Deciding to use CBD oil as a natural therapy is one thing, but figuring out which brand to use, what CBD oil strength or concentration to use, and how much CBD to actually take is another thing altogether. With all of the products out there to choose from and their confusing labels, it can be a nightmare trying to determine which is best for you.
In this article, we go over how to choose the right strength CBD oil, depending on what you’re trying to find relief from. Thousands of people everyday use CBD as a therapy for a range of issues, but it is important to have an idea of the right concentration to use in order to get the best results.
Of course, we always remind readers that most CBD products on the market are not approved by the FDA, and are not recognized as drugs or medicines. The only exception is Epidiolex, which is a prescription cannabidiol drug used to treat two rare forms of epilepsy.
With this in mind, none of the information we provide here in this article should be interpreted as medical advice. If at all possible, arrange an appointment to speak with a healthcare professional about the proper use and dosing of CBD oil.
Different Strengths/Potencies of CBD Oil
There are dozens of CBD manufacturers out there to choose from, and most offer oils in at least two or three different potencies or concentrations. Which concentration you choose should depend on what you’re looking to get out of the product.
CBD hemp oil potencies can range anywhere from 100mg to upwards of 5,000mg for a single 30 mL (1 oz) bottle, which is considered industry standard size. A 300 mg bottle would generally be regarded as a low-potency option. Based on cost alone, this is a popular strength range most people start out on.
It is recommended you start with a low potency product first, at least until you gauge how your body reacts to the CBD. Because everybody’s biochemistry is different, not everyone will react the same or get the same therapeutic effects from CBD oil or other CBD products.
Also, starting with the lowest potency oil lets you adequately gauge how much CBD it takes to garner positive results. If you’re trying to find relief from pain, for example, and you jump right into a high-strength 1,000 mg+ bottle, you’ll have no idea how much it took to provide relief — even if it ends up working well for you.
If you start with a lower-strength option, on the other hand, you can start with a small 1-2 mg dose. Yet, if that doesn’t work, you can increase to a 3, 4, or 5 mg dose and see what that does. If you jump straight into a heavy 50+ mg dose and receive adequate results, you’ll never know if a smaller dose would’ve worked just as well, which would have saved you money.
CBD Oil Strength Explained
Before we discuss dosing, in this section, ‘CBD oil strength explained,’ we will highlight some important things to know about different CBD oil strengths.
The bottle size that the CBD oil comes in has to be taken into account when calculating its potency. Let’s look at a straightforward example first. You have two different 30ml CBD oil bottles; one contains 300mg of CBD and the other 600mg. In this case, the 300mg bottle contains 10mg of CBD per ml, and the 600mg bottle contains 20mg per ml.
Now, here is another example where the bottle size is significant. Suppose there are two bottles of CBD oil; both have 300mg of CBD. However, one bottle contains 15ml of liquid, while the other has 30ml. In this case, the smaller 15ml bottle’s CBD concentration is double that of its 30ml counterpart with 20mg of CBD per ml against 10mg.
So, if you are looking for the strongest CBD oil you can find, bear in mind that the bottle’s size needs to be taken into account. The good news is that many leading CBD brands, such as Premium Jane, list the milligrams of CBD per serving on their packaging, as well as on the product pages of their respective websites.
CBD oil dosage: 300mg, 600mg, and 1000mg options
Like we said, once you start using CBD oil more frequently and are able to gauge how much you need, you can jump up to the more high-potency products as needed. For reference, doses typically range anywhere from 5 mg to 100+ mg in a single day.
Here is a quick rundown of three common CBD oil potencies, and what the majority of people use them for.
Low-potency CBD oil (300 mg)
This is relatively low-potency oil and is a good option for individuals who are just starting out or who may be sensitive to CBD (and/or cannabis in general). Some people have a more active endocannabinoid system than do others, so they will naturally not require as strong of an oil.
A low-strength 300 mg bottle is a good option to take as a daily supplement. Many people take a single daily dose of it for boosted general health, and also to help lower stress levels.
A single serving of a 300 mg (30 mL) bottle of CBD oil is equivalent to 1 mL (20 drops) of oil. This translates to a 10 mg dose of CBD. Many people won’t use a full dose though, and will instead use as little as 5-7 drops of oil, which translates to about a 5-6 mg dose.
Mid-potency CBD oil (600 mg)
A 600 mg hemp oil is a good “step-up” option for people who find they’re having to take large (and/or multiple) doses of a lower potency. In general, a lot of people use products in this strength range for things like anxiety and day-to-day pain. A single dose would still be defined as 20 drops (1 mL) of oil, but instead of containing 10 mg of CBD, a 600 mg bottle would contain 20 mg per serving.
