The short answer
- For hot flashes: not proven
- The Menopause Society reviewed cannabinoids in 2023 and does not recommend them for hot flashes.
- For sleep and anxiety: not proven
- CBD sold as food has not been shown to do this, and it has not even completed the UK safety assessment for being sold as food.
- For use if you take any medication, or are pregnant or trying to conceive: avoid
- The Food Standards Agency does not recommend CBD for these groups unless a doctor is directing it.
What it is
One of many chemicals found in hemp and cannabis plants. It can also be made synthetically. It is sold as oils, drops, capsules, drinks and sweets.
What the studies say
- CBD food products in the UK are novel foods. They must be authorised before sale, and the products on the Food Standards Agency list are still being assessed rather than approved.
- In October 2023 the Food Standards Agency cut its advice for healthy adults to no more than 10mg of CBD a day from food, which is about 4 to 5 drops of 5 per cent CBD oil. Its earlier figure was 70mg.
- The agency says the more CBD you take over a lifetime, the more likely long term effects such as liver damage or thyroid problems become, and that the risk goes with the amount.
- The Menopause Society lists cannabinoids among the things it does not recommend for hot flashes.
- Many products on shop shelves contain more than 10mg per serving, so the label is worth reading.
How much people take in trials
The Food Standards Agency advises healthy adults to have no more than 10mg of CBD a day from food.
This is what the research used. It is not a dose for you.
What a label is allowed to say
No approved claim of any kind. In the UK, CBD in food is a novel food, and a product may only be sold if it is on the Food Standards Agency list.
In the US the rules are looser. A label may say how a nutrient supports the body if the company holds evidence for it. The FDA does not check the claim first, which is why US labels carry the line saying the FDA has not evaluated it.
Safety
- CBD is not recommended for anyone under 18, anyone taking any medication, anyone trying to conceive, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Long term effects linked with higher intakes include liver damage and thyroid problems.
- CBD affects how the liver handles many common medicines, which is why the advice about medication is so broad.
- Prescribed cannabis based medicines are a different thing from a shop bought oil, and they are handled by a specialist.
Ask your doctor first if
- You take any prescription medicine.
- You have liver disease or a thyroid condition.
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
This is general information, not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medication.