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Regardless of whether you’re a first-time CBD oil user or have been using it for a while, determining the right dosage is always important.
CBD (cannabidiol) - one of the many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant and among the most abundant, has plenty of medical and health benefits. Whether you suffer from pain, anxiety, inflammation, lack of sleep, poor heart health, nausea, or seizures, CBD oil can help alleviate all of these and more.
But in order for it to work and provide the ideal effects you're looking for, it's important to dose appropriately. While CBD oil is safe to take even in large amounts, you want to find that sweet spot so that you don't use any more than you have to while ensuring that you’re taking enough to induce optimal effects.
To make matters more difficult, CBD hemp oil is not regulated on a federal level by the FDA. As such, you're not going to find any recommended dosages from this entity which provides suggestions for just about everything else. There's no official dosage, which makes finding the right dose for you a bit of a challenge.
What may be appropriate for one person may not be for another. Many factors come into play that would affect the proper CBD oil dosage, including the following:
- Your weight
- Your body chemistry
- The ailment you're suffering from
- The severity of your symptoms
- The concentration of CBD in the product you're taking
Not only that, but the right CBD dosage will probably change throughout your life as your body’s physiology changes and the receptors of the endocannabinoid system change, too. It's these receptors which are responsible for interacting with CBD.
In order to find the perfect dosage for you, there will be a little experimenting involved.
So, how do you find the right CBD oil dosage for you?
Start Small
Instead of going in full throttle with your CBD oil, consider starting with small doses and working your way up from there. Although CBD oil is safe to take — even for children and pets — you don't want to increase the effects of CBD more than you have to. Even if a specific dosage works for one person of the exact same weight doesn't mean it will work in the same way for you.
By starting off with a small dose, you can gradually increase the dosage in small increments until you find the right dose for you. Once you experience the effects that you're looking for at the level you need, you can stop at that level. Of course, you may need to adjust this dosage as time goes on, since things can change and your body chemistry can fluctuate.
Consider your experience with cannabis or hemp and the products derived from it. If you're new to this world, consider starting with 5mg the first time you take CBD oil. Also check out our guide for first-time CBD products users to learn more. If you're more experienced in this realm, you may want to start off with a higher dose, such as 25mg. Then, you can keep making adjustments as necessary until you find consistent relief without having to constantly take more CBD oil.
The effects of this cannabinoid should last for at least a couple of hours or more. If you're finding that its effects wear off much sooner than this, the dose will likely need to be increased.
Your Body Weight Matters
Just like the amount of food you eat or the dosage of pharmaceutical medication depends on your body weight, so does CBD oil. Basically, the heavier you are, the more CBD oil your body will be able to tolerate and the more will be required to achieve the desired effects. This is true for just about anything else you consume.
Consider Your Ailment and Symptoms
Mild symptoms associated with non-serious medical issues may only need a minimal amount of CBD oil in order for the user to achieve the desired results. But much more severe symptoms as a result of more serious ailments may require a higher dosage. Whether you're suffering from anxiety, pain, sleep disorders, epilepsy, poor cardiovascular health, glaucoma, MS, or cancer, your exact CBD oil dosage will differ.
THC Content Plays a Role
CBD oil derived from hemp plants is typically void of THC, which is the cannabinoid that is responsible for getting users high. There are interactive effects between CBD and THC, and while they can enhance one another, they can also hinder each other's effects.
The predominant receptor in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that is associated with the psychoactive effects of THC is CB1, which is predominantly found in the nervous system. When THC binds to this receptor and activates it, psychoactive effects will be experienced.
But CBD also interacts with CB1 receptors. Yet rather than binding directly to them, CBD just interacts with these receptors without activating them. CBD actually makes it more difficult for other compounds — like THC — to activate CB1 receptors. Basically, CBD offsets the effects of THC because it reduces the latter's ability to bind to the CB1 receptor.
That's why CBD has a major effect on the mind-altering impact of products with THC and is why it's important to take the ratio of both compounds when taking either one.
Start With CBD Capsules
To make things easier for you, consider using CBD capsules when you first start out, as these CBD oil formulas are filled with precise amounts of CBD. This can make it a lot easier for you to accurately dose this cannabinoid.
While CBD comes in several formats, CBD capsules are dosed in exact amounts to help you know exactly how much CBD you're truly taking. If you're looking to take 25mg doses, for instance, then getting yourself a bottle of CBD capsules with 25mg in each makes things as easy as pie.
Once you've become more familiar and comfortable with dosing, you can experiment with other formats such as CBD drops.
How Much CBD Oil Should You Take?
If you're new to using CBD oil, determining the right dose will be the first thing to do. But you've got to start somewhere and it's highly recommended to start small and work your way up. Of course, considering your weight, ailment, and severity of your symptoms will play a role, but you won't know how CBD oil will affect you until you start testing out different doses. And the best way is to start with low doses and steadily increase them.
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