Does CBD Help With Hangovers?

With the holidays coming up, that may mean at least one hangover is in your future. After celebrating and a night of drinking, the following morning can be a real buzz kill - literally. And of course, it's always better to drink alcohol in moderation and skip the drama.

But lucky for you, if you've overdone it with the alcohol consumption, all hope is not lost. When you don't have time to wait for the symptoms to go away on their own, there's a remedy that can actually help your ginfluenza.

Does CBD help with hangovers? It doesn't treat, cure or prevent the hangover, exactly. It just makes the symptoms hurt a lot less so you can get back to being one of the living. 

But why? And what's the best way to take it? We'll cover all that, so keep reading to learn why CBD is one fix worth trying.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex system in your body. It plays a role in regulating sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and more.

Both alcohol and CBD interact with this system. As you might intuitively guess, alcohol affects the ECS in a negative way. Long term alcohol use can cause severe imbalances in the ECS. Even short term use can lower endocannabinoid levels.

A study in rats in 2007 showed a decrease in endocannabinoid levels after 24 hours of starting a liquid alcohol diet. Other related substances that affect mood also seem to decrease as well.

Especially interesting is the fact that studies seem to show this effect occurs greatest in areas of the brain already associated with alcohol addiction.

There's still a lot of research to be done in this area, but it seems to be possible that CBD may be able to stimulate activity in the brain that compensates for the decreases caused by alcohol. It interacts with the CB1 receptors in a way that keeps the brain "working" in spite of the effect of alcohol, it appears.

CBD provides its own endocannabinoids, letting the ECS use them so that it can keep working efficiently. If alcohol lowers these necessary levels, then supplementing them with CBD may be a logical solution. It also seems as if CBD may stimulate the ECS to make more endocannabinoids.

All right, so maybe all that other stuff is just a lot of fancy theories about why CBD could work. Currently, there just aren't enough studies to say conclusively. While the work that's out there seems to support it, it's still just "maybe" at this point.

But what we do know is that CBD is already used to treat many of the symptoms that you're probably suffering from when you've consumed alcohol in excess.

For example, studies have already shown that too much alcohol causes inflammation. This can be the source of a lot of your pain the next day. But we also already know that Indica is a great answer, as it has anti-inflammatory properties!

Indica strains like our CBD Kimbo Kush also help with pain relief, work as a muscle relaxant, and can improve your sleep - all things that help fight back against a nasty hangover.

Sativa meanwhile, helps increase serotonin, energy and alertness. For example, Eden helps with pain relief and can reduce stress levels.

Some people also find that Sativa works well for migraines - though others argue in favor of Indica. Ultimately, each strain has their own strengths, whether it's a Sativa, Indica, or Hybrid (mix of characteristics of both).

Regardless of the strain, some studies show that hemp-derived CBD can also stimulate the liver. Since alcohol lowers blood sugar levels as a result of slowing down your liver, CBD may be an effective way to minimize this effect. Some of your hangover symptoms may be due to your altered blood sugar levels, so why not kick your liver into gear to help clear things out?

The Food and Drug Administration does not support these claims. We aren't doctors, and opinions in this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or cure any medical issues. Always consult a medical professional for adequate care.

In theory, you could try marijuana for a hangover. But assuming marijuana is even legal in your area, there's other drawbacks. Marijuana has high levels of THC, which may counteract some of the benefits of CBD when it comes to a hangover.

Some people find marijuana increases nausea and vomiting. And the "stoned" feeling can make things worse when you're already hung over. Read more about differences between hemp vs marijuana here.

It seems like getting CBD without all the THC is the best way to deal with hangover. This, of course, means skipping the weed and going with hemp instead. You won't feel stoned or high, just better. And since hemp is legal in all 50 states, for most people that's the better solution anyway!

If you've tried CBD in other forms, such as a CBD oil or tincture, you might find it hard to believe that it could help with a hangover. To be honest, you're probably right. CBD in those forms has lower bioavailability and slower absorption. Even ingesting CBD can take nearly an hour to kick in!

But smokable hemp like our craft hemp nugs is something you can feel working right away. You can put it in a pipe or roll, for relief in minutes. It's the most effective way to feel better sooner. Don't want to roll your own hemp joint? Buy a pack of pre rolls instead.

And pro-tip: be sure to drink lots of water. We all know alcohol is a diuretic. But hemp has a diuretic effect as well - meaning both the problem and the solution are going to leave you extra dry. Hydrate well.

We recommend picking a full-spectrum CBD product for the best effect - all our products at Dreamland Organics are full-spectrum.

When it comes to a hangover, you're going to want relief right away. That's why we recommend smokable hemp - it absorbs faster and better into your bloodstream to start working instantly.

It won't make you feel high like weed does, because the THC levels are so low. That's also why it's legal in all 50 states. You get the benefits of CBD without the high!

But it's important to be careful and discriminating when you're picking out a CBD product. Many of them aren't full spectrum, which means you won't get the most effective results. CBD products aren't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so there's a certain amount of 'buyer beware'. Do your research and be sure that you know what you're getting.

For example, some companies sell Delta 8 products. We don't here at Dreamland, and we don't believe they're safe. We recommend staying away from any companies that recommend them.

We also know that many companies claim to be organic, but really aren't. If you want a healthy and safe product that won't do you any harm, it's important to know where it comes from.

We create products that "put some respect on your lungs." No one should be smoking inferior, industrial grade hemp - it's garbage. But even worse than that is smoking hemp that's dangerous. Not all hemp farms raise their product with the same strict standards and quality that we do.

We cultivate our hemp seriously for the absolute best results - this is top shelf craft hemp. We raise it outside and hand feed our plants with compost teas. There's absolutely no pesticides or sprays.

We then hand trim the hemp nugs and slow-dry them. Next is a glass jar cure, for a minimum of 60 days. And our products come with a certificate of analysis by an independent lab - so you can trust that our stuff is exactly what we say it is.

CBD shows potential as a possible hangover remedy. It won't cure the hangover, but it can help fight the symptoms. As a result, it can help you get back to your day without too much suffering.

The best source for CBD is smokable hemp. It enters the blood stream quicker for faster results. It also has more bioavailability and higher absorption than other methods of taking in CBD.

Always be careful when selecting a place to purchase hemp. Many supposed "craft" hemp growers are not craft at all. They sell shoddy industrial hemp or products that may not be full spectrum. Or worse, they sell products that are dangerous and laced with chemicals like pesticides or sprays. CBD is not monitored by the FDA, so take your time picking quality smokable hemp from a company you can trust.

And, of course, continue to use common sense and good practices for managing your hangover. Drink lots of water, rest, and eat a good meal. Our advice is not intended to diagnose or treat a more serious condition. Products are not intended to replace the advice of a professional. If you have signs of alcohol poisoning, seek immediate medical attention.