What makes one CBD oil dosage better than another? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. Because every person is built differently, with a unique physiology and product preferences, there’s no “one size fits all” CBD dosage. How you choose to ingest CBD matters.
But evidence is mounting that stronger CBD – meaning a higher milligram concentration per serving – is better if you want to enjoy the full benefits. So while lots of companies are offering low-dose CBD products to save production costs, you should look to the higher concentrations if you really want results.
But how do you know the CBD dosage that’s right for you? Is there such a thing as too much? And how much CBD do you really need to relax? Before we dig into finding the best strength CBD oil, let’s go over some of the basics of CBD, such as:
- What is CBD oil?
- How does it work?
- What are phytocannabinoids?
- How much CBD should I take?
- What is the strongest strength of CBD?
- How much CBD is too much?
Everything You Need to Know About CBD
Okay, you don’t actually need to know everything.
But before choosing which CBD dosage is right for you, you should understand how CBD works with your body so you can find the best strength CBD oil for you. Once you know how your body operates, you can make the most of your CBD products.
CBD oil is more than just CBD – it actually contains a range of compounds from the hemp plant. Federally regulated hemp, that is. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp strains that contain less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight are completely federally legal.
At cbdMD we’ve used that hemp to create three distinct formulas: Delta 9 THC, broad spectrum CBD, and full spectrum CBD. Despite containing different levels of cannabinoids, they all function in relatively the same way.
What Is CBD Oil and How Does It Work?
Although there are over 100 cannabinoids (the active ingredients) found in the Cannabis sativa plant, some are more widely known than others. Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD, is one such cannabinoid. Accounting for about 40 percent of industrial hemp’s genetic makeup, CBD makes up only a portion of CBD oil. The rest is a mixture of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids – but not all cannabinoids make the cut.
During the filtering process, manufacturers can add or remove substances to the CBD oil formula. This is what makes every company’s CBD products different. It also makes it easy to increase or decrease the levels of particular cannabinoids, creating low, mid, or high potency CBD formulas.
This is also how broad spectrum CBD is developed – by filtering out and removing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and focusing on the other cannabinoids. A full spectrum CBD product, on the other hand, is refined so that it contains THC, but only so much as is federally legal (0.3 percent by dry weight).
Once ingested or applied topically, the cannabinoids in CBD oil help your body function, improving your mood, quality of sleep, and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
But how does your body automatically know what to do with cannabinoids?
Phytocannabinoids and Your Endocannabinoid System
The cool thing is, your body already uses cannabinoids to help it operate 24/7, you just don’t know it.
Everyone has an internal endocannabinoid system (ECS) that helps their body maintain balance. This system uses your very own natural cannabinoids, also known as endocannabinoids or endogenous cannabinoids, in order to operate every day. While you may not be familiar with all the functions of your ECS, it actually has a hand in almost everything you do.
Your ECS helps your body maintain homeostasis by using two main cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. Your CB1 receptors focus on your central nervous system and brain while your CB2 receptors help your peripheral organs and immune system operate.
The cannabinoids you’re more familiar with are actually called phytocannabinoids. Once ingested or topically applied, CBD and the other cannabinoids in CBD oil work with your ECS in much the same way as your endocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids bind with your CB1 receptors, CB2 receptors, or both to influence your body’s various functions.
Now that you know how cannabinoids work with your endocannabinoid system, what strength CBD is right for you.
How Much CBD Should I Take?
The answer to that question depends on what you’re using it for.
There technically is no “highest daily strength of CBD,” so finding the right CBD oil dosage for you can take some trial and error. Especially since there are quite a few factors that go into determining your perfect CBD dosage such as metabolism, bioavailability, and your method of use. CBD gummies, for example, take longer than CBD oil tinctures to go into effect because they have to go through your digestive system first.
Once digested, the cannabinoids enter your bloodstream and go to work helping out your endocannabinoid system.
How much CBD you should take also varies from person to person. Which is to say that 100 mg could affect you differently than someone else based on body composition and how often you ingest CBD. This is because CBD and the other cannabinoids build up in your system over time, meaning the longer you use CBD oil, the greater the benefits you’ll see.
The best strength CBD oil for you is the one that works best for you. But if that were all there was to it, then why do CBD products come in various strengths and dosages? And why are new, high potency CBD products on the rise?
That’s because the amount of CBD that enters your bloodstream isn’t necessarily the same amount as what you ingested.
High Potency CBD vs Regular CBD
Unfortunately, a portion of all CBD products is lost before it can make it to your bloodstream – it’s all about bioavailability.
Maximizing your bioavailability and focusing on your delivery method is the secret to high potency CBD. Of all forms of ingestion, CBD oil tinctures are the fastest acting and have the highest bioavailability because they are absorbed through the membrane under your tongue and enter your bloodstream. Some is lost during absorption, but even so, CBD oil tinctures are your best bet for high potency CBD.
The next factor to consider is the strength of CBD. If a portion of your CBD dosage is lost no matter what, then it stands to reason that high strength CBD would allow more CBD to enter your bloodstream than regular CBD.
High strength CBD would also allow you to receive more CBD benefits from ingestibles like CBD gummies than you would normally see from regular CBD gummies. Which is great news for anyone who is turned off by the taste of CBD oil tinctures, or would rather have a simple grab and go method for CBD.
At cbdMD, our highest daily strength of CBD tinctures and gummies is 250 mg of CBD per serving. But is stronger CBD better? Yes, actually.
High strength CBD oil is a great alternative for anyone who wants to feel the effects of CBD faster, reach their goals sooner, and get the most out of their wellness routine. More potent CBD can also be the answer for anyone that isn’t seeing the results they’ve been hoping for. By maxing out your highest daily strength of CBD, you will also be able to reach your wellness goals faster.
In fact, much of the research done on CBD’s benefits for things like sleep and stress management use quite high doses on the test subjects, like 200 mg or even 600 mg. So if you’re taking CBD to get through a stressful day, the higher quantities are more likely to bring those same benefits to you.
A high potency CBD dosage gives your body a greater chance of absorbing more CBD into your bloodstream. Naturally, high CBD potency levels mean greater CBD benefits – but is there such a thing as too much CBD?
How Much CBD Is Too Much CBD?
The great thing about CBD is that it’s pretty hard to use too much, even with the highest daily strength of CBD. Even if you were to take a whole bottle of 1500 mg, that would still be far less than the “toxic” dosage of CBD (20,000 mg). Finding the highest daily strength of CBD for you can actually be harder than using too much CBD.
The strength of a particular CBD dosage can also come down to what other ingredients are included in the CBD formula. Full spectrum CBD, for instance, also contains a small amount of Delta 9 THC. This doesn’t just trigger the entourage effect, increasing the potency of the other cannabinoids in the CBD oil, but it also increases the strength of the overall end product.
The combination of CBD and THC also allows you to reap all the benefits of THC without the less desirable effects because CBD interacts with some of the same cannabinoid receptors as THC. By blocking THC from attaching to some of your CB1 receptors, like the ones responsible for appetite, thinking, and motor activity, you won’t feel the “high” typically associated with Delta 9 THC.
The best strength CBD oil for you is the one that best fits your wellness routine and gives you the benefits you want to see. That could mean using a variety of CBD products as needed, like high potency CBD gummies during the day and full spectrum CBD sleep products at night. What makes CBD so great is that you can mix and match as you see fit, from various products to different CBD formulas.
For more information on finding the right CBD dosage for you, our current product lineup, and our upcoming high potency CBD products, keep an eye on our frequently updated blog. Interested in staying up to date on the latest supplement news and cbdMD’s upcoming special offers? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or chat with someone live today!