If you are truly passionate about the hidden power of plants and their ability to cure some of the most serious health illnesses known today, then you have most likely heard of the medical benefits of marijuana and hemp. To some, the words may be associated with illegal products, a hipster lifestyle, or unimaginable mind experiences, but in reality, the plants have more to offer.
Compounds found within marijuana and hemp, such as CBD and THC, have been used for centuries by people of different cultures and mentalities with the ultimate aim of avoiding health collapses or reducing complaints. The compounds have been carefully studied and results reveal that they are in fact valuable to the human body and can be successfully exploited when prepared and consumed properly. Regardless of whether you are an experienced marijuana smoker with a developed passion for the herb or you are someone looking into the field for the first time, there are a few important things to consider when deciding to try CBD and one of the top priorities is establishing the right dose.
Just like with any other form of medication or drug intake with a medical purpose, the substance can have a positive or negative effect, depending on the quantity taken. To ensure that your consumption of CBD is beneficial and leads to the right end goal, we have prepared a detailed guide on how to get your CBD dosage right.
For the beginners, CBD is certainly more exciting than purely being an ingredient found within marijuana and hemp. The compound called cannabinoid is a non-psychoactive substance, which has an extremely strong effect on the body’s health condition and is capable of being used as a treatment to ailments such as Parkinson’s disease, obesity, dementia, sleep disorders, inflammatory discomfort, chronic pain, and more.
CBD can communicate with our endocannabinoid system, more specifically with our CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are responsible for different parts of the body’s functions, such as memory, hormone release, or motor functions. In establishing contact, CBD can stimulate better production of necessary substances in the body and can trigger the proper functions or different parts of the body. CBD is not only found within the cannabis plant as the industry has evolved to a point where the production of CBD-related products has grown substantially.
CBD consumers can now choose from a range of CBD products such as CBD edibles, CBD tinctures, CBD oil, CBD isolates, CBD for vaping, and more. The limits are infinite as CBD can be included in merely anything. But why take CBD in the first place?
Why consume CBD?
We already touched upon the benefits of CBD but let’s really dig deeper into the reasons why the cannabinoid should be consumed. For starters, CBD is great for stimulating appetite, especially when the patient is fighting a serious disease, which negatively influences the appetite. In order to strengthen, the body’s immune system needs strong resources that it can use to revive and stabilize the body. Patients suffering from certain conditions will often feel demotivated and are likely to lack appetite, meaning that the body cannot heal. Due to CBD’s ability to communicate with CB1 and CB2 receptors, the compound can trigger the body’s need to be fed, therefore stimulating appetite.
Another use of CBD includes pain relief and the elimination of nausea and vomiting symptoms. Especially for patients undergoing chemotherapy, this is a soothing and calming ingredient. Furthermore, CBD’s anti-inflammatory characteristics make it ideal for avoiding swelling and similar discomforts.
CBD’s power goes further, reaching into the improvement of Social Anxiety Disorders. The cannabinoid can be a preferred method to anti-depressants due to its fast effect on the body and its lack of side effects. In addition, it is naturally found within nature, making it appealing to people interested in natural alternatives.
How to get the right CBD dose
Before looking into the actually suggested doses related to the different CBD products available, it is essential to consider the individuality of consumers. Every consumer has their separate characteristics, traits, goals, and other factors, which will influence the right CBD dose, making it different for everyone. Just like other types of medicine, CBD dosing is strongly individual and should not be seen otherwise.
For instance, a person’s body weight will have its say in establishing the right CBD dose. The heavier the consumer, the higher the quantity of the CBD should be in order to have the desired effect. Another important factor to consider is the CBD concentration of your chosen product. Different CBD extraction methods will result in different levels of concentration. To provide a measurement of concentration, manufacturers and sellers will provide CBD milligrams (mg). The higher the concentration, the stronger the effect of the CBD on the body, meaning that in most cases if CBD concentration is extremely high, chances are that a lower dose will be suggested.
It is also important to keep in mind the ultimate goal of the CBD consumption. Depending on the desired effect, the CBD dose will vary. For instance, if the problem is severe and unmanageable like chronic pain, a higher dose of CBD will be required to reduce the symptoms and provide relief. Furthermore, as the CBD consumption increases, patients can build a stronger tolerance to the compound, meaning that over time the dosage will require amendments.
Different CBD products – different dose
We touched upon the different types of CBD oils and other products but we haven’t mentioned that their concentration of CBD is different and therefore so is the dosing. If we take CBD oils and tinctures, for instance, the concentration of CBD found within can be anything from 100 mg to 5000 mg. In this case, it is helpful to look at the serving size suggested for the specific product. The most common serving size with tinctures is 1 mL per serving. What is interesting about tinctures is that it may take longer for the effect to kick in so be patient and don’t be tempted to consume more if the effect is not immediate.
On the other hand, vape CBD oil provides an immediate result after consumption and consumers reveal that inhaling and holding your breath for a few seconds gets the ultimate effect. The majority of vape oils are sold in 30 mL bottles, with between 1 mL and 1.5 mL per serving suggested. In most cases, the concentration is between 200 mg and 1500 mg. In other words, the serving size is likely to be from 6.6 mg to 50 mg.
With CBD edibles, the picture is different as each edible is a serving size on its own. In addition, with CBD edibles you are certain to receive instructions on the consumptions as part of the ingredients list. Those who prefer CBD topicals in attempts to relieve muscle or joint pain experience a different situation as the compound doesn’t directly communicate with the endocannabinoid system but is instead tied with the cannabinoid receptors in the epidermis of the skin. The majority of CBD topicals come with CBD concentration of between 250 mg and 1500 mg.
Is it possible to overdose on CBD?
If you are just starting with CBD and you are worried about the potential of overdosing, worry not. Overdosing on CBD is merely impossible and studies reveal that there are no cases of CBD overdose registered by consumers. But why?
Cannabinoid receptors are not positioned in the brainstem zones of our body, which are responsible for respiration. Because of this, overdose is not a possibility when it comes to the consumption of CBD related products. The potential side effects of consuming CBD are also very limited and don’t provide serious threats to the mind and body. Even patients who consume large doses of CBD or up to 1500 per day have reported that the compound is successfully absorbed and accepted by the body.
The possible side effect, however, may include symptoms such as dry mouth, sedation, low blood pressure, a slowdown in the fertilization capacity of the body, reduced p-Glycoprotein activity and T and B cells activity, as well as a limited activity of the Cytochrome P450 Enzyme. Before making a decision to consume CBD it is advisable to schedule a consultation with a professional from the medical field and gather as much information as possible.
It is also worth noting that it is possible for the compound to interact with other drugs and medications in your system to cause a different and unexpected reaction. Share your current medications with your doctor to ensure that your approach to CBD is the best one for you.
Establishing the right CBD dose for your needs will depend on a range of factors. For CBD beginners, the advice is to start slow and gradually increase the dose as confidence is gained in the magical compound called CBD.