CBD and Alcohol – Can You Mix Them and What Effects Can You Expect?

There is nothing shameful in consuming moderate amounts of alcohol from time to time, especially if you really have a joyful reason for it. But if you are taking CBD, can you drink alcohol at the same time? Are alcohol and CBD compatible? We already have a detailed answer to this question. We think you will be interested in discovering it too.

CBD and Alcohol – What’s Their Essence and Action Mechanism

Before answering the question of whether it is possible to mix CBD and alcohol, we would like to tell you more about each component’s nature. Let’s find out how CBD and alcohol affect the human body when used separately.

What Is CBD, and How Does It Work?

CBD is one of the elements derived from a cannabis plant. There are more than a hundred such components in this herb in total, and they are called cannabinoids.

You will be surprised to find out that the human nervous system contains cannabinoids as well. These are invisible but very important receptors contained in our brain, cells, and glands.  Together, they form the Endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for the balance of our body (homeostasis) and regulating various body processes.

How does CBD affect this system? Right after it has been consumed, CBD begins to interact with the endocannabinoid system’s receptors (CB1 and CB2). They, in turn, send signals to various systems of the body, which begin to enhance their work and gradually solve a specific physical and mental health problem, for example, decrease pain or reduce anxiety.

The benefits of CBD for our health and well-being are not yet fully understood, but scientists have already researched that the CBD may:

To answer whether it is possible to mix CBD and alcohol, you need to learn more about alcohol as a chemical, so let’s take a look.

What Is Alcohol, And How Does It Work?

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol, ethanol) is a drug that is extremely popular in the world: every second adult drinks alcohol. In the US, 85.6% of people over the age of 18 have tried alcohol at least once in their life. You can eat and drink it. Yes, alcohol is added to foods, such as sweets.

It’s not recommended to consume alcohol in its pure form. That’s why it powers various drinks, which come in different strengths. Beer contains about 5% alcohol, wine – about 11%, champagne – about 12%. Such drinks as vodka and whiskey contain approximately 35% ethyl alcohol. 

How does alcohol work? When we drink alcohol, it enters the stomach through the mouth and esophagus, where about 20% of the alcohol is absorbed. The rest ≈80% is absorbed by the small intestine. Then the alcohol enters the bloodstream.

The amount of alcohol that finally enters the bloodstream depends on several factors:

The consequences of alcohol consumption are also well-known, and most often they are checked on a personal experience.  According to numerous researches, high alcohol concentrations in the blood can:

• slow down the reaction and impair memory
• lead to a loss of control over alcohol consumption
• reduce stress and induce feelings of happiness and joy
• reduces the level of clinical depression (in people who consume large amounts of alcohol, it is increased)
• cause sedation.

As you can see, some of the consequences of using alcohol in moderate amounts and consuming CBD overlap. For example, both may be helpful for dealing with stress, but alcohol is obviously an unhealthy option. What happens when both of the substances are used together and can you mix CBD and alcohol? Let’s think about it. 

What Happens When You Take CBD with Alcohol?

Very often, people who are undergoing treatment or taking supplements to improve their health are advised to abstain from alcohol during this period. Such drinks may interfere with the drug’s desired effect, or such a  combination may cause side effects.

But can you drink alcohol and take CBD? When it comes to CBD and alcohol interaction, there are still more questions than answers. As we wrote earlier, CBD and alcohol separately have a sedative effect on the human body. And when taken at the same time, the calming and relaxing effects can be increased. What does CBD feel like in this case and what the simultaneous consumption may lead to? The FDA warns that this condition could lead to increased injuries.

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A 1979 study also confirms that high doses of CBD with alcohol can cause poor coordination and misperception of time in humans. More recent and extended research on CBD and alcohol interaction has not been conducted.

As we can see, the use of CBD and alcohol isn’t fully understood yet. To make the combination of these ingredients safe for you, drink alcohol in small amounts, and buy top-notch CBD only.

Are There Any Side Effects to CBD and Alcohol Mix?

Alcohol causes some side effects: coordination problems, behavioral patterns changes, hangovers, cell damage, plus various illnesses, and addiction in the long run. CBD, in turn, is believed to have beneficial effects on a person’s well-being and health. Can CBD help fight the side effects of alcohol? It’s time to sort this out.

Does CBD Oil Help with Hangovers?

Probably many people who drink alcohol at least once in their lives have experienced hangovers. The most common cause of a hangover is an excess of alcohol consumed the night before. 

According to the WHO, a safe dose of alcohol is considered to be 40 g of pure alcohol per day for a man (which is equivalent to 2 bottles of beer/100 g of vodka) and 30 g – for women (1.5 bottles of beer/80 g of vodka). The consumed dosage of alcohol that goes beyond this measure can lead to a hangover, which is intoxication with products of incomplete processing of ethyl alcohol.

