Thinking of joining over 1.3 million people in the UK today who regularly take CBD oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) has potential therapeutic benefits due to interactions with the body’s Endocannabinoid System1. People use it to manage anxiety, pain, insomnia and other conditions.
‘How much CBD should I take?’ is one of the first things many beginners want to know. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Our CBD oil dosage guide below gives you the facts that will help you find your personal optimum CBD oil dosage.
How Much CBD Should I Take?
Finding the right CBD oil dosage can be tricky - be prepared for some trial-and-error.
However, certain factors may determine the best individual dose, including weight, metabolism, why you’re taking CBD, a product’s strength and preference.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency recommends no more than 10mg a day2. This is precautionary. Nevertheless, a CBD dosage for beginners should start low.
Always give your chosen dose time to work, and monitor results. Some people experience effects within an hour, often a sense of relaxation. For others it can take five days or more for significant results.
The following is a guide.
Step 1: Weighing Your Options
Weight may be a touchy subject but it’s a great starting point for deciding a CBD dosage for beginners. As with alcohol, usually the bigger a person, the larger the dose required to produce the same effects – though remember CBD isn’t intoxicating.
CBD dosage calculator based on weight:
|
DOSE per day |
WEIGHT stones (kilograms) |
|
|
|
|
<7.5 (45.3) |
7.5st-12.5 (79) |
>12.5 (79) |
|
LOW |
1-12mg |
5-25mg |
10-35mg |
|
MEDIUM |
8-24mg |
15-30mg |
18-40mg |
|
HIGH |
20-40mg |
30-50mg |
35-60mg |
Note: Mg refers to the amount of CBD per millilitre (strength) – eg each 30ml bottle of Voyager 1000mg CBD Oil contains 1000mg of CBD
Step 2: Start Low, Go Slow, Build Up
It’s best to begin with the minimum effective dose (the lowest needed to produce results).
Starting low allows you to increase your CBD oil dosage by a milligram or two at a time if you find you need more. It makes side-effects less likely.
Give the chosen CBD oil dosage time to work before adjusting. Taking the drops at the same time each day will make it easier to monitor.
The table above suggests possible dosages based on your weight. Whether you’ll eventually need low, medium or high depends partly on your symptoms and other important considerations outlined below.
How CBD Types May Affect CBD Oil Dosage
CBD oils usually contain either isolate, broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD. CBD oil strength may be different for each type and so can affect your chosen CBD oil dosage.
- Isolate is the purest form, with zero THC or other cannabinoids4. Voyager’s lab-certified CBD oils are made with isolate
- Broad-spectrum contains other hemp compounds but no THC
- Full-spectrum contains other hemp compounds including traces of THC5
CBD oils from isolate are often more concentrated than the other two – a comparatively lower dose would produce the same results.
Some people believe the extra compounds in broad/full-spectrum CBD synergise to create an ‘entourage effect’ which increases therapeutic benefits.
Every Body’s Different
Metabolism is key to determining CBD oil dosage and the best method of consuming CBD. How efficiently a person processes CBD varies.
A slower metabolism does not necessarily call for a higher dose. Consider an administration method that maximises bioavailability instead (how much CBD enters the bloodstream). Taking CBD sublingually (under the tongue) is most efficient.
People who are more sensitive to CBD or have faster metabolisms may find a relatively lower dose is enough.
Tolerance
Regular consumers sometimes find over time they need to increase their dose to achieve the same results.
‘Tolerance’ is when the body becomes accustomed to CBD – happens with vitamin supplements and other substances too.
As a beginner, your tolerance is likely to be lower. The lowest CBD oil dosage may be enough. Later, you may want to adjust dosage.
This is why starting on the lowest possible dose is wise as it gives you room to gradually increase your dose.
Strength
The stronger a product, the lower the dose required.
Strength (concentration) is the amount of CBD in each dose. Products come in various strengths so it’s important to always read the label.
Example: Voyager CBD Dosage Calculator
Voyager’s 30ml bottles come in four strengths with a calibrated dose-measuring pipette. Pure CBD in one full pipette will be:
|
STRENGTH |
CBD CONTENT |
|
1000 mg |
33 mg |
|
2000 mg |
66 mg |
|
3000 mg |
100 mg |
|
6000 mg |
200 mg |
Adjust to your preferred dose. eg A third of a pipette of 1000mg oil would obtain 10mg of CBD.
How Should You Take Your CBD Oil Dosage?
Some routes for administering CBD oil mean more CBD is absorbed into your body for the equivalent dose than others.
- Sublingual: This is fastest and most efficient yielding up to 35% bioavailability (CBD in the bloodstream)
- Oral: eg capsules, gummies or mixed with food/beverages. CBD must pass through the liver and digestion so less is absorbed (<13%) and effects slower
Understand Why You’re Taking CBD
Being clear about your goals can help you determine CBD oil dosage and method.
It’s about discovering what works for you. Here are some examples of possible methods/doses (see weight chart).
- General wellness – ORAL – LOW
- Exercise-related twinges – ORAL – LOW (try mixing your drops in a post-exercise smoothie!)
- Mild stress – ORAL – LOW
- Chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia - SUBLINGUAL – LOW/MEDIUM
- Stressful event - SUBLINGUAL – LOW/MEDIUM
Monitoring Results
Try to take your daily CBD oil dosage at the same time/s and keep a CBD journal. Note down your dose each time, and how it affects your symptoms.
A journal can help track results to assess if your chosen dosage/method are working well for you or whether you need adjustments. It will also help you notice any side-effects6.
The Basics Can Make the Difference
This CBD dosage guide has suggested strategies, and factors to consider such as weight, strength and goals. The optimum CBD oil dosage is a personal journey of finding what’s best for you.
However, following these basics and putting in a little work will stand you in good stead to achieve your ideal results – as will choosing clearly-labelled, lab-certified-pure products like Voyager.
1 The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious - Harvard Health
4 Cannabinoids are compounds (including CBD) of Cannabis sativa (hemp) that interact with the Endocannabinoid System
5 THC is the main psychoactive compound of cannabis. In the UK CBD products containing >0.2% THC are illegal
