CBD Oil for Health

CBD Oil Dosage: How Much Should You Take

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CBD oil dosage
02
Jun

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve heard about CBD.

The funny thing is, just a few years ago, hardly anyone knew about CBD oil. Today that has changed dramatically. Now there’s a huge demand for it and millions of people are taking CBD oil as a health supplement for a variety of reasons. Many also give it to their pets!

Maybe you’ve heard a little. Maybe you’ve heard a lot. But if you’re just getting ready to join the CBD revolution, maybe you’re also feeling a bit confused. That’s ok! You’re not alone. Figuring out the correct CBD oil dosage and how to take it can be a little overwhelming.

So, we’ve created an easy guide to help you get started!

But first…

CBD Basics

CBD oil (cannabidiol) is one of the many different cannabinoids found in cannabis. It can be extracted from both hemp and marijuana, the major difference being that hemp-derived CBD contains naturally less THC than marijuana.

When you take CBD, it interacts with a system in your body called the Endocannabinoid System (ES). ES receptors are found all over your body – the brain, the nervous system, the major organs, etc. That’s why CBD is used for so many different things.

The goal of this system is to bring about balance in the body. When you use CBD, it works by indirectly impacting the various receptors in the ES, causing some sort of change to re-establish that balance.

CBD Oil Dosage

Because we’re often asked “how much CBD oil should I take,” we thought it would be easy to create a CBD oil dosage calculator.

Now, CBD oil dosage amounts are not an exact science. The experiences people have with CBD oil differ, and that includes how much works for them. Each of our bodies responds differently to CBD, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

That said, our Dosage Calculator is a good place to start. You can use it for both yourself and your pets to get a good starting point. You just choose human or pet, enter the weight, and the calculator will tell you how much CBD oil to take.

Here’s an example for an 80lb dog:

CBD oil dosage

A smart approach with dosage is “less is more.” Start with a lower dose, then increase it slowly until you find your “sweet spot” that gets you the results you’re looking for.

Now, like I said, it isn’t an exact science, and there’s no one-size-fits all approach, so we have some tips:

  • give it time to work in your body
  • try taking it with certain foods to help enhance it (read this post for more on that)
  • remember that sometimes it takes a few days of continued to use to see results

Trial and error is a really good thing to keep in mind when you start using CBD. Some people notice the benefits right away, after as little as one dose. Others need to take it for a few days (even a few weeks) to realize the full potential.

How to Take CBD

So, you’ve determined how much you’re going to take – so how are you going to take it?

There are several different ways to use CBD.

  1. Ingestion. This means taking it with food or drinks. It could mean in a smoothie, as a gummy, or even in some homemade BBQ sauce. It also includes CBD capsules. This is an easy way to get your daily dose, and it helps if you’re not a fan of the taste.

    The only downside is that, when you swallow CBD, it needs to work it’s way through your entire digestive system, so it can take longer to work and the process can reduce the concentration of CBD because of how it’s metabolized by the liver.
  2. Sublingual. This is our recommended way to take CBD. You simply put the drops under your tongue and hold them there for several seconds. This way the CBD gets absorbed by the mucous membranes in your mouth, bypassing the digestive system and liver. This means it works much faster and you don’t lose any of the concentration.
  3. Inhalation. This means vaping your CBD. If you’re looking for almost immediate relief, then inhaling CBD is a good way to go. That said, the relief is typically much shorter lasting compared to taking CBD sublingually. Vaping has received some bad press over the last few months, but if you do your research and ensure the product is tested and doesn’t contain ingredients like vitamin E acetate, you’re better off.
  4. Topicals. These are favoured by those looking at CBD for localized pain, like muscle aches for example, or to help with healing. This doesn’t technically fall into the category of dosing, but it’s good to know it’s an option.

You can read more on the different ways to use CBD here.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much?

Can you take too much CBD oil?

If you’re concerned about that, just know that clinical trials have prescribed CBD doses up to 1,200 mg daily for months without observing any serious side effects. That’s way more than we’d recommend, and way more than you’re likely to take. So, unless you plan on taking several BOTTLES a day, you’re all good (and even then, you’re probably still all good).