The standard dose of herbal extracts for an average adult is 6 to 10 grams per day. In treating acute or severe cases, the dosage may be increased up to 20 grams per day. Since not everybody 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 Zhong Yao Xue [Chinese 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 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. Every person is unique and must be treated as such. One must always remember to treat each patient as an individual, not as a chart!
*Suggestion for pediatric patients to improve compliance: Mix some honey into the herbal tea and have them drink it with a straw.
Age Recommended Daily Dosage Fine Granules Capsules
0 - 1 month
1/18
- 1/14 of adult dose 0.3
- 0.4 grams N/R*
1 - 6 months
1/14
- 1/7 of adult dose 0.4
- 0.9 grams N/R*
6 - 12 months 1/7
- 1/5 of adult dose 0.9
- 1.2 grams N/R*
1 - 2 years 1/5
- 1/4 of adult dose 1.2
- 1.5 grams N/R*
2 - 4 years 1/4
- 1/3 of adult dose 1.5
- 2.0 grams N/R*
4 - 6 years 1/3
- 2/5 of adult dose 2.0
- 2.4 grams N/R*
6 - 9 years 2/5
- 1/2 of adult dose 2.4
- 3.0 grams 5
- 6 capsules**
9 - 14 years 1/2
- 2/3 of adult dose 3.0
- 4.0 grams 6
- 8 capsules**
14 - 18 years 2/3
- full adult dose 4.0
- 6.0 grams 8
- 12 capsules**
18 - 60 years adult dose 6.0
grams 12
capsules**
60 years and over 3/4
or less of adult dose 4.5
- 6.0 grams 9
- 12 capsules**
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 Recommended for
infants and young children since they may have difficulty swallowing.
**
Each capsule weighs 500 mg or 0.5 gram.