CBD Health

CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, is most commonly produced as CBD Oil and made by mixing the CBD oil extract from the cannabis sativa plant with an inert carrier oil such as hemp oil. It is widely touted as having numerous therapeutic benefits for the body and mind from improving sleep, minimising the effects of chronic pain and helping to alleviate anxiety. Whilst CBD Oil Benefits are greatly welcomed, it must be acknowledged that they come with a set of potential side effects. Appropriate dosing will typically mitigate these side effects but we shall proceed with looking into what might be experienced

Side Effects

There have been a number of different side effects associated with CBD oil use. The most common tend to be dry mouth, light headedness, low blood pressure and drowsiness. These side effects tend to be mild but any discomfort should naturally be accompanied with a lower dose or discontinuation. Women who are breastfeeding or are pregnant are advised to avoid using CBD oil as a precaution against any contaminants that might be present in the products. Whilst their presence is severely unlikely, it is best not to risk any harm to the infant or unborn child.

Other side effects that you might need to be cautious of whilst using CBD oil are anxiety, changes in appetite, changes in mood, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. Everyone will have a different experience when using CBD oil and so monitoring any changes to your body’s function is an important part of the process.

There have also been some reported concerns for people with eye issues. A study from 2018 found that people suffering with glaucoma could have an adverse reaction to CBD oil, resulting in an increase in pressure inside the eye. Some participants also reported having an increase in the dryness of their eyes which was a source of discomfort.

CBD oil can also have an impact on how other medications interact with the body. CBD can impact on the function of the enzyme cytochrome P450, which is produced in the liver. Cytochrome P450 is responsible for breaking down specific drugs into smaller quantities so they can be more readily absorbed by cells. As CBD can inhibit the function of cytochrome P450, the efficacy of other pharmaceuticals can be impacted. It is advisable not to combine CBD with other drugs for this reason although we also suggest seeking advice from your medical professional about such outcomes.

Rare Occurrences

In rare circumstances, which are related to an extremely high dose, liver function can be severely impaired by CBD oil use. A study in mice found that very high doses caused heightened liver toxicity, with swelling and inflammation prevalent. Whilst it might provide reason to exercise caution around CBD use, it must be noted that the experiment administered a dose of up to ten times more than would be recommended for a human to take. It is very unlikely that such prominent side effects would be experienced if dosing was made appropriately.

Given these occurrences, albeit they happen infrequently, if you are suffering with liver disease or abnormal liver function, caution should be taken with any CBD oil usage. It should also be noted that CBD oil has helped play a part in regulating a healthy liver function, by helping to regulate endocannabinoid production which is responsible for helping the body achieve homeostasis. It has also been found to assist people with liver cancer, deterring the spread of tumour cells and helping to preserve healthy cells.

There are a number of side effects to watch out for when using CBD oil. They can be properly monitored by regulating your dose and keeping it at appropriate levels. Whilst in extreme circumstances, it can negatively impact liver function, it is also found to be useful in helping people with healthy livers and provide desirable outcomes in people with liver cancer. Moderation is key!

There are plenty of CBD Oil Benefits that are well documented. Alleviating anxiety, soothing chronic pain symptoms, easing epileptic seizures and improving sleep disturbance are a few of the positive outcomes that can be obtained through the therapeutic use of CBD oil. We’re also going to investigate whether CBD can be used to help with symptoms of fever.

Fever

Suffering from a fever is something that virtually everyone is acquainted with. Characterised by an increase in body temperature, a fever is experienced when the body’s temperature exceeds the normal range of approximately 36-37 degrees celsius. Symptoms of fever include a feeling of weakness and physical discomfort, sweating, headaches, irritability, muscle aches and chills. The body will go into this state when it is attempting to fight an infection. Controlled by the hypothalamus, the body’s temperature will increase when it senses infection as a means of trying to fight it off.

Improving Symptoms

CBD as been found to display an anti-inflammatory response. In this sense, it can help to improve the symptoms of a person’s fever if it has been caused by inflammation. The CBD acts by triggering a response in the body’s endocannabinoid system, helping to minimise instances of inflammation. The CBD can help the body to relax, reduce aches and pains associated with the fever. The use of CBD can also result in an improved immune response. Maintaining a healthy immune system can help to prevent fevers occurring in the first place.

