Are you feeling queasy or sick to your stomach, or even getting allergies after taking a Cannabidiol (CBD) product? It is not unheard of, but quite rare. But, it isn’t really due to CBD.
Cannabidiol, a natural cannabinoid derived from cannabis plants, doesn’t have any such effects on the body. In fact, CBD has some very beneficial properties, including those that can treat various stomach problems.
But that can only be possible if you address the actual reason for those stomach cramps, diarrhea or allergies.
Like every medicine, the carrier or solvent that you mix or infuse the cannabinoid in to administer it into your bloodstream impacts the overall effect of the CBD.
Besides, there may be several other factors for such adverse reactions, like poor quality substance, use of fake or synthetic cannabinoids or presence of harmful solvents being left over from the extraction process, etc. If you can negate these factors, CBD can’t even cure stomach problems.
Why we may fall sick from CBD consumption
CBD oil, a component of cannabis, has many health benefits, from calming seizures in epilepsy patients to relieving period cramps, from helping fight anxiety to relaxing the nerves and inducing sleep.
Unfortunately, like every other product you consume, with CBD oil too, you need to ensure that its specific composition is safe for your system, that it is of good quality and also that you’re buying it from reliable sources. Often seemingly healthy food items can be filled with harmful substances.
Recently, some unscrupulous manufacturers have started using fake synthetic compounds, passing them off as natural CBD oil, putting the health of the consumers at risk.
Stomach issues
The sick feeling in your stomach soon after CBD consumption may be caused by several reasons:
- The medium in which the CBD was introduced into the body, for example, the food you infused it in or the carrier oil or solvent used to extract the CBD oil, may not go well with your system. Your body is used to certain types of edibles and anything new that you may introduce into your system may produce a negative reaction.
- Any recent changes in your diet may also have the same effect. Let’s say you have been used to non-vegetarian food, and you recently started a vegan diet, this may affect your normal metabolism and, in turn, give you an upset stomach. Alternatively, if you’re used to a vegetarian diet and you took an egg-infused cake, maybe without knowing it, it’s highly likely you may suffer from stomach cramps and diarrhea.
- Some people respond badly when they orally consume CBD first thing in the morning, i.e. on an empty stomach. While many dosages are set for this time, it may not always be a good idea. No two people react to CBD oil in the same way.
- Empty stomach or certain edibles individuals may not always be the reason; at times it is a combination of causes that lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea. Sometimes, taking CBD oil as it is may be a better idea, instead of taking it WITH something. Alternatively, a topical application or an intravenous injection could be a safer method of administration.
Even then, the risk of reaction to chemical residue like alcoholic solvents still remains. That’s why it is best to use only the best quality CBD oil sold by trusted brands.
There may be other reasons for an apparent adverse reaction from the use of CBD oil – effects that aren’t included in the usual side effects of CBD, like dryness of mouth or sleepiness (sometimes though that is a good thing).
Other apparent issues you may face & why
- Allergic reaction
Many CBD products, extracted with the help of carrier oils, contain coconut oil. This increases the bioavailability of CBD products, making them more effective. However, it is possible that you are allergic to coconut oil or other coconut products. Such products can give you a bad tummy ache and even diarrhea. So check the label for its ingredients before you go ahead and consume it.
- Interaction with other medications
If you are not allergic to any food item or haven’t changed your diet recently, there is still the possibility that your current course of medication is interfering with CBD’s metabolism or vice versa. Both pharmaceutical drugs and cannabinoids require the same liver enzyme to break down. As a result, your system is set off-balance, making it react in unpredictable ways, causing allergic reactions.
- Headaches
If you have experienced a headache soon after consuming CBD for relieving pain elsewhere in your body, it is possibly a natural response of your body to a new agent, or simply because the headache was coming on anyway and it got triggered moments after your CBD use. If you were taking it for a headache (which generally works pretty well) and it still intensifies, it is possibly because your dosage wasn’t high enough to manage the pain. The headache simply got more severe all on its own. There may be other reasons for increasing headaches after taking CBD, like illicit substances, fake or poor quality products, too high dosage, etc.
Our Takeaway
CBD on its own has no severe or lethal effects. In fact, it doesn’t even have any intoxicating effects usually associated with marijuana. It is usually harmless and almost always has some very beneficial properties. But just in case you do have some adverse effect to CBD, rush to your doctor to address the issue immediately.
Certain things you should keep in mind before trying out a new CBD product or trying out CBD for the first time:
- Consult a doctor who has some experience in CBD treatment.
- Do your research on the brand of CBD product you are thinking of buying – the company, the brand’s reputation, sourcing and manufacturing details, purity test results, etc.
- Find the right dosage for you; it is still a trial-and-error process at this point.
- Find out if there is a possibility of your current medications interacting adversely with CBD oil.
- Keep a good record of your usage and dosage on s regular basis and avoid changing your usual routine. This will give you a fair idea if CBD has triggered any change in your body – good or otherwise.
Although CBD doesn’t have any adverse side effects, you should always get all the facts straight before you try something new. Like we always say, it is always better to be safe than sorry.