Wait! Curious about blending CBD and alcohol? I wouldn’t recommend that!
Highlights
⦁ There is limited evidence to prove the consequences of mixing CBD and alcohol.
⦁ Food and Drug Administration warns the public to avoid mixing CBD with alcohol as it may cause sedation. However, few studies contradict the statement.
⦁ Few studies show that CBD usage reduces alcohol disorders by reducing inflammation, liver damage, and alcohol addiction.
Cannabidiol is gaining popularity among Americans, and more people are using it for natural treatments as studies show it has potential health benefits, including sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.
Although, there is still disagreement among experts over the potency of CBD. It states that mixing CBD with alcohol may or may not be harmful. The same applies to other substances like weed, hash, etc.
Have you started taking CBD with alcohol and want to know what happens when we mix CBD and alcohol together? This article is for you!
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a hemp-derived chemical that may aid with anxiety, inflammation, pain, and other symptoms. CBD derives from hemp and cannabis sativa plants, the latter of which includes THC. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, has intoxicating properties.
CBD is available over the counter in various forms, including lotions, creams, liquids, gummies, dried flowers, oils, and tinctures.
Always look for CBD with a THC content of less than 0.03%. These items must be of a reputable brand for breathing and feeding. CBD vaping works considerably faster than CBD ingesting.
What happens when you mix CBD with alcohol?
When people argue that mixing alcohol and CBD does not harm, there is a specific argument- CBD is alcohol soluble. For herbal supplements, ethanol extraction is the best method.
However, alcohol evaporates once the active compound separates from the plant extract containing terpenes, cannabidiol, and other hemp extracts.
People know that some things may harm you. There is a good reason why the FDA warns you to mix CBD and alcohol.
CBD improves the endocannabinoid system. The ECS is the core system that maintains a network between bodily functions and biological processes like pain, mood swings, memory, reproduction, immune system, neurological functions, body temperature, appetite, and many more.
The ECS creates natural CBD chemicals in the body for improved bodily function. When the ECS is inadequate, there are imbalances in the system and organs, and CBD supplementations help it to correct.
CBD oils and gummies aid in improving endocannabinoid efficiency. As more endocannabinoids form via ECS, the body can achieve equilibrium.
Alcohol reverses the state of homeostasis by causing endocannabinoid deficiencies.
Is it safe to consume them together?
We all know alcohol is a potent sedative. People drink for enjoyment and relaxation. However, this short-term benefit has various side effects. Alcohol addiction may ruin your physical and mental health. It may also damage organs and also ruin your social image.
When you mix alcohol with CBD, it damages the ECS. Some studies even conclude that a small dose of alcohol with high CBD induced strong sedation and anxiety reduction.
On the contrary, a study on CBD efficacy conducted on 75 people stated that it helped with anxiety decrease and improved sleep patterns. In a study, mixing 1 gram of alcohol on every 2.2 pounds of body weight with a single dose of 200 mg CBD resulted in better motor performance. It is not, however, the finest study because it was performed on a limited scale and employed a substantial quantity of CBD that individuals take daily.
Because there are few studies, it is best to avoid combining the two powerful substances.
Harmful Effects on mind and body:
Because there has been insufficient study on this issue, studies suggest that the effects of CBD and alcohol on the human body are inconsistent. We don’t know if it’s healthy or harmful, but here are some effects.
CBD may increase intoxication
CBD and alcohol both relax the mind by acting as nervous system depressants. When you take both, it increases alcohol-induced fatigue and drowsiness. You feel lethargic and psychotic.
A 1979 clinical trial published in Psychopharmacology states that an alcohol and CBD combination impairs motor functions and distorts time perception.
We all know how people behave when they are drunk. How the mood and behavior of a person change. Similarly, CBD decreases anxiety, similar to alcohol. But CBD gets you drunk faster.
CBD may help in alcohol-related nausea
CBD may be beneficial if you are drinking and experiencing nausea or vomiting. It is when your body recognizes that you have overfilled your stomach and needs purging.
