Can CBD Lower Blood Pressure?
It seems that overnight cannabidiol (CBD) has become all the rage, with touted benefits ranging from pain relief to anxiety support. Healthline reports that CBD is more widespread now than ever before and is often being used as a natural remedy to ease common ailments.
Cannabidiol is one of the active and essential components of cannabis (marijuana), and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it does not cause the "high" feeling you might get when using marijuana recreationally. In a WHO report on CBD, it is stated that CBD is generally well-tolerated and "does not produce the effects that are typically seen with cannabinoids such as THC."
Harvard Health Publishing reports that there is strong scientific evidence supporting CBD as a treatment for childhood epilepsy, and the FDA recently approved a medication containing CBD, called Epidiolex, for use in this condition. This incredible revelation in medicine leads to asking the question — if CBD is helpful for one condition, could it be helpful for others?
There are few studies on CBD and blood pressure
According to Healthline, there has been some research suggesting a beneficial association between heart health and CBD. Some studies specifically show the possibility of CBD helping to lower blood pressure. Data from one study published in JCI Insight found that with one dose of 600 mg of CBD, the blood pressure of nine healthy male participants was significantly lowered. It is also reported that those who were given the placebo of CBD did not experience lower blood pressure (via Healthline).
Another study in the Journal of Hypertension found that CBD may have vasodilatory effects in arteries, meaning they expand allowing for better blood flow, which in turn can promote healthier blood pressure. The data from these studies is promising, but more research is needed before actively promoting CBD for supporting healthy blood pressure.
Medical News Today recommends anyone living with hypertension, or suspecting that you might have hypertension, contact your doctor and discuss if CBD is an acceptable component of treatment.