Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and hemp-derived products on a federal level, CBD oil has become one of the biggest trends nationwide. CBD has gained this popularity by reportedly helping your body find relief from various common issues like pain, inflammation, anxiety, lack of sleep, and more.
And with how common these problems are in America, it’s no wonder nearly everyone is chasing CBD for something. Because of this, you can find CBD in almost everything nowadays.
From classic CBD oil products like tinctures and gummies to CBD-infused beauty products, Ben and Jerry’s CBD ice cream, there is nothing companies won’t seemingly put CBD in – but how much actual CBD do you need?
The Dilemma of the Right CBD Dose
One of the most critical questions facing the CBD industry today is “what is a recommended starting dose of CBD?” And it’s a question that has as many answers as people who try to answer it because the research into recommended dosages for CBD is still in its infancy.
This factor means that most people who take CBD follow the generally accepted yet overly vague advice to “start small and keep taking more until you hit your sweet spot.” This approach works fine for plenty of people, but it can be cost-prohibitive for many others.
Everyone should be able to benefit from the natural power of CBD, but when there are no standard doses, many of those using CBD aren’t getting the most out of it. This lack of public knowledge is a large part of why it’s essential to look to the scientific community for guidance.
What’s the Deal With CBD Dosage?
Even though the scientific community is tirelessly gathering research and attempting to establish more rigid guidelines for dosing CBD, there are still thousands of people out in the real world trying to figure out what they should do.
And when the doses used can range from 2.5 mg in some studies to as high as 1500 mg in others, it can be hard to know just how much CBD is needed to be effective.
However, rather than seeing such wide-ranging effective doses for CBD as a problem, it should appear as an asset. Unlike alternatives that have to be carefully measured and monitored for harsh side effects, CBD’s unrealistic dosage in one study, published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, reported no side effects.
It means that CBD dosing is unique in that it allows individuals to freely adjust how much they take until they achieve the desired results without the fear of an overdose or deadly side effects.
However, we still need concrete research to help establish recommended starting doses for some of the most common ailments that CBD can help alleviate, like chronic pain, lack of sleep, stress, and depression.
But until the FDA finally announces a recommended daily allowance of CBD or other dosing guidelines, the only tool some people have are online dosing guides that are notoriously inaccurate.
Factors To Consider For Dosage
Like any other health product, how much CBD someone needs relies on a number of factors. These factors include height, weight, genetics, previous prescription or recreational drug use, race, and gender, among many others.
Because of this laundry list of potential influences, essential online dosage guides won’t deliver an utterly accurate recommendation. But in the absence of official information, they may be the best option we have for finding the right ballpark to start in.
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Then, once you narrow down a rough idea of where to start, it’s back to the tried-and-true method of trial and error until you find your sweet spot.
Quality Over Quantity
When it comes down to it, though, it doesn’t matter how much CBD you take if your CBD oil is low quality or simply not what it claims to be.
According to a University of Pennsylvania study, many CBD products contain a different amount of CBD than advertised, with as few as 30 percent of products tested coming within 10 percent of the listed concentration.
That startling statistic, on top of the risk of heavy metal or pesticide consumption from low-grade, foreign hemp sources, makes it crucial for consumers to do their homework before deciding which company they want to buy from eventually.
USA-grown Hemp
You can’t make high-quality CBD oil without high-quality industrial hemp. And even though not all foreign hemp is terrible, it’s always a risk when you don’t know exactly where it’s coming from or what the standards there are.
Because of this uncertainty, it’s best to seek out companies whose product source is from the U.S. organically grown hemp that’s guaranteed to be free of harmful pesticides and GMOs.
Additionally, all hemp crops in America must abide by Farm Bill regulations that only allow for 0.3 percent THC or less. It means that when you buy products made from American hemp, you can be confident that the THC content is well below the federal limit.
CO2 Extraction
You don’t need a chemistry degree to understand that using cheap chemical solvents to extract CBD is dangerous and irresponsible. But unfortunately, many CBD companies do just that.
That’s why it’s essential to understand which extraction processes are safe and effective. That way, you can avoid those products that have been extracted using ethanol or other abrasive chemicals.
The safest and most effective extraction method today is CO2 extraction. It is a reasonably expensive process compared to other methods. That is why many companies decide to cut costs and use cheaper forms of extraction.
