Set aside special occasions such as birthdays, new year,… Alcohol can be a real problem. Especially in modern way of life people turn to alcohol as a getaway from stress and problems. Although it does provide a short term relief, long-term consumption can have serious consequences. It can lead to medical problems like liver disease, stroke and even cancer. In most cases, you don’t harm only yourself with alcohol, but loved ones can suffer too as alcohol is one of the main causes for a failed marriage and family violence. So the key to happy and healthy way of life is to moderate alcohol intake.
Moderate, minimize or even quit drinking alcohol with the help of our CBD products.
Experts say that we should never mix alcohol and cannabis and that the two amplify each other’s adverse effects. They also say that cannabis’ anti-vomiting effects dampen the body’s protective mechanism against alcohol toxicity. By reducing the impulse to vomit, the level of alcohol in the blood increases, causing dangerous toxins to accumulate in the body. This can lead to an increase in choking hazards.
However, these effects are primarily caused by THC, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. So what about CBD? How do CBD and alcohol interact with each other? Does mixing CBD with alcohol also cause harmful side effects like THC?
More importantly, because CBD is non-psychoactive and has the potential to treat addiction, can we use CBD to treat alcoholism?
What Is CBD?
Cannabis and hemp belong to the same cannabis plant family. Cannabis, or marijuana, is the plant that gets you high and has a high THC level. Hemp, on the other hand, has very low THC content, so it doesn’t come with the typical ‘high’ associated with cannabis use.
Both of these plants produce several cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are unique compounds found predominantly in the cannabis family that function as the plant’s “defense mechanism” against the environment (weather and microbes).
THC is the most popular of the cannabinoids and is the primary compound that produces psychoactive effects. CBD (cannabidiol), on the other hand, is the opposite of THC and isn’t psychoactive.
Studies have shown that, unlike THC, CBD will not get you high, nor would it cause THC side effects like paranoia, hallucinations, or increased anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, CBD is a safe and nontoxic cannabinoid.
Additionally, CBD also has properties that can even counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. According to studies, CBD not only dampens the high but also controls cannabis addiction.
Now, do these effects also have an impact on alcohol addiction? Is taking CBD for alcoholics worth it? More importantly, is CBD for alcohol withdrawal beneficial and safe?
Alcohol And CBD Interaction – What’s The Effect Of CBD And Alcohol Together?
Although we lack significant research on CBD and alcohol and how they interact with each other, the studies we do have show that mixing CBD and alcohol doesn’t have significant adverse side effects.
Additionally, researchers also noticed that CBD dampens the part of the brain activated by alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and other illicit drugs. In a way, CBD reduces cravings and takes away some of the pleasures in using these drugs.
What Are The Benefits Of CBD For Alcoholism?
Although more substantial research on CBD and alcoholism is underway, the studies we have revealed that alcoholics can benefit from CBD use.
Below are some of the beneficial effects of CBD on alcohol addiction.
Controls Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis (specifically THC), and other illicit drugs stimulate the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Constant stimulation of this center contributes to the development of drug-seeking behavior, dependence, abuse, and addiction.
Now, CBD dampens the activities in this brain region. It is through this effect that CBD can control alcohol abuse.
Cuts Back Drinking
Because CBD reduces activities in the reward and pleasure center of the brain, drinking is no longer that pleasurable. Additionally, it also decreases the person’s alcohol-seeking behavior.
Reduces Alcohol’s Damaging Effects
In addition to its ability to reduce alcohol abuse and cravings, CBD also decreases the damaging effects of alcohol. As an antioxidant, CBD can protect the cells from toxicity. According to a study, CBD was able to reverse brain toxicity caused by alcohol.
Eases Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
We need more studies on CBD and alcohol withdrawal. But studies on nicotine and cannabis have shown that using CBD decreased their withdrawal symptoms. It also reduced anxiety symptoms associated with these drugs.
Some people develop alcohol withdrawal-induced seizures. Now, CBD can also help control epilepsy and seizures since it has potent antiepileptic effects.
Controls Liver Damage Caused by Alcohol
A link has also been found between CBD and alcohol liver disease. One study found that CBD can reduce liver damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption by reducing inflammation as well as controlling metabolic dysregulation.
