Side Effects of CBD [Everything You Need to Know]
Cannabidiol, CBD, is a chemical
compound extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Cannabis Sativa includes
hemp and/or marijuana.
CBD occurs naturally and is used in edibles or oils to calm
and relax the user. CBD alone is not psychoactive. You will not experience any
side effects like feeling altered, sedated, or euphoric.
The psychoactive effects of marijuana are caused exclusively
by THC. THC and CBD are two
different cannabinoids, both found in cannabis sativa. Hemp is high in CBD
but low in THC. Marijuana is the opposite, low in CBD but a high level of THC.
This, along with issues of legality, is why most CBD is
extracted more commonly from the hemp plant and not marijuana.
It is worth noting; some people react differently to CBD. To
be safe, if you are taking CBD for the first time, do it under supervision.
There are various
CBD products available in the market. This ranges from food, drugs, dietary
supplements, health products for animals, and cosmetics. People with insomnia,
anxiety, and chronic pain, can use these products.
It’s important to understand the side effects and benefits
of CBD, so let’s dive in.
Benefits of Using CBD
Using CBD oil has many
benefits.
These include reducing acne, relieving chronic pain,
improving heart health, calming anxiety, reducing depression, reducing
cancer-related symptoms, positively impacting the brain, antioxidant
properties, and reducing epileptic seizures.
Reduce Acne
Acne is caused by various factors such as underlying
inflammation, genetics, sebum overproduction, and genetics. Many people across
the planet struggle with acne.
CBD has properties that can reduce sebum production. It also
contains anti-inflammatory properties, which can help treat acne. Different
studies have shown that CBD is a safe
and effective way to treat acne.
Relieve Chronic Pain
Cannabis has been used medicinally worldwide since roughly
2900 BC. Research suggests that CBD is one of the most potent pain
relieving cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
Recent studies show that when used independently, CBD reduces
pain. Using CBD may also ease peripheral neuropathy.
Benefit Heart Health
Studies show that CBD has benefits to the circulatory system
and the heart, including the ability to lower high blood pressure.
High blood pressure presents many health risks, including
metabolic syndrome, stroke, and heart attack.
Research suggests that the anxiety and stress-reducing
properties CBD contains are what make it help lower high blood pressure.
Calm Anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health problem that can take a harsh
toll on an individual's well-being and health. CBD products have been found
to reduce anxiety in users.
The pharmaceutical drugs used to treat anxiety have several
side effects such as insomnia, agitation, drowsiness, headaches, and sexual
dysfunction. Some medication may even lead to addiction, hence causing
substance abuse.
CBD oil is a natural and safe approach, and there is no risk
of a user abusing it.
Reduce Cancer Related Symptoms
CBD may reduce
cancer treatments' side effects such as vomiting, pain, and nausea, and may
also reduce cancer-related symptoms.
Although, with cancer pain relief, CBD is typically combined
with a small amount of THC. Studies showed that patients who used these two
compounds experienced pain relief, compared to the patients who only used
cancer pain medication.
This is not to discredit cancer pain medication. It is just
that sometimes they can be combined with CBD for maximum relief.
Reduce Epileptic Seizures
The FDA approved Epidiolex in 2018 as the first
pharmaceutical CBD medication.
Epidiolex is used to treat seizures in two severe and rare
epilepsy types, namely, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which
occurs in people who are 2years or older.
Clinical trials showed that when people with this syndrome
combined other seizure medication with Epidiolex, they had fewer seizures.
It has not yet been established if CBD can help people with
other forms of epilepsy.
Other CBD Effects
CBD has several other potential
benefits other than the ones listed above. More study is needed to prove
this, but CBD is thought to provide health benefits like diabetes prevention,
antipsychotic effects, anti-tumor effects, and substance abuse treatment.
Negative Side Effects of CBD
Like everything else, CBD has its side effects, although
they occur very rarely. When side effects do occur, they are typically very
mild.
Also, note that since CBD supplements come in different
forms such as vapors, tinctures,
oils, and gummies, the absorbed amount varies. This plays a role in the kind of
side effects, if any, a person may experience.
It is advisable that pregnant women not use CBD since it may
affect the baby's development.
The common side effects of CBD include dry mouth, diarrhea,
fatigue, drowsiness, nausea, interaction with other drugs, lightheadedness, and
appetite loss.
Below are some of these side effects discussed in detail.
Nausea
In rare cases, some people may experience nausea after
ingesting CBD supplements. This is dependent on the amount of CBD the person
has ingested and how sensitive they are to CBD.
Interference with Other Drugs
If you are on other medication, it would be best to consult
your doctor before taking CBD as it may interfere with your medication.
CBD can interact with your medication to decrease the
effectiveness or increase the toxicity of the medication. So only take CBD
after your doctor has assured you it will not affect the medication you are
taking.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth or cottonmouth is a potential side effect of CBD.
It can also cause your eyes to feel dry.
This is a more common side effect of THC, but it can also
occur with CBD.
Diarrhea
You may experience liver problems or diarrhea while using
CBD. However, this depends on an individual's medical history and their
sensitivity.
Therefore, it is important to monitor your intake.
CBD Long Term Side Effects
Thus far there have been no documented long term side
effects of regular doses of CBD. This natural plant remedy has been found to
have no addictive properties.
Due to the way CBD interacts with your receptors, you are
unlikely to build up a tolerance to CBD. This means increasing dosages will not
be necessary over time.
While more long term scientific research is needed, the data
so far suggests CBD is safe for long term use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of CBD have been shown to
outweigh the risk of side effects.
Not everyone will experience the stated side effects, and
should one experience them, they are mild and manageable, even in high doses.
In a low
dosage of CBD, side effects are even less likely.
People tend to use CBD for the benefits stated above, like,
pain relief, relaxation, and for its calming nature.
However, remember that the FDA has not regulated CBD, except
for Epidiolex. Therefore, it is important to find a trustworthy retailer that can help you
determine a safe and effective starting dose.
Ensure that when you get CBD, it has been tested by a third
party and is from a reputable source with a large number of customer reviews.
This will ensure that the content in the CBD is safe and reliable.
CBD should be grown organically, be free of heavy metals and
pesticides. It is important to do your research and consult a doctor on whether
it is safe for you to use CBD.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. CBD is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any
particular ailments. We recommend consulting a qualified physician before
starting a new CBD regiment.
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