The way CO2 extraction works is by pressurizing carbon dioxide until it is in a liquid state. Then, that liquid is used as the solvent for stripping the different cannabinoids off the hemp plant.
CO2 procedure allows for a clean extraction. Moreover, it doesn’t leave traces of ethanol, olive oil, or other heavy or harsh solvents.
However, getting the cannabinoids off the plant is only part of the extraction process – for some companies.
Broad-spectrum Manufacturing
For CBD sellers that offer full-spectrum CBD oil, the process effectively ends with collecting all possible cannabinoids (including trace amounts of THC) and creating their oil from that. There are two other popular ‘styles’ of CBD that require a bit more work – isolate and broad-spectrum.
Isolate is what it sounds like strictly – isolated CBD. This form is done by eliminating the other cannabinoids from the original mixture and leaving the CBD alone.
The downside to this is that CBD works better in the presence of other cannabinoids. So what do you do if you want to avoid THC altogether while still benefiting from the combined effects of CBD and its cannabinoid cousins?
The answer, of course, is broad-spectrum CBD oil. To achieve broad-spectrum oil, the CBD and all other cannabinoids are isolated from THC.
While more costly and time-consuming than other methods, this process is usually the sign of a company that cares about producing a high-quality, THC-free product.
Certificate of Analysis
It is essential and hard to find companies who back the above claims as necessary. Amazingly, this is far more difficult than looking for manufacturers who claim to use safe and effective processing, extraction, and production techniques.
Considering this, the most vital piece of information to find when deciding on a CBD oil company is their Certificate of Analysis (CoA). This document is a certification from a third-party lab that tests for pesticides, heavy metals, and THC.
It also tells you how much CBD is in the product. This certificate makes it easy for you to decide whether or not the product’s dosage is accurate.
Any transparent and reputable company will have no problem sharing their CoA with you. Moreover, many manufacturers will have a CoA posted on their website.
How To Calculate The Correct Dose?
CBD products have many forms. From CBD gummies to tinctures, this substance is found everywhere. However, when it comes to safe consumption, it is always advisable to check the labels.
When using CBD pills and gummies, follow the guidelines given on the bottle. For instance, you may come across gummy bottles with ‘10mg of CBD per serving’ written in bold. Labels with such instructions help to determine a safe dosage for all users.
Moreover, CBD oil often comes with a dropper bottle. Before using, read the labels to understand the amount of CBD present in every single drop. This knowledge will help you decide the number of drops you may want for yourself.
For instance, according to standards, one drop measures 0.05 ml. Therefore, a 10 ml bottle of CBD oil should probably contain 200 drops.
If, according to labels, 10 ml includes 2000 mg of CBD, each drop will most likely have 10 mg of CBD.
After the maths above, you can easily plan on the number of drops you want to consume daily. For example, to consume 20 mg of CBD, two drops of CBD oil may be sufficient.
Drawbacks of High Dose
According to a 2011 study, CBD doesn’t cause any apparent side effects even on doses as high as 1500mg. However, another prior study from 2009 did raise some questions regarding the interaction between the excess of CBD and other medicines. Moreover, it also shed some light on the relationship between CBD dosage and liver health.
Since CBD is still an incomplete tale, it’s better to consult a doctor before consuming any CBD product. It is specifically crucial if you are taking other medications or have any underlying conditions.
When it comes to known side effects of CBD, there are very few. Moreover, their relationship with excess dosage is also unclear.
Here is a list of a few possible side effects of CBD:
- Weight-loss
- Loss in Appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Depression
If you want to consume CBD, make sure you opt for high-quality brands only. Various brands are selling CBD products online, but very few give clear details on their dosage, ingredients, and quality.
Only choose the manufacturer that provides a third-party testing certificate and sells products with correct labeling. Since CBD isn’t FDA-approved yet, it is you who has to make the ultimate choice.
If you are still confused, reading customer reviews on quality, dosage, and results may help you make a sound decision.
Also, talking to your doctor is probably your best bet. They will be able to properly guide you on your required CBD dosage according to your problem. Moreover, in case of any mishap, your doctor will be able to find a more appropriate solution.
Conclusion
When it comes to CBD dosage, there is no single rule. The correct dosage varies according to the CBD product and the user. Moreover, the potency and quality of CBD also affect its consumption.
However, it is imperative to read the labels for any instructions about the use. Moreover, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor before you decide to bring CBD into your life.
