The pounding head, the churning stomach, the dry mouth—we’ve all been there after a night of drinking. The worst part? It just keeps happening—and after fewer and fewer drinks as we get older. After a fun night out letting loose, chances are  will at least experience hints of the dreaded hangover. 

The good news, however, is that there are some ways you can subside that monster hangover and still enjoy drinks with friends the night before. 

We’ve all heard that drinking water, eating greasy foods, taking ibuprofen the night before, and even drinking more in the morning can help you with a hangover. (For the record, attempting to combat a hangover with more alcohol simply postpones it. We don’t suggest taking this route.) Most recently, however, CBD has been linked with reducing hangover symptoms.

Even though research on the relationship between CBD and alcohol is in the beginning stages, CBD is being used for hangovers more and more to help you feel like a functioning human being. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice an entire day for one night out with friends, and initial research is suggesting that CBD can help make the day after a lot more bearable. 

ResolveCBD is your online destination for locally sourced CBD products, offering CBD oil in Toronto and Canada for both people and their pets. Over the years, more research has shown that CBD can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, chronic pain, sleep issues, inflammation, and now potentially hangovers.

What causes a hangover?

Why do we get hungover, and why does it suck so much? Although the most commonly accepted reason for hangovers is dehydration, it’s actually much more complex than that. Sure, dehydration can account for some of the milder symptoms of a hangover like dizziness, thirst, and a mild headache, however, dehydration itself has not been linked to the hormones present during a hangover. The reality is that drinking less water may not correlate with a more severe hangover (and vice versa.) Apparently, there is a science to this unpleasant feeling after a big night out as well as a scientific name assigned to these symptoms: veisalgia

When you consume alcohol, the ethanol in it metabolizes into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound. The liver then turns this built up acetaldehyde compound into acid, which enters the bloodstream, leading to damaged membranes and hangover symptoms like a faster heartbeat, headache and upset stomach. 

All that said, not everyone experiences alcohol the same way. That’s why sometimes you wake up feeling awful, and that one friend wakes up ready to take on the day. This is unfortunately the luck of the draw, but there are always ways to reduce your hangovers if and when you experience them.

Symptoms of a hangover (and how CBD helps)

1. Headaches

After a night of drinking, it’s very common to wake up with a pounding headache. This can be painful, incite nausea, and make it all together challenging to go about your day. While there hasn’t been enough research to prove CBD’s proficiency as a headache treatment, there have been links between the two that suggest the compounds ability to reduce headache symptoms. 

In fact, a 2017 study revealed CBD’s general ability to reduce symptoms similar to headaches and went as far as to conclude that there is a strong likelihood CBD will be established as a headache treatment in the future. 

The reality is that CBD has proven to have anti-inflammatory properties in the past, and there is a strong likelihood that these properties will also help provide pain relief effects in relation to headaches. 

2. Dehydration

Mayo Clinic describes dehydration as when “your body loses or uses more fluid than it’s taking in and this results in your body not having enough water or fluid to do its ordinary business, and there are a couple of reasons why your body gets dehydrated after a long night of drinking.”

For one, the alcohol in your drinks (ethanol), tends to dehydrate your body, which contributes to your headache after drinking. Additionally, the nausea symptoms and subsequent vomiting that often follow also contribute to the depletion of fluids in your body. Similar to how it is believed that CBD can help reduce headache symptoms, it is also believed that its inflammatory properties can help reduce the symptoms of dehydration.

3. Alcohol Toxicity

The general toxicity of alcohol can wreak havoc on your body, making you feel sore, lethargic, dizzy, and debilitated after drinking. Fortunately, CBD is an antioxidant, similar to that of Vitamin C and D. It is believed that when you consume CBD oil after drinking alcohol, that it will give you a boost of these vitamins and help restore your body. It is also thought that this boost can help your body reduce toxins like acetaldehyde. 

4. Anxiety

Alcohol can increase the cortisol levels in your brain and, in turn, cause feelings of anxiety and depression after drinking. Psychology Today dubs cortisol as being a “stress hormone” which also contributes to depression and life expectancy. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the pain, nausea, and general feelings of discomfort that come with a hangover can also cause anxiety among individuals who are triggered by these symptoms. 

More and more, we hear how CBD is linked to reducing symptoms of anxiety in individuals and in pets. Like antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, CBD interacts with 5HT1-A receptors, which have an anxiolytic effect. It’s these receptors that can help your body to regulate feelings of anxiety and ease how your brain responds. Consider CBD for anxiety, both on a day to day basis, and as a hangover treatment. Check out the following article to learn how to use CBD for anxiety. 

5. Nausea & Vomiting

One of the worst hangover symptoms has to be the nausea that hits you in a wave all at once, subsides, then comes back tenfold. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms associated with hangovers as your body tries to remove the alcohol that you so enjoyed consuming the night before. 

The thing is, alcohol irritates your system and increases acid. This often tends to inflame your stomach lining and cause feelings of nausea. 

It is believed that CBD interacts with the receptors in your brain that release serotonin and cause nausea. In 2011, a study was done on rats and ferrets to see how their vomiting decreased when their cannabinoid receptors were activated. Similarly, another 2014 study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology revealed that the receptors of cannabinoids are directly connected with the regulation of feelings of nausea. 

There still needs to be more research connecting CBD with nausea relief, but the preliminary research is showing signs that there could very well be a strong link between CBD oil and alcohol-induced nausea, as well as other causes of nauseousness. 

6. General Disorientation

Even those who don’t commonly experience nausea or headaches after a hangover (yes, the lucky ones), often experience feelings of disorientation after drinking. 

In 2013, a study was done linking alcohol to neurodegeneration. In the same study, it was revealed that CBD oil was able to reduce this neurodegeneration by almost 50%. 

7. Trouble Sleeping

When you have a hangover, all you want to do is sleep off your regrets (or, non-regrets) of the night before. Unfortunately, the above symptoms make it hard to sleep or even rest. Fortunately, you can use CBD oil for sleep to get the rest you need to make it through the day.

CBD For Hangover: What You Need to Know

Best CBD for Hangovers

The best CBD for a hangover is CBD that is properly dosed to your height and weight. Look for CBD that is less processed or refined. ResolveCBD is your destination for CBD oil in Toronto. 

How to Consume CBD When you Have a Hangover

There are 3 common ways to consume CBD for hangover recovery.

1. Vaping

Inhaling your CBD through a vaping pen is the quickest way for your body to absorb CBD. There are CBD vape oils available in varying strengths and flavours.

2. Edibles

You can also consume CBD through an edible or capsule. Edibles are commonly made with small doses of CBD and are a great alternative if you’d prefer not to inhale the CBD, and ingest it instead. Edibles can come in the form of mints, gummies, cookies, chocolate bars. CBD Capsules are also considered as edibles.

3. Sublingual Drops

Sublingual application of CBD means that you place drops of oil under your tongue. CBD oil is a concentrated way to consume CBD and reap its benefits when recovering from a hangover. 

The best way to use CBD oil for a hangover is to consume it sublingually (typically 0.5 ml to 1ml, depending on your needs) before bed after drinking, then in the morning to address that pounding headache. Just remember to check the dose of CBD in your oil product for a safe and effective CBD experience. 

How to Dose CBD For Hangover Relief

The right dose of CBD for you for any purpose is largely dependent on your weight, height, and desire of strength. If you’ve been asking “what is the dosage for CBD oil?” you can also check out our CBD dosage chart or take our 3-step quiz for a personalized recommendation.