Some people drink special pills to fight hangovers, others eat well, and others prefer to rest. But if you believe the reviews of some users and the researches dwelled on this issue, another option for dealing with hangovers is CBD. In this case, CBD oil and alcohol can be a winning combination. 

In their opinion, CBD helps fight such hangover symptoms as:

That is, make sure to prepare a CBD oil for the morning if there is an upcoming party. It may gently help you reduce the unpleasant symptoms so here is how to choose a CBD oil to better match your health needs. 

CBD and Prevention of Cell Damage and Disease

Regular drinking or high doses of alcohol can lead to health problems. For example, due to chemical reactions accompanying the withdrawal of alcohol with the help of the liver, its cells can be damaged. The organ will try to heal itself, and this may cause inflammation. As a result, liver disease and even cancer can develop. Severe liver disease and long-term alcohol consumption can cause severe and permanent changes in the brain, plus irreversible addiction.

But as for the more pleasant news, a 2014 study found that CBD can protect brain cells from damage. This test was carried out on animals, using 5% CBD in gel form. As a result of the trial, the destruction of brain cells decreased by 48.8%.

In 2014, another animal study that looked at the effects of CBD on liver cells was conducted. In this case, the mice were injected with CBD intraperitoneally. The supplement acted as an antioxidant and increased the process of cell regeneration after steatosis (a disease in which fat accumulates in liver cells, which is caused by toxic effects).

But keep in mind that similar studies on CBD oil and drinking alcohol with human participants have not been conducted, so to date, it is too early to say whether CBD will have a positive effect on human cells.

CBD and Blood Alcohol Levels

Alcohol is measured in ppm (part per million). The higher this indicator, the higher the degree of intoxication. But according to the research, CBD may help change alcohol levels. The clinical trial involved 10 volunteers. The first group took a placebo, and the other participants took 200 ml of CBD and alcohol. CBD reduced blood ppm in volunteers compared to those taking a placebo.

Surprisingly, a 2018 study conducted with animals showed the opposite results. According to research, taking CBD and alcohol together doesn’t lower blood ethanol levels.

As we can see, the research results are contradictory. Still, our advice remains the same  – be careful with alcohol consumption and make the best choices for your health.  For example, CBD gummies can be an option for your mental and physical well-being, and nervous system balance without alcohol. The mix of CBD gummies and alcohol may be possible but you still should be careful. 

CBD and Therapy for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is the result of long-term alcohol consumption. In severe cases, the addiction development mechanism becomes irreversible but in other situations, a complex physical and physical treatment (with the help of CBD as an option) may help fight alcohol addiction and abuse. Here is what studies say. 

There are still not enough studies on CBD oil and alcohol addiction. But CBD’s beneficial effects on other addictions have also been confirmed by other studies:

• CBD may help reduce drug addiction. CBD in doses of 400 mg and 800 mg helped reduce heroin cravings, lower anxiety and heart rate, and cortisol, which is the “stress hormone.” As the study points out, CBD may be a non-addictive option in addiction treatment.
• CBD may help reduce tobacco dependence. Study participants confirmed a 40% reduction in cigarette consumption after using a CBD vape for 7 days. Still, there is a reverse side to the coin – isn’t CBD vaping going to become a new addictive habit? While CBD is believed not to be addictive by itself, smoking and vaping rituals can become a part of a lifestyle quite quickly, especially in previous nicotine smokers. 

According to the studies we have cited above, CBD may be quite promising for dealing with addictions of different nature, mainly because of its ability to balance the nervous system and get it back on the right track.

So, Can You Safely Mix CBD and Alcohol?

There are currently not enough studies and arguments to confirm that mixing CBD with alcohol is 100% safe. Some research results indicate that such a mix can enhance the sedative effect. In contrast, others suggest that CBD and alcohol mix can lead to impaired coordination and, as a result, to injury. It is also unknown whether the combinations of CBD oil with alcohol in high and low doses have the same effect and how a person will feel in each case.

So, taking care of your health and well-being, we kindly recommend avoiding drinking alcohol while taking CBD. At least, make sure to use small doses of alcohol and the same small doses of CBD if you want to consume both at the same time. Also, consult your doctor before mixing CBD and alcohol, plus pay attention to the top-notch CBD options available at our store.

Summary

CBD mixed with alcohol in moderate amounts may be considered relatively safe. But keep in mind that this mix can enhance each other’s effect. You can become more sleepy and relaxed. 

Also, if you have specific health conditions, make sure to see your healthcare professionals before getting started with CBD as such, and before mixing it with alcohol. Also, make sure to buy natural and organic CBD from a brand you can trust. Unabis offers our customers only premium CBD oils and CBD gummies that we ship for free to any state.