Can CBD Help With a Hangover?

CBD won't cure a hangover, and there's almost no research on it for hangovers specifically, but studies on its anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea and anti-anxiety effects suggest it may take the edge off symptoms like headache, nausea and anxiety. To see why, start with what alcohol does: your liver breaks down about 90–98% of what you drink, at a pace of roughly 10 grams of alcohol (about one standard drink) per hour, turning it into carbon dioxide and water that your body gets rid of naturally.

Hangovers happen when you drink faster than your body can keep up, so toxins like acetaldehyde start to build up. You feel the hangover several hours after drinking, as your blood alcohol level starts to drop.

Everyone's hangover is a little different, but the most common symptoms include fatigue, nausea and stomach pain, muscle aches, sensitivity to light and sound, sweating, thirst and a pounding headache.

Most people bounce back within a few hours of symptoms kicking in and feel normal again within a day. In the meantime, though, you may end up basically stuck in bed, canceling your plans until you feel human again.

It's hard to predict where your limit is for getting through a night unscathed. Some people get hungover after one drink, while others can drink all night without paying for it. Genetics plays a big role in alcohol sensitivity, and so do drinking on an empty stomach, mixing alcohol with other drugs, and whether you get enough sleep afterward to give your body time to process the toxins.

There's also evidence that darker liquors like brandy and bourbon are more likely to leave you hungover. That's because they contain more flavor compounds called congeners, which can make a hangover worse.

To make matters worse, alcohol is a diuretic. If you don't drink water during the night, dehydration can make even a mild hangover brutal.

How Might CBD Help With a Hangover?

Everybody has their own hangover cure, from electrolyte drinks to greasy food to a little hair of the dog. CBD is starting to get attention as a natural hangover remedy, and some early evidence looks promising, although research on hangovers specifically is still thin.

The endocannabinoid system is in charge of keeping the body in a general state of balance. It helps regulate everything from sleep to appetite to how you respond to pain.

CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system, including CB2 receptors. People use CBD as a natural remedy for issues like anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia and more.

Here are five ways a dose of CBD might help counter the effects of a big night.

1. It may ease your headache: CBD could help with the headache that follows heavy drinking. Since hangover headaches are linked to inflammation, CBD's anti-inflammatory properties may bring some relief. Some people also find that CBD gives them dry mouth, which nudges them to drink more water.

Alcohol can damage brain cells, and in one animal study, CBD applied to the skin reduced alcohol-related brain cell damage by nearly 50%. Some researchers have also speculated that CBD could help with focus after drinking by acting on dopamine pathways involved in memory and attention, but that hasn't been tested in people.

2. It may help with nausea: Animal research suggests CBD has antiemetic (anti-nausea) properties, meaning it may help reduce the physical feeling of nausea and the urge to vomit.

3. It may take the edge off hangxiety: A night out can trigger anxiety and low mood, partly by raising cortisol levels. Research suggests CBD acts somewhat like anti-anxiety medications by interacting with serotonin receptors, which may help calm the stress response and restore a sense of emotional balance.

4. It may help with free-radical damage: Your body takes a beating after a night of partying. CBD has shown antioxidant properties in lab studies, which may help counter some of the free-radical damage alcohol and its byproducts, like acetaldehyde, leave behind. It's no substitute for water, food and rest, though.

5. It may help with fatigue: Feeling sluggish after drinking too much is totally normal. Some people say CBD helps them feel more balanced and get back on track, though no solid research shows it fights hangover fatigue, and at higher doses it can make some people drowsy.

What Is Greening Out?

Greening out, which Argentines call "la pálida," is a negative, unpleasant reaction some people have after smoking or vaping weed. It can include intense dizziness, sweating, a pale face, nausea, vomiting and a feeling that you're about to faint.

Greening out can be tied to several factors, like individual sensitivity, how strong the weed was and how much you had, your tolerance, the setting you're in, and other things like drinking alcohol or being exhausted.

Not everyone greens out, and how intense and how long it lasts varies. Some people are hit harder than others. If it happens to you, rest, hydrate, find a calm, safe place and let the symptoms pass. These effects are usually temporary and don't pose a serious health risk.

How Long Does Greening Out Last?

How long a green-out lasts varies from person to person and depends on several things, like individual sensitivity, the dose, how potent the weed was, and other factors related to the setting and the person's health.

In general, the symptoms are temporary and fade over time. The unpleasant effects usually last somewhere between 30 minutes and a couple of hours. That said, everyone's experience is different, and the exact duration can vary.

To get through a green-out, rest somewhere calm, drink water to stay hydrated and let the effects wear off on their own. If symptoms don't go away or they worry you, get medical attention for a proper evaluation and the right advice.

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