Whether you’re an experienced user, or you’re just trying to test the waters, understanding what CBD is, its various uses, and how to use it for maximum result, can be a hassle, reason because the industry is still at infancy stage. There is no standard regulatory body in place to regulate the activities of the industry. Each day, we come across several types of questions from users of CBD oil, and one prevalent issue that always stands out is “How do we use CBD oil”, which is a question asked by both newbie users and experienced users alike.
Before we proceed, we must state that there are several types of CBD products in the market, from CBD Gummies, CBD tablets to CBD Tinctures, for the sake of this post, we will be concentrating on CBD oil.
CBD oil is not the same as CBD tincture
Let’s talk a bit about CBD oil and CBD tincture. We tend to see a lot of users who feel these products as interchangeable and can be used in place of the other. But this is not the case. CBD oil contains pure CBD but, in an oil or oil solvent, while CBD Tincture contains CBD, but in an alcohol solvent. Most CBD Tinctures also contains additional compounds/ingredients which is used to spice up the product; some may contain flavoring, coloring, herbs, and in some cases, essential oils.
Back to CBD oil dosage.
There has been a lot of misdirection about how to dose on CBD oil in recent times; most consumers base their dosage from the companies they purchase their product from, even worse, from family and friends who claim to be CBD experts, having used CBD oil once or twice.
The most common recommendation you’ll find is “Take one/two dropper once a day” while this dosage might work correctly for some people, it won’t be adequate in several other cases due to the fact it doesn’t address the factors below;
- The size and weight of the individual or patient
- The concentration of the CBD in the bottle of oil
- The genetic makeup and chemical composition of the individual
- The seriousness of the disease or illness being treated with the oil.
As you can see from the list above, there can’t be a one size fits all approach to recommending CBD oil dosage. And to properly get the right dosage for an individual, will require a lot of testing and trial and error.
What is the dosage for CBD oil?
According to an interview, of Neuroscientist, Nick Jikomes, over at Leafly, he explained that because of the variations in how our receptors interact with our Endocannabinoid System, which in turn results to how CBD interacts with our body, it would be impossible to have fixed dosage plan for everyone. Which goes to say, there isn’t any general CBD dosage applicable to all.
In the absence of a universal dosage plan, you can use the tips below to figure out the best CBD oil dosage suitable for you.
Approximate dosage based on body weight or Body mass index (BMI)
As with most conventional drugs and dosage plans, people with more body mass index will tend to require more CBD oil in other to experience the desired effect.
Hence, a general guideline to ensure that you’re consuming the proper dosage. Here is a rule of thumb, take 1 to 7mg of CBD oil for every pound of body weight. Also, consider the severity of the illness as well. If the disease is very severe, the patient can use a higher dose.
Let’s take, for instance, if a patient weighs 250 Lb, he/she can be started at 25mg – 40mg, while a patient weighing 150Lb can be started at 14mg to 26mg.
Confused? You can refer to this CBD calculator for further clarification
Start with small quantities and steadily increase the dosage
Let’s paint a scenario. Your cousin, who weighs more than 170lbs, uses 70mg of CBD, twice daily, which helps him with his stress and insomnia. And you tell him you want to try CBD oil as well. He suggests the same dosage as he takes because you both weigh the same and perhaps have the same work schedule.
Wrong!
This isn’t the best way to choose a CBD oil dosage plan for your needs. And here’s why.
We all have different genetic makeup and thus made differently, having our distinct history, including medications, environmental exposure, foods and other things our bodies have been exposed to. All this put together make up our body’s chemical composition, thus, affecting the way we will react to CBD. Hence, you must know how your body will respond to CBD based on your weight, starting low and steadily watching how your body reacts to it; you can then increase the dose and finally arrive at a dosage that is just perfect for you.
Talk to your Physician
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of trial and error, or if you have a medical condition, it will be advisable to consult with your physician. While CBD is not like other conventional drugs and not a lot of doctors are aware of it, some doctors will be able to analyze your medical history and measure how CBD will react to it. Giving you the accurate dosage right for your BMI, with your medical condition also put into consideration.
Final Words
Note that this guide relates to CBD oil dosage alone; however, there are also recommended dosages for CBD related products like CBD gummies, CBD applicators, CBD beverages, etc., these dosages may be less common to come by because it can be challenging to isolate CBD levels in these products, but they do exist.
In conclusion, Using the recommended CBD dosage can be helpful in your CBD journey, especially if you’re starting. Using these tips and recommended dosages as we have highlighted will help you achieve the results you desire, quickly and in a cost-efficient manner, alleviating any unfavorable side effects that you may encounter.
