CBD is generating tremendous excitement as a health and wellness supplement. Even though the CBD consumer products industry has only been a real presence in the marketplace for a few years, business analysts estimate its worth at a billion dollars. That figure is expected to continue its upward trajectory going forward, as more CBD products are developed and released.

It’s clear that consumers have already placed their faith in TrytheCBD as a vital component of self-care, despite the fact that research has only scratched the surface of its potential uses. People who are seeking pain relief, less stress and anxiety, better sleep and or a reduction in inflammation or those who simply want to feel more relaxed are eagerly drinking and eating CBD products, using it as a topical treatment and inhaling it by way of smoking or vaping. They’re also using it on their pets, for many of the same wellness reasons.

People are using CBD oil for pain relief, less stress and anxiety, better sleep, a reduction in inflammation or to feel more relaxed.

Is Inhaling CBD Different?

People who considering inhaling CBD as opposed to administering it some other way have many questions. Among them: does smoking or vaping CBD oil give you a headache?

In general, the answer to that question is “no.” Studies conducted so far on CBD (cannabidiol), a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant, have found no link between inhaling the oil made from CBD and the onset of headaches. In fact, researchers are looking into CBD as a possible remedy for migraine headaches. (It is also being explored as a treatment for seizures, psychiatric disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and epilepsy.)

Impurities Could Pose a Problem

However, if a CBD product contains toxins, those elements may be responsible for ill effects, including headaches. What would cause a CBD product to have impurities in it? How do you make sure that the CBD oil you’re inhaling is pure? Answers to those questions are up ahead, but first, let’s take a look at the overall safety profile of CBD.

Scientists who reviewed the clinical data on CBD found that it confirmed a number of health benefits, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. CBD has also been found to be a neuroprotective, something that minimizes the damage neurological diseases can do to the nervous system.¹

Unlike marijuana, CBD does not cause users to experience a “high.” That’s because even though the hemp from which CBD is derived and marijuana are both cannabis plants, they are distinctly different strains with different levels of THC in them. Ingesting CBD may actually help moderate a high. Also in the “plus” column: CBD is non-addictive.

While no serious side effects from CBD have been identified, overconsumption of it can lead to nausea, fatigue, and a diminished appetite.

About Those Vaping-Related Lung Illnesses

There are some health concerns regarding CBD oil that is smoked or vaped, mainly about whether or not doing that activity long-term can cause damage to the lungs. The recent multi-state outbreak of lung illness – particularly among young people – raised alarms about the dangers of vaping. According to the FDA, many of those afflicted with the strange new respiratory illness that was severe enough to require hospitalization reported using products that contained THC, which is in hemp-derived CBD only in trace amounts, if at all.²

Let’s get back to the issue of impurities, and how they may possibly contribute to headaches in people who inhale CBD oil. To be clear: most manufacturers and distributors of CBD products are committed to practicing quality control and producing safe, high-purity oils, drops, sprays, creams, isolates and vape cartridges. In some cases, testing has found not only unwelcome ingredients, but also CBD levels far below that claimed on product labels, so the product would not be able to deliver the cannabidiol-related wellness benefit it promised to. This does not mean that inferior products are the norm, only that you should make sure you’re buying CBD oil and smoking or vaping accessories and devices from a reputable company.

How Might CBD Oil Get Toxins in It?

The CBD which is used in health products is extracted from the hemp plant. If that plant is not grown organically, and the farmer has used pesticides and herbicides on it, the hemp could absorb those toxins and transfer them to the CBD which is derived from it.

Headaches are one of the symptoms of pesticide exposure, along with fatigue, nausea and dizziness. Fortunately, these symptoms are usually mild and temporary.

It is also possible that hemp grown under less than ideal conditions may have mold on it. Exposure to mold may result in headaches as well as fatigue and dizziness in people who are sensitive to mold, due to substances known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs).³

Hemp grown in contaminated fields might also have absorbed heavy metals from the soil. Ingesting or inhaling heavy metals over time can headaches and far more serious side effects.

Solvents like ethanol, butane and propane may be used to extract the CBD from the hemp. Unless they are removed during production, these elements, too, could end up in the CBD.

Making Sure the CBD Oil is Pure

It may seem overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be. It’s actually pretty easy to make sure the CBD oil you’re smoking or vaping is pure. Responsible companies display a COA (Certificate of Analysis) online, which shows detailed batch testing results for the product you’re thinking about buying. A quick look at the COA will tell you the name and address of the independent laboratory that did the testing. If a company doesn’t offer a COA, or testing was done in-house instead of by a third-party, that’s a definite red flag.

Go to the end of the COA, where you’ll find a section titled, MICROBIOLOGY. This will reveal whether or not things like E.coli, mold or yeast were in the sample that was tested.

The company’s website may also provide you with information about where the hemp was grown (what state or country) and under what conditions (certified organic?). Does the company guarantee that it’s products will not contain any contaminants?

Only do business with a company that is willing to provide you with the information you need. In the absence of government regulation of CBD products, consumers must rely on the integrity of the CBD dealers they are making their purchases from. Fortunately, reputable companies are forthcoming about their product test results, quality control practices and the source of the hemp they use.