CBD as a solution to alcoholism?
In France, an unfortunately far too high number of people, namely forty thousand, die every year because of alcohol. It is with great regret that we are writing an article today on a subject that causes far too much devastation and claims far too many victims. Addiction to alcohol, as well as to all other drugs, is a scourge that has always been present in our society. For people suffering from this illness, it usually means a rapid decline in health and a life that falls apart. There are many ways to try to stop drinking, and while in many cases it is our determination that will play the decisive role in breaking this addiction, the temptation is sometimes too great. We then need to turn to a range of different techniques, and, for example, why not try CBD? For alcohol, really? In this article, we will try to explain how taking this molecule could play a role in your drinking!
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism syndrome is defined as a serious disorder related to dependence. Alcoholism leads the dependent person to lose all control over the amount of alcohol they consume. Typically, an alcoholic person will not only have problems with their drinking habits; their life in general is often affected too. Unfortunately, both psychological and physical problems arise. If people suffering from alcoholism let themselves go too far, they may even risk dying from it. Sometimes, heavy drinkers are rather discreet and we do not even realise that they are suffering. So how can you recognise a person who has an alcohol addiction problem? We can give you a few examples that will help you realise that a person is suffering from alcoholism. For example, a constant urge to drink more, or at least more than others, almost daily drinking, sometimes in large quantities, and so on. In other words, an inability to regulate their alcohol consumption, or when a person talks only about alcohol and makes it their priority. These non-exhaustive signs can help you understand how an alcoholic person functions.
It seems only logical to us to talk about this scourge on the blog of our CBD Shop, because the consequences of alcoholism lead to serious health problems. As a general rule, one of the organs most affected by alcoholism syndrome is the liver. The liver needs to absorb a minimum amount of water of around two litres of water per day on average to function properly. Alcohol dehydrates; it is what is more commonly called a diuretic. It is often after drinking large amounts of alcohol that our liver has problems with its water supply. As it cannot find any, it will automatically draw the water contained in other parts of our body, causing a state of great fatigue. Once present in the organ, alcohol will produce toxic enzymes inside the liver, called acetaldehyde. It is these enzymes that will, over time, damage the other organs and parts of the human body.
An explanatory video on alcohol and the liver to help you understand better:
We would like to thank Médecine TV for this contribution!
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a molecule found in cannabis. Hemp plants contain on average more than a hundred cannabinoids, which makes cannabis very interesting, since many of them have so far not been the subject of any scientific research. The best-known compounds today are THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD, or cannabidiol. THC is the molecule that is prohibited above 0.3 % and that gets you “high”, which is why cannabis has such a bad reputation. But let’s not stop at a single molecule, because, as we have just seen above, the hundred or so molecules present in cannabis can be very interesting for science. And indeed, in just a few years, CBD has become an alternative solution for resolving or soothing certain everyday ailments. With properties that are genuinely beneficial for the body, CBD makes it possible to treat problems such as anxiety or stress. This makes it an excellent asset for treating addictions. One of our articles presents all the benefits of CBD in detail.
CBD and alcoholism: let’s talk about it!
Looking more closely at research on cannabidiol, we realise that CBD can really assist and support people prone to addiction. For alcoholism, cannabidiol could prove to be a very good ally, as studies on the subject are promising. However, it should be remembered that these are still only clinical trials on laboratory rats, and that this does not make it possible to validate the experiment one hundred per cent in humans. Results and research on humans are therefore still needed. In any case, these studies and their progress make it much easier to understand why CBD is such a credible option among therapeutic alternatives for alcoholism.
Indeed, in the research carried out on laboratory rats, various points were identified that help explain the effect of CBD on alcoholism. The researchers found that CBD is a neuroprotector for the brain, which helps counter the effect of alcohol on it. In addition, CBD also helped better protect these rodents’ livers from the action of alcohol, which weakens the liver through intoxication. Finally, it was noted that the craving caused by alcohol dependence was greatly reduced thanks to CBD. This occurs mainly at a behavioural level, in the constant search for drink.
We can therefore say today that CBD shows very encouraging results on addictive behaviours, including alcoholism. Have any side effects been observed? Studies on this subject show that there are no side effects, or that they are very rare. Nevertheless, we would like to point out that, at the time of writing, there has been only limited research on human beings.
Research will increase over time, and in the coming years the results should speak for themselves, pointing towards a genuine alternative or complement to drug treatment.
In practice, people who use CBD to fight their alcoholism give us very good feedback. We will still have to wait a long time before CBD is one day recognised as a medicine by the French pharmaceutical and medical sector, allowing it to help as many people as possible. Perhaps CBD will never even be recognised as a medicine and will keep its place as a food supplement, who knows.
How does CBD act on alcoholism syndrome?
Every human being has an endocannabinoid system. When CBD is consumed, it binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors of our ECS (endocannabinoid system). In the case of excessive alcohol consumption, the receptors of our ECS are also activated and therefore act on the brain. Ultimately, once the person stops drinking, withdrawal symptoms appear. This is why people suffering from alcoholism are increasingly choosing to take CBD. As CBD is a neuroprotective agent for the brain, the brain calms down much more easily when cravings set in. Normally, extreme agitation comes hand in hand with alcohol withdrawal. But this agitation is soothed by consuming CBD. CBD will make no difference whether your dependence is very advanced or not. In both cases, it will help you in your fight. Whether or not you are already being followed by a doctor for your addiction, we advise you first and foremost to consult a healthcare professional before you start taking CBD.
How should you take CBD to manage addictions?
It all depends on you and your preferences! To begin with, it is important to understand that CBD can be consumed in several different ways. If you choose to consume CBD flowers, you will have two options for absorbing the CBD they contain, safely. First, with a dedicated vaporiser that lets you heat affordable CBD flowers without burning them, so you can then inhale the vapour they release. The second option is to consume your CBD flowers as an infusion. We have written a comprehensive article on this subject so you can discover all the benefits of cannabidiol infusions! A range of products can then be used, such as our superb Big Bud CBD or our famous Moon Rock CBD.
The simplest way to take CBD is, of course, as CBD oil. All you need to do is choose from our various flavours and CBD percentages (CBD concentration). Another of our articles is also available to give you more information on the subject of dosage.
The Cali Weed team