Before going into any kind of CBD oil regimen, everyone always asks us the same question: “Is CBD oil safe?”.
Taking into account that there is a lot to consider when trying a new supplement, this question is very broad and can only be fully answered with more research. The fact is, people’s main concern with CBD is whether it will make them feel high (or groggy). They believe in the common misconception that CBD and THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid in marihuana) is the same.
In this article, we will go through the most popular worries regarding the true safety of CBD oil.
So, Is CBD Safe or Not?
CBD is very safe. Contrary to what you may think, there have been dozens of large-scale clinical trials. Researchers have explored CBD’s effects on specific health conditions. Fortunately, all studies have reported very few cases of side effects associated with the supplement.
What is interesting is that many of said studies used CBD in exceptionally high doses — much higher than the average CBD user would even come close to taking. Some studies involve doses up to 600 mg of CBD. To put this into perspective, 10% of this dose (60 mg of CBD) is considered a high dose.
Can I Overdose on CBD?
The short answer is no. Mainly because CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that doesn’t produce the feeling of being “high” that is associated with other extracts of the cannabis plant. Moreover, CBD is known to have very low toxicity, thus being safe for human consumption.
Even in high doses, CBD is non-lethal. Of course, there is always going to be a critical dosage of any supplement, including CBD. However, the research just hasn’t found the upper tolerance limit for humans just yet. It is best to be safe and take the amount that you need, which is unlikely to be higher than what the studies have been working with.
To give you some context our most popular bottle of CBD oil THEIA has 1500mg per bottle and that is considered to be a high amount of CBD in a product.
What Happens If I Take Too Much CBD?
The most common side effect of taking too much CBD is drowsiness. It often makes people fall asleep much earlier than usual and stay asleep for several hours.
Some people may find that taking too much CBD can make them groggy the following morning.
In rare cases, taking too much CBD can make your blood pressure drop, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness, especially while standing.
Others may find that too much CBD can make them feel nauseous.
If you experience any of these symptoms, the best thing to do is remain patient and wait out the effects. The next time you use CBD, reduce the dose to avoid these negative side effects from happening again.
Is CBD Safe For Kids?
At ICARIA, we like to base our recommendations on the research that has been done on CBD. Since there are still no studies available on the short, mid, or long-term effects of CBD in kids, we don’t usually advise parents to use it on their children.
However, and based on customer reports, CBD is safe for kids, as long as it only contains CBD in its purest form, and the formula has no traces of THC.
Products that contain psychoactive doses of THC or use other non-hemp-derived ingredients may not be safe to use with kids.
Additionally, the dosage used is very important. Giving children too much CBD may result in unwanted side effects.
It’s also not safe to give CBD products to kids if they take other medications or have underlying health conditions before speaking about it with their doctor.
CBD should never be used to replace any medications without approval from your child’s doctor.
Is CBD Safe For Animals?
Yes! Animals also have endocannabinoid systems, just like humans. CBD is just as safe and effective for pets as it is for humans.
Many pet owners are using CBD to manage pain, inflammation, stiff muscles and joints, separation anxiety, and poor appetite.
As you search for CBD, you’ll see that most companies offer a few CBD products for pets, including CBD oils for dogs, CBD oils for cats, and CBD dog treats. CBD is even useful for horses.
Our pets are much smaller than us. As a result, they require significantly less CBD than what you might need. Tiny dogs or cats may only need 1 or 2 mg of CBD, while large dogs may need up to 50 mg per dose.
Animals don’t react well to THC, so it’s especially important to look for very low (under 0.3%) or 0% THC products.
Is CBD Safe If I Have a Health Condition?
If you have any underlying health conditions, it’s wise to speak with your doctor before trying CBD. This is especially important if you’re using prescription medications to treat your condition.
CBD has a high level of safety and rarely interferes with other medications for medical conditions — but there are a few exceptions.
A few specific examples of times where CBD may not be safe to use include:
- Low blood pressure
- Heart disease
- While taking immunosuppressive drugs
- After an organ transplant or major surgery
- Severe depression
- Schizophrenia or psychosis
- Alcoholism
Final Thoughts
If you are thinking of taking CBD oil for the first time, or if you have doubts about recommending it to someone else, you should rest assured. As long as you are self-aware of your body and your body’s reactions, CBD oil is safe to use. And even if we can’t recommend it for children, CBD oil is also a great complement to your pet’s diet.
