Can CBD oil (or CBD in other forms) help treat the autoimmune condition of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
When you start to see places like Harvard (1) talking about the benefits of CBD oil you know there may be something to this compound.
This over-the-counter therapy may be considered in certain thyroid patients, especially those with Hashimoto’s who haven’t found success with more conventional treatments.
In this article, you are going to learn about CBD, how it may influence Hashimoto’s, and 5 reasons you may want to consider using it.
Can CBD Oil Help Treat Hashimoto’s?
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is one of many cannabinoids found inside of marijuana.
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds that interact with certain receptors inside of your body.
You’re probably familiar with the high that marijuana can cause and this is caused by one of these cannabinoids (known as THC (2)).
Not all cannabinoids, however, cause a “high” and some even exert action on other tissues in your body. The activation of these tissues may lead to the powerful health benefits of CBD.
While marijuana does contain CBD, it’s important to realize that CBD is not the same thing as marijuana (even though marijuana seems to have some positive benefits on thyroid function (3)).
Some people are afraid that taking CBD is the same thing as marijuana and this is NOT the case.
It’s been shown, in an increasing number of studies (4), that some of these cannabinoids may act on certain cells in your body by influencing specific endocannabinoid receptors.
These receptors control and regulate incredibly important tissues including the following:
- The limbic system (the system that controls pleasure)
- The hypothalamus (the portion of your brain that helps regulate thyroid, metabolism, and appetite)
- The gastrointestinal tract (which influences many systems in your body including appetite, metabolism, and weight)
- Adipose tissue or fat tissue (your fat cells are a rich source of hormones such as leptin which feedback to your brain and other systems)
Can you see now why so many people are interested in CBD?
CBD, acting on cannabinoid receptors, may interact with these organs and tissues and influence your hormones, immune system, appetite, and weight.
What’s important here, at least for our discussion, is that CBD is a legal supplement and can be purchased over the counter in almost every State.
This provides you, as the patient, with power and a potential therapy that can influence these important systems.
And this is why I’m interested in CBD oil, especially as a treatment for thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
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Potential Benefits of CBD Oil
We know that CBD is powerful but how does CBD help your thyroid?
The benefits of CBD in this setting probably (we don’t know for sure) stem from its ability to impact your immune system, your thyroid directly, and your hypothalamus.
Let’s break each of these down in more detail:
How does CBD affect your immune system?
This is not well understood but it appears that CBD reduces inflammation by increasing levels of IL-10 while simultaneously decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-3, INF-y, and TNF-alpha.
You don’t really need to understand the specifics here but what you do need to know is that there is a tug-of-war occurring in your body between pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
If you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (or any other autoimmune disease), your body is losing the war.
CBD oil may help ‘even the odds’ by promoting an increase in the cytokines that you want while decreasing those that cause harm.
This effect is probably why certain people with Hashimoto’s see improvement and why other patients with autoimmune conditions do as well.
In addition, CBD may have a direct effect on the production of thyroid hormone (5) by stimulating your thyroid gland directly.
The impact CBD has on the thyroid gland is somewhat confusing, to say the least.
Studies show that CBD can reduce the amount of T4 and T3 that the thyroid gland produces while also reducing the TSH (6).
In addition, these same studies show that CBD seems to have a protective effect against the production of anti-thyroid antibodies.
To summarize, CBD seems to impact all levels of thyroid function including TSH, free thyroid hormones, and thyroid antibody levels.
But how can something which decreases your free thyroid hormone levels be “good”?
My feeling is that it probably impacts cellular sensitivity in some way which makes the amount of thyroid hormone in your body more effectively.
This might reduce the amount of free thyroid hormone necessary in your bloodstream which would in turn cause a reduction in TSH.
This is just speculation, however, and I will be keeping an eye on the research as it unfolds.
Lastly, CBD also probably impacts your thyroid gland indirectly by influencing your hypothalamic function.
Your hypothalamus is a major regulator of metabolism and, therefore, T3 levels in the body.
