CBD Side Effects
When it comes to CBD side effects, there is a lot of information from many different sources out there. You are likely reading this article after seeing varied information from other informational blogs and reviews. CBD for health improvement is a relatively new concept and there are many misconceptions and a lot of misinformation being spread by what appear to be reputable sources. As with any online source of knowledge, be sure to fact check information and claims to insure their validity (including those made in this article!). I’ll do my best to illustrate the differences between hemp (the plant that CBD products are actually derived from) and Marijuana, methods of CBD use, and the side effects associated with it. So without any further ado, here is a simplified rundown of everything you need to know about CBD, hemp oil, as well as their uses and side effects from us here at CBD Informative.
CBD Oil Side Effects
CBD oil, also known as hemp extract, is a product made from the hemp plant. Hemp is a member of the cannabis sativa family and appears very similar to typical marijuana grown for consumption. However hemp has some very different characteristics from the cannabis a medical marijuana patient would encounter. Both plants contain cannabinoids, the two primary ones being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Both cannabinoids have been linked to health benefits in humans and animals, in addition to the health benefits THC has an intoxicating side effect. Unlike most marijuana, hemp has extremely low (or no) levels of tetrahydrocannabinol. In fact to be considered hemp rather than marijuana the plant must contain no more that 0.3% THC while marijuana plants for consumption of THC contain anywhere from 15% to 40%. Hemp has been used for years and years as a sustainable crop with thousands of uses. In fact, you’ve probably used hemp without even knowing it in products like paper, clothing, soaps and lotions, bug repellant, biofuel, sustainable plastics, and even natural detergents. While research on the long term health effects of CBD are still being conducted, it is generally regarded by scientists as safe. Too much of anything is a bad thing and people have reported that consuming exorbitant amounts of CBD can result in upset stomach. Other potential side effects, even less common than upset stomach include dry mouth. While a small minority of people have reported an upset stomach from large doses, it is relatively imposible to consume enough CBD to overdose and most individuals had no response to large amounts of CBD. Additionally, those who reported stomach problems after CBD consumption took much more than the recommended and averaged dose. For most, CBD results in no negative side effects, and for many, appropriate doses of CBD have shown to improve a multitude of health aspects. Below are a few of these positive health side effects.
Decreased Anxiety/Depression
Some CBD users do so solely for reduced anxiety or for combatting depression as it has been linked with those side effect in many users. While long term studies have not been conducted on these side effects, CBD has been shown to be linked with reduced physical and mental symptoms of anxiety. It is believed to stem from CBD’s interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain. CBD has been shown to reduce social anxiety. A study conducted on public speaking showed reduced levels of stress while public speaking when consuming CBD beforehand.
Improved Sleep/Combating Sleep Problems
CBD has been shown to improve sleep quality and daytime alertness (or lack of sleepiness during the day due to improved sleep at night). Many believe this is due to the anxiety reduction mentioned above.
CBD use has shown to reduce REM disorder (typically a condition associated with Parkinson’s disease) which results in physical activity or response to stimuli in our dreams. During REM, the body is paralyzed for the most par (called REM atonia) so as not to disturb sleep during the REM cycle. REM disorder disrupts the REM cycle and results in poor sleep quality. CBD also may help with reduction of REM abnormalities linked with PTSD.
Pain Management
CBD is often used to combat chronic pain like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, and much more. CBD has also been linked with reduction in insomnia due to pain.
While these are the primary side effects that have been linked with CBD use, there are many other side effects in early stages of study. That being said, many people attest to the proficiency of CBD in aiding the symptoms listed below.
- Athlete recovery
- Relaxation
- Improved focus/awareness
- Reducing risk of diabetes/Obesity
- Improvement of cholesterol Levels
- Reduced risk of heart Disease
- Reduced risk of cancer
- Long-term brain health/performance
- Long-term bone health/growth/healing
- Improved skin health
- Anti-inflammation
- Improving moods
- Combating opioid withdrawal
- Combating Epilepsy
Hemp Oil Side Effects
While sometimes used interchangeably, hemp oil is very different from any kind of CBD oil or hemp extract you will find. While CBD oils are made from the plant which contains high levels of CBD and very low levels of THC, hemp oil is made from hemp seeds which contain almost immeasurable amounts THC and CBD which most of the positive health benefits are linked too. Hemp oil’s most popular use is as a cooking substitute for other cooking fats or oils like butter or olive oil. Hemp oil is a great protein supplement and a healthy alternative for cooking. While most people don’t report any side effects from the consumption of hemp oil, those who regularly experience gastrointestinal problems my see an increase in such issues or the severity thereof. The other primary side effect associated with hemp oil is moisturization upon topical application. For that very reason hemp oil is used in a lot of popular soaps and lotions. Even though it has yet to be linked through clinical trials, some people also believe hemp oil can be effective in treating atopic dermatitis.
CBD Side Effects Due To Interaction
An area of potential concern in regards to CBD is in respect to interaction with other supplements or medications. Interactions may result in reduced effectiveness in regards to symptom treatment from the medication and or the CBD. In regards to supplements, we recommend you use caution when combining CBD with any kind of sleep supplement (melatonin, valerian, Jamaican dogwood, etc.). Combining any of these sleep supplements and CBD can result in excessive drowsiness. The medications that have been noted to interact with CBD are sedative medications and medications that are broke down and processed by the liver. We recommend you consult your physician about potential interactions between CBD and your medication before starting to use CBD products.
