HOW TO TAKE CBD: A BEGINNER CBD USER GUIDE

User Guide to CBD

How to take CBD is probably the most frequent of the FAQs. With good reason, it is hard to find the right product, and the right CBD dose for you without good direction.

Simply put, you can find the perfect CBD product for you by experimenting with the Three Ds:

  • Dose: how many milligrams do you need, both per serving and total for the day?
  • Delivery method: how will the cannabinoids get into your blood stream? Determine how quickly they work and how long CBD lasts.
  • Day time (or time of day): how to time the CBD dosages throughout the day, according to your needs.

We can point to many potential benefits of CBD, but whether it works for you depends on using these dials to pinpoint your perfect dose. And, if you need a little help navigating this process, we offer free consultations to get you started. 

The CBD dosage chart of effects above is an easy guide to how our products work, including CBD dosing and user guidance. Use this CBD user guide as a reference when thinking about how quickly you want it to work (the “Onset”) how long you want it to last (the “Duration”) and how many milligrams you want to take (the ”Dose”). 

FINDING YOUR CBD DOSE

As many healthcare providers will attest, CBD and other cannabinoid products are hard to prescribe. The “right” CBD dosage will vary from person to person, and may even fluctuate as time goes on. Here, experimenting is key. Starting low and slow is always advisable, increasing the dose and/or servings over several days or weeks.

  • 5mg – 10mg is considered a very low dose and may be sufficient for lower-level concerns
  • 20mg – 40mg is an average dose, many people find general support at this level
  • 50mg – 100mg is often used for more persistent issues
  • 100mg – 200mg is not unusual for people with serious concerns

Your ideal dose of CBD, including the total milligrams for the day and the milligrams per serving, will depend on your individual body chemistry and metabolism, unique genetics, weight, and the layout of your endocannabinoid system–everyone’s is a little different. Combining different products or CBD delivery methods can help achieve different results.

CBD DELIVERY METHODS

The CBD delivery method refers to the way cannabinoids get into your bloodstream and travel throughout your body. The table above lays out common CBD delivery methods, such as ingested, sublingual, and topical. 

  • For instance, since our organic CBD gummies are ingested orally and digested like food, the onset and duration of effects may differ. This can be compared to a different delivery method, such as CBD topicals that are applied to the skin. 

The CBD delivery method will influence the product’s onset, duration, and distribution throughout the body. You may also find that different methods have different optimal doses. 

Onset

Consider how and why you are taking a CBD product: ingested delivery methods, like CBD capsules and edibles, take longer to have an effect than sublingual delivery methods like CBD oil tinctures, which are absorbed under the tongue more quickly. On the other hand, sublingual delivery methods tend to wear off more quickly. 

So, when determining the best way to take CBD, think about when you want to experience the effects and how long you want them to last. If you are taking CBD capsules, it can take up to one to two hours to feel the effects. 

It’s also important to consider your daily schedule and wellness routine, and when it would be most convenient to incorporate CBD into your lifestyle.


Duration

The duration of CBD effects refers to how long the dose has meaningful action in the body. It is affected by many factors, like your metabolism and other medications, but the delivery method of CBD plays the primary role in determining how long each dose lasts. 

Depending on the CBD delivery method used, the duration of the product’s effect will vary. 

  • CBD in the form of edibles and capsules can last for four to eight hours, while CBD oil tinctures can last from 45 minutes to three hours. 
  • Ingestable products, such as CBD gummies, typically lasts longer than hemp oil tinctures (four to eight hours versus 30 min to three hours), but it also has a longer onset time (30 minutes to two hours) which may affect when you consume it. 
  • Although CBD tinctures have a quick onset in comparison (15 to 45 minutes), its duration may not be suitable if you need the effect to last longer.

TIME OF DAY

When advising on how to take CBD, when generally recommend that you use CBD when you need it—

  • If normal, everyday stresses* show up as soon as you get to the office, try a fast-acting dose of CBD+CBG Hemp Tincture on the spot. 
  • Taking an Organic Hemp Capsule after a hard workout can help stave off soreness the next day, or a Deeper Dreams gummy before bedtime to help you find deep relaxation. 

Because everyone’s biochemistry is unique, some people will feel energized and others may feel more relaxed after using CBD. Generally, lower doses of CBD will feel energizing while higher doses more relaxing, so plan the dose and time of day according to the effect you want.

Consuming a low dose of CBD in the mornings or afternoons can provide a quick pick-me-up, while a higher dose in the evening is better for those who need help unwinding or relaxing before bedtime so they can wake up feeling refreshed.

A dose that feels supportive on a daily basis might include a combination of CBD delivery methods, milligrams, and cannabinoids to address various concerns. 