Anything which stimulates or regulates the hypothalamus will necessarily have at least some impact on your thyroid gland.
In our case, this stimulation is a positive thing as it may help promote T3 production directly and conversion of T3 from T4.
It may also have an impact on leptin sensitivity and leptin levels which also indirectly impact T3.
While we don’t have all of the details, we do have enough information to suggest that CBD may be helpful for some thyroid patients presumably from the three areas listed above.
Looking at these areas may be enough to make you consider using CBD but there are still some other important points you should be aware of as well.
With that in mind, take a look at 5 reasons that I believe you should consider using CBD oil if you have Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism:
#1. Safety Profile
Just because a therapy is considered to be “effective” doesn’t mean that it should be used.
We have plenty of therapies in medicine that have been shown to be effective but which cause negative side effects or consequences.
On the flip side, we have plenty of therapies that can POTENTIALLY help people with Hashimoto’s which are very safe but not very effective.
What we really want is something that is shown to be both VERY effective and yet VERY safe.
How safe a medication or therapy is, is referred to as its safety profile.
And whenever you, as a patient, consider any therapy you should always ask yourself about the safety profile of that thing.
CBD, as a therapy, has a strong safety profile (7).
Meaning, it is considered to be a safe therapy.
The most commonly reported symptoms associated with using CBD include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and changes in weight or appetite.
*Note: CBD oil can also impact some prescription medications such as coumadin.
You can get these kinds of side effects from certain healthy foods!
Does this mean CBD is safe and that all people will tolerate it well?
Not necessarily, but it does mean that your risk of developing some serious issues as a result of using it is very low to non-existent.
While it’s important to understand the safety profile of certain medications and supplements, you should also consider the inherent bias that exists between over-the-counter supplements and medications.
Certain prescription medications, for instance, are notoriously dangerous but this danger is tolerated simply due to the bias that exists in the system.
Take statins, as an example:
We know that people who take statins have an increased risk of developing muscle damage (8) (1 in 24) and even diabetes mellitus (9) (1 in 204) and yet statins are prescribed like candy by most conventional doctors.
You might think the benefits of these medications are enough to outweigh the risks but there is enough information to put even that into question (10).
Can you imagine if an over-the-counter supplement was known to increase the risk of diabetes even if it was at a rate of 1 in 10,000?
It would no doubt be all over the news and it would pulled off the market by the FDA.
Why do I bring this up?
Because as a patient, you need to be aware of this bias so that you don’t get confused by sensational headlines that you might see regarding CBD (or other supplements) in the news cycle.
Stay grounded and take a look at what the studies show before you make a decision regarding what to take (or not).
#2. Additional Benefits Beyond Hashimoto’s
I think another reason to consider using CBD oil would be that it impacts more than just one system in your body.
This is true of MOST over-the-counter supplements, by the way, but is not necessarily true of prescription medications.
Over-the-counter supplements and herbal remedies tend to impact multiple systems because they are less specific than prescription medications.
Medications are created to impact very specific enzymes or receptors and may not impact ANY other cellular components.
This makes them potentially efficacious but also very narrow in terms of how they help.
You can think of supplements as being less specific and broader in how they impact your cells.
The result is that you can take a supplement and experience multiple sets of positive effects.
CBD oil seems to fit into the former category probably because there are receptors on multiple cells.
The result is that CBD oil can potentially help you in many other ways aside from just impacting your immune system.
Additional benefits may include:
- Reduced anxiety (11) (very important as many thyroid patients also suffer from anxiety)
- Improved sleep (12) (many thyroid patients suffer from insomnia)
- Reduced pain (13) (many thyroid patients suffer from chronic pain)
- Reduced inflammation (14) (inflammation may reduce T4 to T3 conversion and impact your thyroid)
If you have any of the symptoms listed above then there might be a stronger case for you to at least trial CBD oil.
#3. Another Therapy for Hashimoto’s
As a patient with Hashimoto’s, you are probably all too familiar with the current treatment paradigm (or lack thereof).