Immune Response

Expanding on the impact that CBD has on the immune system is an important element to understanding how it can improve the body’s interactions with fever. CBD is known to have strong anti-inflammatory antibacterial and antiviral properties. Acknowledging that fever is typically related to one of these three areas, we can begin to understand that CBD can assist in soothing symptoms. CBD’s improvement to your mood and helping to enhance calm are also going to be beneficial in combating the symptoms of fever, allowing you to rest more effectively. CBD is not going to defeat the fever on its own but it is going to give your body a boost to its immune system to help in the fight.

CBD gives the body a spike in improving the immune system’s response. The next time you are feeling a little under the weather, it might be an opportunity to see how CBD can improve your symptoms. It could be the kick start your body needs to help prevent that cold, flu or fever from becoming worse

CBD Oil is becoming a more prevalent alternative therapeutic product for a number of ailments from alleviating anxiety to assisting with disturbed sleep to providing relief from chronic pain. While there are plenty of questions surrounding CBD Oil Benefits, it is then only natural that questions will arise around potential side effects. Can I consume alcohol whilst taking CBD oil? How does CBD oil interact with other medications? Will CBD oil make me high? And another common question is does CBD oil cause liver damage?

Where Does this Question Arise From?

The curiosity surrounding CBD oil and liver damage primarily arose from a study that was conducted on mice. The effects of CBD consumption were tested on these mice with liver function coming under scrutiny during the study. Results indicated that mice that were on a very high dose of CBD were found to experience liver toxicity above safe levels. Now whilst this might seem alarming, it must be noted that the dose that they were taking (200mg per kilo of bodyweight) far exceeds the dose that would be recommended for human consumption. It is similarly observed that consuming excessive amounts of ibuprofen or paracetamol can have negative consequences so it is no surprise that it is possible to exceed what is necessary to experience a therapeutic benefit and cause harm to yourself.

Dosing Appropriately

Noting these test results, it’s obvious that excessive consumption can lead to negative consequences. Finding the right dose to soothe the ailments you’re looking to alleviate is necessary to avoid these complications. Typically, a dose of between 0.5mg/kg to 20mg/kg each day is going to avoid any negative effects from CBD oil consumption. Sometimes higher doses can be appropriate to help with some conditions but they can be incrementally increased so as to condition the body to the higher dose, helping to mitigate any side effects.

Other Liver Impacts

There needs to be a level of awareness surrounding potential complications that CBD oil can cause the liver. The liver is responsible for producing enzymes called cytochrome P450. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down specific drugs to smaller quantities, helping cells to absorb them and eliminate them properly. Although at present, effects appear to be minimal, CBD can inhibit the function of cytochrome P450, meaning that it might inhibit the efficacy of other pharmaceutical medications. It would be wise to consult your medical professional about how the prescription medication interacts with grapefruit, as it has a similar impact on cytochrome P450 as CBD.

At the end of the day, caution needs to be taken as there can be such a thing as too much of a good thing. Dosing CBD oil appropriately is going to ensure that liver function is not going to be adversely impacted. Trial and error might be required to find the dose that best works for you, but starting off within the safe parameters of consumption and increasing incrementally is going to provide you with the safest route forward with CBD oil usage.

As the popularity of CBD grows amongst the general population, it is natural that many questions will arise surrounding its efficacy when combined with other drugs or medications. Alcohol, being the most popular social drug, is typically the most concerning item people want to know about combining with CBD. Primarily, can you still drink alcohol whilst using CBD oil.

Alcohol and CBD Oil in Isolation

Firstly, let us review how these products impact the body in isolation. Alcohol is well known to be a depressant drug that removes a person’s inhibitions. It interacts with our central nervous systems, impacting our mood, speech and co-ordination. It is very easy to become dehydrated whilst drinking alcohol as it has a diuretic effect on the body.

CBD works a little more subtly on the body. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system which is responsible for a number of different biological functions. These include sleep, immune function, homeostasis and movement. It has also shown to interact with molecular targets outside of the endocannabinoid system as well. There are plenty of purported CBD Oil Benefits known to the wider community.

