Cannabidiol’s (CBD) explosion in popularity has seen this non-psychoactive cannabinoid infused in everything from food and drink to lotions and balms.
CBD advocates and novices alike, in their search for the most efficient method of getting CBD into their daily routine, now believe micro-dosing may just be the solution, of how to get more, for less.
Table of Contents
What is micro-dosing?
Microdosing is regularly taking a mere fraction of a typical standard dose, in an attempt to achieve similar results to the standard dose. It is commonly used in clinical drug trials to observe the safety and efficacy of a new drug prior to increasing dosage.
Microdosing with edibles
CBD-infused edibles such as gummy bears and chocolate bars are a tasty, discreet, and efficient method of micro-dosing as they guarantee accuracy and precision. An ideal choice for starting small and slow.
Gummy bears come in a large range of dosage (milligram) options, anything from 1mg to 50mg per sweet allowing you to easily and confidently vary your dosage.
By choosing a reliable brand that provides third-party testing on its products, you can be certain that the content of CBD in each piece is exactly what it says on the pack.
Studies have shown CBD to result in a bell-shaped dose-response curve, meaning the ideal dosage or ‘sweet spot’ is different for everyone.
Why microdose?
Micro-dosing allows you to get the benefits from CBD but at a much lower cost as you are consuming less. Although there has been no clinical research into the micro-dosing of CBD, there has been some research into the potential benefits of that method using other compounds.
Scientists believe CBD, the major compound from the cannabis plant, contributes to our homeostasis (balance of health) by interacting with the receptors located in our endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS has been shown to regulate a variety of cognitive and physiological processes including mood, memory, appetite and pain. Published research has shown CBD to have numerous medicinal properties including:
- Anti-anxiolytic
- Pain relieving
- Fight Addiction
- Muscle Recovery
How to microdose CBD
Dr Dustin Sulak, a physician in Maine USA, provides a straightforward process for finding your ideal dosage which is summarised below: Begin by taking one gummy bear (1-5mg) in the morning. After one hour, ask yourself the following 3 questions:
- How easy is it to breathe?
- How comfortable and calm does your body feel?
- How easy is it for you to smile naturally?
Rate your scores every hour from 1 – 10.
If the scores after the hour are the same, then slowly increase the dose and rate yourself again using the 3 questions. Continue to do this until you feel a noticeable difference.
At some point, Dr Sulak says, increasing your dosage will not result in higher subjective scores meaning you have found your optimum dosage. Dr Sulak suggests using this dosage amount 3 to 4 times a day for optimal results.
How much is safe to microdose?
CBD has been shown in clinical research to be safe and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is shown to be “generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”
The majority of research material available shows a dosage of between 100-900mg per day. Epidiolex (FDA approved CBD) dosage is recommended at between 2.5mg /kg to 10mg/kg twice daily. For example, a person weighing 11 stone (70kg) would consume a minimum 175mg epidiolex (CBD) twice daily.
Dr Sarah Brewer, a medical director and nutritionist at ‘Healthspan’ says: “For general well-being, the recommended dose is 10mg to 200mg per day as a food supplement.”
Main points:
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- CBD edibles are a great way to microdose because of the accuracy they offer.
- It is important only to purchase CBD from a reputable supplier who can provide a third-party certificate of analysis.
- CBD edibles are much more discreet than other alternatives such as oils and vaping, ideal for someone in an office environment for example.
- CBD, when taken in the form of edibles, take longer to metabolise in the body, therefore, lasting longer than other administration methods.
- CBD edibles would be a good option for those who dislike the taste of pure CBD oil.
- CBD edible micro-dosing offers a low-cost alternative to traditional methods.
