There is no specific amount of CBD dosage for people. Unless the doctor recommends an exact amount of CBD dose, it is essential to start with a low CBD dosage for the first few weeks, and a person can gradually increase the CBD dose until the desired results are achieved.
CBD is a primary active chemical compound in the cannabis hemp plant. It is known for its potential health benefits, such as treating pain, stress, anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, inflammation, and other health benefits.
TYPES OF CBD
Three common types of CBD differ in their CBD concentrations.
CBD ISOLATE
Mubarik et al. (2020) explained that CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD, which is made of 99% of CBD. It does not contain any other cannabinoids like in different types of CBD. It is extracted by removing any other active compound leaving behind pure CBD. This form of CBD maintains its potency even when added to other substances like food or drinks.
FULL-SPECTRUM CBD
This type of CBD is made of all the cannabinoids in the cannabis hemp plant. It provides entourage effects because of cannabinoids like terpenes, fatty acids, flavonoids, and THC. Mubarik et al. (2020) explained that the THC compound contained in full-spectrum CBD is less than 0.3% because it is believed to be low to cause high. It is thought that using CBD and THC together improves the potential benefits of CBD.
BROAD-SPECTRUM CBD
This form of CBD contains all the active cannabinoids occurring naturally in the cannabis hemp plant except the THC compound, which is associated with causing highs. Just like full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD produces entourage effects due to different types of cannabinoids working together in other body parts to improve the CBD benefits. Different terpenes available in broad-spectrum CBD play a more significant role because they have calming and anti-inflammatory effects.
HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I TAKE?
When trying to get the best CBD dosage, some factors should guide one before purchasing any CBD product. Such factors include:
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
Height and weight affect your CBD dosage in different ways. The more you weigh, the more CBD dosage you will require to feel its effects. CBD interacts with the body receptors, which send signals to all other parts of the body and brain. The rate at which CBD is absorbed and metabolized into the body differs depending on weight and height. Appiah-Kusi et al. (2020) explained that a higher CBD concentration is needed for taller and heavier people than for short and light people.
AGE
Appiah-Kusi et al. (2020) stated that the effects of CBD are felt after the body breaks down the compound to make it easier for them to travel throughout the body. Metabolism slows down as we get older, so older people will require a higher dose, which will take more time to show effects than younger people.
SEX
Men and women have different hormones, which play a more significant role in the efficacy of CBD. In terms of stress reduction, CBD has more effects on men than women.
THE AILMENT TREATED
CBD dosage can also differ with the ailment treated. Some conditions require a higher dose of CBD than others.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CBD DOSAGE?
CHOOSE THE BEST DELIVERY METHOD
CBD products can be taken differently, so choosing your comfortable delivery method is essential. Some CBD delivery methods take a lot of time before showing effects. MacCallum et al. (2021) stated that taking CBD sublingually is effective and faster when showing impacts. If you want to treat skin conditions, CBD topicals are considered the best option.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
It is essential to talk to your doctor before trying any CBD products. It is because; CBD is believed to interact with some medicines. Depending on their health history, the doctor can recommend a better CBD dosage for an individual.
START WITH A LOW DOSE
When trying CBD products for the first time, starting with a low dose is essential to gauge how one’s body reacts to CBD. An insufficient amount of CBD is used for weeks to see if there will be any side effects associated with CBD. If no side effects are associated with CBD, one can gradually increase their dosage until the desired results are felt.
HOW TO CHOOSE CBD PRODUCTS?
Due to the high demand for CBD products, many companies have been manufacturing them, making it hard to get genuine CBD products. Bhardwaj et al. (2018) explained that, when choosing CBD products, there are some tips to follow to get high-quality CBD products.
BUY CBD PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THIRD-PARTY LAB TESTING
A third-party lab checks the concentration and purity of CBD products to ensure that the products are safe for human use. It ensures that the product does not contain any toxic chemicals or any other harmful additives. Third-party lab reports are indicated on the package, so it is essential to check them first to know the ingredients available in that product. If there is no lab-test information on the product, that’s a red flag, and the product may contain harmful contaminations, which can lead to long-term effects.
GET THE CBD PRODUCT EXTRACTED BY THE CO2 METHOD
The CO2 extraction method is believed to be safe over all other CBD extraction methods. It is because; the CO2 extraction method uses carbon dioxide to extract a higher concentration of CBD from the plant matter. Another extraction method involves using toxic solvents so the end product will have additional contaminants.
CONCLUSION
How much CBD one should take depends on factors like weight and height, age, treated ailment, and desired goals. If one is using CBD products for the first time, it is essential to consult their doctor to advise them on CBD products depending on their health history. It is also necessary to start with a lower dose of CBD in the first few weeks, and one can increase it gradually until you feel the desired effects. Choosing CBD products with third-party lab testing is essential to ensure you use high-quality CBD products.
REFERENCES
Appiah-Kusi, E., Petros, N., Wilson, R., Colizzi, M., Bossong, M. G., Valmaggia, L., … & Bhattacharyya, S. (2020). Effects of short-term cannabidiol treatment on response to social stress in subjects at high clinical risk of developing psychosis. Psychopharmacology, 237(4), 1121-1130.
Bhardwaj, A. K., Allsop, D. J., Copeland, J., McGregor, I. S., Dunlop, A., Shanahan, M., … & Lintzeris, N. (2018). A study protocol is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of cannabinoid replacement therapy (Nabiximols) to manage treatment-resistant cannabis-dependent patients. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1), 1-14.
MacCallum, C. A., Lo, L. A., & Boivin, M. (2021). “Is medical cannabis safe for my patients?” A practical review of cannabis safety considerations. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 89, 10-18.
Mubarik, S., Wang, F., Fawad, M., Wang, Y., Ahmad, I., & Yu, C. (2020). Trends and projections in breast cancer mortality among four Asian countries (1990–2017): evidence from five stochastic mortality models. Scientific reports, 10(1), 1-12.
