Is CBD Oil Safe?
When people use substances, they don’t have full knowledge of them. It is very normal for them to wonder if using them is safe or not.
CBD, a Cannabidiol found in cannabis Sativa, is one of those substances whose full spectrum is not fully understood. Since it has now grown in demand due to its incredible health benefits, the same question can be asked of it.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the federal government are concerned about the safety of its people, which is why several laws are put in place to guide THC and CBD usage.
Even with CBD’s legality in most states, users still have many questions to ask regarding its safety and what kind of harm it can cause to the human body.
Questions like how much CBD dosage to take, how often it should be taken, and the adverse effects it has are being asked daily by CBD users and doctors as a whole.
In this article, we’ll be answering these questions one by one.
Keep reading!
Table of Contents
Is CBD Harmful To The Body?
According to the World Health Organization, CBD is considered to be safe. Medical studies and research also suggest that it also has many health benefits.
However, there are several effects of CBD on the body. Some factors determine the effects on user experiences.
These factors include the quantity consumed, how often it is consumed, how you consume it, the drugs you are taking with it, and your current health status, among other relevant factors.
It is recommended that a person takes a safe and effective daily dose of 5 mg for starts. The CBD dose can be increased over time if the desired effects aren’t forthcoming.
CBD can help relieve anxiety, stress, chronic pain, inflammation, treat Alzheimer s disease, and schizophrenia symptoms in the right dose.
However, taking high doses of CBD may cause unpleasant effects. These include nausea, abdominal upsets, dizziness, and fatigue.
But what dose of CBD can lead to these unpleasant outcomes?
This can be anywhere from 50 mg to 200mg all at once. Even though this dosage is considered too high, there is no scientific evidence to prove it is lethal to a person.
Although tests carried out on monkeys, who were administered such high doses proved to be fatal. Humans have not been administered doses of that amount during tests for the simple fact it is unethical.
However, some experts believe that even if a person takes such high amounts of CBD at once, the results won’t be fatal, but it would cause unpleasant side effects.
The concentration of CBD contained in the oil per bottle or per drop, and the quantity consumed is also a factor that could determine if it will be harmful to the body or not.
Commercially-sold hemp-derived Cannabidiol CBD product should state the concentration of CBD on the label. Some of these products state the whole bottle’s concentration, while some state the concentration per drop.
Knowing these concentrations can spare a user from overdosing on CBD oil, thus eliminating the risk of adverse effects.
That being said, Cannabidiol CBD is only harmful to the body if it is consumed in high concentrations. If taken modestly, it can only have beneficial effects on the body. Seek medical advice from your doctor before using.
Is It Possible To Overdose On CBD oil?
CBD is a non-toxic substance, but it does have some adverse effects if taken in high doses. Many people who use CBD may wonder if it is possible to overdose on CBD oil.
The answer is no and yes.
No, because you can’t take an amount of CBD that would be fatal. Up to date, there has been no record of anyone dying from taking too much CBD oil.
The answer is also yes because you can actually take more doses than required, intentionally or otherwise. Too many doses of CBD oil can, in fact, cause the user some inconveniences. Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are among the most common.
One study carried out by a group of researchers took a close look at regular CBD use. In this study, a 300mg dose of CBD was given to healthy and epileptic volunteers daily for 30 days.
At the end of the testing period, researchers found that the volunteers tolerated the high doses of CBD with zero toxicity signs and no severe effects.
In another study carried out in 2006, acute CBD administration effects on healthy volunteers were investigated.
After a 30-day testing period, it was discovered that administering a daily dose of 10-400mg of CBD did not trigger any toxicity whatsoever.
Another study in 2018 tried to determine the safety of CBD and tolerability among healthy adult volunteers. They were given doses between 1500-6000 mg of CBD. This, of course, is way beyond what any regular consumer will take.
Yet, these excess doses were tolerated very well by the participants. The side effects were few and of a common nature. These included regular nausea and diarrhea.
To be on the safe side, you need to know CBD’s dosage in oils or any other CBD product before you consume it.
What Is CBD Oil Good For?
Research suggests that hemp-derived CBD oil and CBD products, in general, have many health benefits when consumed in the right doses.
