How Often Should I Take CBD for Different Conditions?
Posted on August 30th, 2024
People live longer and are more interested in their health than ever before. One of the distinct factors of the 21st century is the approaches people take to care for themselves. No longer is it just a matter of taking a pill for pain, for example. Many people choose an alternative. There are potentially safer methods to feel good, such as massage, acupuncture, Pilates, yoga, and CBD.
Let’s look specifically at cannabidiol. It has become increasingly popular and represents one of today’s leading health crazes. Therefore, it’s important to know how this compound works and how it affects the body. In this article, we answer these three questions: What is cannabidiol? What are its dosing guidelines? And how often should I take CBD for different conditions?
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol has become a popular option for feeling good and healthy. In the United States, at least 64 percent of Americans know about CBD, and at least 33 percent of Americans have used it at least once. Indeed, approximately 64 million individuals in America have tried this extract in the last 24 months. Furthermore, for people who use this compound, roughly 22 percent said it helped them replace prescription medication as well as over-the-counter medication. (1)
When examining CBD, it’s comprised of two primary Cannabis plants – Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa. Marijuana is found in both, and it contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.) THC is the chemical that has psychoactive properties or gets you high, and it’s the main reason people consume Marijuana.
Marijuana is legal for medical use in 39 states, including Washington, DC. Of those 39, 19 states, including Washington DC, allow it for recreational use. (2)
Hemp, on the other hand, is found in Cannabis Sativa and contains little to no THC, so it is a non-psychoactive compound. If it does contain THC, it has to contain less than 0.3 percent to be legal on a federal level.
The primary active ingredient in hemp is CBD. It’s not addictive and is legal in all 50 states. (3)
How Often Should I Take CBD: Lifestyle Conditions
For people who participate in sports, have experienced an injury, are elderly, etc., muscle pain and soreness can be a reality of their lives. The traditional way to treat this pain is with a pain-pill such as over the counter acetaminophen or prescription medication, such as Percocet or Vicodin.
But can you manage pain with CBD? Americans have used this compound to manage pain, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, epilepsy, cancer, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc. This is not to say that CBD works for everyone. However, studies show that cannabidiol helps many people in the United States.
It is non-addictive and legal in all 50 states. The compound comes in many forms, including oils, capsules, gummies, tinctures, etc. Therefore, taking CBD depends on what method works best for you. Some people swear by CBD gummies; others love it in oil form.
How Often Should I Take CBD: Dosing Guidelines
Although medical Marijuana is used for various health concerns in locations where it is legal due to its THC content, CBD is legal to use both medicinally and recreationally. Based on research and clinical trials, doctors recommend varying doses of CBD for different patients. But what’s the best way to take this compound?
CBD works by modulating certain neurotransmitters in the brain and altering brainwave activity. Although there are no FDA regulations on how much cannabidiol can be present in hemp products, most manufacturers choose to stay within the bounds of therapeutic dosages.
The American Hemp Council recommends taking 6–15 mg per day for anxiety and 12–30 mg per day for pain without exceeding 300 mg per week. Many doctors recommend starting with a low dose of 6 mg daily and slowly increasing until a patient reaches a therapeutic level.
High Dose Side Effects
Some users take higher doses than recommended, assuming they can tolerate more pain or anxiety without experiencing any adverse consequences. However, adverse reactions such as dry mouth, sedation, increased appetite, insomnia, and nausea can occur whenever someone takes too much CBD too quickly. In addition, some people have reported having panic attacks after accidentally ingesting too much cannabidiol at once— mainly when using hemp-based products instead of pure CBD oil from a trusted manufacturer. Therefore, it is not recommended to take CBD without following the recommended dosages or your doctor’s orders.
A little math tells you how much you should take to avoid these adverse reactions: 6 mg of CBD per day would yield 180 mg over 30 days if taken daily under ideal conditions— which is well below the recommended daily dosage for most conditions! To gauge your personal starting dosage based on your situation, talk to your doctor about how much you’re currently taking for various conditions and add that amount to your daily dose recommendation from above. (4)
While giving precise dosing guidelines is impossible since each person re