CBD Oil Dosage for Blood Pressure: What the Science Says

Early research indicates that CBD may help lower blood pressure. But how much do you need to take to get the effect? 

Recent human studies successfully use large doses (150-600 mg) of pure CBD. Thankfully, you don’t need to take that much to get a benefit, especially if you’re using a full-spectrum product.

Read on to learn how much CBD oil you should take to lower your blood pressure, the research evidence, and other tips.

CBD and Blood Pressure: the Research

Several recent studies found that ingesting pure CBD can lower blood pressure in both healthy people and those with hypertension. These were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the gold standard in medical research.

In the first 2017 study, nine men were given placebo or CBD capsules (600 mg) at rest and during three types of stressful situations: a mental stress test, exercise, and exposure to cold temperatures.

Whereas the placebo capsules had no effect, the CBD treatment lowered resting systolic blood pressure by six mmHg. CBD also reduced the rise in blood pressure during stressful situations by 5-6 mmHg (1). 

The same researchers expanded on their findings in a 2020 study, giving the same dose to 26 men daily for a week. The results were similar: CBD lowered mean arterial blood pressure and lowered the rise in blood pressure caused by exercising (2). 

Finally, a 2023 Croatian study compared the effects of CBD (150 mg orally four times over 24 hours) to placebo in 16 people with untreated hypertension. CBD significantly reduced arterial stiffness and blood pressure, with a larger reduction during sleep (3).

Factors That Influence Your CBD Oil Dosage

CBD does seem to lower blood pressure, but 150-600 mg are fairly large doses. Thankfully, such large amounts are not necessary for most people because:

1. The studies used pure CBD (isolate), which may be four times less effective than full-spectrum CBD. This whole-plant extract contains the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds naturally found in hemp (4).
2. Capsules and other oral CBD products have notoriously low absorption, which means sublingual (under-the-tongue) CBD oil will require smaller doses to achieve a similar effect (5).

Finally, everyone’s body responds to CBD differently. Your body weight, genetics, symptom severity, and the type of product you’re taking can all influence your CBD dosage.

That’s why one person can experience a significant drop in blood pressure by taking 40 mg of full-spectrum CBD oil, while someone else might experience zero effects from the same dose.

Ideal CBD Oil Dosage for Lowering Blood Pressure

The best way to find the ideal CBD oil dosage for lowering blood pressure is to follow the “start low and go slow” approach recommended by health experts (6). 

A good starting point is 10-15 mg of full-spectrum CBD oil. Pay attention to how you feel over the next two hours. Ideally, you’d want to use a blood pressure monitor to get an exact reading. You may also be able to tell that your blood pressure dropped just from how you feel.

If the dose is insufficient, slowly raise it over time and see how your blood pressure responds again. Use this method to find the best CBD dose for your needs.

How Fast Does CBD Oil Lower Blood Pressure?

When you take CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue), it takes about 10–30 minutes to absorb and start working. Have your blood pressure monitor ready if you want to get an exact reading.

Most people will notice subtle effects when the CBD starts to work, such as feeling calmer or more relaxed. Meanwhile, if you vape CBD, you can feel the effects almost instantly.

How Does CBD Oil Reduce Blood Pressure?

There isn’t enough research to say for certain, but scientists theorize that CBD may:

• Inhibit the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), preventing an increase in blood pressure (1). 
• Affect the vagus nerve, which controls your blood pressure, heart rate, and other bodily functions.
• A third possible explanation is that CBD’s effects on blood pressure are secondary to its anxiety and stress-lowering effects. This isn’t surprising because both anxiety and stress can contribute to high blood pressure. 

Choosing the Right CBD Product

If you’re trying CBD oil to lower your blood pressure, I recommend choosing a full-spectrum product. As mentioned earlier, full-spectrum CBD is about four times more potent than pure CBD.

While you can also take CBD capsules or gummies, they won’t be as effective because CBD has low oral bioavailability (5). Sticking to CBD oil is ideal, which has better absorption and works faster. 

You can also vape CBD, which has even better absorption than oils and works right away, making it easier to tell when your blood pressure goes down.

However, there are some risks associated with vaping, and the effects last less than other methods.

The Bottom Line

Human studies show that 150-600 mg doses of oral CBD can lower blood pressure in both healthy adults and people with hypertension. But if you’re using full-spectrum CBD products, you likely won’t need to go so high since full-spectrum CBD is much more potent.

Everyone responds differently to CBD, so you’ll need to experiment to find the right dose for yourself.