No matter where you go, chances are a CBD product is nearby. Now sold at gas stations, pharmacies and grocery stores, CBD seems to be everywhere due to its health benefits regarding chronic pain, sleep and anxiety. However, it is important to know that the FDA has only approved a medicinal product derived from cannabis (with prescription). Additionally, according to a Penn Medicine study, almost 70% of CBD extracts sold online are mislabeled.

It’s no wonder there is so much confusion around CBD. To help you sort through the noise, we spoke with experts to learn more about CBD and how to find the right dosage.

What can CBD be used for?

Research, although limited, indicates that CBD has legitimate health benefits. Although there are no FDA regulations, research has shown that Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum CBD treat effectively pain And anxiety. There is only one FDA-approved CBD product called Epidiolexavailable on prescription. Epidiolex treats seizure disorders such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

However, there are several other benefits and uses of CBD products.

The most common uses of CBD

The CBD market is constantly expanding with new products. However, there exists four main types of CBD product categories. All of this will vary in potency and dosage per unit.

Oils and tinctures

CBD oils usually come in liquid form or capsules. You can take the extracts independently or use the dropper to add them to food or drinks. Liquid tinctures are usually taken directly under the tongue.

“Tinctures are generally taken in higher concentrations than oils. This means that if you were taking 1 milliliter of tincture, you will need to lower the concentration to 0.5 milliliters. A good rule of thumb is to start with a small dose ( 0.25 milliliter) and gradually increase your dose over time,” explains Reda Elmardicertified dietitian and nutritionist.

Edibles

CBD edibles are quickly becoming very popular, likely due to their convenience and flavor profiles. With edibles, you have several options in terms of flavor, potency, and price. They have everything from gummies to cookies, chocolates and even granola bars.

Themes

CBD is also available in the form of topical creams and ointments that can be applied directly to the skin. Popular forms are lotions, creams or ointments. Topical CBD products are good options for muscle pain, joint inflammation, or neuralgic pain.

Topical CBD is one of the most difficult forms to determine dosage. Not only does the wattage vary by product, but it also varies depending on how much you use for each application. It is important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to Find the Best CBD Dosage for You

CBD products express the dosage in milligrams. Epidiolex starts with a dose of 2.5 milligrams taken twice daily. After a week, you can increase the dose to 5 milligrams twice a day. Federal regulations simplify determination of dosage.

For the rest of the products on the market that are not regulated by the FDA, there are no established guidelines regarding CBD concentration, making it a little more difficult to determine how much to take. There are a few key factors you need to keep in mind: your weight, what you are processing, and the concentration of the product.

The ideal dosage for you will vary depending on what you use it for and what form you take. Remember that different shapes also mean how quickly it comes into effect. Generally, edibles, oils and capsules will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes to take effect. Smoking or vaping CBD will make it appear much faster since the CBD is absorbed into your bloodstream rather than your digestive system.

CBD dosage varies depending on condition

In general, the dosage of CBD depends on the disease and whether it can be managed by CBD. The research available on CBD treatments varies widely in dosage levels. Clinical studies have varied in oral doses ranging from 100 to 800 milligrams per day. Others administer lower levels about 40 milligrams. A 2019 study one study on CBD for anxiety found that 300 to 600 milligrams reduced anxiety symptoms. However, this study was limited to 57 adult men.

“For generalized anxiety or sleep disorders, 25 to 75 milligrams per day is recommended, while for PTSD, 33 to 50 milligrams per day is recommended. In cases of severe anxiety, a patient’s dose may vary. be increased to 300 to 600 milligrams If the patient is experiencing pain due to chemotherapy, 50 to 60 milligrams is recommended, with a maximum daily dose. of 600 milligrams”, explains Kimberly Langdona certified physician.

The amount of CBD that is best for you depends on your body. Your body weight and existing medications will influence the ideal dosage.

Can you take too much CBD?

A clinical review of studies confirmed that people tolerate doses as high as 1,500 milligrams per day. We would like to point out that the research on CBD dosing is still very young, so there is not much to say about how much is too much for people. Further research is needed to definitively determine the ideal dosage for each condition.

There are not many known side effects associated with CBD products. Even if fatigue, diarrhea and appetite change have been reported. THE FDA States that CBD can cause liver damage and potentially impact other prescription medications you take. If you’re starting your CBD journey, it’s best to gradually increase your dose so you can monitor how it affects you.

“The idea is to start very low (i.e. 5 milligrams per use) and increase daily use by 5 milligrams every other day until you start to feel results. Then , stop increasing and continue using the same number of milligrams or drops. For many people, the amount that provides modest benefits in the first two days after regular use will provide increasing benefits. thread time,” says Dustin Sulakleading integrative physician and cannabis clinician.

How to calculate CBD dosage

For some forms of CBD, determining the amount of each unit is simple. Capsules or gummies tend to be expressed in milligrams, making dosing much easier than oils or creams.

Oils or tinctures with a dropper bottle indicate the CBD content for the total liquid bottle. So instead of eating a 50-milligram gummy, it will be more like 7,500 milligrams of CBD in a 30-milliliter bottle. Some bottles will offer serving sizes – such as a drop – to indicate the dosage. This allows you to have better control over the amount you take, but it’s not a perfect science.

Some bottles with a traditional nutrition label on the back will tell you exactly how much is in a dropper. If in doubt, it’s a good idea to contact the company to find out. It can be difficult to determine how much you are consuming for bottles that are not broken down by serving and only offer the total amount. It’s difficult, but not impossible. It just takes a little math.

Let’s say you have a 30 milliliter bottle of CBD oil and each drop is 0.05 milliliters.

To determine how many milligrams of CBD per milliliter, you divide the total milligram content by the amount in the bottle. In this example, the calculation would look like this:

7,500 milligrams divided by 30 milliliters = 250 milliliters.

There are 250 milligrams of CBD per milliliter for this product. Next, you want to know exactly how much CBD each drop contains.

250 milliliters x 0.05 milliliters = 12.5 milliliters per drop.

This calculation works with any bottle of CBD. Once you know how much CBD is in each drop, you can take precisely the ideal amount. “To ensure the best results, note how much you take, how many times a day you take it, and rate your symptoms daily (rating them from 1 to 10, 10 being best) to see if they are improving or are getting worse.” Sulak advises.

Too long, haven’t you read?

CBD is a constantly evolving field, both in terms of products and research. Although research is lacking, what is available suggests that CBD has therapeutic benefits and is generally very well tolerated by people. Still, more research is needed to really delve into long-term side effects and the best dosage markers for the average person.

In lieu of federal regulations, use your best judgment about the amount of CBD you take. Talking to your doctor about dosage is always a good idea if in doubt.