The standard treatment for Hashimoto’s is really just a wait-and-see approach in which your doctor typically waits until your body destroys enough of itself that you require some form of therapy (usually thyroid medication).
As a patient, this can be troubling to hear.
The good news is that there are several therapies which are available to Hashimoto’s patients who don’t want to take the wait-and-see approach.
The only problem with some of these therapies is that they are not always effective and the results that each patient may obtain vary.
Changing your diet, reducing your stress, taking supplements, and so on are all helpful therapies, but they do not guarantee that you will be able to treat or reverse your condition.
So whenever I see a therapy that can potentially help treat Hashimoto’s I get a little bit excited.
And, as a patient, you should be aware of all of these therapies, not because you necessarily want to use them all right away, so that you can come back to them at a later date.
Even if you don’t plan on using CBD, for whatever reason, at least put it in the back of your brain as a potential option to come back to later.
#4. Availability over the counter
Another big reason is how easy it is to get!
I constantly hear of the frustrations that patients feel regarding obtaining prescription thyroid medication.
In many cases, patients may know more about thyroid medications than your doctor (you probably fit into this category if you are reading this) and yet they are not able to get the thing that they need.
Why?
Because something stands in their way. The prescription pad from the doctor.
It doesn’t matter what you know if your doctor isn’t willing to provide you with a prescription.
You don’t have this problem with certain supplements and it doesn’t exist with CBD.
CBD is currently (and for the foreseeable future) available over the counter and can be purchased easily.
Even though you can get it without a prescription from a doctor I still recommend that you discuss what you are taking with your doctor!
It’s important to have an open dialogue with your doctor to ensure that you are not doing anything which would negatively influence your other therapies.
If your doctor is not willing to work with you on this then you may need to seek a second opinion (use this resource to help you find one).
#5. Patient Success Stories
Some people tend to rely more on clinical studies to support how they treat themselves while others tend to focus on the results of others.
I really think that there is value in both and I tend to look at both sides of the story before recommending therapies to patients.
Clinical studies, while necessary and very helpful, don’t always tell the full story.
The results can be skewed or interpreted in virtually any way that suits the bias of the author of the study.
In addition, we don’t always get to see the results of studies that were not published.
If a study doesn’t show the results that the author was looking for he/she doesn’t have to publish it.
It’s possible for the same study to be run 3-4x until it finally produces the results that the author is looking for (we see something similar happen with some phal medications (15)).
Lastly, just because a study shows that something is effective doesn’t mean it translates into clinical practice!
I’ve been very excited about several therapies when I read about them in studies only to find out that they simply are not nearly as effective as I thought they would be in the real world.
Patient success stories, on the other hand, tend to come from different places.
They lack the controls that clinical studies have but they still have value as a “proof of concept”.
Do we see that CBD oil has been used successfully in patients with Hashimoto’s and thyroid disease?
The answer is yes.
We see positive success stories in those who have taken it and they have shared their results.
If you are someone who fits into this category I would encourage you to leave your comments or experiences below as it may help those who are on the fence.
Should you try it?
While CBD shows promise and may be something worth considering, just because it has the potential to be effective doesn’t necessarily mean you should take it.
One of the downsides to CBD and I see this same thing in many other supplements and therapies, is that while it may work to improve your thyroid function, it’s not necessarily working by reversing the issues which are causing your conditions to begin with.
If you are pounding down refined sugar, eating out on a regular basis, and suffering from serious stress from work or other aspects of your life, then CBD is probably not going to solve those issues.
But, if you’ve tried all of the natural therapies that I’ve listed above and have found some improvement, but not a complete improvement, then CBD may be a good idea in that situation.
It might also be a good idea to use if you have Hashimoto’s triggered by something which is not necessarily treatable or reversible.
If an acutely stressful event triggered your Hashimoto’s then it’s not really possible to go back in time to prevent it from occurring.
If this is the case for you, then CBD may be an option worth considering.
