The world of medicine is rapidly evolving with more new scientific breakthroughs occurring at each level. The medicine fraternity aims to study the use of various substances present around us and how they affect the human body. Naturally occurring substances are on the line for many researchers as they have little or no harmful effects on the human body. These substances can be derived from plants and used efficiently in the treatment of a lot of diseases and ailments. One such substance which has recently made headlines is CBD. CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is derived from the cannabis pant. It is the new wellness product among many companies which are marketing it aggressively for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. From coffee shops selling CBD lattes to spas offering CBD facials, CBD has been incorporated into a lot of sectors all at once. In this article we are going to discuss CBD ingestion and common myths like redness of eyes due to usage.
CBD and THC: What it does to the body ?
CBD has been in the spotlight for research on cannabis. It is among many cannabinoids which are only produced by the cannabis plants. It is derived from the Sativa version of cannabis plants. Cannabis is also known as marijuana or hemp. The cannabis plant contains two main active ingredients, mainly CBD and THC. THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol and is responsible for the ?high’ which is associated with cannabis. There are various types of CBD present in cannabis but in recent times a lot of research has been initiated to study about them. The species of plant known as Cannabis Sativa has two different species; marijuana and hemp. They both contain CBD but the higher concentration is found in the hemp plants. There are specific receptors in our brain called CB1 and CB2. The function of these are to assimilate cannabinol molecules in our system, which can result in immune and psychoactive responses associated with consumption of cannabis. When the THC molecules bind to our receptors, they cause a decrease in blood pressure of our body. This decrease in pressure causes red eyes in individuals, but is it due to CBD? Read on to find out more about CBD and redness of eyes.
Redness of eyes and CBD, Fact or Fiction?
Research has found out that our eyes get red due to THC, the main psychoactive element in marijuana. Our
body reacts in a way certain way when we ingest THC. THC has a similar effect on our body and mind like
Anandamide. Anandamide is derived from fatty acids which can bind to the very exact receptors in our brain
like THC. The function of Anandamide is to lower our blood pressure by dilating blood vessels in our body.
Apparently, THC carries out the exact same function. The more THC one consumes, the mor the chances
they get of having bloodshot eyes. Our eyes also contain a lot of CBD receptors. When THC interacts with
those in the eyes, intralocular pressure in the eyes decrease. This results in the capillaries and vessels in our
eyes to get dilated. This leads to more blood rushing to our eyes which causes the redness and swelling.
Some people when they smoke have red eyes due to allergens present in the smoke which irritates the eyes.
There are various drugs which can result in bloodshot red eyes in people. Red eyes can be an indication of intoxication in the individual. Several drugs like anti-depressants, cocaine, heroin, Xanax, sleeping pills can all dilate blood vessels in the eyes. CBD does not impact the cognition of the user like THC or other psychoactive compounds. The molecules of CBD adjust the way in which our body’s receptors bond with them. In this process, neurotransmitters such as Serotonin can flow freely which can help people cope with depression. Our endocannabinoid system gets activated with CBD and is responsible for balancing memory, mood and movement. It can also affect the nervous and immune system of the body. Thus, the redness in our eyes is solely due to consumption of THC or THC and CBD based products. Ingesting or using 100% CBD products will not cause red eyes. The CBD derived from hemp oil is completely free of THC and does not affect our eyes in any way.
How to avoid red eyes
If you experience red eyes using cannabis or other drugs, there are certain ways to deal with it. Over the counter eye drops can help to reduce the redness. These eye drops contain ingredients which can restore normal pressure in the eyes and lead to normal functioning of capillaries in the eyes. Some eye drops can also contain steroids which can cause the blood vessels in the eyes to constrict immediately after use. Another way to deal with red eyes is to increase water intake and stay hydrated. Drinking 2-3 glasses of water can help with red eyes. Splashing your eyes with cold water can also relieve some of the redness in eyes.
Can CBD oil ingestion methods affect eyes
There are many different ways to ingest CBD oil which determines whether the user will have red eyes or not. It depends on the goal of the person and the reason they are taking it in the first place. Some users do not want to ingest CBD and prefer using a topical CBD ointment or cream only. This can be applied to joints, ligaments and muscles. It allows for a localized release of CBD and does not affect the entire body. There are a lot of apparatus available for ingestion of CBD. They consist of tinctures, vape pens and incorporated in food items like edibles. The ingestion techniques differ on the delivery speed and the length of the effects. Vapes are used for quick ingestion and can deliver CBD in about 10 minutes. However, the effects do not last long and wear off in about 2 hours and can cause red eyes also due to the vape generated which can cause eye allergy. Tinctures and edibles take a lot longer to get absorbed in the body, but they last much longer, around 5-6 hours and have no effect on the eyes.
Things to look out for when buying CBD products to avoid red eyes
There are a lot of CBD products in the market. The most important factor when buying a CBD oil or product
is look out for the labels. An authentic and reliable manufacture will clearly state a FDA warning and
disclaimer. The percentage of CBD present should also be mentioned along with any additional ingredients
if any. Additional ingredients like THC can cause the user’s eyes to turn red soon after ingestion. The
product should also have a license number on it. You should also look for a third-party lab testing seal where
the actual percentage of CBD in the product has been determined to ascertain its bioavailability. A recent
survey on CBD products in the market showed that around 26% of CBD oils contain doses lower than what
is advertised. Some manufactures also clearly do not state the other ingredients in the product and there
might be little traces of THC left in it. This can give it a psychoactive property and also cause reddening of
eyes. If the product mentions Hemp, then users can be sure that there is no THC present in it at all.
CBD can have some side effects which can include fatigue, irritability and nausea. It can also increase blood
level in the blood thinner coumadin. It can raise the levels of other medications in the body as seen with
grapefruit juice. However, redness of eyes is not caused by CBD. A safety concern with CBD is that it is
sold primarily as a supplement and not a medicine. Hence, a lot of people try to experiment with it and not
many achieve desirable results. This can be because they are not opting the correct dosage or buying from
unreliable companies where CBD is mixed with other ingredients. Also, some manufactures do not properly
extract out all the THC, when the CBD is getting derived from a marijuana plant. This can result in a ?high’
and also give users bloodshot eyes.
Cannabis along with Hemp has only been recently approved for medicinal use in a few countries. In Canada, use of medicinal and recreational Cannabis has been made legal in all provinces. In the US, some states have only allowed for recreational use while medicinal use has been made legal. It is a matter of time before other countries follow suit. Just like any other drug, the use of cannabis has to be regulated. Scientists are still at a very early stage in the research process and there might be more to CBD and THC than what meets the eye. However, CBD has no relation with redness in eyes. Smoking or vaping CBD resins or oils can irritate the eyes to some extent which can result in a red tint in the eyes. Bloodshot eyes are not a direct result of CBD.
