Types of CBD & How to Find Your CBD Dosage

Types of CBD & How to Find Your CBD Dosage

What to Look for in a CBD Company

Taking CBD can be a daunting task given the number of choices available to consumers, so what are the things to look for in a CBD supplier? At minimum, a CBD company should supply certificates of analysis (COA) for every product on a per batch basis. A COA details the results of the third-party lab testing discussed earlier, and details the CBD contents of the product, as well as a breakdown of all other contents. Secondly, products made in the United States, with hemp cultivated in the United States, are highly preferred to products made in foreign countries or hemp sourced from foreign countries. This is because foreign made products vary widely in quality, and in many cases contain no actual CBD!

How to Find Your CBD Dosage & Serving Size

The serving size of CBD will vary depending on the type of CBD product, for instance a higher serving size might be used for products of lower concentration, while higher concentration products would require smaller serving sizes to achieve the same affect. Other factors that are to be considered when determining proper serving size are based more on the individual consumer, such as: genetics, weight, sex, and intended use.

While there is no one-size fits all approach to determining the correct serving size of a CBD product, the following guidelines provide a good starting point for new consumers:

1. Stick with one product and gauge effectiveness for at least one to two weeks to gauge the effectiveness.
2. Start with a low dosage (either by limiting serving size or concentration) and then work your way up. A good rule of thumb is to start off with 1mg per 20 pounds of body weight for typical, overall well-being applications.
3. Start your regiment by taking the product at night. Doing this ensures that if there is any drowsiness associated with your use, it will not impair any of your daily activities.

Just like proper serving size, the speed at which CBD takes effect is dependent on a variety of factors in the individual, such as: age, health, weight, and genetics- all of which can influence the number of cannabinoid receptors in the body, how they are expressed in the individual, and the ability of the body to produce endocannabinoids. In general, however, the biggest deciding factor in the rate at which CBD takes effect is the type of product and its bioavailability.  Specifically, inhaled products take effect immediately, tinctures take up to 20 minutes, and edibles will take effect between 20 minutes and an hour after ingestion- these products will be discussed in the next section.

Types of CBD

While CBD is available in a variety of products, each product can also be made with one of several categories of CBD and CBD Oil. These categories of CBD Oil vary predominantly by the amount of purification they’ve undergone, and the resulting mixture of compounds that are leftover. 

CBD PCR (phyto-cabbinoid rich) Oil is broadly broken up into two categories: full spectrum CBD Oil and broad-spectrum CBD Oil. Full-spectrum CBD Oil is Oil extracted from PCR Hemp which still contains trace amounts of THC, which is the full natural balance of all cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant. Though THC may provide a synergistic effect in combination with the other cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as standalone benefits, most of the entourage effect described earlier does not rely on it. Broad spectrum CBD Oil on the other hand, is further refined so that it contains no trace amounts of THC, but does not eliminate the other terpenes or cannabinoids. Broad Spectrum CBD Oil thereby preserves all the benefits of CBD, and its entourage effect with other cannabinoids and terpenes, but eliminates the risk of mind-altering effects and positive drug tests. 

The final category of CBD is CBD Isolate which is used for CBD-Infused products like water. CBD Isolate is refined to the point of only containing cannabidiol, leaving it devoid of both other cannabinoids and terpenes. As such, while products made from CBD Isolates may have some standalone benefit, they can’t produce the entourage effect found in products combining cannabidiol with other cannabinoids and terpenes.