Holiday Rescue: CBD for Hangover Relief
- Everyone has their hangover remedies, and some people use CBD for hangover relief.
- CBD has the potential to help ease the dreaded hangover symptoms, but more research is needed in this area.
- To use CBD for hangover relief, you can consume it anyway you prefer, and even in coffee.
6-minute read
Using CBD for Hangover Relief
CBD has the potential to relieve a myriad of ills—pain, anxiety, nausea, and more. You might be able to add CBD for hangover relief to that list. The research isn’t completely in yet, so don’t go crazier than usual. CBD won’t entirely cure your hangover, so prevention is always the best course. But, we all occasionally overdo it. Personally, we’ve found that CBD helps us a lot when we do. We need more science. But there are a few studies that suggest it might reduce those painful morning-after symptoms. So, this season, if you’ve had 1 too many glasses of holiday cheer, you might want to give CBD a try.
So What is CBD?
Let’s break it down to the basics. CBD is a cannabinoid. That means it’s one of the active compounds found in cannabis. But it’s the non-psychotropic part of the plant. So it won’t get you high. There are 3 main forms of CBD—full-spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate.
Full Spectrum CBD
Full-Spectrum CBD is a form of CBD that contains all of the compounds of the cannabis plant, That includes a little THC, but not enough to get you high.
Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad-Spectrum CBD has most of the naturally occurring compounds, but no THC.
CBD Isolate
Isolate is the purest form of CBD. To make isolate, CBD is removed from the other compounds of the plant.
What’s the Science on CBD for Hangover Symptoms?
Because of prohibition, there isn’t much science yet specifically on how CBD interacts with alcohol. But one tiny study suggests that taking CBD might actually lower blood alcohol levels. Another study suggests that CBD might also reduce the toxic effects of alcohol on the liver. Some health experts discourage mixing CBD and alcohol. But that’s only because alcohol will make CBD less effective. So far, though, we haven’t been able to find any science-based downside to using CBD for hangover relief.
Why Could You Use CBD for Hangover Symptoms?
Personally, we find that CBD offers us loads of benefits. We turn to it largely because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can contribute to increased pain and headaches. Those, of course, are classic hangover symptoms. So anything that might reduce them is worth a try in our books. That’s why so many people take ibuprofen for their hangovers. Like CBD, it’s an anti-inflammatory. But unlike ibuprofen, CBD hasn’t been shown to have any negative side effects on your liver or digestive system.
CBD and Alcohol
Alcohol is a diuretic that causes dehydration. And dehydration can provoke the pain, headache, and nausea we all recognize too well as a hangover. Obviously, your first line of defense against dehydration is to drink lots of water. But fluid loss and dehydration also trigger the body’s inflammatory response. Since CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits, it might soothe the discomfort that comes with over-indulging in alcohol. CBD might also help you reduce any nausea and vomiting. Of course, THC is a much more effective treatment for nausea. But, when you’re already hungover, you might not want to get high on top of everything else. While CBD isn’t as effective as THC, studies show that it still might help you get your nausea under control.
CBD for Hangover Moodiness
Have you ever found yourself feeling moody after a night of drinking? CBD might also help you with this hangover symptom. That’s because the cannabinoid acts on your serotonin receptors. Those are the neurotransmitters in our brains that regulate mood. So, by balancing out your serotonin system, CBD might help you fight off your over-indulgence blues. Alcohol can also reduce your blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar symptoms include fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, and lightheadedness. Sound familiar?
What’s the Best Formulation of CBD for Hangover Relief?
CBD comes in every form that cannabis comes in. But for hangover relief, we suggest using CBD oil. That’s because it’s the best of both worlds for fast relief and controlling your dosage. To get that optimal combo, be careful how you take it.
Put It Under Your Tongue
To get fast relief, don’t just swallow your CBD oil. Squirt the oil under your tongue and hold it there for a couple minutes so the cannabinoid is absorbed there. The CBD gets into your bloodstream much faster this way than going through your digestive system. That’s because the mucous membrane under your tongue quickly absorbs it into your blood vessels and diffuses it throughout your blood system as a whole.
Read the Label
Cannabis oil generally comes in a bottle with a dropper that shows how many milligrams you’re taking. But remember to check the math on how many milligrams of CBD are in the bottle. Then divide the total quantity of CBD by the quantity of oil to get the right dosage. For example, a 30ml bottle with 2250mg of CBD contains 75mg of CBD in each milliliter.
Dosing CBD for Hangover Symptoms
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again. Start low and go slow. If you’re new to CBD, always start with only 5-10mg. That way, if you’re the rare individual who has an adverse reaction, it’ll be minor. For most of us, though, our tolerance for CBD is much higher than it is for THC. Of course, that’s because it doesn’t make you high. So someone who can only tolerate 5mg of THC might be able to easily tolerate 75mg of CBD. The key is to take it slow and listen to your body.
Caffeine and CBD for Hangover Relief
Everyone has their own hangover remedies. But one of the most common is caffeine. That’s coffee for most of us. As we all know, caffeine gives you a quick energy boost. So it’s great for dealing with the fatigue of a hangover. If you’re a chronic headache sufferer, you also know that caffeine can help with your aching noggin. But, when you’re already feeling awful, the last thing you want is caffeine jitters. That’s where CBD comes in again. It can reduce those jitters. Just use a high quality CBD—and one that’s not formulated to help you sleep. By combining CBD with coffee, you get the benefits of both without the caffeine side effects. If you’re up to it, try making our scrumptious recipe for whipped cannabis coffee. But, of course, like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic that will make dehydration worse. So use caffeine for your hangover in moderation.
Making the Most of CBD for Hangover Relief
To give CBD for hangover relief the best chance of working, we suggest being careful about what you put in your body. First, only use high-quality CBD. CBD is a supplement, not a drug. So it’s not tested by the Food and Drug Administration. Because of that, we’ve found that the effectiveness of CBD products is all over the place. Our favorite high-quality CBD is oHHo. Or, you won’t find a more tasty CBD than Flor de Maria CBD chocolates. Both work for us every time. Second, use CBD in moderation until you know how your body reacts.
