Does CBD Lower Blood Pressure?

In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. High blood pressure is a serious health concern that can lead to a heart attack. CBD is getting a lot of buzz as a natural cure for high blood pressure.

I’ve been using CBD for years, and I’ve checked all the available research on CBD and high blood pressure. Here’s everything you should know about CBD’s effect on the body and blood pressure.

Quick Summary

Current research shows CBD has a beneficial effect on blood pressure.
There are only mild side effects when taking CBD for blood pressure, and these are rare.
You should consult a doctor if you’re already taking medication for blood pressure.

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD and THC are the two main chemicals in cannabis plants, but unlike THC, CBD can’t get you high.

There are three kinds of CBD:

Full-spectrum CBD — Contains all compounds from the cannabis plant, including THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD —Contains all compounds from the cannabis plant, but not THC.
CBD isolate — Only has CBD. This is pure CBD.

Nowadays, there’s a wide range of CBD products, such as CBD oil, CBD pills, CBD gummies, drinks, and vape juices. All of these can target various health issues and are applied differently.

While research on CBD is in the preliminary stages, the current data is promising, and it shows that CBD can help with a wide range of health conditions, including lowering blood pressure.

CBD’s Effects on the Body

Here are all the ways in which CBD can affect the body:

Provide pain relief — CBD can help reduce chronic pain, especially nerve and back pain. CBD can also relieve multiple sclerosis and arthritis pain.
Helps with anxiety and depression — CBD products can help with mental health disorders, especially anxiety and depression. It can even help with PTDS symptoms.
Helps cancer-related symptoms — CBD can help with cancer symptoms such as nausea, pain, and vomiting.
Helps with neurological disorders — CBD can help with epilepsy and MS. It reduces spasms and seizures.

Overall, current research says CBD is a great natural solution for serious health conditions. How CBD will affect your body also depends on which CBD product you take. For example, a vape will have an almost immediate effect, but it also wears off quickly. CBD pills need a couple of hours to work, and CBD oil works in about half an hour if placed under the tongue.

CBD’s effect on the body is calming and can even be helpful for falling asleep.

Can CBD Lower Blood Pressure?

Yes, CBD can lower blood pressure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s normal for the body to raise blood pressure and lower it throughout the day. But, if a person has consistently high blood pressure, it’s called hypertension. This can lead to cardiovascular disorders, such as a stroke, heart attack, and chest pain.

Luckily, there’s evidence that CBD reduces stress and can make people feel lighter, which can be the cause of a reduced heart rate.

CBD can open blood vessels. It works with the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, opens the closed blood vessels, and relaxes blood pressure.

The best CBD product to use for successful blood pressure response is CBD oil. CBD oil has a higher bioavailability compared to a CBD topical or a gummy. This means CBD oil is more easily absorbed and has a full-body effect.

Note: Current research shows a positive result between CBD and blood pressure. However, you shouldn’t rely on CBD to lower blood pressure, but you should continue using high blood pressure medications with a doctor’s approval.

When Not To Take CBD to Lower Blood Pressure

Overall, cannabidiol reduces blood pressure, and it’s safe to use. But, there are a few cases where you shouldn’t use CBD for lowering blood pressure without consulting a doctor.

It’s not safe to use CBD to reduce blood pressure if:

You’re pregnant — The FDA says women shouldn’t use CBD during pregnancy and breastfeeding because there’s not enough evidence to know how CBD affects a developing fetus.
You’re taking other medication — If you’re taking other medication for high blood pressure or another condition, you shouldn’t take CBD without a doctor’s approval. For example, CBD can regulate blood sugar levels, which can cause blood pressure to be too low if you take diabetes medication.

Are CBD Effects on Blood Pressure Safe?

CBD lowers blood pressure and has beneficial effects on it.

World Health Organization acknowledged the benefits of CBD on blood pressure. They say CBD is well-tolerated and has a good safety profile.

The FDA says more research is needed. One study on healthy volunteers concluded that CBD can have different effects, depending on the dose you take. This means you should be careful how much CBD you use, or you can end up with too low blood pressure.

Finally, CBD products can interact with some medications and negatively affect blood pressure.

The most common side effects when taking CBD for blood pressure include sleepiness, nausea, and dry mouth. However, the vast majority of users don’t experience any negative reactions after taking CBD oils for blood pressure.

The current data shows the benefits outweigh the side effects, and the side effects are rare. But, you should always consult a health professional to be on the safe side.

Should You Take CBD Products for High Blood Pressure?

My vote is yes. If you take CBD responsibly, don’t overdo the dose, and consult your doctor, you should take CBD for high blood pressure.

There’s a wide range of CBD products you can use for both diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure. Plus, you’ll get other health benefits from CBD.

My vote for the best CBD oil for blood pressure goes to UNO CBD. The manufacturer uses pharmaceutical-grade equipment to make this CBD oil. There aren’t any toxins or pesticides, which makes the oil potent. Check it out, and see why hundreds of users rave about its effect on blood pressure.

References

DiLonardo, M. J. (2021, December 15). CBD vs. THC: What’s the Difference? WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cbd-thc-difference

Eskander, J. P., Spall, J., Spall, A., Shah, R. V., & Kaye, A. D. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment of acute and chronic back pain: A case series and literature review. Journal of opioid management, 16(3), 215–218. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2020.0570

Russo, M., Calabrò, R. S., Naro, A., Sessa, E., Rifici, C., D’Aleo, G., Leo, A., De Luca, R., Quartarone, A., & Bramanti, P. (2015). Sativex in the management of multiple sclerosis-related spasticity: role of the corticospinal modulation. Neural plasticity, 2015, 656582. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/656582

García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: A Potential New Alternative for the Treatment of Anxiety, Depression, and Psychotic Disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10111575

Elms, L., Shannon, S., Hughes, S., & Lewis, N. (2019). Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 25(4), 392–397. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0437

Flachenecker, P., Henze, T., & Zettl, U. K. (2014). Nabiximols (THC/CBD oromucosal spray, Sativex®) in clinical practice–results of a multicenter, non-interventional study (MOVE 2) in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity. European neurology, 71(5-6), 271–279. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1159/000357427

CDC. (2021, May 18). About High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm

Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O’Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. JCI insight, 2(12), e93760. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.93760

Rey, A. A., Purrio, M., Viveros, M.-P., & Lutz, B. (2012). Biphasic Effects of Cannabinoids in Anxiety Responses: CB1 and GABAB Receptors in the Balance of GABAergic and Glutamatergic Neurotransmission. Neuropsychopharmacology, 37(12), 2624–2634. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2012.123