While cannabis has been consumed for centuries due to its potent medicinal and healing properties, hemp oil was only recognized recently. One of the probable reasons for this is that until 2014, hemp was neither grown nor sold in the US because of its close botanical resemblance to marijuana.
Today, however, hemp oil is widely used for sleep and anxiety, balancing hormones, boosting skin glow, relieving chronic back pain, and lowering blood pressure among many other medicinal uses.
But like any other hemp product, finding your optimal dosage for hemp oil is critical—whether you are an experienced or a new user. So, how much oil should you take? Well, let’s find out.
What Is Hemp Oil?
Many people tend to confuse hemp oil and CBD oil simply because they are derived from hemp. However, it is important to know that the two oils are different. Hemp oil is derived from hemp seeds while CBD oil comes from the plant. While hemp oil may have some traces of CBD, it is not always sufficient to have any significant impact.
To bypass legal regulations, many companies market their CBD oils like hemp oil. They even go to the extent of including hemp oil dosages in the packages. This can be very misleading, especially if you are a new user. So, before determining the amount of hemp oil to consume, you should take your time to buy the right hemp oil—not CBD oil.
How Much Should You Take?
The amount of hemp oil to take depend on your individual needs as well as a host of other factors, including:
- Desired Effects: For many users, the optimal amount of oil boils down to the level of pain or discomfort that they may be experiencing. People with chronic pain, for instance, may need more hemp oil to alleviate their symptoms fast. On the other hand, people with milder conditions are good to go with smaller amounts of oil.
- Concentration: The strength or concentration of the oil simply the amount of cannabinoid that it contains and is often measured in milligrams. Note that concentration is different from dosage, which often denotes the amount of cannabinoid per serving. For instance, a bottle of IHF hemp oil may have a concentration of 1500mg and contain 30mL of the oil (with a standard serving size of 1mL). This implies that if you take 1mL serving, you will be taking about 50mg of the oil—and not 1500mg per dosage.
- Your body weight: Your weight determines how hemp oil affects your body, and consequently, how much you should take. Heavier people require higher amounts of hemp oil to experience the calming effects of the oil while lighter people may feel the same effects with smaller amounts.
- Your tolerance Levels: Hemp oil consumers are likely to develop tolerance over time, which may result in significantly reduced effects from the same amount of oil. Accordingly, to get the desired results, you need to consume more oil going forward. Based on the above criteria, it is important to establish the best dosage or amount of the oil to take if you are just starting.
Key Takeaways
Due to its many health benefits—helping users manage stress, easing joint discomfort, to promoting better sleep and more—hemp oil is worth including in your diet for better health and well-being. However, there are a few critical points that you need to remember when determining how much to consume:
- There is no correct or right amount of hemp oil to take. Each person tends to react differently depending on the above-highlighted factors or their current endocannabinoid tone.
- Start slow and work your way up. Remember that hemp oil works optimally at the root level to balance the health of the entire body
If you cannot figure out the right amount of hemp oil that you should use, consider talking with a hemp specialist or your local doctor. While not all doctors can help you with hemp matters—depending on the laws and regulations in your state—some are up-to-date with a lot of hemp-related issues and can help recommend the right quantity for you.
