This article was co-authored by Aimée Shunney, ND and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Dr. Aimée Gould Shunney is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine in Santa Cruz, California where she specializes in women's health and hormone balancing. She also consults with various companies in the natural products industry including CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD Oil. Dr. Aimée educates consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers about CBD oil through written articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences nationwide. Her work has been featured at the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Conference, and on Fox News. She earned her ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001.
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Many CBD oils come in a tincture with a dropper so you can easily measure out doses. Start by finding out the dosage that works best for you so you can figure out how much you need to take. Then you can use the dropper provided with the tincture to pull the oil out of the container and dispense it. Just be sure to talk to your doctor before taking CBD oil to make sure it’s right for you.
Steps
Determining the Correct Dose
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1Divide the amount of CBD by the size of the package to find the concentration. Look for the total amount of CBD on the oil’s package listed in milligrams. Then look for the size of the container, which is usually near the bottom of the package and listed in milliliters. Set up your equation and use a calculator to find out how many milligrams are in a milliliter dose of the oil.[1]
- If you need to acquire CBD oil with a dropper bottle, you can find options online here.
- For example, if you have a 30-milliliter bottle of oil that contains 750 mg of CBD, your equation would be 750/30 = 25 milligrams of CBD per 1-milliliter serving.[2]
- Some CBD oils will list the amount of CBD per serving on the bottle as well.
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2Take the lowest dose of CBD oil recommended by the manufacturer. There's no standardized dose for CBD oil, so figuring out the right dose can take a little trial and error. Start by reading the label to see how much they recommend that you take, and take the smallest dose. Then, gradually increase that amount until you find the dose that's effective for you.[3]
Warning: If you take more than the recommended upper limit, it may make side effects of nausea, drowsiness, or fatigue more prominent.
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3Keep a log of how dosages affect you to find out what works best. CBD oil affects each person differently, so while a low dose may work for you, another person may need a higher dose to feel the same effects. Keep track of the size of your dose, how you felt after taking it, and any side effects you felt. As you try different dosages, make note of which ones make you feel the best so you can keep taking the same amount.[4]
- The amount of CBD oil you need may change as you get older since your body processes it differently as you age.
Taking the CBD Oil
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1Take the dropper out and squeeze the bulb. Unscrew the dropper cap from the bottle and remove it from the CBD oil. Keep the dropper above the surface of the oil and pinch the rubber bulb between your fingers. Any oil or air left inside the dropper will come out from the end so it’s completely empty.[5]
- You can buy CBD oil at health food stores and online. Be sure to research the product you're using to ensure it's safe ad comes from a reputable company.
- Don’t squeeze the bulb while the dropper is still submerged since you’ll get air bubbles inside and the dosage may be inaccurate.
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2Submerge the end of the dropper in the CBD oil. Keep pinching the bulb as you put the end of the dropper back in the oil. Make sure to submerge the entire tip of the dropper so you don’t get air inside of it. Avoid touching the bottom of the bottle with the dropper since it may not pull the oil as efficiently.[6]
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3Release the bulb to draw the oil into the dropper. While the end of the dropper submerged, let go of the rubber bulb. The pressure change from inside the dropper will pull the CBD oil into the dropper barrel and fill it. Pull the dropper out of the oil once the bulb returns to its original shape to ensure that you don’t get air inside of it.[7]
- Most CBD oil droppers fill up to 1 mL, but it may vary depending on the brand. Make sure to check the package’s instructions so you know the correct dosage.
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4Put any excess oil back in the container. Hold the dropper vertically and compare the level of the oil to the measurements printed on the side. If you have the correct dosage, then you don’t need to make any adjustments. If you want to take a smaller dose, place the tip of the dropper over the bottle and gently squeeze the bulb to force some of the oil back out. Check the measurement again to see if it’s the dosage you want.[8]
- Some CBD oil droppers don’t have measurements printed on the side. Check the package label to see if it lists the size of the dropper so you can use a correct dosage.
Tip: If you accidentally squeeze out too much oil, empty the dropper and start over again so you don’t get air bubbles inside of it.
