The popularity and widespread use of CBD is on a rising trend due to medical and scientific communities identifying its potential in the treatment of a multitude of common ailments. As a result of this, it was legalised on the federal level with the US Farm Act of 2018 and manufacturers began introducing a plethora of cannabidiol infused products into this booming market. However, there are still doubts about it among its consumers and the principal question is regarding the perfect CBD dosage. This depends on multiple factors and the purpose of this article is to provide a better understanding of the dosage, read on to know more.
What Is the Perfect CBD Dosage?
It is the right amount of CBD that gives the maximum benefit or best results for an ailment upon its consumption and this varies from person to person. This is because of the difference in their physiology like weight, age, gender, pre-existing medical conditions, allergies etc. So, it is similar to identifying the optimal dosage of medicines in any other forms of treatments; listed below are the variables that influence its dosing.
CBD Concentration
The CBD concentration is the total amount of cannabidiol present in the product, it is also known as potency and is denoted in milligrams (mg) on the product label. It depends on the type of hemp plant extract used in the manufacturing process. You choose the concentration of cannabidiol infused items based on the severity of your ailment and they have a direct correlation.
Type Of Hemp Extract
As mentioned previously the, dosage of any CBD product is influenced by the type of hemp extract used in its manufacturing. The different types of extracts are full-spectrum extract, broad-spectrum extract and CBD isolate. The first one has all the cannabinoids naturally found in the hemp plant including the psychotropic THC, but its level is only a maximum of 0.3% and hence does not produce mind altering effects. The second one is similar to the first, but has all the THC removed from it and hence you can avoid the risk of failing a drug test. The last one is 99% pure cannabidiol and more suitable for those with any kind of cannabis plant allergies.
The Strain Of CBD Hemp Plant
The strain of the CBD hemp flower has a significant effect on the cannabidiol concentration of the hemp extract and thereby influences the CBD dosage of any of its products. Besides, some strains have CBD to THC ratio of 1:1, 4:1 or 18:1 and the choice varies from person to person due to the difference in their CBD or THC tolerance, requirements or severity of the ailment.
Entourage Effect
CBD has more than 60 target points in our body and its effect varies across them, the other phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant extract also influences these target points. These cannabinoids work in synergy, enhancing the individual effect of each of them, and this is called the entourage effect which is absent in CBD isolate products. This has a direct influence on the perfect CBD dosage and hence must be taken into consideration when consuming it for an ailment.
The Quality Of Hemp Extract
The quality of the hemp extract used to manufacture CBD products has a direct influence on its dosage, and to experience maximum effect or benefit for your ailment, you must use a high quality CBD product. It is determined mainly by two factors: the cultivation practices and the type of extraction method used.
The hemp plant is highly sensitive i.e. it easily absorbs the impurities and contaminants in the soil and water used in its farming; this directly impacts the CBD concentration in the extract. In addition, the extraction process also determines the concentration of CBD contained in the hemp plant extract. So, the highest quality cannabidiol products use organically cultivated hemp plant extracts that are extracted using CO2 extraction process. Listed below are the different types of cannabidiol products based on the quality of the hemp extract used.
- Regs – These are the lowest quality CBD products.
- Mids – These are medium quality CBD products.
- Beasters – These are at the lower spectrum of high quality CBD products.
- Headies – These are the highest quality CBD products available and are quite expensive.
The Type Of CBD Product Or The Method Of Consumption
The perfect CBD dosage varies depending on the type of cannabidiol product or the method of consumption to produce the required effect. For example, inhaling CBD for pain requires lower dose compared to sublingual or oral consumption. In these two methods, it is absorbed into the bloodstream directly through the highly permeable surface of lungs or through the tiny blood capillaries under the tongue. Because of that, the loss in concentration due to intermediary biological processes is almost zero except for the first pass metabolism. In the last method (oral consumption) there is a loss in its concentration and this is because a significant portion of it is denatured by the stomach acids as well as first pass metabolism.