According to a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology 2001, CBD has anti-emetic properties.
However, while this may appear to be a good solution, it may not be since you are preventing your body from clearing poison.
CBD may lower Blood Alcohol Levels
Blood alcohol concentration determines how beery you are, but it depends on the individual tolerance. As the concentration increases, there is a chance of poisoning.
Sometimes, mixing CBD and alcohol can be helpful, especially here.
A 1979 research on ten subjects found that taking 200 mg of CBD lowered blood alcohol levels. However, it is based on a tiny sample and thus cannot be considered conclusive.
Alcohol and CBD together may reduce blood pressure.
High blood pressure is bad, but low blood pressure is risky.
Cannabis and alcohol are vasodilators. Hence, they relax and open blood vessels. This is why marijuana is beneficial for glaucoma.
Although, alcohol is not a medicine. So, choose wisely.
CBD may protect against alcohol damage
No medicine protects against alcohol damage. And if this study is true, it may bring a revolution in the medical industry.
A 2013 rodent study published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior experimented on rats with alcohol with neurological damage. When treated with CBD, it showed an improvement of 49% less brain cell loss.
A 2014 Free Radical Biology and Medicine study revealed that CBD could help treat liver damage due to alcohol abuse. CBD helps in the regeneration of new liver cells and fighting oxidative stress.
CBD could reduce alcohol cravings
Some people consume a lot of alcohol. Every night, they have booze alongside. They constantly want to drink in moderation, but once they start, everything falls apart. The next morning, the same remorse and self-promise. And so the cycle goes on.
CBD may be beneficial. A 2019 review published in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology discovered that CBD lowered the desire to drink.
All of the data is collected on a very small scale, and the results are unreliable.
How does CBD help treat alcohol addiction?
CBD’s ability to reduce alcohol addiction is a ray of hope for doctors and addicts. Studies are limited, but they do involve some human testing.
According to a 2013 research published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviours, CBD helped reduce cigarette usage by 40%.
Good for smokers! But what about drinkers? A study in 2018 in Neuropsychopharmacology on alcoholic rats established that CBD reduced the urge to drink and other drugs consumption.
After five months of treatment, rats do not have alcohol or any other drug addiction. However, there are no experiments on humans.
Dosage
If you are taking CBD for alcohol withdrawals, you need to be extra cautious. Talk to a medical practitioner to know the right amount of therapeutic dosage. There are many CBD forms, including vape, gummies, capsules, oils, and tinctures.
The most common is CBD oil. With the help of a dropper, ingest by dropping a few drops on your tongue. The concentration displays the label of the bottle. Do not exceed the limit.
The other form is capsules and is best for busy lives. Just take it with water. Similar to this are gummies for people who want tasty treats irrespective of CBD taste.
And the last is the vape— fast and effective relief from pain.
The Bottom Line
We are unsure how this alcohol and CBD combo will affect our bodies. It is significant to heed FDA warnings and avoid such medication combinations. If you use it in combination, be prudent and stay within your limitations. They can cause tiredness and short-term behavioral misbehavior.
Evidence is emerging in favor of CBD for treating alcohol use disorder as it may reduce the urge to drink and withdrawal symptoms, but it lacks solid proof. So, it is good to be sure of what you ingest.
FAQs: All About Mixing CBD and Alcohol
Is it legal to take CBD?
Yes, CBD is legal in several places across the United States. However, buy it from reputable, government-regulated outlets under medical supervision. There are numerous unauthorized outlets, which might be dangerous because the source is unknown.
Can you add CBD to any drink?
Yes, you can add CBD to any warm or cold beverage, as there is no impact on its effects. But do not add it to hot liquids as it may reduce its efficiency.
Does it make you high?
No, CBD does not make you high if taken in the recommended dosage. Cannabidiol has two origination— hemp and cannabis sativa plant. If CBD is from industrial hemp, FDA regulates it, where the THC content is less than 0.03%, making it non-psychoactive.