How to Properly Dose CBD Oil & Tincture
Since the decriminalization of hemp in 2018, there has been a huge uptake in CBD products and people pursuing these naturally occurring hemp cannabinoids for many purposes. Alleviating pain, overall wellness, and treating anxiety and depression are some of the more popular uses of CBD products in today’s market. Along with this large increase in CBD products over the past few years, has come a variety of different intake methods, such as capsules, pills, gummies, and oils. Due to this wide variety of intake methods, it can be even more difficult to properly dose a CBD product.
In this article, we are focusing on CBD oils and tinctures specifically, so if you’re ready to find out some tips for figuring out how to find the right CBD oil dose for you, keep reading!
What is CBD?
Before we can get started talking about how to properly dose CBD oil, we need to know what CBD is.
CBD or cannabidiol is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis or marijuana plant. Because CBD comes from the marijuana plant, many people have concerns that consuming it will make you high. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive component in cannabis and creates the “high” sensation associated with the plant. CBD, unlike THC, is not psychoactive and won’t get you high or change your perception. To legally sell CBD in the US, the products must contain less than 0.03% THC, so there’s no chance of you feeling the psychoactive effects.
Being a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant has made CBD a desirable option for alleviating pain or other symptoms without experiencing the mind-altering effects of marijuana and some other pharmaceutical drugs. In turn, this has helped CBD gain ground in the health and wellness world as a naturally occurring remedy to chronic pain, anxiety, and overall wellness with daily consumption.
CBD Oil
CBD oils are made by extracting cannabidiol from the cannabis plant and diluting it with a carrier oil, commonly coconut, hemp seed, or olive oil.
This oil can then be consumed directly, at Vitaldiol we recommend taking our CBD oil under the tongue (sublingually) and holding it there for 30 seconds before swallowing. This allows the compounds to absorb directly into the bloodstream and promotes more efficient results by bypassing the digestive system. However, if you do not wish to use the sublingual intake method, the tincture can also be combined with a food or drink and ingested that way. Just note that the results will be delayed due to the CBD having to pass through the digestive system.
How Much CBD Should I Take?
So, what is a standard dose of CBD? Realistically, there is no set “normal” dose of CBD that applies to everyone, the average CBD dose will depend on a few factors, such as the reason for taking CBD, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and previous exposure to cannabinoids.
To find the right dose for you you need to take these factors into consideration and also consider your chosen intake method. For this article, we are focusing on CBD oil, but the actual amount of CBD recommended does not change based on the intake method. For beginners wanting a moderate dosage, we recommend taking 0.25 milligrams (mg) of CBD per pound (lb) of body weight (this equates to 0.025 milliliters (mL) of a CBD tincture). This boils down to the simple formulas below (in both mg and mL):
CBD mg = (0.25 mg) x (body weight in lbs)
CBD mL = (0.025 mL) x (body weight in lbs)
For example, if you weigh 180 pounds a moderate dose of CBD for you would be 45 mg or 0.045 mL of CBD tincture. This calculation is a great way to determine a good starting dose for you, but oftentimes the company you purchase your CBD products from will have their own instructions that you should consider following. For example, at Vitaldiol we recommend that everyone starts off with using the 1 mL dropper (30 mg of CBD) in the Essential CBD Oil & Tincture once a day and then increasing dosage and frequency as needed to achieve your desired results.
Tips for Finding the Right Dose for You
So then, how do you know how to dose CBD? A big determinant of the proper dose for you is what you are aiming to treat with CBD oil. For example, a CBD dose for anxiety might differ greatly from the recommended dosage for general wellness. So think about what you are looking to treat with CBD oil and then according to that judgment you will be able to adjust your dose of CBD oil over time.
One of the best tips we have for finding your right dose is to start with a low dose of CBD oil and slowly increase until you achieve the desired results. For example, with Essential by Vitaldiol we recommend starting with 1 dropper full (1 mL) and then increasing slowly as needed. Again, the proper dose for you will depend on factors such as weight, height, BMI, and previous cannabinoid exposure. This method of starting off with a lower dose and titrating up will make sure that you do not blunt your experience by overestimating the amount of CBD that you need; instead, you will be able to easily identify the most effective dose for you.
Always be sure to source your CBD oil from quality vendors like Vitaldiol for the most assured way to have a good experience with CBD products, especially if you are new to them. Because there are now so many different CBD products available, it is essential that you really look into where you are purchasing your CBD from to make sure that you are getting quality products that will actually help you treat what you want to be treated.
Have more questions about CBD and how it can help you? Visit our blog for more information and visit Vitaldiol to shop for CBD products!