Determining the right dose when using a whole plant medicine like medical cannabis is important. Each plant grows uniquely, influenced by its own genetics and the environment to produce a slightly different result with each grow cycle. A person can even go to the same dispensary and purchase the same form of medical cannabis and still find the effect in his or her body to have changed somewhat. Every plant is unique so, unless using the same plant that made the previous recipe, the dosing must be determined anew.
Start with that. That’s the reason why. The “how-to” is actually straightforward and methodical. Start low and go slow when increasing. If you are using any type of medical cannabis that is ingested orally (infused foods or oils,) wait an hour to gauge effect before taking more. Tinctures–15 minutes.
Continue to increase the dose in small increments every hour until whatever result you are reaching for begins to show up. Side note: The best way to track results is to identify the specific result–pain relief in knees for example or relief from anxiety induced distress–and assess that specific result every hour before taking more. At the point where there is a noticeable improvement (not perfect, but improved,) Add up the total milligrams you took to get a result, divide it in half, and take that much again in four hours….
This brings us to the concept of micro dosing. In the ideal usage of medical cannabis for health and healing purposes, the goal is to get the health result without the altered experience of psychoactive THC. Sometimes (for me, for example,) the amount of cannabinoids I need in order to get the desired health result is high enough that–if I take one or two doses in a twenty-four hour period–I get whacky doodle high… don’t even ask me to focus on anything so complicated as watching TV :P) But, if I break it into four smaller doses, I get the benefits sans the goofy internal world. The key is to take smallest amount possible multiple times throughout the day to maintain the desired result. See how that is?
Let’s get specific. Suppose you have an oil infusion that says it has a total of 500mg of cannabinoids (CBD, CBDa, THC, THCa, CBG, CBGa…. remember whole plant medical cannabis works in a synergy) in a 1 oz bottle. That means that 30 drops of oil has 25mg of cannabinoids. I promise you that, even though you might end up wanting to take 25mg or more at a time, you really don’t want to start there. Start with 5mg… or 6 drops. People who are sensitive may want to start at 2.5mg… or 3 drops. Then, plug the number of milligrams it takes to begin feeling the result into the above equation, and adjust in small amounts–up or down–until you have four or five doses over a 24 hour period that provides the desired result free from psycho-activity.
Just as the medical cannabis plant is unique, so is every human using it, right? The amount needed will vary, depending upon what is happening within the body’s endocannabinoid system of each person. Some have more areas to tend where homeostasis is out of balance. Some feel the dose very strongly for the first few days until getting used to how the medicine interacts with the body. Some take as much as gram a day (people with cancer or a seizure disorder or MS, etc) Some get a great result on 5mg per day. It’s very unique. It’s very individual. Expect it to take a couple of weeks to a month before you are settled into the perfect micro dose for you.
Hope this helps, and let me know in the comments section if you have any specific questions about dosing medical cannabis, OK?
0
0
20
20
This is an interesting concept, thanks for explaining the theory of micro-dosing. What I’m doing is to take a single capsule dose every day and that seems to set me up well for alleviating normal levels of anxiety during the day. Would micro dosing work better?
Micro dosing will generally give you a more even spread. If you can imagine the arc of time it takes for the medicine to be absorbed, used, and then broken down, having a series of small arcs rather than one long big arc keeps the dosage more even. Make sense?
That said, if you are taking the capsule once per day and getting a successful result, then maybe you have are on the right track for your unique needs, right?
Thanks for this! I’m looking forward to experimenting with micro-doses. One question: if I’m looking for an effect specifically at night (reducing twitchiness in legs so I can sleep better), would you still suggest micro-doses during the day?
Great question, Marion!
And, yes, I would recommend micro dosing even for a targeted night time result. The reason is this: whatever the root cause imbalance that causes the leg twitchiness, it happens 24/7. The symptom is more obvious at rest, but the “invisible cause” requires a “round the clock” support. See how that is?
What I would do (and remember I’m not a doctor so nothing I suggest is a prescription ; >) is take a basal micro dose throughout the day and then increase the micro dose in the evening to support good, twitchy-free sleep.
Make sense?
Hi Anahlira! Micro dosing seems to be worth trying. How does this work for people who only need to take cannabis or medical marijuana when extreme pain attacks?
Happy day, MMJ Canada
Micro-dosing works best when there is a steady stream of phyto cannabinoids in the body. What happens then is that the extreme pain attacks are prevented from happening. The key is to determine the minimum dose to take several times per day that prevents the occurrence. In other words, if extreme pain occurs it means take a little extra to deal with the break through pain… but then raise the basal dose (the one taken daily several times to maintain a basal level in the blood stream ; >)
Make sense?
A
Thank you for all of this information. I have been dealing with a chronic situation for years and would like to pursue this with you. Do you still do consultations?
Absolutely, Valerie. Let’s proceed via email, shall we? You can reach me at ahnalira@laughingmedicinewoman.net
Thanks for explaining the theory of micro-dosing very interesting. I´m so glad the cannabis is helping many people with their treatments.
Thanks for sharing this post with us. I am little bit interested to get more information about Medical Cannabis.I like to share my opinion on Medical Cannabis.Watering is likely one of the issues most individuals fear about. When you observe our directions on pot dimension above, your vegetation will likely be much more forgiving than they was. All vegetation want a soil which is properly draining and free flowing, and pots of the suitable dimension will enable the soil to take action. rule of thumb is to water when the highest inch of soil is dry, in summer season this can be on daily basis, in winter this can be not more than as soon as each 2 weeks.
And I’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles are excellent. Good job, Cheers
thank you for sharing this article.I have been using the organic 300 mg water-soluble CBD drops for almost a year for joint pain and focus. It really works!
Excellent post. I appreciate this site. Stick with it! Because the admin of this web page is working, no doubt very quickly it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.This website was how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally, I’ve found something that helped me. Thanks!
its pleasure to read a beautiful blog. I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I need to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent information.
The right dosage is very important. Great advice!
Proper cannabis dose is crucial for medical patients. Great article resource!
In fact, there are many benefits we can get from medical marijuana. Thanks for sharing this post, 🙂
Excellent post I appreciate this site Stay with that! Because the administrator of this website is working, no doubt very quickly will be known, due to its quality content. This website was how you say it? Relevant!! Finally, I found something that helped me. Thank you!
Thank you for the details I learned a lot from this information you have shared and I’m so very happy to know that cannabis can treat chronic diseases and many illnesses.
This is very informative. Good content. I am learning that there is more diseases cannabis can cure. Cannabis has really a lot more to offer.
I think it is an important article about micro-dosing.Thanks for giving us this information.
Very creative and informative writing. I have learned a lot from the post. I have bookmarked your blog and I become your regular reader. Please keep up the wonderful work. Recently I have been researching this topic.
Thanks for explaining the theory of micro-dosing very interesting. I´m so glad the cannabis is helping many people with their treatments.
Thank you for clearing all this up!