High-potency CBD oil (1,000 mg)
The 1,000 mg range is on the upper end of the potency scale for most CBD oil companies. Products in this strength range are commonly used for sleep issues, deep muscle soreness, migraines, and day-to-day stress and anxiety.
Just like the 300 and 600 mg products, most 1,000mg hemp oils come in a 30 mL bottle. A single 20-drop serving equates to a CBD dose of approximately 33.3mg. In most instances, users won’t have much use for a higher-strength product than this. Here’s a basic table summarizing which CBD oil strength may be best for you:
CBD OIL DOSAGE TABLE
POTENCY | BOTTLE SIZE | AMOUNT OF CBD IN A SINGLE 1 mL (20 drop) DOSE | WHAT TO USE IT FOR |
---|---|---|---|
300 mg | 30 mL | 10 mg | General wellness and day-to-day health |
600 mg | 30 mL | 20 mg | Moderate stress, discomfort, inflammation, and mild pain/soreness |
1,000 mg | 30 mL | 33.3 mg | Sleep issues, daily stress, anxiety, or depression, day-to-day pain and inflammation |
What CBD Oil Should I Buy?
After reading through the first few sections of this article, you might still be wondering, what CBD oil should I buy? Unfortunately, there’s not one single answer that applies to everybody. Every one of us is different, so we will not all respond in the same way to CBD.
To begin with, ask yourself, why do I want to take CBD? Is it for pain relief, sleep improvement, or to address a mood disorder like anxiety? If it is for any of those reasons, you could discuss this with your doctor to see if CBD is right for you.
Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself, ‘what CBD oil should I buy?’
WAYOFLEAF’S CHOICE – FabCBD
When it comes to selecting the best and most effective CBD, it really comes down to trial and error and testing out as many products as you can. And that’s exactly what we did. Our review team tried and tested dozens of CBD brands, and we rated FabCBD as #1 overall for potency, value for money, quality & reputation. Try them today and you won’t be disappointed. You can also view the reviews of the best CBD brands here.
Body Size Matters for CBD Oil Potency
As mentioned, we recommend starting with a very low dose of CBD to gauge its effects. Of course, not everyone has the same body size and weight. Therefore, a 220lb heavyweight boxer will need a higher dose of CBD than a 126lb jockey.
Still, though, even for people with a higher than average BMI, we recommend starting with a relatively low dose before increasing if necessary.
Potency Options
Earlier, we touched on how CBD oil comes in various bottle sizes containing different concentrations of CBD. The key thing to look out for is the milligram of CBD per serving figure. It will tell you how potent that particular CBD oil is. The CBD oil dosage table above is an excellent guide to figuring out what CBD oil potency you could begin with.
CBD Results Can Take Time
Do not get discouraged if you do not see immediate results after consuming CBD oil. Bear in mind that it may take some time for you to notice CBD oil’s effects, particularly if you begin with a very low dose.
Be patient, and allow time for the CBD to work. If you are still not seeing satisfactory results, ask yourself if it is time to increase the dose slightly. If in any doubt, consult your physician for dosing-related advice.
How to Choose CBD Oil Strengths
Knowing how to choose a CBD oil that is right for you is not a straightforward process. Hopefully, after reading this article, however, you will have a better understanding of different CBD oil strengths, what potency is most suitable for beginners, and for addressing specific conditions.
If shopping online, be sure to go to the CBD product page of the brand’s website to learn more about the different CBD oils they have on offer.
Final Thoughts on Understanding Which Potency CBD Oil to Take
The main thing to consider when figuring out how to find the right strength CBD oil is to realize that everyone’s internal biochemistry is different. While your friend may be able to ease her stress with just a single 3 mg serving, you may require several times that much in order to obtain the same results. Or, you may not find any relief at all. This is why it’s important to start with the smallest possible dose and work up from there.
Also, make sure you understand that most CBD products on the market are not recognized as medicine. The only FDA-approved clinical use for CBD is in the treatment of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy).
Because of this, you’ll notice that regardless of strength or potency most all CBD oils on the market put a label on their products that say something like, “this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
Lastly, don’t hesitate to speak with a marijuana doctor or healthcare professional about using CBD oil. It is not our goal for any of the information in this article to be taken as clinical advice, or as a medical recommendation. If you live in a state with legalized medical marijuana, make sure you take full advantage of the resources available to you. Getting a licensed MMJ card is easier than it has ever been before, and it could well be an excellent solution for long-term health.