If you keep up to date with the news, you’ve no doubt heard that some countries and US states are legalising the use of CBD oil for medicinal symptoms. You might not have the first clue what CBD oil really is, but you know that it is loosely connected to cannabis.
The thing is, CBD oil has been proven to be very effective in relieving certain health conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea, insomnia, and even helping in chemotherapy side effects in cancer patients. With that in mind, could CBD help with pregnancy symptoms too, such as nausea and headaches?
This is a grey area and one which will no doubt spark a lot of debate. For that reason, it’s important to learn more about it from a reliable source, and make up your own mind accordingly.
Let’s explore.
What is CBD Oil?
Before we start, let’s point out that CBD oil is derived from the cannabis plant, but it is entirely different from the types of products which are designed to give you that hallucinogenic high. You might heard CBD oil referred to as cannabidiol too.
CBD oil is molecularly different from marijuana designed to be used in recreational highs. The type of marijana that has these effects has a large amount of something called THC, and this is the part which gives you those high effects, a psychoactive component. CBD oil has the tiniest trace of this, and certainly not enough to give any type of high.
Creating CBD oil involves extracting from the cannabis plant and then diluting it down. Whilst weed, pot, and any other name you can think of for the type of marijana that gives you a high, CBD oil isn’t designed with that purpose in mind, it is designed for medicinal purposes instead. One of the most common effects is a deep relaxation which can help in aiding sleep and anxiety symptoms.
What Conditions is CBD Oil Used For?
Whilst not legal everywhere yet, more and more countries and states are taking the decision to legalise CBD oil, with strict prescription requirements. The most common conditions which CBD is prescribed for are:
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Nausea
CBD oil can be used in a variety of different ways and it comes in different forms too. You’ll find it in oils, lotions, ointments, drops, or in a vape which you smoke. Many people simply use a few drops of CBD oil under their tongue, rub it into their skin, or inhale it via the oil’s vapours. It really depends on the type of condition being targeted as to how it is used, as well as personal preference.
When you look at the types of conditions and symptoms that CBD oil is used to treat, you can understand why many pregnant women would consider it. Three of the most common symptoms are nausea, headaches, and anxiety. CBD oil is thought to help with all of these.
Studies have shown that CBD oil may be useful in generalised anxiety disorder, helping to calm and relax the mind and bring logic and balance. During all three trimesters, it’s entirely normal to worry about your unborn baby, but some women experience anxiety which is more than ‘just worry’. It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor or midwife about this and to find ways to treat the problem and manage it. Whilst CBD oil has been shown to help anxiety generally, during pregnancy we are back to that grey area, with no studies in either direction.
As for nausea, one of the other biggest issues that CBD oil is known to help with in the general run of life, you can also understand why women might consider it also. Nausea is an issue throughout pregnancy and in some cases it can be extremely debilitating. There are many treatment and management options for nausea which don’t involve CBD oil, but studies have shown that for non-pregnant women, CBD oil is helpful. Again, speak to your doctor or midwife if you’re suffering with nausea during any stage of your pregnancy which is becoming a huge issue for you.
The Big Question – Is CBD Oil Safe to Use in Pregnancy?
Ah, the big question indeed. There isn’t a huge amount of evidence to suggest yes or no, and that means there is no definitive answer. Despite that, a study published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology suggested that CBD oil may help with the development of an unborn child.
Overall however, most experts would tell you to avoid use of CBD oil during pregnancy simply because there is no solid answer on whether it is useful or harmful. It’s true that regular marijuana, the type which is designed to get you high, is harmful to your child, possibly leading to a low birthweight or other complications, but as for CBD oil? No solid studies in either direction. Perhaps that will change as more and more people contemplate the use of CBD oil for other medical conditions.
To complicate matters, some US states drug test pregnant mothers if there is a history of previous drug or weed use. CBD oil may or may not show up in that test, depending upon the product used and how much of it is used.
The reason that most doctors will tell you to avoid the use of CBD oil during pregnancy is down to this grey area, but it is also because CBD oil products are not regulated. This means that a doctor cannot guarantee the safety or otherwise of a product, compared to medicines which are prescribed they a healthcare professional.
The answer? It’s something you will need to think about yourself and weigh up the pros and cons. It’s important to bear in mind that no evidence doesn’t mean no downsides, it simply means they haven’t been observed a study. Perhaps until there is solid evidence of a yes or no, CBD oil in pregnancy should be left as a ‘maybe one day’.
https://cbdoilusers.com/is-cbd-oil-safe-while-pregnant-breastfeeding/