Factors like diet, stress and genetics can create high blood pressure. High blood pressure afflicts over 30% of adults on earth.
The disease can go unnoticed and untreated for years before it leads to a major health episode like a stroke or a heart attack.
There are a plethora of prescription and over-the-counter medications for high blood pressure already on the market; but there's a new one that's just starting to catch on—CBD oil. Studies show that CBD lowers blood pressure, and despite its derivation from cannabis, it doesn't have major side effects.
Read on to find out how you can treat your high blood pressure with CBD.
What is CBD Oil?
Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids. You may have heard of THC, which is the cannabinoid mainly responsible for the cannabis "high". CBD is another cannabinoid which doesn't affect the brain in the same way.
The human body uses cannabinoids to regulate things like mood, appetite, immune function, and pain sensation. CBD's main effects are muscle relaxation and pain relief. It also helps relieve anxiety and relaxes vascular tissues.
CBD oil is made by first separating CBD from the other cannabinoids in cannabis. The CBD is then mixed with another oil like hemp seed or coconut oil. It's usually sold in a small bottle with a dropper so you can add it to water or even tea or juice.
How Does CBD Help Blood Pressure?
CBD is the same sort of chemical that the body uses to regulate blood pressure through the ECS, or endocannabinoid system. When you ingest CBD, it excites CB-1 cannabinoid receptors in the body and dilates blood vessels. This relaxes circulation and increases blood flow.
How Can I Become Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure?
If you go to a physician for a physical examination, they'll take your blood pressure and tell you if it's abnormal, possibly prescribing treatment. It's also possible to diagnose oneself using a blood pressure monitor.
If your systolic blood pressure (the pressure when your heart beats) is between 120 and 129 and your diastolic blood pressure (the pressure between beats) is 80 or lower, you're considered to have high blood pressure.
CBD may also decrease your blood pressure if you suffer from anxiety. Anxiety increases heart rate and blood pressure, and CBD can reduce anxiety.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD sometimes produces mild side effects like fatigue, diarrhea, and dry mouth. It has a low potential for abuse and addiction.
Make sure you get CBD oil from a reputable source.
Is CBD Legal?
Laws surrounding marijuana products are often hazy, and the legal status of CBD varies by its method of production. Hemp and marijuana are two parts of the same plant species' life cycle, and marijuana is illegal while hemp is not. If CBD was sourced from marijuana, it's federally illegal, but if from hemp, it's federally legal. Some states have legalized marijuana, some have criminalized both hemp and marijuana, some only marijuana.
Here are the states where CBD is legal. Note that state law changes rapidly so please do your own research.
Maitreya Loving-Kindness