Compare the Best CBD for Fever in 2022

How CBD May Help With Fever

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid typically found in medical cannabis and purported to have anti-pain and anti-inflammatory properties⁽¹⁾.

The compound works by engaging the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the human body to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects⁽²⁾.

CB1 receptors are typically located in the central nervous system (CNS), while CB2 receptors are located within the immune system⁽³⁾.

CBD directly engages the TRPV1 receptor, known to regulate inflammation, pain perception, and body temperature⁽⁴⁾.

Cannabidiol also interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS)⁽⁵⁾. The ECS comprises a vast network of receptors and chemical signals that work to regulate many of our critical body functions⁽⁶⁾.

The ECS uses “retrograde signaling” to maintain homeostasis by signaling the body’s immune system to cool down after a fever⁽⁷⁾.

More conclusive clinical trials are needed to determine how CBD may help relieve fever and its symptoms.

Uses and Benefits of CBD for Fever

Current clinical evidence is insufficient to conclude that CBD’s purported therapeutic benefits may help lower fever or manage fever symptoms.

However, there is one study that involved the administration of medical cannabis, containing CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), on a patient with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)⁽⁸⁾.

Results showed that medical cannabis may reduce abdominal, chest, and joint pain, maintain body temperature below 38°C (100.4°F), and improve quality of life.

THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid purported to help stimulate appetite, provide pain relief, reduce depression and stress, and minimize inflammation⁽⁹⁾.

How to Take CBD Oil for Fever

If you consider taking CBD oil, also called CBD hemp oil, to help manage the symptoms of fever, you may use the following delivery methods:

• Ingestion: Ingesting involves taking CBD oil orally. CBD passes through your body’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract before entering the bloodstream.

Examples of oral CBD products include edibles such as CBD gummies,  chews, and chocolate bars.

• Sublingual administration: CBD oil is administered under the tongue. Sublingual delivery allows CBD to be absorbed into the bloodstream directly and bypasses the GI tract.

Examples of products delivered sublingually are CBD oromucosal sprays and CBD tinctures.

• Inhalation: This method is considered the quickest way for delivering CBD into the body⁽¹⁰⁾. Inhalation involves vaping or smoking, allowing CBD to directly go from your lungs to your bloodstream.

Vaping may cause health risks associated with lung disease⁽¹¹⁾. Individuals should consult a doctor before considering using vapes to administer CBD.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently disapproves of vaping as an alternative to smoking⁽¹²⁾.

• Topical application: CBD oil is applied topically or directly to the skin. Topical CBD products are typically used to help provide localized relief⁽¹³⁾.

Some topical CBD products include lotions, creams, salves, and ointments.

Before deciding on a particular type of CBD product or delivery method to help with fever or other medical conditions, consult your doctor for proper diagnosis, prescription, and treatment.

CBD Dosage for Fever

There is currently no standard CBD dosage chart for fever.

Your CBD dosage may depend on several factors, such as genetics, diet, exercise, your current state of health, and stress levels⁽¹⁴⁾.

If you take CBD for the first time, consider starting with a low dose and slowly increasing the dosage⁽¹⁵⁾. One recommendation is to start with a 10 milligram (mg) dose of CBD per day⁽¹⁶⁾.

Presently, the FDA has not endorsed any CBD dosage guides for fever. Ask your doctor before considering taking CBD and deciding on a specific dosage.

How Long Does CBD Take to Help With Fever?

No conclusive clinical trials have been performed at present to determine specific CBD onset times for fever.

Each delivery method has the following estimated onset times⁽¹⁷⁾:

• Sublingual or topical CBD products may take 15 to 30 minutes before the effects are felt.
• Vapes may start taking effect between 2 to 15 minutes.
• CBD products taken orally may take effect 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion.

How Long Will CBD Help With Fever?

To date, there is insufficient clinical data to determine the duration of CBD’s effects on fever.

CBD administered topically, sublingually, or through inhalation may last two to four hours⁽¹⁸⁾. Ingested CBD products like edibles or capsules may remain effective for six to eight hours⁽¹⁹⁾.

One review on CBD pharmacokinetics showed that the half-lives of capsules containing 10 mg of CBD are 2.95 and 3.21 hours.

Half-life is the period required for a drug’s quantity or concentration in the body to be reduced to half.

Side Effects and Risks of Using CBD for Fever

There is not enough conclusive evidence that using CBD to help manage fever or its symptoms may cause side effects.

Authors of a 2017 review published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research mentioned that the most commonly reported side effects of CBD include diarrhea, tiredness, and appetite or weight changes⁽²⁰⁾.