Combining CBD Oil and Alcohol

There has yet to be sufficient research undertaken to fully determine how these two substances interact with one another. There have been some preclinical investigations where conclusions can be drawn. The Journal of Psychopharmacology has found that there is very little difference in subjects that had taken a combination of alcohol and CBD with those that taken just alcohol. Based on these limited findings, it is a fair assumption to make that alcohol is still going to affect you the same way it would if you had not consumed any CBD products. The likelihood that the CBD can mitigate the effects of alcohol in any way is still very unclear.

It is fairly likely that combining both products will be safe for you. Of course, it is up to every individual to determine what amount of alcohol is appropriate for their circumstances and knowing that CBD is for therapeutic use, it should also be consumed appropriately. Knowing the likely safety of the two substances used in combination with one another has promoted some interesting experiments from some companies.

CBD Beer?

As consumers are constantly on the lookout for the next super herbal treatment, alcohol companies are keeping their ears close to the ground for potential marketing opportunities. There are a number of breweries that are experimenting with combining CBD with their beer to try and create a niche market for themselves amongst the health and wellness communities. CBD infused beer and CBD infused cocktails are appearing on brewery and bar menus across the United States, marketing as an easy way to incorporate CBD into your routine. Whilst this combo is still in its infancy, it is apparent that the influence of CBD is being explored by more than just a few.

The long and short of the situation is that there is still not sufficient information available to determine how alcohol and CBD interact with one another. Whilst it would appear that combining them is likely to be safe, as is evidenced by the CBD infused alcoholic beverages becoming more popular and available, everyone should proceed with caution when administering each substance. Everything in moderation!

You have probably heard of the benefits of CBD Oil but a question that is often asked is whether CBD Oil is Addictive.

The short answer is a resounding no. CBD Oil is not addictive.

According to the World Health Organisation:

“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

We could have told you something similar from our anecdotal experience. After all Drug addiction is defined as a compulsive need to use a substance and an inability to stop using it despite negative consequences and it certainly doesn’t match our experience with CBD Oil.

The WHO referenced a March 2017 study published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence which examined details of a previous study where researchers administered various oral dosages of CBD to frequent marijuana users alone and in combination with smoked marijuana. The researchers determined that CBD had as much likelihood for abuse as the placebo in this study.

So where does the concern come from?

Quite simply people conflate CBD oil and marijuana use. The difference between the 2 products is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high associated with marijuana. Once consumed THC travels to the brain via the bloodstream and affects specific areas of the brain that relate to pleasure, movement, memory and thought. It does so by attaching to the endocannabinoid receptors.

It is this psychoactive property that causes Marijuana addiction. Substances that lead to addiction affect the pleasure centres of the brain, often making it so that people need to consume a substance to avoid experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. In many cases, people may also need to use more and more of a drug in order to continue experiencing the same euphoric effects that they initially felt.

Having said that, it does not mean marijuana use will automatically cause addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that 30% of people who use marijuana will develop problems with its use, known as marijuana use disorder.

If it’s not additive is CBD Oil Habit Forming?

Well yes and no. Habit forming traditionally refers to habits created in the search for pleasure. The difference with addiction is the ability to stop and the lack of withdrawal effects. CBD Oil doesn’t chase pleasure but it does have many effects that reduce negative physical conditions such as pain, sleep issues or anxiety. As a result many people use CBD oil regularly to manage these issues which is definitely habit forming but not in a negative sense.

The Great Irony of CBD Oil Addiction

Not only is CDB Oil not addictive it has been clinically proven to be an excellent option to help reduce addiction in other substances.
A 2015 review looked at 14 studies and found that

CBD may have therapeutic properties on opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addiction, and some preliminary data suggest that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans.

In a 2013 report researches administered CBD to people experiencing cannabis withdrawal syndrome over a 10 day period which resulted in reduced symptoms.

A 2010 study examined a total of 94 cannabis users to see what role CBD-to-THC ratios played in reinforcing the effects of drugs and implicit attentional bias to drug stimuli. Compared with smokers of low-CBD strains, the study found that smokers of high-CBD strains showed reduced attentional bias to drug and food stimuli, as well as lower self-rated liking of cannabis stimuli. The research team concluded that “CBD has potential as a treatment for cannabis dependence” and could offer a potential treatment for other addictive disorders.