The Bioavailability
Bioavailability is the amount of cannabidiol available in the bloodstream when you consume a CBD dose, and it depends on the method of consumption and the first pass metabolism. The details regarding the method of consumption were explained above and here we will look into the process of first pass metabolism. When you consume CBD orally, it is absorbed in the digestive tract and carried to the liver through the portal vein. Here it is metabolised by the enzyme CYP450 into metabolites, of which 80% are useless and excreted by the body. This reduces the available concentration of cannabidiol i.e. the effect of a dose. So, to get a desired effect comparable to other methods like inhaling or sublingual consumption you must consume a higher dose of oral cannabidiol products.
The Biphasic Property Of CBD
The perfect CBD dose is dependent on the biphasic nature of cannabidiol, i.e. it delivers a certain set of effects at lower dose and different effects at a higher dose. You should also know that this is dependent on the type of CBD extract i.e. full-spectrum or broad-spectrum and CBD isolate. For example, at a lower and medium dose, 99% pure cannabidiol has stimulating effect, but at higher doses it induces anxiety and in some cases depressive effect.
The Physiological Factors
The physiology of the individual plays an important role in determining the perfect CBD dose to get the maximum benefits. The chief physiological factor is the weight, and it has a direct correlation to CBD dosage i.e. a heavier person requires a higher dose and vice versa. Besides, the metabolic rate has a significant effect because it determines the duration of its effects. It varies depending on the gender, medical conditions, physical activities done by the individual, lifestyle etc. However, you should also know that cannabidiol inhibits the function of liver enzyme CYP450 and hence reduces liver’s metabolic capacity or rate.
How To Calculate Perfect CBD Dose?
You determine the optimal CBD dosage based on three steps and almost all the reputable manufacturers provide detailed guidelines for it.
Step 1: The first step is to determine the initial dose and it is generally recommended to start at a low dose to avoid the risk of overdosing. Based on the type of product for your ailment, you fix the dose taking into consideration the physiological factors like weight, age, gender and severity of medical conditions. It would be ideal to consult with the physician as he will be able to assist in determining this more accurately which is your reference point as well. You should also remember that this will vary from person to person.
Step 2: Now that you have determined the initial CBD dose, you will now have to determine the CBD concentration per serving of the product. For convenience sake let us calculate it for CBD oil. In many cases the product label will mention this but you can calculate it for yourself. For this you will have to consider the total volume of the product in millilitre (ml) and the CBD concentration of the product in milligram (mg).
[CBD in mg] ÷ [volume in ml] = [CBD in mg/ml]; i.e. the milligrams of cannabidiol contained in one millilitre of CBD oil.
For example, for 50 ml of 800mg CBD oil, according to this equation:
[800 mg] ÷ [50 ml] = [16 mg CBD / ml CBD Oil]
Step 3: To calculate the perfect CBD dose, you need the weight of the user.
| PAIN | BODY WEIGHT | |||||
| <25lbs | 26-45lbs | 46-85lbs | 86-150lbs | 151-240lbs | >241lbs | |
| MILD | 4.5mg | 6mg | 9mg | 12mg | 18mg | 22.5mg |
| MEDIUM | 6mg | 9mg | 12mg | 15mg | 22.5mg | 30mg |
| SEVERE | 9mg | 12mg | 15mg | 18mg | 27mg | 45mg |
[Your weight in pounds (lbs)] ÷ [10] x [desired strength in mg] = [your perfect CBD dose]
For example, if your weight is 154 lbs and you wanted a dose of minimum strength based on the table, then according to the above equation
[154] ÷ [10] x [18mg] = 277mg of CBD per day.
What Is CBD Micro Dosing?
It is the method by which you break the CBD dose per day into smaller fixed micro doses so that there is a consistent level of it in your bloodstream. It helps you to gain the maximum wellness and therapeutic benefits throughout the day and is especially useful for managing conditions like chronic pain. This is a growing trend among cannabidiol consumers, and the method is used by athletes to boost their performance. The other advantage is that it reduces the possible side effects of THC contained in products like full-spectrum CBD oil. However, it is important to consult with your health care professional regarding micro dosing CBD.
It might be obvious by now that the key to gaining the maximum CBD benefits is to administer the perfect CBD dose that is tailor-made to your requirements. Therefore, keeping in mind the aforementioned details will help you in the endeavour of finding the perfect amount of CBD for you.