CBD Dosing

Because tinctures are the most widely used method for the use of therapeutic cannabis, it is important to know how to use this method effectively. Products in general do not follow any standard guideline for volume or cannabinoid concentration. Therefore, it is important for the buyer of the product to recognize the actual concentration of cannabinoids in each serving. Some brands clearly outline this information and allow the user to measure each suggested dose. Other manufacturers do not have this information. Thus, Buyer Beware and determine what is the correct dosage.

Milligrams to milliliters

The potency or actual cannabinoid content is measured in milligrams. This information is usually labeled for the total cannabinoids per bottle and for each serving amount.

Milliliter refers to the body or volume of liquid in which the cannabinoids are infused. The most widely available tincture size is 30ml of volume. Thus, each dropper full or pipette full holds 1milliliter of liquid.

Understanding your milligrams

If the suggested serving amount is not clearly labeled on the packaging, then one can simply read the total amount of cannabinoids per bottle and divide this amount per the amount of milliliters or volume of liquid in the bottle. This determines how many mg in a drop / ml of cbd oil. For example, in a tincture bottle that has 1,500mg of total cannabinoids per bottle and the bottle contains 30ml of liquid, simply divide 1,500mg/30ml. The result indicates that there is 50mg per each milliliter or dropper full of liquid.

What is an effective dose of cbd?

Finding effective cannabis dosing is not a clearly defined science. Many people ask themselves “how many mg of CBD do I need?” or “how much CBD oil should I take a day?” But, there is no answer to the question of what is a normal dose of CBD. The strategy to find the optimal dosage involves trial and error, and this doesn’t help those who are simply looking for a CBD Dosage Calculator. The dosage is specific to the individual and to the symptoms that are being addressed. Dr Dustin Sulak, who has ten years of practice involved in cannabis study, wisely stated that people are unique and cannabis is unique. Because of the unique dynamics and variables of cannabis, achieving a successful therapeutic outcome means understanding these variables. Having knowledge of the individual consuming the cannabis is also significant in choosing the correct dosage.

Starting low and going slow

Dr. Caroline MaCallum and Dr. Ethan Russo point out in their published work on cannabis dosing that starting with a low dosage and going slowly in increasing the dosage has proven to be an effective roadmap to find effective dosing for each patient.¹

Beginning at a low dosage and slowly increasing the dosage allows the discovery of the minimum amount of cannabinoids that will produce the slightest of a therapeutic response. Beginning with a dose that would be considered sub-therapeutic for the first few days, and then slowly increasing to a dosage range at which the slightest therapeutic response is felt, works to amplify the therapeutic effect.

Building up your dose and working toward your optimal therapeutic window.

By gradually increasing the dose in a systematic way, the therapeutic outcome with each increase is revealed and the consumer has better control of the dosage. This system also gives the body a chance to adjust if the unwanted side effects of cannabis appear. These side effects are identified as the psychoactive or wobbly/clumsy effect. This effect can prove to impact the individual therapeutically. Cannabis dosing should take place at the most appropriate time and in the most appropriate setting. There is no set rule on how many times a day should you take cbd oil. The key to keeping consistent and appropriate dosage is to find a functional cannabis regimen that fits the individual perfectly.

By taking a measured approach, we are able to increase our functional tolerance to cannabinoids while still maintaining and increasing the therapeutic benefit. Achieving the desirable effects is possible without experiencing the undesired effects.

Cannabis has different dose responses

Most medications have a single phase dose response. The more you increase the dose the more therapeutic effect you receive from the medication.

Cannabis is unique in the sense that it has multiple phases of dosage response.

Most people experience a biphasic dose response and the pattern of this effect is shown in two phases. In the first phase, as the dosage is increased there is a positive therapeutic outcome and symptoms are effectively managed. The second phase begins when the therapeutic benefits reach a plateau. After this point, if the dosage is increased, the therapeutic response lessens and the symptoms return. If we would observe this in a graph, this pattern would look like a bell shaped curve.²

Multi-phasic dose response is achieved after individuals exceed the second part of the biphasic effect. Individuals that need to take extremely large doses of cannabis bypass this second phase and reach a point in which the therapeutic benefit returns.² This dosage range applies to special cases in which cannabis is being used to stimulate the adaptogenic part of our physiology in an attempt to correct a chronic symptom. Therefore, once you find your therapeutic level, accept it if it feels right.

Cannabis has been studied for centuries and it has been proved that increasing dosages of the plant has no detrimental or deadly consequences. Cannabis offers a great deal of safety because it does not produce any type of damage to tissues or brain cells. If you go above the tolerated dose, the side effects disappear within six to eight hours.

Sometimes different doses can cause opposite responses based on the dose amount, type of cannabis strain and the setting in which the cannabis is taken. This is also known as bidirectional effects.³ Smaller doses can cause very different therapeutic outcomes than can larger doses. Taking the right type of cannabis at the right time of day maintains a practical functionality. For example, do not take a type of strain that produces a sleepy effect during the day when the daily routine may be more active, and do not take a strain that will produce an alert feeling during the night when the intention is to promote healthful sleep.

Why do I feel vulnerable or groundless?

Cannabis produces a psychoactive or psychotropic effect. THC rich cannabis is mostly responsible for producing this effect. However, some people that have low tolerance to cannabinoids may also experience similar effects with larger doses of CBD rich formulations. For most people who are only looking for symptomatic relief this response may be uncomfortable. However, let us explore this a bit further. When cannabis produces this impairment, it is synergistically activating areas of our brain that make us feel as if we are groundless. Research is uncovering more and more that this effect may have a more profound therapeutic benefit that we may not be able to perceive readily.

Despite some of the unintentional effects of taking CBD, the therapeutic benefits far outweigh any of the potential downsides. The key is remembering that there is no one size fits all with CBD dosing. Finding the optimal dose comes with trial and error, and realizing the full benefits comes with consistent usage.

References

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