There is a variety of different cannabidiol (CBD) products with various concentrations on the market. How do you know what CBD tincture dosage to use?

Consider the Dose Response Curve

When trying to determine the amount of CBD that is right for you, there is an interesting paradox when it comes to CBD. CBD has what is called an “inverted U” dose response curve. This means that as you take more you get a better response, but at some point on that curve, the more you take the less response you get. The idea is to try to find the sweet spot in the middle that works best for you. In addition to that, exactly how much you need depends on what it is you are trying to accomplish. This combination can make things tricky.

One of the benefits of CBD, or hemp plant oil extracts of the industrial hemp plant (also known as Cannabis sativa L.), is that there are a variety of ailments that CBD is purported to help with. Medical professionals suggest that we do not have the full picture yet and need more specific clinical trials directed at specific outcomes with specific CBD dosing and some long-term studies before we know the whole picture. In other words, exactly what dose is needed, and what doses are safe are not yet fully established in the medical community. With all this in mind, what is it that you are to do?

Do Some Research

Go online and do some research. Find out what people have said about the ailment you are trying to address. Learn what typical dosage recommendations are from a variety of sources. For example, some suggest that low doses are best with many suggesting something around 5 mg per dose and two doses per day being best. Others suggest starting at a daily dose of 25 mg and upping that every 3-4 weeks. As you can see there is a wide variety of suggestions out there. Over time however, you will develop an idea of what most people are suggesting for the issue you are seeking to address.

How Will You Take It?

Part of the decision about dosing is to consider which method you want to use. There are now a variety of options, but the main ones are tinctures, vaping, capsules, and edibles like CBD gummies. Each of these have different modes and options for dosage. Keep those in mind when you do your research to discover an appropriate target range.

Many elect to use a tincture. These are most typically a CBD product that is dispersed in a carrier oil and placed into a bottle with a dropper. The CBD product is most often either a full spectrum oil, a broad spectrum oil, or an isolate. Regardless of the type, the classic method is to pull some material into the dropper and place some drops in the mouth for a period of time (usually as few as 10 to as much as 60 seconds), then swallow.

The other options have advantages and drawbacks. While smokers may like the vaping options, non-smokers are often suspicious of that mode and the potential it involves for infections of the lungs. This method does allow for quick entry into the blood stream via the blood vessels in the lungs, but it also makes it difficult to control the amounts taken, especially if you have determined to target a low dosage.

Capsules and gummies are quick and easy. However, the CBD is delivered into an acid environment in the stomach and digestive tract which can change the chemical versions of CBD present due to the acid. They also have to be absorbed through the intestine after going through a chemical conversion from the acid in the stomach to the base in the intestine. It is also very hard to take less than a full capsule. Additionally, it is hard to know if the gummies have exactly the same concentration of CBD throughout the entire candy such that cutting it into pieces would guarantee that each piece has the exact same amount of CBD. Both of these reasons make adjusting the dosing a little harder with these forms.

Learn more about How to Use CBD Tinctures.

Remember Who You Are

Many drugs, supplements, and other items taken to enhance our health are dosed in terms that are based on body weight. Milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) is the classic dosage measure. In other words, how much you need is related to how much you weigh. So, once you’ve zeroed in on a range, you need to adjust it to fit your weight. Compare yourself to whatever you think “average” is and adjust up or down compared to how you relate to that average.

You should also consider what you know about your medical history. Do you have allergies to plants or plant-based products in particular? This detail could greatly influence what the right dose is for you. If you are susceptible to these kinds of things then you probably want to start at the very lowest end of dosing – if at all, depending on the severity of your allergies.

You should also consider your experiences with other supplements. Some people react quite easily to them. Others have a hard time getting any response at all. Knowing this helps you hone in on your target even better.

Also, consider what other drugs, supplements, and herbals you may be taking. Remember that CBD goes through the same liver enzyme system as many of those do. This means that they can impact each other, so you need to be aware of the potential for drug interactions and adjust accordingly. If you have drugs that require the “grapefruit juice” rule, for example, you should consult with your health care professional before you begin your CBD tincture trials.

Consider the Source

While most manufacturers are trying their best to deliver consistent quality products, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told us that most products on the market do not meet their label claims. They are either higher than the claim, or lower. There can be many reasons why this might be, other than manufacturers purposely trying to fraudulently sell the product. Some are related to variations due to test methods. Other reasons include variations in the production process, packaging variables, and so on. Regardless of the potential for product variation, you need to consider your source. Only buy from reliable manufacturers that deliver what they promise and can verify their results through third-party testing.

Consider How CBD Works

CBD and its impact on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are not a simple thing. While it was originally thought that THC (the active ingredient found in medical marijuana) reacted with the CB1 receptors and CBD reacted with CB2 receptors, more recent research has shown that CBD interacts with many receptors outside the ECS and may not react directly with CB2 at all. It reacts with serotonin receptors, vanilloid receptors, orphan receptors and more. Current thinking is that it rallies the body to produce more of its natural endocannabinoids to obtain the result.

When considering the health benefits you are looking to gain, think about how it might work through the system above. This can help inform your choice of an ideal dose. Some of these do not take much to make a difference, while others may take a considerable amount.

Read more about the Uses of CBD Tinctures.

Trial and Error

When you are ready to start, the best way is to start low and slow. Try a dosage that is low in the range you have targeted. Adjust it up or down after taking it for several days based on the kind of result you have had. Remember the upside-down “U” dosage curve. You are assuming that you are starting at the left and will go up the curve until you hit the sweet spot. If you keep going after that, you are likely to experience a lesser effect. At that point, you will have found your ideal dosage.

Bottom Line

Whenever you are considering addressing an issue with CBD for the first time, do some homework to develop a target range of dosage. Start slow and low. Over time adjust it up until you obtain the result you seek. As always, consult with your healthcare professionals before beginning a new regimen, particularly if you are already taking prescription drugs which might be impacted through a drug interaction or through the liver processing materials more slowly, which could alter the normal amount of prescription drugs in the circulatory system.