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Nearly half of adults in the US have high blood pressure.(1) If you’ve ever searched for natural blood pressure remedies, you might have stumbled upon the claim that CBD (cannabidiol) oil can lower blood pressure.
Although research suggests this is true, there’s a lot more to the story — and even some evidence to the contrary.
CBD is one of several cannabis compounds called cannabinoids that may be in CBD oil products. Each cannabinoid has unique properties that can affect the body (blood pressure included) in different ways.
So, what does this mean for people with high blood pressure? Could CBD oil help, or should it be avoided?
And what about CBD oil and blood pressure medications?
No stress — we’re here to help! In this article, we’re exploring the relationship between cannabinoids and high blood pressure, including what you should know if you’re considering CBD oil alongside blood pressure treatment.
Since you’re here, we’re willing to wager you know a thing or two about high blood pressure. But some aspects of it are misunderstood or not crystal clear, so we’re taking a beat to review.
Besides, a refresher is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to health.
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure (HBP). It’s used to describe blood flow that’s too intense for blood vessels to handle.
Everyone’s blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day. What separates normal blood pressure fluctuations from hypertension is that with hypertension, it’s consistently too high.
High blood pressure rarely has obvious symptoms, but it can do serious damage over time. Having HBP increases your risk of:
Learn more about the link between blood pressure and male sexual dysfunction in our article calledCBD Oil For Erectile Dysfunction.
This is kind of a loaded question because each cannabinoid has specific effects on the body, and other factors like medication can change how they behave.
Let’s unload it by looking at the two main cannabinoids that influence blood pressure: CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
You’ll find some amount of both cannabinoids in hemp and marijuana. Which is why some types of CBD oil products contain THC — and why it’s important to know what each cannabinoid could do to blood pressure.
Low blood pressure is a known side effect of CBD, and research points to it being a potential therapy for reducing BP.
CBD could also reduce blood pressure indirectly by relieving pain, improving sleep, and reducing stress.(4)
All that to say…
The science for THC and BP isn’t so cut-and-dry.
Heavy marijuana users are nearly twice as likely to have high blood pressure than people who don’t use marijuana.(5) Yet marijuana appears to lower BP in older adults with hypertension.(6) If that isn’t confusing enough, one study found that THC sometimes increased blood pressure and sometimes decreased it, and sometimes that happened when combining THC with CBD.(7)
So, THC could increase blood pressure, or it could do the opposite. Finicky results like these are at least partially chalked up to the fact that some cannabinoids have a biphasic effect. Biphasic is a fancy way of saying the results can vary based on the dosage.
Another explanation for this range of results is that everyone processes cannabinoids differently. Cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system (ECS), so how your body responds to cannabinoids depends on how receptive your ECS is to them.
Medications, therapies, and substances can alter ECS function. What a great segue into our next, very important, point.
You know how you have to avoid grapefruit juice if you’re taking certain medications? It’s kind of like that with CBD and THC. They don’t mix with everything.
There’s a big world of medical therapies out there and we’re no health experts, so — if you’re taking medication — make sure you check with your doc before using cannabis in any form.
Since you’re a smart cookie, you’ve probably deduced that CBD oil with THC in it could raise your blood pressure. Meanwhile, CBD itself tends to lower blood pressure. Neither of these outcomes is guaranteed, though.
But based on the science, the best CBD oil for people with high blood pressure (who have their doctor’s okay to use CBD) doesn’t contain THC.
No THC means less of a chance of skyrocketing BP and one less variable to worry about.
But how do you know which CBD is THC-free? Simple, you just…
There are three types of CBD.
We favor broad-spectrum CBD because terpenes and flavonoids are full of antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation, among other heart-healthy properties.(10,11) The THC content is likely minimal enough not to bump up your BP. Plus, you’re more apt to reap the bennies of the entourage effect when CBD’s accompanied by the other phytocompounds found in hemp. You get a lot of cardio-lovin’ mileage out of broad-spectrum CBD!
The certificate of analysis (COA) is the place to check that the THC content is what the type of CBD implies it is. You’ll see how much of each cannabinoid was detected from the product sample.
A COA from a third-party lab is also an indication of a quality CBD product, so you’re knocking out two birds with one stone.
When you shop with us at Pure Craft, you can scope out the COA through the link on every product page.
Become a pro at reading a COA with our articleHow To Read A Certificate Of Analysis (COA) For Your CBD Products.
CBD doesn’t appear to raise blood pressure. In fact, it has a greater chance of lowering blood pressure — but THC in CBD oil could bump up BP.
People with high blood pressure, low blood pressure, or who are taking medications should consult with their physician before using CBD or THC.
Choosing broad-spectrum CBD can help you avoid the potential risk of high blood pressure associated with THC while getting the spectrum of benefits CBD has to offer.
References
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