Are There Any Side Effects From CBD Oil?
With all the buzz around CBD, you will find an abundance of posts on the benefits of this cannabinoid but what are the side effects of CBD oil? If any?
Although the current research on the health-enhancing properties of cannabis is in the preliminary stage, so much has been said about the benefits of CBD oil supplementation that nobody seems to bother asking about the potential side effects of CBD products.
Multiple studies have concluded that CBD is safe for human consumption – even WHO (World Health Organization) has stated that some of the potential side effects of CBD oil may be triggered by other medications, speaking of cross-using substances.
Quality Dependant CBD Side Effects
Let’s be honest, the quality and source of any health supplement can make or break one’s experience. CBD oil goes by the same token.
It’s possible to buy inferior, contaminated supplements all over the Internet, but simply because such products trigger undesired side effects, it doesn’t mean that the main active compound does so, too.
Most users who experienced any side effects of CBD oil attributed them to the poor quality of CBD. Impurities and badly cultivated hemp can hurt, too.
Is Quality Control to Blame?
Following the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp has become legal in all 50 U.S. states. CBD oil and its derivatives fall under the category of food supplements. As you might have guessed, this does not guarantee the highest quality-control standards.
Worse yet, the CBD oil industry is, well, very loosely regulated, to say the least. This, in turn, creates opportunities for fly-by-night companies who want to capitalize on the rapidly developing market.
Such retailers often use morally gray practices when it comes to sourcing and extracting methods. And we all know that one simply cannot take half measures when it comes to both the source of CBD and the extraction technique.
CBD oil is made to help people in a natural and safe way, so it has to be sourced from top-notch quality materials so that you can experience the full potential of this health supplement.
The Drug War Has Taken Its Toll
The war on drugs and the misguided crusade against hemp and marijuana has slowed down free and open research into those varieties of the cannabis plant. Now, with the progressing legalization moves, we may soon expect the research to thrive, as scientists are finally able to explore the full potential of phytocannabinoids.
Speaking of which, what do researchers say about the side effects of CBD oil?
Side Effects from CBD Studies
As we said, medical research on CBD is still in its infancy. Nonetheless, scientists agree that CBD oil is completely safe for human consumption. No severe side effects have been reported to date. Moreover, numerous studies have stated that CBD doesn’t cause toxicity. Even extremely large doses of CBD oil are not toxic to humans.
But hey, it doesn’t mean that there are no side effects of CBD oil at all. On the contrary, there are several mild side effects that can occur in some people. The list of such effects includes:
- Dry mouth;
- Lowered blood pressure;
- Sedation;
- Appetite Suppression;
- Drowsiness;
- Diarrhea.
Let’s take a closer look at the above inconveniences that may result from using CBD oil and why they even occur.
Drowsiness
If you get drowsy or sedated after using CBD oil, then you probably have taken too much Cannabidiol at once. While CBD can stave off daily sleepiness at low doses, higher amounts can have an adverse effect, making a person sleepy.
Appetite Suppression
As opposed to THC, CBD is capable of controlling food cravings. Studies show that Cannabidiol can effectively suppress one’s appetite. This is great news for those who want to lose some extra weight. On the other hand, athletes who want to gain more pounds – bodybuilders, for example – may find it a bit challenging to increase their intake of calories with consistent CBD supplementation.
All in all, whether this is a desired side effect or not is up for discussion.
Dry Mouth and Lowered Blood Pressure
These two side effects are common among all cannabis varieties. You can quickly deal with dry mouth simply by drinking lots of liquids that stimulate salivary glands to produce more saliva. You can either drink fruit juices or chew a sweet-and-sour gum – that’s it.
As for the lowered blood pressure, you can give yourself a quick shot of caffeine – a simple espresso should do the job.
Large Doses Don’t Cause Toxicity
Like we said, CBD is entirely safe for human consumption. In 2016, a team of researchers examining the possible benefits of Cannabidiol in reducing anxiety and the symptoms of psychosis reviewed numerous studies on CBD oil’s safety and published their findings in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. As the researchers noted, CBD has been proven safe in both animal and human trials.
The review found that daily doses of CBD ranging from 10 to 400mg are not capable of making any significant changes in neurological, clinical, or psychiatric exams. Further, the researchers concluded that even 700mg of CBD per day administered to patients with Huntington’s disease was not enough to trigger any toxicity.
Why Does CBD Quality Matter?
Keep in mind that the aforementioned studies have been conducted on small samples, which is not the golden standard of research. Moreover, each person can react a little bit differently to phytocannabinoids.
Fortunately, reports and testimonies from CBD users posted on popular online forums and niche groups that talk about CBD confirm those findings. Some users claim that it’s possible to get headaches from CBD oil, which is a bit strange since people often use CBD to alleviate the pain from migraines. However, these reports have one common denominator.
Namely, nearly all users who experienced headaches from using CBD oil not that they were gone once they switched their supplier. As mentioned, the quality of CBD is of the essence when it comes to the occurrence of possible side effects.
Quality Factors and CBD Side Effects
Unfortunately, the CBD market is stormed by fly-by-night brands who are tempted to earn quick cash on selling cheap CBD oil that is beyond any quality standards. This, in turn, makes it challenging for first-time CBD users to find a trusted manufacturer. If you don’t want to go through an expensive trial and error, you have to educate yourself prior to the purchase.
Here’s what you need to pay attention to when buying CBD oil.
Source
Hemp is a very responsive plant. In other words, it absorbs nearly all chemicals from the ground, such as mercury and lead. Thus, the growing conditions are a decisive factor when it comes to the quality of the final CBD products.
But worry not, here’s the good news. More and more companies decide to use the courtesy of domestic manufacturers. Hemp farmers are regulated by the 2014 Farm Bill and as such, they are subject to scrutinous quality-control procedures.
If you want to avoid the side effects coming from low-quality CBD oil, check where the company sources its Cannabidiol. If it uses hemp that is grown in the U.S., or in some decent European regions such as Scandinavia, you can give it a green light.
Purity
Ask any CBD aficionado and they will tell you right away that high-quality CBD oil should be free of any toxic chemicals, such as solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals.
To verify your manufacturer’s credibility, ask them about the extraction method they use to make their goods. CO2 extraction is currently the most favored technique among professionals, and additionally, the safest one.
However, the best way to check if your company can be trusted is to ask their team for third-party lab testing reports. The majority of decent CBD suppliers show these lab results on their official websites. If you can’t find them there, email the staff about the documents. If they have nothing to be ashamed of, they will send you the reports right away.
CBD Side Effects: Final Thoughts
All in all, researchers have concluded that CBD oil is generally safe for human consumption and there are few, if any, dangerous side effects.
While everybody reacts differently to cannabinoids – after all, our bodies have their own unique chemistry – it looks like the definitive majority of CBD users can take it without experiencing any undesired side effects. That is, of course, as long as they buy it from the right place.
Here at CBD sky, we supply you with the best quality of CBD oil possible. All our products are sourced from 100% organic hemp. We want you to have the best experience ever, which is why we test each batch in independent laboratories to make sure you always get the purest form of highly-concentrated CBD Oil.