Like other thyroid therapies, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach that you can or should take.
Instead, make sure you weigh the potential benefits against the potential side effects and determine if it is right for YOU.
If you choose to use CBD ensure that you are getting a quality product if you want to see results!
I’m coming to understand that there are MANY cheap products available that do NOT contain what they claim (in a somewhat unregulated supplement industry).
So if you try one of these brands and do not see results do not blame the CBD! Instead, it’s probably more related to the low quality of the product.
Conclusion
CBD oil shows promise as an emerging treatment for those with thyroid disease and especially Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
It’s not clear exactly how or why CBD oil is effective but it probably has to do with how it impacts your thyroid gland directly and other systems, such as the hypothalamus, indirectly.
The net result may be an improvement in both direct thyroid symptoms and indirect symptoms such as anxiety, pain, and insomnia.
As a thyroid patient, it may be worth exploring this therapy especially given its excellent safety profile and relatively cheap cost.
CBD oil is available over the counter and can be purchased online, making it an ideal complementary therapy to whatever you are currently doing to treat your Hashimoto’s.
Before using it, however, be sure to check with your doctor!
Now I want to hear from you:
- Are you currently using CBD oil?
- Is it working for you?
- What differences have you noticed (positive or negative)?
- Are you thinking about giving it a try?
- Why or why not?
Share your experiences, questions, or comments below!
I was prescribed CBD by my doctor and while it didn’t meaningfully move the needle on my TPO Antibodies, I found that it deeply relaxed me an markedly improved my sleep. She then added LDN to my treatment plan and I found that taking CBD + LDN was too much for me and it made me very groggy in the morning. Now I am on LDN only and I find that LDN gives me what CBD did (excellent sleep) and more (lower TPO Antibodies, no body pain, no fatigue etc.)
If you don’t mind me asking, what is LDN
Hi Tracy,
LDN stands for low dose naltrexone. You can learn more about it here: https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-use-ldn-for-hashimotos/
Dr. Childs, I am definitely considering it. Are you able to recommend a brand?
Hi Maria,
I have a couple that I am trying out. I will post the one that I think works the best once I find it.
A new company called Edens Essentials-https://edensessentials.com/ is working with a lab that has a high excellence for what product/ingredients that they use. They will reject products from companies that do not meet their stringent standards. Sometimes up to (70%). Hope this helps in your research for a quality CBD oil.
Hi Colleen,
Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Does all of this apply for someone taking a thyroid replacement?
Hi Sarah,
I’m not 100% sure what you are asking so feel free to clarify if my answer isn’t clear. If you are asking if you can take CBD if you are taking thyroid medication then the answer is yes. If you are asking if CBD will help if you do not have a thyroid then the answer is probably also yes but it depends on the situation.
Dr. Child’s, I have tried CBD when I have a flare-up of pain and inflammation and it does help. My question is I am uncertain how much to take. There doesn’t seem to be any guidelines that I can find. Can you help with that or point me to a source?
Can you recommend a product yet? I have been on nature thyroid for 3 years now, follow a strict diet, etc but my TSH is now really low, t3 highland antibodies have suddenly gone from 41 to abt 60. I’d love to try a CBD product to see if I can lick this thing! Thanks,
Hi Carrie,
Not yet, but I will update this post once I do! I’ve been using and testing a couple of different types/brands/doses but not ready to make a recommendation.
Tried leaving a comment before… do you have a rec on what CBD oil to buy? I have Hashimoto’s and am doing everything I can to reverse it :).
Have been making a tincture of marijuana (legal in our state). It has really helped with the joint pain and sleeping. I take levothyroxine 88mg.: have Hashimoto’s and also take your T3 and Adrenal Reset formulations. The marijuana in small doses does not make me high but helps the overall comfort level.
