CBD oil is becoming more and more popular for its effectiveness in treating heart disease and hypertension. Naturally, one would be led to ask if using CBD oil could be beneficial with treating a hemostasis disorder.
While it has been proven to be relatively safe to use a CBD product, caution is needed if you are also using medication for thinning the blood. If you are putting thought into using CBD oil along with a blood thinner, or you just want to know if the combination is safe, here is what you will want to know.
How is Blood Clotting Affected by CBD Oil?
There is still a lot of research and study needing to be completed when it comes to how blood thinners are affected by CBD oil. That being said, we do know of a few factors that will be significant. We know that blood flow is impacted by CBD oil, for starters.
CBD aids our circulatory system through the dilation of blood vessels. This results in the blood being able to flow more quickly throughout the body, making it less likely that the person using CBD oil will have issues with blood clots. A study was completed in 2017, which could be useful with the prevention of thrombosis, the forming of blood clots.
There was another study completed on the anticoagulant effects of cannabis. It was discovered that cannabinol and THC are both effective antithrombotics. This doubles the time needed for a blood clot to form in both lean and obese test subjects when a comparison was made to the control group.
Both THC and CBN are found in full-spectrum CBD products. A full-spectrum CBD oil will typically have a THC level below .3 percent. This makes CBD oil federally legal to use. If you are someone who doesn’t want THC in your system but would still like to receive the benefits of using a CBD oil, there are plenty of broad-spectrum CBD products available on the market.
These products do not have any THC in them. Before putting too much thought into whether you would rather use a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD product, you will need to make sure they are both legal for use in your state. While they are legal at the federal level, many states in the US still consider them illegal.
Interactions Between Blood Thinners and CBD Oil
For the most part, CBD oil has been found to be well tolerated by most people. The majority of consumers have not experienced any adverse side effects. Still, there can be a negative interaction with a few common pharmaceuticals. There are plenty of natural substances, including CBD oil, that slow down the body’s system for processing toxins.
This is the P450 enzyme system. It’s made with liver enzymes used for breaking down specific medications into smaller parts. This allows them to be more easily processed by our bodies. When a compound such as CBD oil inhibits the P450 system, these other medications that are processed by the P450 system will stay in the body longer than they are intended to. This increases the chances of negative side effects being felt due to medication in the body that is unprocessed.
The P450 system isn’t used to process all pharmaceuticals. Because of this, regardless of what you are taking, you need to have a discussion with the prescribing doctor or physician before starting to use a CBD oil product along with your medication. This allows your medication to be adjusted the way it needs to be, making interaction as limited as possible if experienced at all.
Safely Taking Blood Thinners and CBD Oil Together
If you are going to combine a blood thinner and CBD oil, there are several factors you are going to need to take into consideration. Your weight, health, and general tolerance will all play a role in determining the interactions you might experience. With such a high number of variables needing to be kept in mind, you need to discuss with your doctor before adding a CBD product to your medicine regimen. The two of you can develop a plan together, ensuring the smallest disruption, if any at all, to your system.
To further minimize the potential risk of adverse reactions between your anticoagulant and CBD oil, it’s suggested starting with a lower CBD dose than will be recommended by the product or brand. Once you learn precisely how your body is going to respond to CBD oil being part of your mix, slowly begin increasing the dose you are taking over a period of time instead of all at once. This will not only allow tolerance for CBD to develop but also gives a doctor the flexibility and time needed to lower the amount of blood thinners you are taking if need be.
Safest CBD Oils to Use Along with Blood Thinners
There are plenty of CBD product varieties currently on the market. With so many options to choose from, many people new to CBD oil don’t even know where to get started. If you want a safe CBD product that can be used along with a blood thinner or simply want to start using CBD oil for more prevention against blood clotting, here are a few things you want to keep in mind.
To get started, choose the method of CBD delivery that will work the best for you. You will be able to select anything from edibles, capsules, vapes, or even CBD drops. While you will get the fastest results from using a CBD vape, using a CBD drop will be more discreet, and the effects you feel are going to last much longer. Capsules are easy to use and could be a familiar option for those newer to consuming CBD oil.
When choosing a method, you will want to note that any form of consumption involving the digestive system, such as an edible, will require more time before the results are felt. Also, when the digestive system is involved, the CBD oil may lose some of its potency.
Once you have chosen the method of use you prefer, you are going to want to find a product that is of high CBD oil quality. You will also want to make sure the CBD is grown organically. Make sure the test results from an independent, third party are provided. If these results aren’t found on the product’s packaging, you will be able to find them on the brand’s website.
If they aren’t found there, this is a red flag that you should look for a different brand. Along with these lab results, go over the details of the Certificates of Analysis. This will inform you of any heavy metals, chemical additives, pesticides, or herbicides used in the growth process.