavailability. Consuming CBD via an oil will give you a high bioavailability compared to taking it via an edible. This comes from the fact that your digestive system does not need to process it, which can reduce the amount of CBD that reaches your endocannabinoid system. As such, if you currently take CBD via edibles and want to switch to oil, you may want to reduce your dose slightly.
How to Take CBD Oil
Using CBD oil is very straightforward. Just measure out the amount you want to take and place the drops underneath your tongue. Hold the CBD there for about a minute, as this will give the blood vessels under the tongue enough time to start absorbing it. Then you can swallow the oil.
Conclusion
You will not find any official recommendations of how much CBD oil you should take since everyone is different. Your ideal dose depends on your metabolism, body chemistry, and the condition you are trying to treat. It is best to start with a lower dose and work your way up if you need it. This will minimize the risk of side effects and save money.
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