How Much CBD Oil Should I Be Taking Regularly?

6 Steps to Find the Right CBD Dosage for Your Needs

Deciding that CBD is the way forward for your health concerns is one thing, but that’s just the first step.

Once you’ve decided on CBD, you need to work out how much you need to take to experience the benefits of the compound.

And how much CBD should you be taking?

Unfortunately, the answer is: it depends.

The correct dosage will depend on a number of factors, such as:

• Whether you’re a CBD newbie or have been taking it for a while
• What form of CBD you are using
• What brand you have chosen
• Why you’re taking CBD
• How potent the CBD is

With so many options and all the different brands and confusing labelling (sometimes it feels like they’re deliberately trying to mislead you), getting your dosing right can be a nightmare.

This how-to guide will help you decide what dose you should get started with – there are thousands of people across the UK who use CBD for a range of health concerns, and to give yourself the best chance of experiencing the same benefits, you need to get your dose right.

Step 1: Consider why you’re taking CBD

CBD is being used to treat a wide range of conditions from nausea and pain to insomnia and anxiety. The right dosage, therefore, depends on what you’re taking CBD.

If it’s for arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation recommends a few mg of CBD oil per day, taken sublingually twice a day. The dose can then be increased after a week if you are not feeling sufficient pain relief. If you’re taking CBD for insomnia, you might want to take a few drops before bed, and not split the dosage in two.

It’s also important to consider that CBD may interact with other medications such as blood thinners, antidepressants and immune suppressant drugs. If you are taking other medication, speak to your doctor before using CBD.

Step 2: Find the Right Type

There are many, many different forms of CBD, the most popular of which are CBD edibles (such as CBD gummies), CBD oils, CBD topicals and CBD drinks.

A standard dose in CBD gummies is usually around 5mg per gummy, while a CBD oil tincture will be around 1mg per drop and it will take longer to feel the effects with gummies than with an oil.

CBD Oils

CBD oil is usually a carrier liquid infused with CBD extract and taken sublingually (under the tongue) where it is quickly absorbed by the tiny capillaries under your tongue.

CBD Topicals

CBD-infused creams and lotions are used to treat some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, even acne, as well as muscle and joint pain.

CBD Edibles

CBD gummies and CBD drinks are two of the most popular ways to take CBD because they fit into your lifestyle. They’re discrete and allow you to monitor your dosage carefully so you know exactly how much you are taking.

Step 3: Look at the CBD Concentration

Once you’ve decided what type of CBD you want to use, you then need to look at the potencies (or concentrations) and the right choice will depend on what you want from the product.

CBD is available in concentrations from 100mg to 5,000mg and more per single 30ml bottle. If you’re just starting out, a low-potency option, such as 300mg is a good place to start. A lower potency option is often better at the beginning as you monitor how your body responds to the effects of CBD.

Often people will be tempted to try a stronger potency right from the start thinking that it will deliver more of an effect. And it probably will. But if you start with a high-strength bottle, you have no way of knowing how much you needed in order to experience the benefits. In contrast, starting with a lower-strength option allows you to monitor incrementally the effects of the CBD and from there you might easily find that a lower dose works just as well as a higher dose without the higher price tag.

Step 4: Get started

Getting the dosage right when you’re starting with CBD is important. CBD affects everyone differently, so the best approach is to start slow and low, and gradually work your way up.

For CBD oil: place two to three drops under your tongue and wait for thirty seconds before swallowing. Then, assess how you feel after thirty minutes, before taking more. Try to keep consistent and take the same dose at the same time every day, and stay within the UK government-suggested limit of 70 milligrams/day of CBD oil.

For CBD edibles: a similar small dosage is recommended if you are trying CBD for the first time. Eat one or two gummies, and wait thirty minutes or so to assess the effects before taking more. Dosage timing and consistency is important and the suggested limits are the same as for CBD oil.

If you haven’t tried CBD before, there are a few things to keep in mind such as:

• Individual factors, your body weight and chemistry have an impact on what CBD dosage will be optimal for you.
• The type of CBD you take will also influence the amount you need, how it is absorbed by the body and how long it takes to feel the effects.

Keep in mind that if you are using multiple forms of CBD (such as edibles and oil), you will need to monitor the combined daily dosage.

Step 5: Time for some trial and error

If you’ve been using CBD for a while you may want to change the type of CBD you use or even the brand. Here you will need to exercise caution as there may be variations in CBD content between products and brands, or it may affect you differently. Stick to the recommended dose for a product, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
If you have a health condition, such as liver disease, you may need to take a lower dose as there can be side effects from too much CBD.

When deciding on the dosage you should:

• Talk to your doctor, especially if you have any health concerns or take medication for a chronic condition.
• Read the instructions, it is usually straightforward to increase your dosage by increasing the number of drops or the concentration of the product, but read each product label carefully to prevent dosage errors.
• Consider dosing with gummies or capsules as is the easiest way to know exactly how many milligrams you are consuming with each gummy or capsule.

Step 6: Monitor the effects

CBD onset time depends on the type of CBD you use. For edibles and capsules that pass through the digestive tract, it can take up to two hours before your feel the effects. In comparison, CBD tinctures taken sublingually take anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes, and they offer a nigher bioavailability because they bypass your digestive system. Topicals are somewhere in between and take 45 minutes and 60 minutes to have an effect.

That’s a lot of information and a lot of choices.

So, what does it come down to?

If you’re serious about incorporating regular CBD dosing into your daily life, then:

• Shop smart: CBD products are not strictly regulated in the UK, so make sure you do your homework before making a decision.
• Choose a trustworthy brand: quality CBD products sold by a reputable brand are going to give you the best opportunity offer experiencing the health and wellness benefits of CBD.
• Find the right form of CBD: whether you choose gummies, CBD oil, a CBD beverage or topicals, make sure it matches with the results you’re looking for.
• Start low and slow: start with a lower concentration and a smaller dosage, then increase slowly until you get the desired effects. This process can easily take upwards of a few months. Stick with a lower dose for at least a week before increasing it.