What Does Research About CBD And Alcohol Say?
Studies and research conducted to date show promising results – CBD can benefit those with drinking problems, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and even help control alcohol-induced liver damage.
CBD can even help control other addictions as well. It can reduce nicotine as well as morphine addiction. CBD has even helped control cannabis addiction and prevent the worsening of a patient’s cannabis withdrawal symptoms.
Can You Mix Alcohol And CBD Oil?
There may not be significant adverse effects when CBD is combined with alcohol. However, you should still exercise caution when mixing the two together since they interact with each other.
Both CBD and alcohol act as a relaxant, so when you mix them together, the effect is amplified. You will often feel more relaxed and very mellow. For many people, this effect can be very intense, off-putting, or even scary. So if you’re thinking of mixing CBD and alcohol, do so with caution.
On the other hand, CBD mixed with alcohol can help lower your blood’s alcohol level, according to a study. However, the pharmacological effects of the two are similar. There is still some impairment in their motor as well as psychomotor functioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About CBD And Alcohol
CBD, it seems, has many beneficial effects on alcoholics. So if you want to know more about CBD and drinking alcohol or CBD oil and alcoholism, then here are some FAQs.
How long after taking CBD oil can I drink alcohol?
CBD has the potential to amplify alcohol’s relaxing effects, so if you want to be on the safe side, you may want to wait a while before consuming alcohol.
However, taking CBD oil after having had too much to drink can help lower blood alcohol level, according to a study.
Can I take CBD while drinking?
Many people have had no issues taking CBD while drinking a little, but too much of both can, of course, result in adverse side effects. The alcohol and CBD effects, some said, were intense and very uncomfortable. Some have even reported increased sedation as well as sleepiness.
Can I use CBD for an alcohol hangover?
We do not have formal research studies on whether CBD is useful for a hangover. However, those who have used CBD for hangovers reported positive effects.
Some said that their hangover was not that severe or that they did not develop any hangover when they woke up the next day. Anecdotally, people noted that CBD prevents nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
Is CBD safe for recovering alcoholics?
Yes, CBD is safe for recovering alcoholics. CBD won’t trigger alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety, nor will it increase cravings for alcoholic drinks. Instead, it will help curb the need for alcohol and prevent relapse. It will also help relieve some symptoms associated with withdrawal-like depression, fatigue, sleeplessness, among others.
How do you take CBD oil for alcoholism?
The best way to take CBD oil for alcoholism is to start at a low dose. So, for example, the product’s instructions tell you to take one full dropper as your initial dose, then you can simply take half a dropper.
You can then adjust the dose depending on your reaction to CBD oil.
How To Extract CBD And Other Cannabinoids Using Alcohol
CBD can be used to reduce someones alcohol cravings and help with consequences of the alcohol intake. But alcohol can be used to extract CBD from hemp. How?
There are many ways to extract CBD and other cannabinoids from the plant. Of these methods, alcohol CBD extraction is one of the most popular and can even be done at home.
To do this, you need to heat ground cannabis flowers in food-grade alcohol (most preferred alcohol is 190-proof Everclear) over low heat until the alcohol evaporates. This will leave behind the cannabinoids and terpenes. Terpenes are compounds that give plants their unique texture, color, aroma, and flavor.
A famous cannabis oil that uses this method is Rick Simpson Oil or RSO. This cannabis oil was developed to help control symptoms associated with a head injury, as well as skin cancer.
However, the CBD alcohol extraction method sometimes produces residues that are harmful to the body. Hence, the best and safest way to extract CBD and cannabinoids is still the supercritical CO2 process. And this is the main reason why at Hempika, we use only supercritical CO2 extraction method to guarantee you the purest and highest quality CBD products.
Final Thoughts
There are mixed reactions regarding alcohol addiction and CBD oil. Some fear that CBD can trigger a relapse; however, many people say that CBD helped with their alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
If you want to use CBD for alcohol withdrawal, we recommend that you consult with your doctor first to ensure you receive adequate medical guidance and to prevent any unwanted interactions with other medications.
Author: B. D.
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