How to Microdose CBD (and When Macrodosing is Better)
CBD boasts many benefits for our bodies ranging from pain, anxiety, and sleep deprivation relief to basic homeostasis. However, there are many different ways to get your daily dose of CBD, and expecting them all to perform the same way doesn’t quite work.
You may try, for instance, taking a gummy at night in the hopes that it will calm you enough to help you sleep. What can you do if you’re still tossing and turning rather than enjoying the full night of sleep you were hoping for? Don’t be tempted to think that because of this seeming failure that CBD can’t work for you (or doesn’t work at all).
Before giving up on CBD, consider microdosing: the smaller doses throughout the day might just do the trick for your chronic pain or insomnia.
Microdosing vs. Macrodosing
Microdosing is when smaller doses are taken throughout the day. Macrodosing, on the other hand, is when you take just one or two large doses per day. Each has their own benefits, and it might take some experimentation to discover what is best for your body.
When it comes to CBD, macrodosing is far more popular. Generally, when people take their CBD, they take a capsule or gummy when they wake up or right before bed with about 30 milligrams (though this dose may vary depending on the person, their tolerance, and what they’re attempting to treat).
Microdosing first gained notoriety in relation to more potent or psychedelic drugs. But don’t let this taint your perception of the practice. The term is simply a generic way of saying someone is taking smaller doses more frequently. For CBD, the same principles apply.
To begin microdosing, take somewhere between 2.5 to 5 milligrams numerous times throughout the day, and leave at approximately 30-60 minutes between doses. Feel free to adjust the dosage and timing according to your specific needs, including body size, cannabis tolerance, and what you are attempting to treat.
When to Microdose
Knowing when to microdose isn’t as tricky as you might think.
First, you might want to try microdosing when larger, less frequent doses don’t seem to deliver the relief or effects you’re looking for. If you’re looking to soothe pain, improve sleep, or ease anxiety but macrodosing hasn’t worked, try microdosing before giving up on CBD.
Additionally, a good rule of thumb when deciding whether to microdose or macrodose is to consider the goal you’d like to achieve. Are you trying to prevent symptoms or treat them? If you are looking to treat symptoms like pain or sleeplessness, you’ll likely benefit from macrodosing. However, if you want a long-term plan that can address pain or restlessness before they start, you should give microdosing a try.
This is all to say that CBD affects people in different ways. If you’re trying either micro or macrodosing and you’re not seeing the results you were hoping for, try the other.
Good Products to Microdose
When it comes to microdosing, not all products are created equal. Simply put, some CBD products come ready to microdose or can be easily divided; others can’t.
Tinctures are very easy to control dosage, and a perfect starting place if you’re considering microdosing. Instead of taking five or six drops, take one instead. If you have a 30 milliliter bottle of broad spectrum CBD with 1,000 milligrams of CBD, one or two drops will provide an ideal dosage if you are trying CBD for the first time or if you are transitioning to a microdose.
Other products like capsules or gummies are also good to try when you want smaller doses. While you’re (probably) not going to be able to cut a capsule into as small a dose as you can get with a tincture, you can still cut it into halves or quarters. With a capsule containing 30 milligrams of CBD, you can expect to get 15 milligrams with a half pill or 7.5 milligrams with a quarter capsule. If you’re trying to microdose but have a higher tolerance for cannabinoids, a gummy or capsule would work well.
Remember to keep in mind that if a specific regimen of CBD doesn’t seem to be working, don’t give up. There are other ways to take CBD that might help.
