CBD for Heart Health: What We Know

January 22, 2020

What are heart patients doing today, aside from taking pharmaceuticals such as beta blockers and other prescription remedies to help bolster the heart’s performance, or having physical aids implanted, such as defibrillators and mechanical heart valves?

Some have heard about CBD oil, and are looking into it, asking if it might offer any significant benefits.

Let’s look at what the world of medicine does and doesn’t know about CBD oil—particularly as it relates to heart health.

First, What Is CBD?

CBD—in longhand, cannabidiol—is a natural element of hemp, which is one type of the Cannabis sativa plants.

CBD has a special ability to interact with the human body’s internal cannabinoid receptors. These receptors moderate our experiences of pain, distress, anxiety, happiness, hunger, sleep… The list goes on.

Recently, the hemp plant, from which our CBD is made, was legally decoupled from the psychoactive compounds associated with another strain of cannabis. This means CBD is legal to sell across the United States because it is now classified as an agricultural product, not a Schedule 1 drug. As many people have said: It’s about time.

Very quickly after that legal change took effect, CBD rocketed in demand. It appeared in retail outlets and online as a natural, non-psychoactive and safe way to quell pain, depression, and stressful imbalances.

Today, an almost infinite range of CBD products can be found. Oils are in special demand for those who wish to measure CBD in exact amounts for regular dosing, and at Mtiva that’s what we sell.

Is CBD Safe?

As we’ve noted, CBD is a fairly new entry to the North American wellness world. Think back. You weren’t hearing about CBD five years ago. And now, after the watershed legal changes impacting CBD, suddenly researchers will have access to major funding sources to study CBD’s effects on many conditions. We have seen promising signs in what’s come out so far, internationally as well as from the North American research communities.

CBD may become a mainstream option, as Peter Grinspoon, MD, writing for Harvard University's heath blog, explains. People are looking to CBD for help with sleeplessness, depression and anxiety or prolonged pain.

As for safety, the World Health Organization has stated that CBD shows no abuse or dependence issues. The WHO (the organization, not the band) found no incidents that would cause them to find a public health risk. This assumes, of course, you select third-party tested, organic and pure CBD.

Is CBD Safe for Heart Patients and Is it Effective?

Now, on to the heart of today’s question.

On safety, your doctor should be familiar enough with CBD to offer you the necessary advice that fits you and your health history. So, ask your doctor about taking CBD, and never take any health supplements when you are taking prescriptions without consulting your doctor first.

On effectiveness, we have much to learn. From preclinical research, we currently know this:

  • Research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology showed high CBD doses as “cardioprotective” of heartbeats associated with blood flow reductions. CBD limited tissue damage (infarctions) and eased irregular heartbeats occurring in the heart chambers or ventricles in that study.

What do these findings have in common?

Findings Suggest a Positive Role for CBD in Cardiology

But there’s something we don’t have in front of us yet. And that’s more scientific studies involving outcomes in human beings to confirm these suggestions.

Health experts tell us that blood with high cortisol levels (long-term stress) affects blood pressure and triglyceride levels, which can lead to heart conditions. The science shows CBD oil can have an impact in managing symptoms of stress. Moreover, pain relief is important for quality of life and the ability to engage in cardiovascular exercise. And CBD’s interactions with the body’s cannabinoid receptors may help ease pain.

To wrap up: Given the research to date, CBD does show promise. We cannot claim it is a cure for any condition. But it might play a role in managing the precursors and symptoms of cardiovascular conditions.

How Much CBD to Take: Some Guidance 

As of this time, no official recommended daily intake exists for CBD. And without sufficient high-quality evidence in human studies we can’t pinpoint effective doses, says Dr. Grinspoon on the Harvard blog.

Still, from customers’ experiences, general ranges can be reported. So, here’s our basic take on how to use CBD oil, and how much to take.

How Much CBD Does Mtiva Recommend Taking?

You take CBD oil in milligrams (mg). Select a bottle organic, pure-spectrum CBD oil. Depending on which you choose, the mg in a full dropper is:

  • 250mg (30ml): full dropper = 8mg of CBD
  • 500mg (30ml): full dropper = 17mg of CBD
  • 750mg (30ml): full dropper = 25mg of CBD
  • 1000mg (30ml): full dropper = 33mg of CBD

Take between 1 and 6 mg per every 10 lbs. of your weight. For someone weighing 150 lbs., starting at the 15 to 25mg range makes sense.  

You can take oral doses in any way you prefer. Try blending it into a smoothie or drop it right under your tongue, from where it efficiently makes its way into the bloodstream. Observe your emotional and physical responses, and fine-tune. Everyone is unique.

Our Oil Comes Direct From Our Organic Hemp Farms

We’re a licensed grower of sustainably and organically farmed hemp. We hand-pick our hemp, and extract the oil through a clean CO2 process—not with solvents.

Do you know anyone who has taken CBD oil for heart failure or an irregular heartbeat? Let us know. Mtiva is interested in our customers' personal CBD oil benefits and experiences. And we are always here to answer your questions about our products.

As linked, and:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579247

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-for/heart-disease

https://www.laprogressive.com/cbd-heart-arrhythmia/

 


CBD and Hearth Health