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CBD (hemp)

Cannabis sativa (hemp, cannabidiol)

Supplements. Modern nutrition and Western & European.

Also called Cannabidiol, CBD oil, Full-spectrum CBD, Hemp extract

Legal rules and liver risk

A compound from hemp plants, sold as oil, gummies and creams, with strong evidence for only one prescription form.

Did you know? The only CBD product approved by the US FDA is a prescription liquid for two rare childhood seizure disorders.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Nerve health. Prescription, highly purified CBD (Epidiolex) reduces seizures in two rare childhood epilepsies, Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Store CBD products are not the same thing.
Good proof
Stress & anxiety. Small trials on anxiety show mixed results. Better studies are needed.
Traditional proof
Sleep. Small studies on sleep show mixed results, and the effect is not clear.
Traditional proof
Pain & headaches. Small trials on chronic pain show mixed results.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Nerves & pain, Brain & mind

Traditional use

Hemp has been grown for fiber, seed and oil for thousands of years. CBD itself has no long traditional history.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine. Energy: neutral.

How people take it

Taken as drops under the tongue, capsules or gummies, or applied to skin. Doses vary widely. Prescription doses are much higher and medically monitored.

Oil, capsule, topical and food.

Where to get it

Made from hemp plants, which are cannabis with a low THC level by law. Extracted from flowers and leaves. Sold as oil, gummies, creams and vapes. Often the CBD and THC content does not match the label.

Be careful

Common effects are tiredness, diarrhea and changes in appetite. High doses can raise liver enzymes, and liver injury has been reported. CBD can raise levels of several drugs, including warfarin, some seizure medicines and sedatives.

Avoid if: liver disease; pregnancy; breastfeeding.

Mixing with other things

Use caution
Blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
CBD can raise warfarin levels, which can increase bleeding risk.
Use caution
Sleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Adds to drowsiness from sedatives and sleep medicines.
Use caution
Antidepressants (Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and others)
May change levels of some antidepressants and add to drowsiness.
Use caution
Alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Adds to drowsiness and may stress the liver.

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The honest take

Only one prescription CBD product has strong evidence, and it is for two rare seizure disorders. Store CBD for anxiety, sleep or pain has small or mixed trials, and many products do not match their labels. US hemp law is set to tighten in late 2026, so many CBD products may fall outside the new THC limits unless Congress changes the rules.