With the legalization of hemp-derived products in the United States in 2018, there has been a massive influx of cannabidiol (CBD) products found everywhere from gas stations to health food stores.
The calming and balancing effects of CBD have made it a staple in wellness routines. But there still seems to be a lot of confusion around CBD, particularly about how much you should take. A common request we hear is for CBD dosage guidelines by age. The short answer is there are no guidelines for CBD dosage by age—the right dose depends on several things that are unique to every person.
To clear up any confusion, let’s talk CBD basics, what dosing depends on, and how to think about finding your best dose.
The CBD Basics
CBD is one of over 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. When compared to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, for example, CBD has been known to be a promising natural alternative for many common ailments, including everyday aches and pains, mild anxiety, and sleeping troubles. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system—a system of receptors that plays an important role in the regulation of processes and functions, including sleep, pain, mood, and memory.
This interaction gives rise to many potential therapeutically relevant targets in the brain and body, many of which are still being discovered and researched. CBD provides many potential benefits, including relief from aches and pains, reduced mild anxiety, and improved sleep.
CBD comes in many forms, ranging from oil tinctures to edibles and capsules. Oils allow more freedom to make small adjustments to doses while edibles provide a consistent dose every time.
The three most common types of CBD are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. Full-spectrum contains CBD along with all the other cannabinoids and terpenes that are pulled from the hemp plant during the extraction process. Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum but goes through an additional process to remove the THC from the CBD. Isolate refers to pure, isolated CBD with no additional cannabinoids or terpenes.
Why Aren’t There Guidelines for CBD Dosage by Age?
While there are no guidelines for CBD dosage by age, there are several things that can help determine what’s right for you, such as:
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The ailment you’re seeking relief from (e.g., mild anxiety, aches and pains, sleeping troubles)
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The severity of the ailment
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Your tolerance to CBD
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Your unique body chemistry and endocannabinoid system
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The potency and quality of the CBD product
How Should You Think About Dosing?
Everyone’s optimal dose is unique to them. We like to think of it like caffeine—while you may need one cup of coffee to feel energized, someone else may need two or three cups. Similarly, just as each brand and type of coffee varies in strength and quality, so do the potency and quality of CBD products.
We recommend starting with a lower dose and incrementally increasing or decreasing it over time to find your sweet spot. You might even consider tracking your CBD dosages each day and noting how your symptoms have changed or improved. Smaller doses are likely to provide a sense of calm and clear-headedness while larger doses may have more of a sedative effect.
We’re all different—listen to your body and make adjustments until you feel the desired effect. In general, though, we recommend the following starting doses for relief from mild anxiety, aches and pains, and sleeping troubles:
The Importance of Finding a High-Quality CBD Product
The efficacy and safety of CBD products depend strongly on the company’s quality assurance and testing procedures. Look for companies that provide a Certificate of Analysis to ensure the products are safe, of high quality, and contain cannabinoid levels specified on the label. Third-party testing of products should include things like cannabinoid potency, terpene potency, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, and residual solvents, among others.
Discover Your Perfect Dose With Feals
At Feals we’re committed to providing you with the purest, most potent, and highest quality CBD products possible. Whether you want the convenience of our CBD mints or the flexibility of our CBD tinctures, we have a better way for you to feel better.
If you’re new to CBD and still have questions about finding your optimal dose, our CX team would be happy to answer your questions to help guide you along your journey to feeling better.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
