CBD oil is known for being a great pain reliever and for having a good relaxing effect that helps to calm down. One of the most common causes of high blood pressure is stress, with which CBD oil can definitely help. But will CBD oil work if you have hypertension and want to lower your blood pressure? Read on and find out!

High blood pressure: What are the causes?

There are many different factors that can cause high blood pressure. Blood pressure depends on food, medicine, age, lifestyle and even genetics. Most common causes of high pressure are obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, chronic conditions such as kidney, hormone problems, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history and most importantly, stress.

High blood pressure is very dangerous, as it makes your heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and this contributes to hardening of the arteries, to stroke, kidney disease, and to heart failure. So it can actually cause serious health issues. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. There are two types of hypertension: essential hypertension, which is common; and secondary hypertension, which is caused by an identifiable underlying problem.

What is CBD?

CBD is a complex compound found in marijuana plant called cannabis sativa. CBD is nonpsychoactive, so you will not get ‘high’ or have that ‘euphoric’ state. CBD is available in many different forms: tablets, oils, creams, etc. CBD has become very popular recently and has shown to have many benefits for the human body.

As more clinical research is conducted on CBD, there are hundreds of testimonies from people online that say that it has definitely helped them to recover and treat depression or anxiety. CBD is a known dietary supplement that can help you to deal with terrible pain, anxiety, as it influences human’s endocannabinoid system that is responsible for mood changes, sleep, appetite and memory.

Read more about CBD and its effects on the body here.

Can CBD lower blood pressure?

By making changes in diet and lifestyle, the risk of high blood pressure or hypertension can be significantly reduced. CBD oils has shown to have anti-anxiety and analgesic effects, which helps to relax blood vessels. CBD has multiple desirable effects on the cardiovascular system. Evidence postulated in recent studies suggest that CBD oil may be beneficial in dealing with some of the cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension. The studies also show how CBD is a vasodilator which means it allows a healthy flow of blood in the vessels to normalize blood pressure. Moreover they indicate that the human body’s cannabinoid system produces endocannabinoids, which regulate our blood pressure. However, these researches can not solely provide the wanted result. So, it is still under investigation if CBD can actually help with hypertension. More research is definitely required.

CBD also has shown to have anxiolytic and analgesic effects, which help reduce resting blood pressure and hypertension connected to stress. A test conducted on adult males discovered that CBD was able to reduce systolic pressure by an average of 5 mmHg before and after stress. It was also able to reduce it by 6 mmHg during rest.

In short: CBD can lower blood pressure if it is caused by any stressful situation. But if we are talking about severe condition of high blood pressure, it will be harder to prove that CBD actually works. It is better to take some prescription medicine, which is scientifically proved and check to help with this condition, rather than take CBD, which still needs some research to completely prove its benefits.

CBD as a vasodilator: How it works

A vasodilator is any substance that causes vasodilation, which is the widening of your blood vessels to improve blood flow to other parts of your body, such as your heart.

Accumulating evidence now also suggests that CBD is beneficial in the cardiovascular system.

CBD has direct actions on isolated arteries, causing both acute and time-dependent vasorelaxation. CBD protects against the vascular damage caused by a high glucose environment, inflammation or the induction of type 2 diabetes in animal models and reduces the vascular hyperpermeability associated with such environments.

Also, people suggest that CBD is making arteries and blood vessels wider, so it allows much better blood flow with less pressure. But, unfortunately, there is not enough research made to prove these statements scientifically.

Does CBD oil interact with blood pressure medications?

CBD does have the potential to interact with some medications. The concern has to do with how the body metabolizes certain substances. Before trying CBD, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor about all of the vitamins, supplements, and prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking. Here’s a deeper look at why having the conversation matters:

CBD oil can interact with some prescribed medications. Avoid CBD if your medications have a grapefruit warning on the label. This warning indicates that people taking the medication should avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice. According to the Food and Drug Administration Trusted Source, consuming grapefruit while on one of these medications can lead to a higher concentration of the medication in the bloodstream and adverse side effects or even an overdose. blood pressure medications commonly have a grapefruit warning, so it is better not to take CBD, while taking these medications.

Does CBD affect heart rate?

CBD is a scientifically endorsed product that is growing in popularity as a safe, alternative treatment for such conditions as chronic pain, anxiety, and inflammatory diseases. But due to the association between cannabis and rapid heart rates, some people worry whether CBD can cause heart palpitations. Yes, CBD may reduce heart rate under stressful conditions, but the evidence is mixed on whether CBD has any effect on heart rate in non-stressful conditions. In this 2017 randomized, double-blind, placed controlled clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, CBD was found to reduce blood pressure in healthy male participants but increase heart rate compared to the placebo group. So, the answer for this question is yes, as CBD affects our heart rate, as well as blood pressure.

What are the side effects of CBD?

Although, CBD is generally considered safe and not harmful, there still are some side effects, as people might have different reactions to the compound. Side effects include drowsiness, other changes in alertness, digestive issues, such as diarrhea, decreased appetite, changes in mood, such as irritability and agitation, changes in weight.

It is also good to know that CBD can interact with other medications, mostly with prescription medications. Moreover, you can get some injuries resulted from taking alcohol or other antidepressants alongside with CBD. Furthermore, if you’re taking blood pressure medications already, you should stop taking CBD as it can interact with these medications. Make sure you check or consult with your doctor about CBD before starting taking it, as it may worsen your condition and even be harmful if taken alongside with medications. You should definitely do your research in order to be sure that everything is good and will not affect your health condition.

CBD oil for blood pressure: Final verdict

Due to some researches that has been done recently, it is safe to say that CBD oil can definitely reduce blood pressure. Some researches suggest that taking a dose of CBD before and after a stressful situation can lower blood pressure. In my opinion, CBD oil can be a great treatment if you need an instant relief after a stressful situation. But for long term treatment, it is definitely better to consult with your doctor and potentially take conventional blood pressure medication. CBD is a great remedy for some stressful situations, but does not necessarily treat all forms of hypertension.

Now it’s your turn

If you have any relevant stories to share with others that you feel might help, please feel free to share them in our comment section. Your comments will be highly appreciated. On our website we are trying to create a free educational forum, where everyone could share their thoughts and opinions, so other people could learn more about certain topics and make their conclusions. So, you will definitely help someone by sharing your own experience!