Strategic Dosing Guidelines
The standard dose of herbal extracts for an average adult is 6 grams per day, usually divided into two or more doses through the day. In treating acute or severe cases, dosage of some herbal formulas may be increased up to 20 grams per day. Since not everyone is an “average adult,” the fundamental concept in dosing is to realize that one size does not fit all. Every person is unique and must be treated individually.
The principle behind the Age-To-Dose Dosing Guideline is assessment of the maturity of the organs’ ability to metabolize, utilize, and eliminate herbs. This detailed chart is especially useful for adjusting dosages for infants and younger children. The recommendations are taken from Herbology, published by Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The principle underlying the Weight-To-Dose Dosing Guideline is based on gauging the effective concentration of the herb or herbal combination after it is distributed throughout the body. This dosing strategy is especially useful for patients whose body weight falls outside of the normal range. All calculations are based on Clark's Rule in Pharmaceutical Calculations, by Mitchell Stoklosa and Howard Ansel.
These two charts provide the herbal practitioner with a handy reference for calculating dosages for those patients who fall outside the definition of an ‘average adult.’ It is still important to keep in mind, however, that these charts serve only as a guideline--not an absolute rule. One must always remember to treat each patient as a unique individual, not as an 'average case' or a chart!
Table I. Age-To-Dose Dosing Guideline
| Age | Recommended Daily Dosage | Fine Granules | Capsules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month old | 1/18 - 1/14 of adult dose | 0.3 - 0.4 grams | N/R* |
| 1 - 6 month old | 1/14 - 1/7 of adult dose | 0.4 - 0.9 grams | N/R* |
| 6 - 12 month old | 1/7 - 1/5 of adult dose | 0.9 - 1.2 grams | N/R* |
| 1 - 2 years old | 1/5 - 1/4 of adult dose | 1.2 - 1.5 grams | N/R* |
| 2 - 4 years old | 1/4 - 1/3 of adult dose | 1.5 - 2.0 grams | N/R* |
| 4 - 6 years old | 1/3 - 2/5 of adult dose | 2.0 - 2.4 grams | N/R* |
| 6 - 9 years old | 2/5 - 1/2 of adult dose | 2.4 - 3.0 grams | 5 - 6 capsules** |
| 9 - 14 years old | 1/2 - 2/3 of adult dose | 3.0 - 4.0 grams | 6 - 8 capsules** |
| 14 - 18 years old | 2/3 - full adult dose | 4.0 - 6.0 grams | 8 - 12 capsules** |
| 18 - 60 years old | adult dose | 6.0 grams | 12 capsules** |
| 60 years old and over | 3/4 of adult dose or less | 4.5 - 6.0 grams | 9 - 12 capsules** |
Table II. Weight-To-Dose Dosing Guideline
| Weight | Recommended Daily Dosage | Fine Granules | Capsules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 - 40 lbs | 20% - 27% of adult dose | 1.2 - 1.6 grams | N/R* |
| 40 - 50 lbs | 27% - 33% of adult dose | 1.6 - 1.9 grams | N/R* |
| 50 - 60 lbs | 33% - 40% of adult dose | 1.9 - 2.4 grams | N/R* |
| 60 - 70 lbs | 40% - 47% of adult dose | 2.4 - 2.8 grams | N/R* |
| 70 - 80 lbs | 47% - 53% of adult dose | 2.8 - 3.2 grams | 5 - 6 capsules** |
| 80 - 100 lbs | 53% - 67% of adult dose | 3.2 - 4.0 grams | 6 - 8 capsules** |
| 100 - 120 lbs | 67% - 80% of adult dose | 4.0 - 4.8 grams | 8 - 10 capsules** |
| 120 - 150 lbs | 80% - 100% of adult dose | 4.8 - 6.0 grams | 10 - 12 capsules** |
| 150 lbs | adult dose | 6.0 grams | 12 capsules** |
| 150 - 200 lbs | 100% - 133% of adult dose | 6.0 - 7.9 grams | 12 - 16 capsules** |
| 200 - 250 lbs | 133% - 167% of adult dose | 7.9 - 10.0 grams | 16 - 20 capsules** |
| 250 - 300 lbs | 167% - 200% of adult dose | 10.0 - 12.0 grams | 20 - 24 capsules** |
N/R: Not Recommend for infants and young children since they may have difficulty swallowing.
** Each capsule weighs 500 mg or 0.5 gram.