Anecdotal reports claim that CBD oil can lower blood pressure. Early clinical research reports similar findings, which is great for anyone suffering from hypertension.
But one question remains — how much do you need to take to get the effect?
Available human studies used very large doses (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.
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CBD and Blood Pressure: The Research
Two recent studies found that CBD can lower blood pressure in healthy men.
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 6 mmHg. CBD also reduced the rise in blood pressure during stressful situations by 5 mmHg to 6 mmHg (1).
The same researchers expanded on their findings in a 2020 study where they gave the same dose to 26 men every day for a week. The results were similar: CBD lowered mean arterial blood pressure and lowered the rise in blood pressure caused by exercising (2).
Factors That Influence Your CBD Oil Dosage
Early research suggests that CBD can lower blood pressure. However, 600 mg is a huge dose that’s not only hard to take but would also be quite expensive.
Thankfully, such a large amount of CBD is not necessary for most people to lower their blood pressure. There are three main reasons why.
First off, the studies used pure CBD (isolate). It’s not as effective as full-spectrum CBD, an extract that contains the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds naturally found in the hemp plant.
Research has shown that all of the components of hemp and cannabis work in synergy, enhancing the effects of CBD and other cannabinoids (3). This is known as the cannabis entourage effect, and you can benefit from it by using full-spectrum CBD products instead of those containing just CBD.
Secondly, 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 (4).
Finally, everyone’s body responds to CBD differently. Your body weight, genetics, tolerance to cannabinoids, and even the product you’re using can all influence your CBD dosage.
That’s why one person can experience a significant drop in blood pressure by taking 30 mg of CBD oil, while someone else might have zero effect from the same dose.
Ideal CBD Oil Dosage for Lowering Blood Pressure
The best way to find the ideal dosage of CBD oil for lowering blood pressure is to follow the “start low and go slow” approach recommended by health experts (5).
A good starting point is 10-15 mg of 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. However, you may be able to tell that your blood pressure dropped just from how you feel.
After this, slowly raise the dosage over time and monitor your blood pressure again. Use this method to find the CBD dose that lowers your blood pressure by the desired amount.
As a general guideline, most people find that doses of 20-100 mg doses of full-spectrum CBD oil are enough.
Choosing the Right CBD Product
If you’re trying out CBD oil to lower your blood pressure, we highly recommend choosing a full-spectrum product. As we mentioned earlier, full-spectrum CBD is more potent than pure CBD isolate.
While you can also take CBD capsules or gummies, they won’t be as effective because CBD has low oral bioavailability (4). It’s ideal to stick to CBD oil, which has better absorption and works faster.
You can also vape CBD, which has the advantage of working right away. However, there are some risks associated with vaping, and its effects last shorter than other methods.
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 its 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).
Another possibility is that CBD affects the vagus nerve, which controls your blood pressure, heart rate, and other bodily functions.
A third 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.
General CBD Shopping Tips
Whether you’re buying a CBD product for high blood pressure or any other health condition, it’s necessary to do some research beforehand.
That’s because the CBD market is full of low-quality products that contain too little CBD or might be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful substances.
Here are the top three considerations to keep in mind to help you make an informed choice.
Look for Third-Party Tested Brands
Third-party tests are done by an independent laboratory and check whether a CBD product contains as much CBD as the company claims it does. These tests can also check for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
These tests are the best way to confirm that the CBD oil product you’re buying is both safe and effective.
We highly recommend buying only from companies that provide these tests on their website. It’s even better if you take a glance at the tests yourself to confirm that the product in question contains the right amount of CBD.
Check the Hemp Source
CBD is extracted from hemp plants, which means how and where this hemp is grown will also have an impact on CBD oil quality.
High-quality products are made from organic hemp cultivated in Colorado, Kentucky, or Oregon. Alternatively, European countries are also a great source of hemp.
You should only buy from companies that clearly explain on their website where the hemp comes from. It’s even better if this hemp is USDA-certified organic, although this is still difficult to find due to regulations.
Research the Company
Reputable CBD brands will have many positive customer reviews on their website.
They will also provide clear information about their manufacturing process, make it easy to access third-party lab reports, and may provide other helpful details like when the company was founded and by who.
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