First of all, CBD oil can be used to treat anxiety disorders. Studies reveal that taking about 5 mg of CBD oil daily will help treat anxiety symptoms. It can also help the user relieve stress and help sleep better.
CBD oil can also be used to treat chronic pain and inflammation if applied topically. Many experts as well confirm it can treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
In more detail, here are some of the major benefits of CBD.
1. CBD May Relieve Pain
As far back as 2,900 BC, marijuana has been used to ease the pain. Modern research has discovered that several components of marijuana, including CBD, are responsible for these pain-relieving abilities.
In the human body, there is a system called the endocannabinoid system. It plays a big role in regulating several bodily functions. These include appetite, sleep, immune system response, and pain.
You might also interested in
Our bodies produce endocannabinoids, and they act as neurotransmitters that connect to cannabinoid receptors in our nervous systems.
A recent study found that CBD can be effective in treating chronic pain by impacting the endocannabinoid receptors’ activities. It also does this by reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters.
A study conducted in rats discovered that CBD injections reduced pain response to surgical incision. Another study in rats discovered that oral CBD treatment reduced sciatic inflammation and nerve pain greatly.
Another study found that a combination of CBD and THC can treat pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis in humans.
Sativex, which is an oral spray that combines both THC and CBD. It is approved in many countries for the treatment of pain related to multiple sclerosis.
One of several clinical trials involving 47 people who had multiple sclerosis took a look at the effects of taking Sativex for a month. The volunteers experienced improvements in pain, muscle spasms, and walking.
In another study, it was discovered that Sativex significantly improved pain related to movement in 58 people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
2. CBD May Reduce Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are common mental health issues that have adverse effects on a person’s overall well-being.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the largest contributor to disability around the world.
Pharmaceutical drugs are the common treatment for such disorders, but they have several side effects. These include drowsiness, agitation, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and headaches.
Drugs such as benzodiazepines could be addictive and can prompt substance abuse. Users will not have that problem with CBD.
CBD oil has shown great potential in the treatment of both anxiety and depression. This is why many individuals who suffer from these disorders are leaning towards using CBD for treatment.
One study carried out in Brazil administered oral CBD to 57 men 90 minutes before they partook in simulated public speaking.
The study revealed that 300mg of CBD was the most effective in reducing anxiety during their speeches.
Many animal studies have shown that CBD produced anti-depressant effects.
These antidepressant qualities are closely connected to the ability of CBD to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating social behavior and mood.
You might also interested in
3. CBD May Alleviate Cancer-Related Symptoms
Studies suggest that CBD can help a patient alleviate cancer-related symptoms. These symptoms include vomiting and pain.
There are other clinically prescribed medications a patient can use to handle these symptoms, but they are usually not as effective as CBD oil.
4. CBD May Help Reduce Acne
Statistics have shown that acne affects more than 9% of the world’s population. Genetics, bacteria, and overproduction of sebum are the main causes of acne.
Various research suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can treat acne by reducing sebum production.
Its full effects in acne treatment are yet to be properly understood, so more research is needed in that regard.
5. CBD May Have Neuroprotective Properties
Those with neurological disorders like Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease, and epilepsy forms can benefit from using CBD oil. Thanks to its ability to act on the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems.
Studies on how CBD can treat multiple sclerosis and epilepsy have shown that it can potentially treat both.
Although more research is needed to understand the full effects of CBD on neurological diseases, the results and potential have so far been promising.
6. CBD Might Help Heart Health
Recent studies have shown that CBD oil can be used to improve the heart and circulatory system’s function. This includes reducing blood pressure.
High blood pressure can put a person at risk of stroke, metabolic syndrome, and heart attack. Studies have indicated that CBD can help in treating high blood pressure.
A recent study that treated 9 healthy men with a single dose of 600 mg of CBD oil found that it reduced resting blood pressure compared to a placebo.
In the same study, stress tests were given to the same men. These stress tests were meant to increase their blood pressures, but the single dose of CBD caused them to experience just a little rise in blood pressure.
Is CBD Oil Addictive?
The effects of using CBD products are numerous.
However, it is not intoxicating. According to a World Health Organization report, careful human studies have proven that CBD does not have abuse potential.