Other side effects considered well tolerated among humans include fatigue, drowsiness, appetite loss, and dry mouth⁽²¹⁾.

Some individuals taking CBD oil may also experience vivid dreams and sedation⁽²²⁾.

Choosing the Right CBD for Fever

When choosing the best CBD oils to help manage fever or its symptoms, consider the various processes involved, such as product categorization, extraction methods, and laboratory testing.

Suppliers categorize CBD products as full-spectrum, isolates, or broad-spectrum, depending on the CBD oil content in the product.

Full-spectrum CBD oil comprises all the cannabinoids and active compounds from the cannabis plant. Some of these compounds include THC and terpenes.

Terpenes are aromatic phytochemicals (plant-based chemicals) that provide plants with their distinct scent.

When these compounds in full-spectrum CBD oil are combined, an “entourage effect” is produced. This effect is characterized by the active cannabis compounds working together to enhance their combined benefits⁽²³⁾.

Isolates are CBD products consisting of pure CBD only and do not contain THC or any other cannabinoids or compounds.

Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains similar compounds as full-spectrum CBD oil. However, broad-spectrum products do not contain THC.

If you prefer CBD oil without THC or its psychoactive effects, consider purchasing CBD isolates or broad-spectrum CBD oil products.

Before CBD is processed into different products, it is extracted from the cannabis plant using carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbon, or ethanol extraction.

CO2 extraction uses highly pressurized carbon dioxide to extract CBD and other compounds from hemp. Some manufacturers consider CO2 the safest way to perform CBD extraction⁽²⁴⁾.

Hydrocarbon extraction utilizes solvents like propane or butane to extract CBD. While these solvents are flammable and toxic, hydrocarbon extraction is a safe and affordable way to extract CBD provided proper safety measures are followed.

Manufacturers must completely remove hydrocarbons from the hemp extract during the extraction process. Accidental ingestion can cause a health risk.

Ethanol extraction uses ethanol as a solvent for extracting CBD. The FDA regards ethanol as generally safe, and manufacturers consider ethanol more efficient than CO2 and safer than butane⁽²⁵⁾.

After processing CBD oil and using it in final CBD products, reputable brands provide certificates of analysis (COA) together with those products.

COAs are third-party lab reports containing detailed information about a CBD product’s actual content.

Third-party laboratories can conduct a comprehensive product analysis, including detecting harmful contaminants in a product. Some contaminants that can cause a health risk to consumers include solvents, pesticides, or heavy metals.

When looking for CBD products online, consider purchasing from sellers that regularly update and post COAs on their websites. Compare the COA results to the CBD product’s label to ensure that you are receiving consistent quality.

Some consumers may have personal preferences and choose gluten-free, non-GMO, or U.S.-made CBD products.

Legality of CBD

All U.S. states have laws on CBD use implemented with varying restriction levels⁽²⁶⁾. Review your state’s laws to determine the legality of CBD products in your area.

As of February 2022, U.S. states such as Alaska, Colorado, Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, and New York, have legalized medical cannabis programs⁽²⁷⁾.

CBD oil products with THC levels that exceed 0.3% are prohibited, according to United States federal law⁽²⁸⁾.

Based on the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-based products with less than 0.3% THC are no longer defined as ‘marijuana’ under the Controlled Substances Act⁽²⁹⁾. The bill also legalized industrial hemp cultivation and processing in the U.S.⁽³⁰⁾.

At present, Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD product used for treating seizures associated with epilepsy⁽³¹⁾.

The FDA reminds companies that, at present, labeling CBD products as food additives or dietary supplements is illegal⁽³²⁾.

What Is Fever?

Fever occurs when you have an illness and experience a temporary rise in body temperature. The condition is usually a sign that something is wrong with your body.

It is not an immediate cause of concern for most adults unless the temperature rises to 39.4°C (103°F) or higher⁽³³⁾. A slight temperature increase among toddlers and infants can indicate a serious infection⁽³⁴⁾.

Fever may be caused by inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial or viral infection, heat exhaustion, or malignant tumors⁽³⁵⁾.

Medications, like antibiotics or blood pressure drugs, or immunizations, such as pneumococcal vaccines, may cause body temperature to rise⁽³⁶⁾.

Aside from elevated temperatures, other symptoms of fever include⁽³⁷⁾:

• Chilling, shaking, or shivering
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Headaches and body aches
• Flushed complexion

Doctors can recommend over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) or prescribe antibiotics if fever is caused by a bacterial infection⁽³⁸⁾.

Some home remedies and lifestyle changes that may help prevent fever or lower body temperature include drinking plenty of fluids, resting, dressing light, and keeping a cool room temperature⁽³⁹⁾.