CBD Oil Dosage: What Are the Best Recommendations?

March 11, 2019

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Axe nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

Maybe by now you’re convinced that CBD oil can be a transforming approach to natural medicine. Every day, more and more research is conducted on the potential benefits of CBD oil.

But if you’re like so many others, you’re a bit confused about the appropriate CBD oil dosage. You may not be comfortable deciding how and when to take CBD oil either. While there’s no one answer for these questions, as everyone is different, there are some parameters to consider.

How to Take CBD Oil? First, Know Your Goals

Here’s the first thing you need to know before using CBD oil — what’s your goal? Once you identify that, you should also consult your healthcare professional to get his or her input as well.

Knowing why you’re using CBD will help you to find the “right” dosage. In a nutshell, the appropriate CBD oil dosage depends on a variety of factors, including why you are taking it and the delivery method.

How do you know if the CBD oil dosage is working? Well, you know that you’ve hit the CBD dosage “sweet spot” if your goals are being reached. That is, after all, the intent of using any type of CBD product, right?

Use the way you felt before taking CBD as your baseline and measure how you feel after each trial dose. You may need to try a few different doses before pinpointing what works for you and your goals.

Which Receptors Do CBD Oil Target

External cannabinoids, including CBD, target receptors in the endocannabinoid system. These receptors exist throughout the entire body, including your brain, nervous system and digestive system. CBD oil works by activating these receptor sites.

The problem is that many people may have an imbalanced endocannabinoid system, which can lead to undesirable effects. This is where CBD may come in — it can work to add balance to the endocannabinoid system. By balancing the endocannabinoid system, the body can return to its balanced state, or homeostasis.

Time Frame and Method

Generally speaking, for most people, it takes about 30 minutes to feel the effects of CBD oil after ingesting it or applying it topically, but this may alter depending on the product’s concentration and potency — and the person using it, of course.

The method used to take CBD will also alter the amount of time it takes to feel the effects. The amount of oil you use depends on a few factors that are described below.

How to Choose Your CBD Oil Dosage

There is no official serving size for CBD, so figuring out the best dosage for your desired effects depends on a few factors. The first thing to know is that everyone reacts differently to external cannabinoids like CBD. Although many products recommend the best CBD oil dosage based on your bodyweight, this doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.

Some people may be more sensitive than others and would notice positive changes from a lower dose. In fact, there are some who point to the idea that taking more CBD than you need may actually be less effective. This is why starting with a lower dose and working up slowly is often a great way to pinpoint how much CBD you need to meet your goals.

How often should you take CBD? First off, you should always consult your healthcare professional and the directions on the label. Some indicate taking one dose 1–3 times daily. This depends on your goals, however, so dosage should be adjusted accordingly.

The time of day you take CBD will also impact its effects. A good rule of thumb is to take CBD about one hour before you want to get the effects. For example, for those seeking calmness before going to bed, a person could take a CBD dose about one hour before bedtime. And keep in mind that, in general, the effects of a lower dose can last about three hours, while a higher dose can last about six hours.

CBD Oil Dosage Guidelines

There is no official serving size for CBD — Everyone reacts differently to cannabinoids, so you need to determine what dose works best for you.
Less is more — Taking more CBD than you need may actually be less effective. This is why starting with a lower dose and working your way up slowly can be beneficial.
Use it daily — To fully experience the positive effects of CBD, it’s best to use it consistently. You can take one standard dose 1–3 times daily or according to directions and/or your healthcare professional.
Determine the dosage for you — To do that, follow these steps:
1. Know your goals — establish what you are trying to achieve with CBD oil.
2. Give it time — start with the lowest recommended dosage for your goals and weight. If you don’t notice positive effects within 3–7 days, increase your dose by 1–5 milligrams (or as indicated by your health professional). Repeat this step until you find your personal optimal dose (not to exceed recommended amounts).

CBD Dosage Chart

Symptom Severity	100-150 pounds	150-200 pounds	200-250 pounds
Low Ad	5-10 milligrams	10-15 milligrams	10-20 milligrams
Medium	10-15 milligrams	15-20 milligrams	20-30 milligrams
High	15-30 milligrams	20-40 milligrams	30-40 milligrams
Very High	30-40+ milligrams	40-50+ milligrams	40-60+ milligrams

This chart is to help you indicate your standard dose. One dose can be taken 1–3 times daily, or as directions indicated. Stick with one dosage consistently for 3–7 days before increasing by 5 milligram increments. (Do not exceed recommended dosage.)

Absorption

No matter what type of CBD product you decide to use, pure CBD oil, overall, has the same absorption factore. However, the potency and concentration of your CBD oil product will alter its effect.

Opt for products that are made with pure CBD oil and allow you to take control of the exact dosage. Plus, full spectrum products have sometimes been shown to have complementary effects because CBD combines with other cannabinoids that are found naturally in hemp.

One way to maximize the absorption of oral CBD products from tinctures is to take the oil by mouth.

Ways to Take CBD Oil

As the CBD oil market continues to grow, you have more and more product options. There are a number of ways to take CBD oil, so you can choose the method that works best for you and your goals.

Some of the most popular ways to take CBD oil include:

Tinctures: Tinctures are CBD oils that come with a dropper. This is one of the easiest ways to take CBD because you are in control of the exact serving. Typically, one dropper is a serving, so make sure to read the label carefully to determine your CBD dosage.
Capsules: This is another easy way to take CBD orally. You’ll find capsules available in several doses.
Topical solutions: CBD lotions, balms and salves can be used topically, as desired and for specific areas of the body.
Powders: Powders are another form of oral CBD. They can be added to your smoothies or just combined with liquid.
Edibles: Another popular type of CBD is edibles, which are preferred by people who enjoy the ease and pleasant taste.

When choosing a CBD oil product, it can get confusing — so keep these tips in mind. First, go organic. The hemp plant is what’s called a “bioaccumulator,” which means that it’s capable of absorbing substances from the water, air and soil faster than the rate they’re lost.

When the plants and soil are sprayed with pesticides and other substances, it will get into the product. Choosing an organic CBD oil will ensure that you aren’t also getting toxic chemicals.

Also, choose a product that is lab tested and has received a certificate of analysis, or COA. This means that the product is regulated, meets lab standards and has been tested for contaminants. And make sure the serving or dosage guidelines are clearly stated on the product label and that it’s not made with any fillers.

Risks and Side Effects

Overall, CBD is believed to be well tolerated, but you will always want to consult your healthcare professional prior to use.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one major takeaway from this information, it’s that finding the appropriate CBD oil dosage depends on a few factors, but is primarily based on how the person responds to CBD. Everybody is different, which is why it’s best to start with a lower dose and determine whether or not that dose meets your goals.
If there’s no perceived effects after three days of use, you can increase the dosage by 10 milligrams until you find what amount works best (in conjunction with your healthcare professional, of course).