Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a natural remedy that’s a popular product in the health and wellness industry. CBD has been known to treat underlying physical and mental conditions, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and even symptoms of nausea. Doctors have often prescribed CBD as a medication to treat both seniors and children living with symptoms of chronic pain.
CBD has roots (literally) in cannabis as one of the dozens of compounds found within marijuana plants. Unlike the more psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not cause the high associated with regular marijuana use. Instead, CBD supports the endocannabinoid system in order to help the body maintain a healthy state of homeostasis.
Due to the sheer amount of health-related benefits of CBD oil, physicians have speculated if it can also be used to help treat or lessen the effects of heart-related conditions. In particular, questions have been raised about whether CBD can treat people with high blood pressure.
Does CBD Affect One’s Heart Rate?
CBD contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties that help stabilize the body’s endocannabinoid system. The natural components of CBD oil are very similar to endocannabinoids in the human body, which attach themselves to neurotransmitters and help manage the body’s reactions to feelings of appetite, mood disorders, and especially symptoms of pain and anxiety.
However, studies have shown that there is potential for CBD to reduce risk factors associated with heart disease. High blood pressure is at the top of that list.
A study in 2017 asked for a handful of volunteers to subject themselves to stressful situations in order to increase their blood pressure rates. Doctors then prescribed half of the participants a dose of CBD oil and the other half received a placebo. Blood pressure was reduced in patients who received the CBD dosage as opposed to those who received the placebo.
What medications immediately reduce blood pressure?
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are recommended by doctors to help treat high blood pressure. ACE inhibitors help relax blood vessels near the heart that ultimately reduce blood pressure in the body.
Another method of treatment is through calcium channel blockers, which are commonly prescribed as amlodipine, felodipine, or nifedipine. Calcium channel blockers help to widen blood vessels which, similar to ACE inhibitors, help to reduce the effects of blood pressure.
Beta-blockers are also able to minimize blood pressure by slowing the rate of the body’s heartbeat. Clinical trials suggest that beta-blockers are less effective at treating blood pressure than some of the other remedies. As a result, doctors use beta-blockers as a last resort when other methods of treatment fail to do the job.
Given that there are mixed results with traditional blood pressure treatments, the potential to use natural remedies like CBD introduces new treatment opportunities in the fight against high blood pressure and heart disease.
Can you take CBD oil while on blood pressure medication?
People who are on medications are often told by doctors to avoid certain types of foods in order to allow the medicine to do its work. In most cases, these warnings are related to foods with high levels of citrus acids. Citrus acid impairs how the body absorbs medications and prevents the treatments from having the intended healing effect.
According to research referenced in the Huffington Post, a similar “citrus” effect occurs when mixing CBD with blood pressure medication. When CBD enters the endocannabinoid system, the oil is known to attach itself to enzymes that help stabilize the health and wellness of the body. In particular, liver enzymes are impacted by CBD doses, and the liver is one of the organs most affected by blood pressure medication.
Mixing CBD and blood pressure medication can impact how the two treatments affect the body. The size of the CBD dosage directly affects how the medications impact the body. Smaller doses of CBD, which can be as low as 5mg per day, are unlikely to interfere with how the body processes blood pressure medication. Conversely, higher doses of CBD have a greater effect on the liver enzymes and, consequently, are more likely to minimize the effects of medication.
What is the best CBD oil for high blood pressure?
CBD oil is made available in a wide variety of products that can be ingested into the body. Oral treatments are known to have an effect within 20 minutes post-ingestion, which should help to reduce the feelings associated with high blood pressure almost immediately.
CBD oils come in a series of different strands, but they all include anti-inflammatory properties that both assist with and lessen the effects of physical or mental disorders. A simple CBD dosage is a few droplets that are ingested directly into the mouth. The droplets should remain under the tongue for approximately 30 seconds before swallowing the dosage and allowing the oil to absorb into the bloodstream.
Depending on the size of the dosage, CBD can begin to affect the body after only a few minutes. CBD is also known by its nickname of the “miracle molecule” for its many underlying health benefits and the ability to treat a variety of underlying conditions, including high blood pressure. Let the droplets do their job and you should feel relief from your symptoms in no time at all.
Final thoughts
People are becoming increasingly drawn to organic substances and remedies to treat underlying conditions. Doctors are also recommending more natural methods of treating underlying symptoms of physical and mental conditions to provide a healthier form of treatment.
CBD oil is a natural and healthy way to minimize the effects of conditions like high blood pressure to promote a healthier and happier means of living. If you’d like to try CBD oil, consult with your doctor about whether you should use the remedy and what would be the appropriate dosage for your condition. Stick to those orders and you’ll live a much higher quality of life.