Cannabis Oil and Hypertension
The scientific debate has been going on for years whether marijuana has an effect on the cardiovascular system. There was no clinical consensus and most of the studies focused primarily on THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. But a study released earlier this month examined the effect that cannabidiol, or CBD, has on blood pressure and the results were encouraging.
According to the abstract from the, “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive phytocannabinoid used in multiple sclerosis and intractable epilepsies. Preclinical studies show CBD has numerous cardiovascular benefits, including a reduced blood pressure (BP) response to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate if CBD reduces BP in humans.
The Study
Nine healthy male volunteers were given 600 mg of CBD or placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Cardiovascular parameters were monitored using a fine meter and laser Doppler. The results varied but participants had a decrease of about 6 mm HG.
“Our data show that a single dose of CBD reduces resting blood pressure and the blood pressure response to stress, particularly cold stress, and especially in the post-test periods. This may reflect the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of CBD, as well as any potential direct cardiovascular effects. … Further research is also required to establish whether CBD has any role in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension.”
Now Epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between long-term stress and the development of the cardiovascular disease. Factors like social isolation, low socioeconomic status, depression, stressful family and work life, and anxiety are associated with an increased risk of the development and accelerated the progression of existing cardiovascular disease.
Current European guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease have emphasized the importance of tackling these factors. Mental stress induces myocardial ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease, and this appears to be mediated by the adrenal release of catecholamines.
What Is CBD?
But what exactly is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most prevalent chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. Unlike the more famous molecule, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is completely nonpsychoactive. Don’t expect to get “high” off of this organic chemical, however. CBD is all relaxation without intoxication.
While CBD still has an effect on your body, consuming CBD by itself isn’t going to send you on the cerebral adventure associated with THC. For decades, medical professionals and the general public overlooked CBD because psychoactive cannabis took center stage.
Now, the medical potential of CBD has taken cannabis to mainstream audiences. Preclinical trials over the past four decades have found that the cannabinoid shows promise as an anti-hypertensive.
CBD Can Also Help With The Following Medical Conditions:
- Cigarette smoking addiction
- Acne
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Crohn’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Insomnia
Possible Side Effects Include…
One of the few side effects of CBD is tiredness, but for many, it’s what they seek out in the natural herb. Since pharmaceuticals for aiding sleep pose risk for addiction and leave you feeling groggy the next day, it’s best to go the safe route with non-habit forming CBD. When searching for strains to combat insomnia, try staying with Indica and CBD-heavy strains to knock you out when you need it most.
More Side Effects:
CBD decreased the activity of T and B cells which may increase the disease progression, tumor growth, and metastases, and exacerbate asthma.
CBD can decrease the activity of liver enzymes called cytochrome P450, responsible for metabolizing more than 60% of prescribed drugs. CBD may also cause mild hypotension, dry mouth, lightheadedness, and sedation.
Now I know what you must be thinking, “I have got to try this!” Yes and I understand why. In many places, CBD is still classified as a “Class 1” drug and is considered illegal. Even in places where it is legal, getting a pure CBD medication can be difficult. Places that had advertised CBD, when it was tested had almost no CBD in the oil.
The other thing I want you to be mindful of, again, that it can decrease the metabolizing of medications you are currently taking. If you live in a state where it is legal. Please consult with your healthcare practitioner before using this medicine.
CBD Oil As A Vasodialator
As a natural vasodilator, CBD may help improve positive cardiovascular health by widening the blood vessels to allow smooth blood flow.
CBD’s role as a vasodilator was highlighted in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized crossover study conducted by researchers from the Royal Derby Hospital Center and Oxford Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Churchill Hospital in UK in 2017.
In the said study, researchers explored the connection between CBD and a reduction in blood pressure, and they found that a single dose of CBD oil significantly lowered blood pressure in human volunteers, both under stress and at rest.
However, the authors also noted that “there are no dedicated studies in humans to date, to our knowledge, looking at the effect of CBD on either resting cardiovascular measurement or on the responses to stress, with continuous monitoring of cardiovascular parameters.”
CBD’s Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Studies conducted by researchers from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2009 also reveal that CBD possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Since inflammation can cause high blood pressure or vice versa, eliminating inflammation may help alleviate high blood pressure.
However, inflammation may be a symptom of other diseases as well. Thus, leading a healthy lifestyle while using CBD oil is advised.
A Final Thought
If you are considering using CBD oil I would suggest that you speak with your family physician. CBD reacts with certain medication and alters the their properties. If you are taking blood pressure medications already, adding CBD Oil could lower your blood pressure to much. This can also be as dangerous as an elevated blood pressure. You may also wish to do further research on which brands are best. We cannot recommend any particular brand over another.
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I am familiar with Resperate and use it with my cancer patients: and now CBD will become an additional way people can afford the ridiculously expensive HBP medications.
Hi Jim, Thank you for sharing this. I was an oncology nurse for 10 years. First adults and then pediatrics.
Interesting how do you use it with cancer patients? do they benefit from using it?
Kindest Regards,
Eli
I was astounded at the dose of CBD (600 mg) given in this study. That is more than 20 times the amount I’ve recommended for my patients who use it regularly or intermittently for muscle discomfort or other purposes. It also seems that it would be prohibitively expensive at that dose. I suspect these volunteers did not receive 600 mg of CBD, but instead received 600mg of an oil containing an unspecified amount of the active agent, CBD. It is also probable that the fatty acids in the oil were influencing prostaglandin production in a way that could modify hypertension by relaxing arterial wall tension. Please clarify and comment. Thank you. RAM, MD
As this 2017 review Trusted Source shows, a great deal of research has found that it’s a relatively safe treatment. The studies analyzed in that review didn’t show that there’s one universal dosage of CBD that everyone should take. Instead, it underscored the fact that different people (and, in the animal studies, different animals) respond to different dosages of CBD. Most of the human studies use dosages anywhere between 20 and 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day.
It’s worth remembering that there’s still a lot about CBD that we don’t know. As the cannabis industry grows, researchers will likely conduct more studies on cannabis, including marijuana and hemp, and its derivatives. Hope this helps. There a many variables to consider when prescribing a dosage as you well know.