Can CBD Oil Cause Headaches and Nausea?

According to recent survey data, 10% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 44 use Cannabidiol (CBD) regularly. Of those who are aware of what CBD is, 80% of Americans also support the use of CBD as an alternative to some prescription drugs. There is just one problem.

In recent years, anecdotal reports have started to surface, which claim that CBD can cause headaches and sometimes even nausea. The only question is, do these reports have any substance?

Can CBD Oil Cause Headaches?

Can CBD oil cause headaches? In short, the simple answer is that this is highly unlikely. In 2017, researchers Kerstin Iffland and Franjo Grotenhermen published a comprehensive report looking at the safety and efficacy of Cannabidiol.

In their report, neither Iffland nor Grotenhermen highlighted headaches, migraines, or nausea as known side-effects of CBD usage. However, this is not to say that Cannabidiol itself is a completely side-effect free therapeutic.

While rare, side-effects are sometimes reported by CBD users.

  • Cannabidiol is known to cause appetite changes, weight gain, and dry mouth in some users.
  • In some cases, CBD can work as a vascular relaxant.
  • CBD is well documented to be able to cause hypertension in some people. (This is why anyone with low or high blood pressure is advised to consult with a licensed medical professional before using CBD.)
  • In rare cases, CBD can cause diarrhea.

Some people who use CBD also report feeling drowsy afterward, as well as feelings of lightheaded-ness. However, no research (to date) has identified headaches or nausea as potential CBD side-effects in their own right.

Is It Possible That CBD Oil Might Cause Headaches?

At present, much of the evidence we supporting of the possible health benefits of CBD oil is itself anecdotal. For this reason, while no clinical evidence exists that suggests that CBD can cause headaches, it is important not to dismiss reports of as yet unknown side-effects completely.

In theory, it is also the case that there are reasons why some CBD users might experience headaches and/or nausea.

  • Hypertension (a known side-effect of CBD) can itself result in headaches. Typically, though, a hypertension headache will manifest on both sides of the head and worsen during periods of physical exertion.
  • Diarrhea caused by CBD may result in dehydration and accompanying feelings of nausea.
  • Occasionally, feelings of lightheaded-ness can result in feelings of nausea.

It is also the case, that some people who report experiencing headaches after using CBD, might be using poor quality CBD oil.

Can Low-Quality CBD Oil Cause Headaches and Nausea?

Because CBD is commonly used to help alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and even nausea in chemotherapy patients, it is unlikely that CBD can itself cause headaches. However, it is worth noting that CBD therapeutics can vary in terms of quality.

In recent years, several CBD product recalls have occurred, after CBD oil has been found to contain traces of harmful pesticides. Unless CBD brands use supercritical CO2 to extract CBD from hemp, it is also the case that traces of solvents can make their way into therapeutics.

How to Avoid Low-Quality CBD Therapeutics

As it stands buying low-quality CBD online is the likely reason behind many reports of CBD causing headaches.

Thankfully, the easiest way to avoid low-quality CBD oil is to only buy therapeutics from brands that use 100% organic hemp in their products. Most reputable CBD brands now also make third-party lab test results available to customers, which guarantee the quality and purity of products.

Are you looking online for the safest, most side-effect-free CBD oil currently available? If so, simply shop smarter by researching CBD brands and CBD products in detail, before pulling out your credit card information.