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5Place the drops under your tongue for 60–90 seconds. Raise your tongue so it touches the roof of your mouth. Hold the dropper above your mouth, and squeeze the bulb to dispense the oil underneath your tongue. Hold the oil under your tongue for at least 60 seconds before swallowing it. You should start feeling the effects within 20–30 minutes, and they usually last about 4–6 hours.[9]
- Holding the CBD oil under your tongue allows it to absorb into your body easier so you feel effects more quickly than if you swallowed it immediately.
- Don’t put the dropper in your mouth since you could get bacteria on it and contaminate the rest of the CBD oil.
- If you don’t feel any effects from the CBD oil, you may need a higher dosage.
- You can also try mixing the oil with other foods or drinks, but it will take 1–2 hours to take effect.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat's the best time of day to take CBD oil?
Aimée Shunney, NDDr. Aimée Gould Shunney is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine in Santa Cruz, California where she specializes in women's health and hormone balancing. She also consults with various companies in the natural products industry including CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD Oil. Dr. Aimée educates consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers about CBD oil through written articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences nationwide. Her work has been featured at the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Conference, and on Fox News. She earned her ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001.
Licensed Naturopathic DoctorThat varies by person. If the CBD is making you sleepy, you might try taking it at night, instead. You can also try switching to a different product or formulation. For instance, if you're taking capsules, you might try a sublingual instead. Since those act faster, you might be able to use a lower dose to get the same effect.
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QuestionHow many drops of CBD oil should I take?Aimée Shunney, NDDr. Aimée Gould Shunney is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine in Santa Cruz, California where she specializes in women's health and hormone balancing. She also consults with various companies in the natural products industry including CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD Oil. Dr. Aimée educates consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers about CBD oil through written articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences nationwide. Her work has been featured at the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Conference, and on Fox News. She earned her ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001.
Licensed Naturopathic DoctorStart with the lowest dose, then track your symptoms and adjust your dose as needed. As you take the CBD, track your progress and how things change. Over time, you may be able to switch from a daily dose to using it on an as-needed basis, which says that you're restoring better function overall rather than just treating your symptoms.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat are the benefits of CBD?Aimée Shunney, NDDr. Aimée Gould Shunney is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine in Santa Cruz, California where she specializes in women's health and hormone balancing. She also consults with various companies in the natural products industry including CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD Oil. Dr. Aimée educates consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers about CBD oil through written articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences nationwide. Her work has been featured at the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Conference, and on Fox News. She earned her ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001.
Licensed Naturopathic DoctorConsider taking a low dose of CBD daily for your overall health. If you already take supplements like fish oil, probiotics, or a multivitamin, adding a daily CBD supplement may help support a healthy immune system, and it can help improve your body's response to things like stress and inflammation.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
Warnings
References
- ↑ https://www.cbdoil.org/cbd-dosage-guide/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-dosage/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-dosage/
- ↑ https://www.cbdoil.org/cbd-dosage-guide/
- ↑ https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/UsingMedicineSpoonDropper.pdf
- ↑ https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/UsingMedicineSpoonDropper.pdf
- ↑ https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/UsingMedicineSpoonDropper.pdf
- ↑ https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/UsingMedicineSpoonDropper.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cbdoil.org/cbd-dosage-guide/
About This Article
There’s some research that CBD oil can help reduce anxiety, alleviate pain, and help you sleep better. If you’re interested in trying CBD oil, one easy way to take it is with a dropper. To use a CBD oil dropper, insert the dropper into your bottle of CBD oil and squeeze the bulb to draw oil into it. Then, hold the dropper above your mouth and squeeze the bulb to administer the drops underneath your tongue. Hold the oil under your tongue for 1 minute before swallowing it so it has time to absorb into your bloodstream. You should start to feel the effects within 20 to 30 minutes. If you’re new to taking CBD, start by taking 1 mg of CBD oil for every 10 pounds you weigh, and gradually increase your dose as needed.
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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