Going out with friends for drinks always sounds great until you wake up the next day. If one or two alcoholic beverages become a heavy night of drinking, a hangover is unavoidable. Hangover symptoms range from mild headaches to intense nausea and vomiting, as you swear up and down, “I’m never drinking again!”
Everyone has a hangover cure they live by, including greasy foods, Pedialyte, pickle juice, and extra sleep. Some prefer the “hair of the dog” and begin drinking again. But there’s another method that provides quick hangover relief without side effects: CBD oil. In this article, we explore the causes and symptoms of the dreaded morning after and explain the benefits of using CBD for hangovers.
Why Do Hangovers Happen?
Alcohol is a poison. When you introduce this toxin into your system, your body goes into defense mode, removing the harmful chemicals as quickly as possible. Also, alcohol is a diuretic, which explains the many trips to the bathroom. Alcohol consumption suppresses vasopressin, a hormone that instructs your kidneys to absorb water instead of releasing it through your bladder. As a result, dehydration naturally occurs.
Dehydration is the cause of most hangover symptoms, but other problems stem from reduced blood sugar levels and increased stomach acids. A hangover can last up to 24 hours, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed. If you are hoping for quicker relief, taking CBD oil for hangovers might be the way to go.
Does CBD Help With Hangovers?
CBD products are proven to help with several health issues, including pain, acne, heart disease, and even cancer. But does CBD help with hangovers? Let’s look at how CBD alleviates these familiar hangover symptoms.
Headaches
The most common mark of a hangover is brain fog or a debilitating headache that won’t go away. These aches get caused by dehydration and nutrient deficiency. In addition to water, your bladder also flushes out magnesium, sodium, and potassium. These deficiencies create an inflammatory response that can leave you in severe pain.
Drinking water during and after a night of drinking combats dehydration, but it’s not always enough. CBD oil is a natural alternative with anti-inflammatory properties. Turning to CBD for hangovers can reduce the swelling in your head, providing quick relief. Also, while CBD doesn’t rehydrate you, it does cause dry mouth, encouraging you to drink more water.
Nausea and Vomiting
If you go overboard with your alcohol consumption, you’ll likely face nausea and vomiting that night or the morning after. Alcohol increases stomach acids, which leads to indigestion, abdominal pain, and inflammation of the stomach lining. Drinking also signals the appropriately named “vomiting center” of your brain, causing stomach muscles to contract and evacuate the alcohol in your system through vomiting. If you’re vomiting a lot, CBD can help calm your stomach.
Similar to headaches, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD relieve the pain caused by stomach inflammation. Consuming CBD oil for hangovers is also a great way to reduce nausea. Your body’s vomiting center gets regulated by the endocannabinoid system, which is the same system CBD uses to excrete itself in your body.
CBD activates the serotonin receptors in the brainstem, decreasing the release of serotonin. This interaction with the serotonin receptors quells the feeling of nauseousness and takes away your desire to vomit. CBD is also an antioxidant that replenishes vitamins, flushes out toxins, and reduces damage caused by free radicals.
Anxiety & Depression
Many people drink alcohol to alleviate stress. Unfortunately, heavy alcohol use can increase anxiousness and depression. The intense anxiety accompanying some hangovers is due to elevated cortisol levels that alcohol produces in your brain. Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone, which also increases heart rate and blood pressure. These hangover symptoms lead to nervousness, unpredictable mood swings, and an overall uncomfortable morning.
By using CBD for hangovers, you can ease your stress and maintain proper cortisol levels. CBD interacts with the brain’s serotonin receptors that regulate anxiety and fear. CBD oil has the same effect on your body as anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants. CBD inhibits your body from producing cortisol, which will relieve anxiety and make your hangover easier to manage.
CBD Dosage for Hangovers
The correct amount of CBD dosage for hangovers depends on the person and the amount of alcohol consumed. Everyone’s metabolism is different, so it’s best to start with a low dosage. If you do not get your desired hangover relief, slowly increase the CBD dosage until you start to feel better. Remember, you might not feel the effects of CBD until 20 minutes after consumption.
The standard CBD dosage is 5mg. A healthy daily dose of CBD oil is 25mg, but if your hangover is severe, 50mg might offer better relief. If you use CBD products with a higher potency, you should reduce the dosage.
CBD products provide the most effective and safest dosage on their label. Your weight determines the recommended dose. For a 100-pound person, a low amount of CBD may equal 10mg, while a 200-pound person might require 20mg. If you take prescription medications, always ask your doctor about any adverse interactions with CBD.
Final Thoughts
Hangovers can be devastating. If you truly want to avoid a hangover, don’t drink alcohol. But if you are going to drink, the big question is: does CBD help with hangovers? Thankfully, the answer is yes.
CBD oil can reduce the inflammation that causes headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, indigestion, and vomiting. Consuming CBD after a night of drinking can also lower your cortisol levels, alleviating anxiety and depression. There are no harmful side effects to using CBD, and you can safely mix it with alcohol.
Aside from drinking lots of water, using CBD oil for hangovers is the best way to face the next day.
FAQs About CBD Oil for Hangovers
Question: Can CBD get rid of a hangover?
Answer: CBD interacts with serotonin receptors to help a person relax. CBD oil reduces anxiety, depression, inflammation, nausea, and vomiting. Using CBD oil is not a definite cure for a hangover but helps get you back to normal quicker.
Question: Can you take CBD after drinking?
Answer: CBD is safe to take after drinking as there are no harmful side effects. CBD also protects against cell damage and relieves withdrawal and addiction symptoms. If taken while drinking, CBD may enhance the effects of alcohol, causing drowsiness. To avoid sedation, take CBD in low doses.
Question: Does CBD help with anxiety?
Answer: Yes, CBD is used to reduce anxiety and depression. CBD has the same effects as anti-anxiety medications and lowers stress by prohibiting cortisol secretion. Studies show that insomnia can also be helped by using CBD.
Question: What is the only cure for a hangover?
Answer: Time is the only absolute cure for a hangover. Hangover symptoms can last up to 24 hours. After that time, you should feel better. Symptoms can be relieved by drinking water and eating foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates.
