Can CBD Be Combined With Alcohol?

Can CBD Be Combined With Alcohol?

The dawn of CBD emerged when the 2018 farm bill legalized the cultivation of hemp on American soil. Its therapeutic effects further expanded the horizon as more people started exploring them to get health benefits. Gummies, capsules, and edibles, you can find a variety of CBD infused products at any store next door. Be it multiple stores at the mall or your local bar, everywhere you see; you can find CBD and its products. Yes, even bars are selling CBD infused drinks nowadays.

However, this raises the question of the combined effects of CBD and alcohol. NuLeaf Naturals infused beers and cocktails are making their places on bar menus across the nation. If you are a conscious consumer, you must have thought about its effects on your body and mind. We have intoxicating alcohol at one end, whereas there is CBD, another product inducing calming effects.

CBD: Non-Psychoactive Compound

Indeed, their combination leads to unique effects on the body and your mind. However, not all of them are scary. CBD comes from hemp, a plant belonging to the cannabis family. Yet, cannabidiol (CBD) does not contain the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC from marijuana is the one that induces signature euphoria. CBD functions differently than THC.

CBD does not make you ‘high’ yet exerts calming effects by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Unlike Microdose Shrooms, CBD does not lead to hallucinations. Due to its non-psychoactive nature, people are readily exploring the therapeutic effects of CBD.

How does CBD Affect Your Body?

CBD’s work on your body is more subtle than that of THC. When you ingest or smoke CBD, it interacts with different receptors of ECS. ECS is one of the most crucial body systems regulating functions like metabolism, immune response, etc. The scientific community is still working to understand the precise mechanism of interaction between CBD and ECS. Studies have associated CBD’s effects on the human body to CB1 and CB2 receptors of ECS. These receptors play a crucial role in intracellular signal transduction.

The human body synthesizes its biologically active molecules that regulate homeostasis. Anandamide or N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) is one of the neurotransmitters that profoundly influences many bodily functions. The research confirmed that CBD could enhance anandamide signaling. CBD stops enzyme degradation of AEA and keeps it active in the system for a long time.

(Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/cocktail-orange-passion-fruit-3408834/) 

What Will Happen When You Mix CBD in Your Drink?

Usually, companies use hemp extracts to make CBD. The 2018 farm bill has freed hemp from the Controlled Substance Act. Since then, farmers are proactively cultivating hemp for commercial purposes. Besides, more and more people are showing interest in exploring the therapeutic effects of CBD. Such enthusiasts are also creating a buzz in the CBD market.

The growing popularity of CBD has led to the formation of a new audience. These are the people who are either excited to use CBD or people who can’t get enough of it. These people do not just stop at CBD edibles but also incorporate this perfect potion in everything. This new regime has in turn given birth to CBD infused drinks. CBD and alcohol, although not identical, both induce similar effects. Alcohol is a depressant, whereas CBD also relaxes the one who consumes it.

Now, you might think that combining CBD and alcohol may highlight each other’s effects and make you feel drowsier. However, this does not happen. People consuming CBD infused cocktails state that they feel more relaxed and calmer. For many people, such drinks work like a charm complementing the effects of both components. Alcohol helps them take off the edge. While CBD, with its soothing effects, induces a sense of happiness. 

CBD Reducing the Risk of Harmful Effects of Alcohol

Neurodegeneration caused by alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption results in cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. In other words, drinking alcohol starts affecting the way the nervous system works. That is why many people are concerned with the effects of mixing CBD with alcohol. But, the reported results of combining these two do not agree with these predictions.

A study from the journal of Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior supports combining CBD and alcohol. The researchers conducting this study found out that CBD diminishes the neurodegeneration caused by alcohol. Although this study was conducted on rodents, various researchers confirm the same effects on human beings.

Protective liver from oxidative stress

They say drinking too much alcohol gives you ‘an alcohol liver.’ Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver damage. Currently, the scientific community cannot determine the exact reasons behind liver damage. However, they have proposed the following reasons to explain it,

1. Oxidative stress

The liver breaks down the alcohol, which results in a chemical reaction. This reaction leads to the formation of products that damage liver cells. The damages eventually inflame the healthy liver tissues and stop them from repairing.

1. Toxins of gut bacteria

Alcohol leads to damage of the liver, letting toxins from gut bacteria enter the liver. These toxins worsen the situation as they increase the inflammation in the local area.

Mixing CBD in alcohol helps you to protect your body from this damage. A study published in the journal of Free Radical Biology and Medicine confirms this benefit of CBD. This study proved that CBD could protect the liver by inhibiting oxidative stress and autophagy. 

Conclusion

From opening your eyes in the morning to closing them at night, you encounter so many events that make the day harder. At such times, that one drink seems like a magic potion giving you the ability to withstand the situation. Occasional alcohol consumption relaxes you and lets you have a quiet time. In fact, for some people, alcohol is critical to sound sleep. CBD brings many health benefits to the table as it can reduce anxiety, depression and even treat insomnia. When you mix such useful things with alcohol, the results are more relaxation. 

Although many reports supporting a combination of CBD and alcohol are coming forwards, you must go easy on it. The actions of CBD on ECS receptors can be different in different individuals.