- CBD Oil Tinctures: taken under the tongue and held for several minutes for max absorption.
- Water Soluble CBD: Our bodies are comprised of mostly water and anything we put in our bodies that is not water soluble will not absorb as efficiently.
- CBD Paste: Highly concentrated full extract paste can be used orally as well as topically and is fast acting,
- Edibles: My favorite is the gummy, swallowing it mostly whole allows the cannabinoids to absorb like a time release as the gummy digests.
- Creams and Salves: Helping with symptoms of pain & skin conditions when applied topically. Hemp Dropz pain cream is wildly popular and my personal favorite for putting where it hurts.
- CBD Vape: Vapable CBD is used by many for anxiety and is the fastest absorbing method although not the longest acting.
- Bath & Body products: Your skin is the largest living organ on your body. Use CBD bath bombs, soaps, and lotions to relax sore muscles, reduce inflammation, and decrease pain.
- CBD Pet Products: CBD oils, roll-ons, and treats for pets to help with everything from seizures to separation anxiety.
- Smokable Flower: Many people buy the hemp and choose to smoke the flower.
Important Serving Size Considerations
Determining the best CBD serving generally depends on the following factors.
- Concentration: Concentration, or strength, refers to the total amount of CBD in a product. Concentration is measured in milligrams (mg). This is different from dosage, which indicates the amount of CBD per serving. For instance, let’s say a bottle of CBD tincture has a concentration of 1500 mg and contains 30 milliliters (mL) of a tincture, with 1 mL as the standard serving size. This means each 1-mL serving will contain approximately 50 mg of CBD; the consumer is not ingesting 1500 mg with each dosage.
- Bodyweight: A person’s weight often plays a role in how much – or how little – CBD affects the body. Generally speaking, heavier people need a higher serving size to experience the calming effects of CBD; lighter people, on the other hand, may feel the same effects with a lower amount.
- Desired effects: For many, the optimal serving size comes down to the level of pain or discomfort they are experiencing. Someone with chronic pain or severe anxiety may need a higher amount to alleviate their symptoms, whereas a person with a milder condition may prefer a lower amount with less pronounced effects.
- Tolerance: CBD consumers may develop a tolerance over time, which can result in reduced effects from the same dosage. Higher subsequent servings may be needed to achieve the desired results.
Using the criteria above, first-time CBD consumers should be able to determine a good starting dosage. Next, we’ll look at some typical starting serving sizes for CBD consumers with different weights and desired effect levels.
Best Amount
The table below breaks down starting serving sizes based on body weight and effect level. These dosages are approximations and highly subjective due to the nature of CBD consumption; always consult your physician about the best starting serving before trying CBD for the first time.
Weight: 140 lbs or less 10 MG or LESS
Weight: 140 lbs to 250 lbs 20 MG or LESS
Weight over 250 lbs 24 MG or LESS
Larger serving sizes may be more suitable for certain CBD consumers. These include people with severe pain or other debilitating symptoms, as well as those with a relatively high CBD tolerance.
CBD is not toxic and gradually increasing CBD dosage does not carry any known side effects, so ramping up one’s dosage is generally safe – and, in some cases, beneficial to the consumer. Many find that incrementally increasing the dosage is the best way to achieve the desired effects of CBD.
The type of CBD product is also important to consider since each one is associated with different concentrations, dosing methods, and effects. The next section will take a closer look at tinctures, topicals, and other CBD product variations.
Measuring Dosage for Oils and Tinctures
These forms of concentrated CBD oil are typically mixed in with food or applied sublingually (beneath the tongue). Oils and tinctures typically come in 15-mL or 30-mL bottles. These products vary significantly in terms of concentration, ranging anywhere from 100 mg to 5000 mg. The key to understanding the tincture dosage is serving size, which is usually 1 mL per serving. A 5000 mg-strength tincture in a 30-mL bottle features 30 1-mL servings of roughly 166.7mg of CBD. A 100 mg-strength tincture in the same bottle contains 30 servings of roughly 3.3mg of CBD. These two servings will yield very different effects.
We urge first-time CBD tincture consumers to start with lower concentrations and gradually ramp up their dosage. It’s important to note that tinctures do not take effect as quickly as other CBD products (namely vape oils) and consumers may not experience the sensations right away; however, the effects can last for up to three or four hours. Those who take the tincture sublingually should hold the 1-ml serving under their tongue for approximately 60 seconds for the best results.