Another study in 2013 found CBD as effective in reducing tobacco cigarette consumption. Observing a total of 24 tobacco smokers, researchers gave half of the subjects an inhaler of CBD and the other half a placebo, instructing them to use the inhaler when they felt the need to smoke. Over a week long period, those treated with CBD reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by 40%, while those with the placebo showed no notable difference.

CBD Oil is becoming increasingly popular as it has a wide range of benefits associated with it. Cannabidiol, aka CBD, is a chemical compound that can be extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. CBD can be applied topically as a cream or oil, consumed in an edible format using CBD oil or even inhaled through smoke. It interacts with neuroreceptors in the endocannabinoid system which leads to cells sending signals to one another to help regulate mood, movement, immune system and homeostasis. CBD is most commonly extracted in oil form and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil for oral consumption.

Anxiety

So where do the benefits of CBD Oil consumption lie? Studies have been conducted to test for a wide range of potential benefits with results showing promising outcomes. The first area where CBD Oil can be beneficial is to treat anxiety. It produces a calming effect which is possibly the most popular reason for its use. Studies have shown that consuming CBD Oil can have an anxiety reducing effect on people who were required to undergo a public speaking test. Those who took the CBD oil before giving their speeches were less anxious and more calm than those given a placebo.

Epilepsy Treatment

CBD oil has been found to help with the treatment of epileptic seizures. Patients with one of two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, were given CBD oil and found to have a reduction in the number of seizures, significantly improving their quality of life.

PTSD

Studies have also been done on people suffering with post traumatic stress disorder. Combining CBD oil consumption with traditional therapy methods has shown to decrease the anxiety associated with PTSD. It was noted that it is important to combine the two treatment options and not selecting CBD oil in isolation as a therapy. Other tests have incorporated THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the mind altering element of cannabis and CBD to similar anxiety reducing effect.

Opioid Addiction

As a treatment for opioid addiction, CBD oil has been found to have beneficial outcomes. Studies have shown that a reduction in withdrawal anxiety, cravings, salivary cortisol levels and resting heart rate are achievable for people with heroin addiction. There were no serious adverse affects found for these subjects.

Nerve Health

CBD oil has found to alleviate the symptoms associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This disease causes a deterioration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a loss of muscle control. In combination with THC, CBD is found to improve the symptoms of those suffering from a high muscle spasticity due to ALS. The satisfaction of treatment was also noted by those only suffering mild or moderate levels of muscle spasticity.

Pain Reduction

As a relief of unmanageable pain, CBD oil has been found to be of beneficial use to sufferers. Non cancer, chronic pain sufferers have noted they have experienced significant reductions in intense, sharp pains and cold itchy sensations, particularly when the CBD oil was applied topically as an ointment. Topical CBD oil has the advantage of being more localised than if ingested, potentially making effects more pronounced.

Diabetics

CBD oil has also found to be useful in easing diabetic complications. CBD oil has shown to reduce the effects of high glucose levels on other cells in the body. It has been found to decrease the levels of resistin in the body which is causes a resistance to insulin. It has also shown to increase levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide which is responsible for ensuring sufficient insulin is released from digested food. Such results have indicated that CBD oil could be a natural way to assist the body to regulate insulin related hormone levels.

Neurological Disease

CBD oil has been useful in protecting against neurological disease. These studies have indicated that CBD oil has an anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties, offering protection against pathological disorders. Disorders which have shown beneficial outcomes to CBD oil use include Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Arthritis

CBD oil has also been noted to be an inhibitor of arthritis symptoms. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were found to have improved sleep, reduced pain while moving and while at rest in studies conducted on CBD oil treatment. It was also found to have an ability to suppress disease activity.

Naturally, there are questions that arise from CBD oil use and its application. Common questions are does CBD oil have side effects? Can I drink alcohol and use CBD oil? Is CBD oil addictive? Does CBD oil cause liver damage? Can CBD oil be used to treat fever? Given, CBD oil might have some minor side effects, but the benefits that it offers make it a useful addition to your overall health.

CBD oil is a highly beneficial treatment for a range of ailments, from mild to severe. Maybe it is time to see how it can improve your quality of life!?