When you begin considering introducing cannabidiol (CBD) products into your health and wellness regimen, it is only natural to wonder how using CBD may interact with other substances, such as alcohol. While many alcohol manufacturers have decided to piggyback off of CBD’s new popularity by creating CBD-infused beer and other beverages, some consumers question the safety of this combination. In this article, we will answer all of your questions regarding CBD and alcohol.
What is CBD?
A naturally occurring compound that is found in the cannabis plant, CBD is an oil that is extracted from the plant and incorporated into a variety of products such as tinctures, capsules, balms, and lotions. Research regarding CBD suggests that CBD can help with pain management, mitigate and reduce anxiety and depression, improve skin health, and more. Plus, CBD does not have any THC, which is found in the marijuana plant; therefore, using CBD can help you relax and stabilize your mood, but will not get you high.
Alcoholic Beverages & CBD: What to Know
It is common knowledge that alcoholic beverages can loosen a person up, reduce inhibitions, and assist in relaxation—just like CBD. However, by combining these two things together, a person may experience amplified effects as well as other symptoms such as sedation and sleepiness. Furthermore, combining CBD with alcohol is likely to impair motor skills and could impact one’s perception of time.
Of course, more study is needed to confirm the outcomes of combining alcohol and CBD, but early indicators show that using CBD and alcohol together could intensify the effects of what a person experiences individually with each substance.
CBD Could Help Reduce the Effects of Drinking
However, while the research is still out regarding whether it is safe to use CBD and alcohol together, some general assumptions can be made regarding CBD’s healing abilities on the liver.
It is well known that drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver. In 2013, the Journal of Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior conducted an animal study that involved administering CBD gel and injections to rodents that had been given alcohol. The results from the study showed that CBD has the potential to mitigate neurodegenerative and oxidative liver damage that is regularly associated with alcohol use.
Another study in 2014, which also involved rodents, found that when the animals were given CBD 30 minutes prior to alcohol, there was less oxidative liver stress when compared to animals that were only given alcohol.
While these studies show promise, more research needs to be completed—and it must involve humans in order to come to a more distinctive conclusion about the healing powers of CBD as it relates to alcohol use.
What About Hangovers?
Finally, the last point we will address is CBD’s ability to help treat a hangover. While CBD oil is unlikely to alleviate the immediate impact of drinking alcoholic beverages, it may be possible to use CBD as a cure for a hangover, especially one that comes with the symptoms of nausea and headaches. While everyone metabolizes alcohol differently—and the same is true about CBD—it is entirely possible that CBD’s antioxidant and neuroprotective properties may help the morning after be just a little more bearable.
It must be noted, however, that a hangover and alcohol withdrawal are very different things. If you or someone you love is suffering from alcohol withdrawal because of long-term abuse, know that this can be a deadly condition, and you should pursue medical assistance—even if you are taking CBD to help manage symptoms.
In closing, CBD presents many exciting and enticing opportunities to potentially improve one’s health and wellness. Of course, you should consult with a doctor regarding your own specific health concerns regarding alcohol use and CBD.
The team at Asé Pure Naturals is passionate about helping individuals interested in using CBD identify the best products for them. For more information about our high-quality, all organic CBD products, please visit us online.