  • For example, a 30mg capsule in the morning, a 30mg CBD+CBG gummy before the afternoon meetings, and 1/2 dropper of tincture for fast relaxation before bed.

Experimenting to Find Your Dose

The best advice on how to take CBD is to start low and go slow. “Low” typically includes 5-15mg servings, but for bigger issues, low could start at 30-40mg per serving, with 50-100mg per day as a supportive dose. Increasing the dose by 5-10mg every week until you notice the desired effects is a good strategy. 

Another trick to try: combine different delivery methods to dial in the most effective onset and duration for your needs.

How to Take CBD Oil Tinctures

Tinctures provide sublingual absorption of cannabinoids, meaning the tiny capillaries in your mouth start getting the compound into your bloodstream quickly and without waiting on your digestive tract. 

  • Using an oral mist or a dropper, tincture is applied directly under the tongue and held there for 60-90 seconds.

Our Hemp Tinctures come in a variety of flavors and sizes, with consistent potency across all products. With graduated droppers that clearly indicate ¼, ½, ¾ and full serving sizes, tincture makes it easy to find the perfect dose, and is a great option for multi-household use in beverages or applied directly under the tongue.

How to Take CBD Capsules

Upstate’s line of CBD capsules, including the only USDA Certified Organic Hemp Capsules available, are formulated in 30mg, 75mg and 100mg dosages, and are available in both Full Spectrum and THC-free options. 

Easy to dose and simple, they contain only two pure ingredients: organic coconut oil and either full spectrum hemp extract or pharmaceutical grade crystalline CBD isolate. 

Many of our USDA organic CBD capsules offer multiple cannabinoids in a variety of ratios. The Entourage Effect suggests there may be greater benefit from combining cannabinoids, and may even need a lower total number of milligrams required. 

When taking CBD capsules, consider the following: 

  • Select a dose to start, usually 30mg or 50mg. The capsule will take 45-90 min to start working, so plan to take it accordingly.
  • Taking the capsule with a fatty food, like peanut butter, avocado, or coconut oil will increase the bioavailability. 
  • Wait 2-3 hours to determine if this dose is sufficient. If not, experiment with a higher initial dose, increasing the frequency of the dose, or supplementing with another delivery method (like a 10mg gummy or ½ dropper of tincture).
  • If you have serious concerns, consider a free consultation to help find a dose you will notice.

How to Use CBD Topicals

Topicals are externally applied CBD-infused lotions, patches and roll-ons that deliver cannabinoids through application directly to the skin. Depending on dosage, the effects can last form 1 – 24 hours.

Upstate’s line of topicals is handcrafted with no synthetic fragrances, no petroleum based products, and no animal based ingredients.

  • Apply topicals to the area where you most need them, in sufficient quantity to cover it, as often as you’d like. 

How to Take CBD Gummies 

At our Vermont CBD store, our CBD gummies are not only convenient but also made with organic ingredients and delicious! Our CBD gummies are available in a variety of strengths coming in various doses and formulations for maximum convenience.

  • Choose a CBD gummy in the appropriate dose (or stack them to find your sweet spot). 
  • Pop the gummy in your mouth and let it dissolve for a little while, allowing the CBD to be absorbed by the tiny blood vessels in your mouth (similar to CBD Tincture). 
  • Then, chew it up and swallow as usual.

How to Use Nano-encapsulated Cannabinoid Infused Beverages

Our nano-encapsulated CBD and CBG beverages use nano-technology which is just a fancy way of saying CBD that has been broken down into tiny particle sizes and wrapped in a protective layer that makes it easier for your body to absorb. This allows your body to absorb the CBD up to six times faster than traditional products, with 90% greater bioavailability.

That means, each can have only 6mg of cannabinoids, but the effects feel like a 25-30mg dose. Highly bioavailable, highly functional, and highly delicious, our CBD-infused sodas and seltzers are a great way to refresh, unwind, and elevate all at once!

  • Pick your favorite flavor and pop it open! Start with one can, the nano action will help you feel the effects quickly, and you can decide your level of mellow. 
  • Try mixing with your favorite juice, syrup, shrub or muddle herbs for a truly lifted mocktail. Or swap out the seltzer in your favorite cocktail for double the fun. 

With all of the endless CBD products available for you at Upstate Elevator Supply, don’t let the options overwhelm you! Consider this your ultimate CBD user guide for you to learn how to take CBD, plus to refer to the CBD dosage chart of effects when you’re trying something new. 

At our Vermont CBD store, we’re all about transparency and potency to promote elevated CBD wellness in all. Stay tuned to our blog page for more CBD consumer education. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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