This could be because CBD on its own is not intoxicating. As we all know, intoxicating substances like THC Cannabidiol, alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine are all intoxicating, making them very addictive.
Indeed, it isn’t only intoxicating substances that are addictive. For example, cigarettes aren’t intoxicating, but the nicotine additive in each stick makes it very addictive.
Different people have different reasons why they are addicted to certain substances, even if they aren’t known to have high abuse potential.
Generally, according to several years of testing on both humans and animals, CBD has no abuse potential, yet a person may be addicted to it.
Some studies are actually of the opinion that CBD can help those who are addicted to substances. This is not fully known, and tests are still being carried out to properly understand why CBD can help reduce a person’s addiction to a substance.
How Does CBD Make You Feel?
Many people aren’t too sure exactly how CBD makes them feel. The effect of CBD is really personal, depending on the individual.
Some people have said that CBD makes them feel sleepy, while others claim it gives them a high.
Many people, especially those who have never tried it before, assume it is intoxicating simply because it is derived from the cannabis plant. But that is not the case.
CBD does not make a user feel “high” and is not psychoactive in any way.
CBD oil may help you treat anxiety and reduce stress. It can give the user a relaxed feeling, although that is not the same as a high.
The way CBD makes one person feel may not be the same way it makes another person feel. This is because people react differently to CBD. Some people need higher doses of CBD than others before they can have that relaxed feeling.
For those suffering from inflammation and chronic pain, CBD can make them feel less pain. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
CBD doesn’t just have the potential to make a user feel good; it may also cause unwanted side effects if taken in high amounts.
Too much CBD may cause a user to feel nauseated and could prompt them to throw up. High doses of CBD could also make a person feel dizzy and fatigued.
Generally speaking, normal CBD doses can have “feel good” effects, but certainly not a “high.” On the other hand, high doses of CBD could make a person feel uncomfortable, thanks to nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Is CBD Legal？
CBD is one of several cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. It has no psychoactive effects, which is one of the major reasons it is legal in some states in the United States of America.
However, for CBD to be legal, it must contain less than 0.3 percent THC is an active ingredient in marijuana. CBD products containing more than this amount are illegal.
THC, another Cannabidiol found in cannabis plants, is intoxicating, and this is why it hasn’t yet been legalized in several states in America.
Generally, CBD is derived from hemp plants, while THC is derived from marijuana plants. Both CBD and THC are derived from the family of the cannabis plant.
Some cannabis-derived CBD products claim to be THC free, although that is not always the case, as many manufacturers are known to advertise falsely on their labels. During CBD extraction, some THC may be extracted along with it by accident. If the THC extracted doesn’t have less than 0 3 percent in the product, it is illegal.
To make sure you are buying legal CBD, you should buy CBD oil from only trusted sources. A trusted manufacturer of CBD oil would have undergone third-party testing to verify the CBD’s purity. The test results should also be indicated on the label of the bottle.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not carry out quality control checks on CBD products, and this is why there are so many falsely advertised and even illegal CBD products in the market.
While hemp-derived CBD oil may be legal in many states, marijuana-derived Tetrahydrocannabinol THC and marijuana remain illegal.
This is because marijuana has psychoactive effects on a user, and this can cause side effects the FDA considers to be potentially harmful.
THC’s side effects include panic, hallucinations, memory loss, and impaired brain functions. All these can cause a user to behave in an unsafe manner around other members of society.
Ethical manufacturers of CBD products do not include THC. All the same, you need to know what amount of CBD is contained in hemp-derived CBD products before taking them.
Products containing CBD include gummies and, of course, oils.
Extend reading
Conclusion
The WHO has certified CBD to be safe. Many tests have also proved that CBD, even though consumed in high amounts, is still safe.
As of today, there has been no record of anyone dying from taking too much CBD oil. This is not to say there are no side effects to taking too much CBD, but they are manageable.
All the same, you should read the label on the bottle of your CBD oil to know the right dosage to take daily. You should also consult with your doctor for medical advice before taking CBD oil if you are already on a specific medication.
By taking these measures, you can enjoy the many benefits of CBD oil.
You might also interested in
