How much CBD oil should I take? 

CBD products may be lining the shelves of every health and wellbeing store across the country these days, but that doesn’t mean we all automatically know how to use it. This supplement, which so many claim is life-changing, is quite different to your usual vitamins and minerals – not just how it interacts with the body, but in the way you need to take it to achieve your desired results too. A lack of understanding about where to even begin with CBD oil is a major barrier for many people who are interested, but cautious. In this article, CBD consultant and Dermactiva’s resident CBD expert, Ruby Deevoy, takes you through everything you need to know about how to take CBD oil for a variety of needs.

Today, we’ll explore how much CBD you might want to try taking for two reasons most people buy CBD oil: Sleep and anxiety.

CBD Oil Drops

There are lots of different forms of CBD available now, but oral drops remain the most popular. This route of administration is fast acting (within minutes) and has a higher rate of bioavailability than some other forms (the amount of the product that is active in your body) – but only if you take it the right way. Take a look at our how to guide for more information.

Here are some fast facts:

CBD oil drops for Sleep

Although everyone’s dose is unique, there are many studies into CBD oil that can give us some idea of doses generally best suited to specific needs. Cannabis (which CBD oil is derived from) has been found time and again to be very dose specific and can have different effects depending on the dose.

Improving sleep is one of the most common reasons for wanting to try CBD oil. A crossover study comparing CBD with nitrazepam found that 160mg (split up into smaller doses and taken throughout the day) increases the duration of sleep. Another study showed that plasma cortisol levels decreased more significantly when given oral CBD, 300 to 600 mg, and these patients also experienced a sedative effect.

Taking less than 160mg a day has conversely been shown to induce a ‘wake promoting’ effect, so if you’re looking for a sleep solution, it’s important to keep your dose up!

CBD Oral Drops for Anxiety

An enormous amount of research demonstrates that taking CBD oil supports the synthesis and release of endocannabinoids - neurotransmitters that interact with the vast endocannabinoid system, which regulates all bodily processes.
 
One of these endocannabinoids, Anandamide, plays a key role in stress and anxiety regulation. When in healthy supply, this chemical will act as a gatekeeper for stress in the brain. Without it, there’s nothing to stop you from switching into fight or flight mode at the drop of a hat.

With chronic CBD use, your endocannabinoids build up and as a result, anxiety can be kept in check. But how much should you use?

Everyone’s dose is entirely unique, but although moderate doses do appear to be effective for tackling anxiety (150 - 300mg), high doses (600mg upwards) aren’t. This is a great example to show that more CBD doesn’t always been better results - it’s very dose dependant.

However, even these moderate doses can have sedative effect, which may be problematic during the day if you need to stay awake! But you can split this up throughout the day by microdosing, to keep cannabinoid levels accumulating without hitting your body with the lot all in one go. You may sleep better as a result of practicing this method too!