CBD is one of the most promising natural remedies to come along in years. Along with having the ability to potentially alleviate ailments like depression, insomnia, and epilepsy, CBD has also shown effectiveness in reducing inflammation.
If you’re trying to self-medicate with CBD to help with your inflammation, this article is for you. Here we define CBD, present where the research rests at the moment, and explain how to find the right amount for you.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of many hundreds of active compounds present in the cannabis plant. These compounds, called cannabinoids, are responsible for all of the lovely things cannabis does to us, from relaxing us to easing afflictions like inflammation.
In contrast to its party-hardy cousin THC, CBD does not get you high. What it does do is make you feel good in plenty of other ways.
But what does the research say about CBD and your health?
The Current Research on CBD
There are lots of discussions centered around CBD today. Research is heavily underway to determine what it treats, how much of it to take, and whether there are any potential long-term effects to be aware of.
CBD and Inflammation
In 2016, an animal study showed that CBD reduced joint inflammation in lab rats by reducing their joint swelling. Additionally, the study showed no notable side effects. In fact, most studies of CBD for inflammation have been on animals — however, the results are looking promising for humans.
A 2017 study indicated the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD could help with conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and other inflammatory conditions.
CBD and Safety
In 2017, researchers found that studies on CBD generally indicated a high level of safety. Another conclusion of this study was that different people require different dosages of CBD to achieve the optimum response. The range of doses can be quite wide.
Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting CBD. It could be the case that CBD isn’t right for you or that it could interact with another medication you’re taking. CBD interacts with your body through the endocannabinoid system — basically, a complex set of receptors that affect things like mood, heart rate, anxiety, and more — so it’s really important to check with a healthcare professional before starting CBD.
How to Find the Right Dosage for Your Inflammation
Several factors come into play in determining your ideal dosage:
- Your weight
- Your body’s response to CBD
- The bioavailability of the type of CBD you choose
- Your condition
- The concentration of your CBD
Assuming your doctor hasn’t recommended a CBD dosage for you, the best way to begin is to start with a small dosage and work your way up. Start with either 20 or 40 mg per day, increasing by 5 mg each week until you start to notice a change in your inflammation. Keep track of this so you can find your optimum dose.
Dosage Calculations
When you’re calculating dosage, keep in mind that different types of products have different bioavailabilities. Bioavailability means how much of the substance actually makes it to your bloodstream. The following are some general bioavailability numbers:
- Topical CBD: <1%
- CBD edibles (like gummies) and capsules: 5-15%
- CBD oil drops: 30%
- CBD vapes: >50%
In other words, 300 mg of CBD in an edible may only yield you 45 mg maximum, while CBD oil drops could yield nearly 100 mg.
Look at the product’s packaging. It should tell you how much is in a single serving. It’s particularly important to be able to calculate the dosage for CBD oil, as this is a common form of taking CBD.
A CBD oil bottle should deliver 1 mL per dropper, which may contain a stated amount of CBD. But how much is a single drop of the oil?
Consider that a single drop is usually around 0.05 mL of oil. If your 10-mL bottle contains 1,500 mg of CBD, that means there’s roughly 7.5 mg of CBD per drop.
Summary
CBD is natural, and research is showing it’s safe. If you’re trying to find the right dosage for your inflammation, try starting with 20 or 40 mg per day and increasing by increments of 5 mg each week. When you start to notice results, stay at that dosage!
Our dosing calculator will also help you understand how to find a great starting dosage.
