Microdosing is a concept that has gained recent popularity in the CBD community. Although not a new idea, microdosing is gradually becoming the method of choice for regular CBD users to manage their CBD consumption and enjoy the therapeutic effects of CBD products for longer. But what exactly is microdosing? How can it improve your CBD experience?
What Is Microdosing?
Microdosing is a term that was conceived by Dr. Albert Hoffmann, who is credited with creating and developing LSD. He wanted a way for people to achieve their full mental potential using LSD but did not want the drug to interfere with their daily lives.
Dr. Hoffman began experimenting with microdosing LSD by taking a small amount each morning. The microdose was a fraction of the amount needed to induce hallucinations but did allow the doctor better mental clarity and awareness of his surroundings.
Microdosing LSD was used to control the drug’s adverse side effects. Whereas, microdosing CBD enables users to prolong the benefits of CBD by spreading out the dose over the course of the day.
This is achieved by breaking the total maximum dose into smaller doses, which are consumed at regular intervals. A typical microdose is measured at approximately ¼- 1/10 0f your total dosage for the day.
Why Microdose CBD?
There are many reasons why microdosing is a better way to take CBD. However, many regular CBD users find microdosing preferable to consuming their entire dosage each morning or evening.
It is reported that consuming small amounts of CBD at regular intervals provides more consistent results, whereas taking your entire daily dose often means that the product only offers short-term benefits as the effects wear off faster.
The consistency experienced by users who microdose may be due to the way that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system. Plant-based cannabinoids mimic the action of naturally occurring endocannabinoids produced in the body.
Your naturally occurring endocannabinoids are produced and released on-demand in response to the complex interplay of stimuli, receptors, hormones, and enzymes. Often, conditions like anxiety and sleep disorders arise due to an imbalance in your endocannabinoid system.
By consistently providing your body with CBD or other plant-based cannabinoids through microdosing, you are offering stability and support to your endocannabinoid system. This restores balance in a way that is similar to how your body naturally regulates itself.
The Benefits of Microdosing CBD
Some of the benefits of microdosing CBD include:
Great for Introducing CBD to New Users
Understanding how your body responds to CBD takes time and trial and error. Microdosing simultaneously allows new users to experience the benefits of CBD and find their ideal dosage.
Reduces CBD Tolerance
As with many supplements or pharmaceuticals, your body gradually becomes accustomed to the effects of the compound and requires an increased dosage to maintain the same level of effectiveness.
Microdosing reduces your body’s tolerance to CBD by providing a consistent supply of the compound and regulating your endocannabinoid system.
Great for All Forms of CBD
While most people choose to microdose using CBD oil or tinctures for greater dosing accuracy, you can microdose with almost any type of CBD product. The type of CBD products used can impact how quickly the body absorbs and uses the CBD, which can alter the microdose.
Is Microdosing Right for You?
Although microdosing can be beneficial for all CBD users, there are some groups that may see greater gains from using the microdosing technique.
Athletes
CBD is an excellent way for athletes to facilitate a speedy recovery after an intense workout and relieve activity-induced muscle soreness. Microdosing can help you experience the effects of CBD for longer to allow you to maintain a consistent, high-performance exercise program.
Seniors
There has been significant research surrounding the benefits of CBD for seniors. CBD is a great way to help regulate sleep cycles, which can be problematic for seniors. It can also encourage improved cognition and focus, which could be beneficial for seniors suffering from age-related cognitive decline.
Microdosing ensures that senior CBD users enjoy improved mental clarity throughout the day, and better-quality sleep at night.
New CBD Users
Some people feel understandably apprehensive about trying CBD for the first time. While CBD has no psychoactive properties and little-to-no side effects, the relative novelty of the product, as well as the lack of industry regulation, can make people wary of trying CBD.
Microdosing allows new users to grow accustomed to the effects of CBD gradually and find their optimal dosage.
People with High-Stress Jobs
Although CBD is an effective way to manage daily stress, for people continually under pressure at work, a single dose of CBD in the morning may not offer the lasting stress relief that they need.
Microdosing evenly distributes your daily dose of CBD so you can continue to experience an increased sense of calm all day long to help deal with workday stress.
Factors that Contribute to Your Ideal Micro Dosage
Calculating the right amount to microdose can take some trial and error, and there are some factors that are important to consider, which can have an impact on the amount or frequency of your micro dosage.
Body Composition
Your height, weight, and activity level all contribute to how your body metabolizes CBD. The faster your body uses up the CBD, the more frequently you will need to dose. Alternatively, you can decrease your dosage frequency and increase your microdose.
CBD Concentration
As different CBD products contain different concentrations of the compound, your micro dosage will change depending on the type of product that you use. For example, if you are taking 2 mg of a 500 mg CBD product, then you would only take 1 mg of a 1,000 mg product.
It is important to adjust your micro dosage according to the potency of your CBD product if you take more than one variety.
Method of Consumption
Although you can microdose with any form of CBD, some products are better suited to microdosing than others and should be taken into consideration when determining your optimal microdose.
Capsules and edibles are not recommended for microdosing. These products must pass through the digestive tract, which can deteriorate a small percentage of the CBD, lowering the overall dose and slowing down the effect.
Vaping CBD can be a great way to experience the effects of microdosing CBD faster; however, the product tends to leave your system sooner, too.
Calculate Your Optimal Dose
Each person’s endocannabinoid system responds differently to CBD. Before you can determine your optimal micro dosage, you first need to establish your ideal dose. To find the perfect balance for your body, follow these simple steps.
Step 1
Do not use any cannabis-derived products for 2-3 days to ensure there is no residual CBD or cannabinoids remaining in your system.
Step 2
Make a general assessment of your overall health and well-being after abstaining from CBD. Observe your breathing and heart rate, anxiety and stress levels, and contentedness. Rate them on a scale of 1-1o and note down your results in a journal.
Step 3
Take 1 mg of CBD tincture sublingually. Hold under your tongue for 60 seconds, then swallow. CBD oil or tincture is preferable to other products as it is easier to get an accurate dosage.
Step 4
After 45 minutes have passed, make another assessment of your well-being using the same rating scale. If you have identical scores, take an additional 1 mg of CBD at your next dose. If your scores have improved, continue to take 1 mg each hour for four consecutive hours. The four-hour time frame is used to estimate dosage, as this is the average length of time that CBD stays in the body.
Step 5
Total the number of milligrams taken in the four-hour time frame. This number will be your minimum dosage. For example, if you took 3 mg per hour for four hours, then your minimum dose is 12 mg.
Step 6
To determine your microdose, decide how many times you will be dosing throughout the day (frequency), and divide your minimum dose by the frequency. If your minimum dose is 12 mg, and you want to microdose four times per day, then 12 divided by 4 equals 3 mg per microdose. This dose provides a good baseline for further experimentation.
If you are having trouble determining your correct microdose, our team at Kats Botanicals can work with you to help you calculate your proper dosage.
The Wrap-Up
Microdosing CBD is a great way to gradually introduce CBD into your wellness routine or to reinvigorate your current CBD regime. It is a safe and effective method of consuming CBD and can yield more consistent and long-lasting results. Kats Botanicals can help you find your optimal CBD microdose to restore balance to your body and support your well-being.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Disclosure
This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult with your physician before starting a new dietary supplement program. This product is not for use by or sale to any persons under the age of 18. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is an active and naturally-occurring phytocannabinoid derived from the industrial hemp plant. Kats Botanicals does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA). All products contain less than 0.3% THC.
