Is CBD oil safe?
Cannabidiol is a natural remedy for many common health concerns and a popular general health and wellbeing supplement. In recent times, it has gained a lot of attention in the medical, health and wellness world, with a number of clinical research studies confirming its ability to provide relief from common ailments such as chronic pain and anxiety. But is CBD oil safe?
Is CBD oil safe and how is it different from marijuana?
Cannabidiol, or CBD as it is also known, is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is extracted from the hemp, or cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. When the cannabidiol is in oil form, it is known as CBD oil. There are over 100 natural compounds found in the cannabis plant, with CBD being the second most prevalent.
Is CBD oil safe? Will it cause a “high” or dependency?
Alright, so it’s natural, but is CBD oil safe? Well, the hemp plant and marijuana plant are “cousins” of sorts. Whilst CBD is a critical component of medical marijuana, CBD itself does not cause any sort of “high”. The psychoactive effects that are associated with marijuana use are due to the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the plant. In contrast, the hemp plant from which CBD oil is extracted, contains only negligible amounts of THC, making it very unlikely to cause any sort of “high”.
In a report by the World Health Organization1: “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.” So from this perspective, is CBD oil safe? Yes, it is.
All of Transcending Organics’ CBD oil products undergo stringent filtration procedures and quality control testing to ensure that there is no THC in the final product. This ensures that our CBD is lawful, that it does not produce any psychoactive effects and that it does not have any addictive/dependency effects on the consumer.
Is CBD oil safe? Are there any side effects of taking it?
Generally, CBD oil is safe and well-tolerated by most people. Whilst it is generally considered to be very safe, it is possible that it may cause side effects in some people. Some side effects that have been observed in clinical studies involving CBD include diarrhoea, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue and changes in appetite2. CBD is known to interact with some medications3, so it is best to have a discussion with your trusted health professional prior to taking CBD oil if you are currently on any medications. This is particularly important if you are on medications that are labelled with a “grapefruit warning”; both CBD and grapefruit interfere with cytochromes P4502 (these are a group of enzymes that are critical for proper drug metabolism).
So what is the bottom line? Is CBD oil safe?
CBD oil has been, and continues to be, the subject of a number of scientific research studies for its potential role in easing the symptoms of many common health problems. Although there is still much to be discovered about the applications and efficacy of CBD oil, results from recent studies suggest that CBD oil is a safe and powerful treatment for many health issues.
References
1World Health Organization, (2017), CANNABIDIOL (CBD) Pre-Review Report, [https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf] accessed 20/11/2020.
2Iffland, K., Grotenhermen, F., (2017), An update on safety and side effects of cannabidiol: A review of clinical data and relevant animal studies, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/] accessed 20/11/2020.
3Welty, T. E., Luebke, A., Gidal, B. E., (2014), Cannabidiol: Promise and Pitfalls, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4189631/] accessed 20/11/2020.