Last year, I was scheduled to have surgery. During the prior months, I had stopped using nearly all other pain relievers and turned my focus completely to CBD. The results were incredible. CBD took care of all my long-standing back pain, caused years earlier at the age of 18. Nearly 15 years earlier, I had broken my lower spine in two spots on a trampoline. As a result, I was placed in a pain management clinic where I began using opiates to treat the pain. Later down the road, I decided I wanted to downgrade to Ibuprofen. However, I knew there were still consequences to using the drug and wanted to transition to CBD permanently.
So, back to my surgery. Finally, it was time to perform a procedure I had prepping to have for over a year. During the intake about two days before, the nurses asked me if I had been using any vitamins or medications beforehand and I informed them about my CBD use. To my surprise, they informed me that CBD use may thin the blood and asked me to discontinue my use of CBD until the procedure had been completed.
Interestingly, the physician who would be performing the procedure did not take issue with me using CBD. However, between the two conflicting opinions about CBD’s ability to thin the blood, I decided to take the precautionary option and stopped my CBD use for days leading up to my procedure. This got me to thinking, is the science not in on CBD and it’s potential to thin the blood? Are these medical professionals ill-informed? As a result, I figured it was time to look into it myself.
What Are Blood Thinners?
Anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, are medications used to prevent blood clots from forming in the body. Clots have the potential to block the flow of blood to your heart, brain, and lungs. While blood clotting is a vital bodily function, too much clotting can trigger potentially dangerous complications.
Different blood thinners work in different ways. Some may thin the blood by preventing cells from adhering to your blood vessels. However, most blood thinners are antiplatelets and anticoagulants. In other words, these blood thinners work by increasing the time it takes for blood clots to form. Some common anticoagulant blood thinners are Warfarin, Heparin, and Enoxaparin.
So for those experiencing issues of clotting and clogging, blood thinners can save their lives. However, these drugs can also increase the risk of bleeding. As you might imagine, this is of increased concern when someone is having a surgical procedure or operation. Of course, the risks of bleeding varies depending on the procedure you’re about to undergo. However, for many minor procedures, the risk of increased bleeding appears to be fairly minuscule.
Will CBD Thin My Blood?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “CBD can increase the level of the blood thinner coumadin. Additionally, it can “raise the levels of other medications in your blood by the exact same mechanism that grapefruit juice does.” Furthermore, some studies indicate that interactions between CBD and Warfarin, the most common anticoagulant on the market, exist.
Another study using rats was performed involving CBD and its effects as an anticoagulant. According to Dr. Alaa Abd-Elsayed, “blood coagulation studies indicate that CBD showed mild anticoagulating effects.” In other studies, CBD oil was found to affect platelets and anticoagulants by suppressing their production and thereby potentially increasing bleeding tendencies.
So it appears that CBD can thin the blood. However, medical professionals aren’t all in agreement about the dangers or CBD use before surgery. Some doctors believe it’s best to discontinue the use of CBD up to 48 hours before undergoing your procedure. Others claim there should be no issue consuming CBD unless the patient is also on blood-thinning medications.
Apparently, CBD oil can act as a blood thinner. During this process, CBD can lower one’s blood pressure. As a result, someone who has issues with blood pressure may expose themselves to risks and complications. Therefore, if you have blood pressure issues or you’re currently taking prescription drugs, we suggest consulting your doctor before ingesting CBD oil. As opinions are divided and a consensus has not necessarily been reached, it can be hard to know the best choice. Ultimately, this will depend on your surgeon’s opinion.
In Conclusion
It appears that one side effect of using CBD oil is that it can prevent your blood from clotting. This can be a positive attribute. However, when it comes to surgical procedures, it appears the nurses were right to at least let me know it was a concern. In conclusion, yes CBD oil can thin the blood. Is it dangerous to use and is it a cause for concern? That’s harder to say.
If my doctor wasn’t worried about it, I think he was aware that risks were low enough for my particular procedure that there was no need for alarm. However, I do believe it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to life and death situations. Therefore, it’s best to refrain from using CBD before surgery and to avoid the possibility that it might thin your blood.
In summation, before having any kind of medical procedure, consult with your doctor about the medications and supplements like CBD oil. Always disclose your CBD use to your surgeon(s) and anesthesiologist or any medical staff responsible for your hospital intake. Failing to do so could end up having a major impact on how your procedure turns out. So stay smart and stay safe out there. Utilize CBD’s healing benefits with care and don’t be afraid to ask the opinions of trusted medical professionals before undergoing surgery.
About OMG THC
We’re homegrown in Las Vegas, Nevada. We embrace niches others in the Cannabis market ignore or reject. Vegan? Diabetic? Beer-lover? Old-school hash connoisseur? Looking for a specific ratio of CBD and THC in your products? You got it! We’ve got a product for you!
Additionally, we care about quality and the effects our products have on people’s lives & health. OMG THC use only CO2 and ethanol extraction methods. We NEVER use butane or other petrochemicals to extract our oils. We want our products to be easy on the body and safe for our team to make.
Our products are simple and they are great. From the cannabis oils, we use to the packaging and the varieties of our products. Finally, and best of all, our edibles are damn delicious! In other words, if we wouldn’t want to eat them, we aren’t going to sell them to anyone else.
For Adult Use Only
OMG THC products are intended for use by and available to adults 21+ and over only. Keep our products out of the reach of children and pets. Be smart. Be Vigilant. Finally, enjoy our products responsibly and keep everyone safe.
As always, feel free to Contact OMG THC with any questions or comments you might have. We’re here for you and we’re responsive to your needs. If you’d like to locate OMG THC products, check out our dispensaries list. You can also find out more about OMG THC on Leafly.
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