CBD For Sore Throats

CBD is often praised for having a wide variety of therapeutic uses. Some are backed by scientific research; others are unstudied but supported by strong anecdotal evidence; still, others are just hype, blown out of proportion either by overzealous marketers or misinformed enthusiasts.

So, is CBD good for sore throats? Is this a legitimate therapeutic use, or just hype?

Short version: there hasn't been official research into CBD for sore throats specifically, but anecdotal reports suggest a real potential for it to work. Moreover, established research shows that CBD has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties — both traits common to well-established sore throat remedies.

All that to say, while it's unproven, available evidence suggests that CBD can be an effective treatment for sore throats.

Still, there's some debate, and a handful of users have even reported getting a sore throat after using some CBD products!

So, what's the scoop? Read on for an in-depth discussion of all sides of the debate.

What the Research Says

As touched on above, there have not yet been any studies that look specifically at CBD for sore throats.

However, ample CBD research has established a few key facts that are related to the question. Key here are the following points, which are two of the best-understood of CBD's therapeutic mechanisms:

• CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• CBD has strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

So why's that matter for sore throats? Well…

Most Established Sore Throat Remedies Are Either Anti-Inflammatory or Antibacterial

From salt water to herbal teas to honey, almost all sore throat remedies have something in common: they have some combination of anti-inflammatory or antibacterial properties.

And it makes sense: after all, inflammatory swelling and bacterial infection are two of the primary causes of pain and discomfort throughout the body. When localized in your throat, these can manifest as the type of pain and tenderness often reductively described as "sore throat".

So: is CBD good for sore throats? Well, when a sore throat is caused by bacteria or inflammation, all evidence points to a resounding yes.

But Can CBD Cause a Sore Throat?

Despite evidence that CBD may be able to effectively treat sore throats, there is also some concern to the contrary.

Some users have reported that they've gotten a sore throat following use of CBD products, and some outspoken users have asserted that CBD was the cause.

So what's the scoop? Well, there are a few possibilities.

• CBD on its own shouldn't cause a sore throat, but most CBD products don't contain just CBD. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products also contain many other cannabinoids and terpenes. Some of these may have an irritating effect on some users. In this case, switching to a CBD product made with CBD isolate may be ideal.

• You could be taking too much CBD. In large amounts, CBD can cause mild side effects in some users. One such side effect is dry mouth, which can also manifest as a sore throat. Reducing CBD dosage should be all you need to avoid this unpleasant side effect.
• Your sore throat could be caused by the mechanism by which you're taking CBD. For instance, if you smoke or vaporize CBD, the smoke or vapor could be the cause of your irritation. Switching to another form of CBD product, such as CBD oil tinctures or CBD lozenges (more on those shortly), may be just what the doctor ordered.

The takeaway here is this: based on available evidence. It's very unlikely that CBD should be the cause of a sore throat. However, certain CBD products may cause throat irritation for certain users. If you experience a sore throat following the use of a CBD product, consider experimenting with other products and dosages before giving up on CBD entirely.

Which CBD Products are Best for Sore Throats?

CBD is versatile, no doubt. But when it comes to treating specific conditions? Well, you want to pick the right tool for the job.

When it comes to treating sore throats, two CBD products stand out from the crowd.

CBD Oils and Tinctures

CBD oils and tinctures are, by far, the most popular and widely-used CBD products. They're fast-acting, offer diverse flavors and potencies, and are efficiently absorbed by the body. All that translates into an effective, enjoyable CBD treatment.

But when it comes to CBD for sore throats, CBD oils offer something special, if obvious: they're swallowed.

Tinctures are held under the tongue for a time before being swallowed. That first step allows for most of the CBD dose to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, but the second means that the remaining dose will come into direct contact with your throat. From there, it should be able to deliver CBD's anti-inflammatory goodness directly where it's needed.

CBD Lozenges

Everything I just said about CBD oils? Well, CBD lozenges take that same benefit and crank it up a notch.

CBD lozenges, also sometimes called "CBD hard candies", allow you to apply CBD directly to your sore throat. The advantage over CBD oils, though, is that CBD lozenges do this for an extended period of time as the lozenge melts in your mouth.

This extended exposure gives your throat more time to absorb the CBD — and with greater absorption comes greater application of CBD's anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

On top of that, lozenges of any sort have long been used as sore throat remedies. Sucking on a lozenge helps stimulate the production of saliva, which lubricates the throat and helps naturally reduce symptoms of a sore throat. Adding CBD to the equation just improves on an already proven sore throat remedy!

Read more about CBD Lozenges here!

CBD for Sore Throats, In Closing

While there's no research into treating sore throats with CBD, CBD shares several therapeutic properties with well-established and researched sore throat remedies.

Specifically, CBD's anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties suggest that it should be a useful tool in alleviating sore throat symptoms.

Despite this, some users have reported experiencing the onset of sore throat following the use of CBD products. Everyone will react differently to CBD, but it's unlikely that CBD alone would cause sore throats. For affected users, changing the type of CBD (from full- or broad-spectrum to CBD isolate, for instance) or the type of CBD product (such as from vaping to oils) may be helpful.

Finally, it's always good to use the tool most effective for your needs. When it comes to CBD for sore throats, using a CBD oil or a CBD lozenge may be ideal, as these apply CBD's therapeutic effects directly to the throat.