CBD is one of the most popular topics right now, and for good reason. Proving itself as an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety treatment, it’s popping up in everything from sodas to bath bombs to toothpicks. And, most importantly, since it’s extracted from hemp as opposed to flower (hemp’s psychoactive sibling), it’s federally legal to produce and consume.
But as CBD takes the world by storm, it’s leaving a lot of unanswered questions in its wake. Even for people who’ve consumed flower for years, the land of CBD products is brand new territory and can be intimidating. If you’re a CBD beginner and curious about how you should get started, follow these five simple steps.
Step 1: Getting Started with CBD
Before considering which CBD product to buy, it’s important to ask yourself what you want to get out of your CBD experience. Science is still digging into everything it has to offer us, but we do know CBD has anti-inflammatory effects that can mediate pain, and it’s been shown to reduce anxiety and help with sleeping troubles. So ask yourself, what’s my goal in using CBD? This will also help you determine your dosage once you’ve narrowed down which product you want.
You can find just about any CBD product you want out there, but if you’re a CBD beginner and looking to make it a part of your daily routine, consider a CBD sublingual oil. You’ll feel the effects faster than CBD edibles because the oil absorbs directly into your bloodstream through capillaries under your tongue. Edibles, on the other hand, take longer to kick in because they’re processed through your digestive system, although they’re still effective.
Step 2: Dosing Your CBD
Now that you’ve narrowed down what you want to gain from using CBD, it’s time to actually start using it! The key here is to start with a low dosage and go slow. Some factors that will determine how much of the effects you initially feel are your body weight, the condition you’re treating, and the concentration of CBD in your CBD oil.
There’s no standard dosage of CBD since everyone’s body chemistry is different, but a good place to start is between 20-40 milligrams a day. If you’re brand new to flower in general, consider starting on the lower side so you can first get a feel for having its phytonutrients in your system. After your first day, you can readjust depending on if you want to feel more or less of the CBD oil’s effects.
Keep your goal in mind. If you’re using CBD for pain, you may need more than if you’re using it as a general daily wellness supplement. If you’re using CBD for anxiety, consider what factors you’ll be facing that day. Is it going to be a stressful day? Maybe start on the higher end. Is it going to be a fairly easy day and you’re just trying to take the edge off? You might not need as much.
CBD for Beginners Dosing Chart
Day 1: Start with 20-40 mg. You can also spread your dosage out—20 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening.
Day 2: Reduce your dosage by 5-10 mg if yesterday’s effects were too strong. If not, stay with the same dosage.
Day 3: Follow the same approach as day 2.
Day 4: If you haven’t had your desired experience yet, up your dosage to somewhere between 35-50 mg a day.
Day 5: Readjust accordingly if yesterday’s increase was too much or not enough.
Step 3: Continue Experimenting
Once you’ve made it to day 5, continue to decrease or increase your dosage as you see fit until you find the right amount. Many people find their sweet spot somewhere between 30-75 mg per day. One helpful tip is to keep a CBD journal. Jot down your dosage for the day as well as how you feel and what effects you noticed or didn’t notice.
You can also start experimenting with other CBD products. Edibles and vapes are easy alternatives to sublingual oil and may fit your lifestyle better. There are also CBD topicals you can try if you want to target a specific muscle ache or tension.
Step 4: Dealing with Obstacles
Like anything, CBD comes with its own set of obstacles. Because CBD is still largely unregulated, the biggest obstacle right now is incorrect labels and low-quality ingredients. Many CBD products are labeled with a higher CBD concentration than they actually have, and some also contain harmful solvents and cutting agents that weren’t completely removed during the extraction process. It’s important to make sure your CBD product comes with third-party lab results that ensure it’s a quality product with the stated amount of CBD in it.
Step 5: Living the CBD Lifestyle
With your dosage narrowed down, you’re on track to living that CBD lifestyle. It’s easy to make it a part of your daily routine by keeping your CBD oil on your nightstand, next to your toothbrush, or any other place you visit daily. You can also mix it up and add it to your morning smoothie or afternoon tea.
If you want to kick it up a notch, you can even make your CBD oil at home. This ensures you know exactly what ingredients you’re putting into your body, so you don’t have to worry about any misleading labels.
These days, making CBD oil at home has never been easier thanks to countertop machines like the LEVO II. With precise time and temperature controls, you have the power to play with potency and flavor. Plus, you can use it to infuse just about anything, so if you’re in need of a CBD topical or want to make your own edibles, you have that option. Before you know it, you’ll pass the CBD for beginners phase and qualify as a full-on CBD expert!