Dr, Childs,
I am currently treating my Hashimoto’s with a diet change eliminating dairy and gluten. I am also currently taking levothyroxine 50mcg and Natural Thyroid 60mg and low dose Naltrexone. I have to say I have seen great progress. My only concern is the TWO side effect with low dose naltrexone is one I can’t even enjoy a glass of wine and the second one is an effect which was said by my Dr. the damage it may cause my liver. I was researching CBD oil as a replacement of the naltrexone. Do you think that it is a good idea? Note the only reason I am still on Naltrexone is that my antibodies are still high lower than before but high. My T3 AND t4 AND TSH are within normal limits with the thyroid meds.
Please advise!
Hi, I am considering CBD. I have Hasimoto & half thyroid. Since April 2019. Doc took me off synthroid cuz thyroid is not responding. My TSH is 11.8 but t3 &t4 are normal. Had aweful side affects on synthroid. What is your opinion? Doc says 11.8 is my new norm…
Hi Lynn,
A TSH of 11.8 is certainly not normal and there are plenty of other medications to try aside from Synthroid.
Thank you Dr. Childs for this informative article on the benefits of CBD oil for Hashimoto’s patients. I have been taking CBD oil inconsistently at night for migraine headaches. After reading your article, I am going to use it twice a day and see if that will help me with my weight gain. I haven’t gained that much, but I would like to reduce those few pounds. Thanks again.
I’ve recently heard about CBD oil and found this website. I just ordered the CBD gummies. Is there a difference between the gummies with CBD oil and the CBD oil itself? I’m very hopeful!! I’ve been struggling everyday for the last 4 years and I’m just ready to give up .. I’ve been on several medications and diets and I’m just so tired of nothing seeming to help. I’ll let ya know how the gummies do! Thank you Dr. Childs.
Hi Jen,
I’m not familiar with the gummies but it shouldn’t be an issue provided the dose is high enough and it’s broad spectrum, organic, etc.
And yes, please do let me know how it works for you!
Gummies usually have sugar added to them.
I started CBD oil and a major change to my diet at the same time. I have Hashimoto’s and I gained 40 pounds in 2 years. I had severe joint and muscle pain and I was very tired (like mono tired). I started having panic attacks, heart palpitations and an overall feeling of gloom and doom. I really thought I was dying.
My doctor did blood work and discovered that my thyroid was borderline and my antibodies were high. After 6 months, she finally prescribed thyroid medication. After a year of “chasing numbers”, she reported that my numbers were perfect. I felt worse than ever.
Finally, I went to a holistic health practitioner. With extremely low vitamins B12 and D and potassium of 2.8, she added supplements and CBD oil to my thyroid medications. She felt that the Epstein Barr virus had resurfaced and we changed my diet completely. No sugar, dairy, gluten, processed foods, etc. Fresh meats, organic fruits and vegetables and filtered water are my diet now. It seems extreme, but I’m happy to report that after 2 weeks, I felt much better. 6 months later, I’m better than normal, down 30 pounds and have lots of energy and feel the best I’ve felt in years. I have a 6 month appointment with my general practitioner to have my bloodwork done in a few weeks. I’m excited to see the results. The CBD oil helped my pain. I was taking it twice per day, now I take it once at night before bed.
I’m sorry for the very long post, but I want people to know to keep trying until you get the results you want. Try CBD oil, change your diet…..whatever it takes to find good health again. It is something I will never take for granted again.
Hi Vicki,
Thanks for sharing and glad you are feeling better! Don’t put too much focus on your blood work, by the way, as it doesn’t always correlate with the clinical presentation (how you are feeling).
Hi Vicki,
Can you tell me what CBD oil she recommended for you?
Vicki congratulations on finding a doctor that truly understands and has you feeling better!! Do you mind sharing what brand of CBD you use?
How much and how often do you take the CBD? what brand please?
Thank you for your post. Can you tell me what kind of CBD oil your taking and when you were taking it twice per day, how much?
Thank you
What kind of CBD oil do you recommend? I have Hashimotos, I take NP Thyroid and quit gluten because I couldn’t lose weight lost 12 pounds being off of gluten.
I took Garden of Life CBD for a few months straight. It did nothing for me. I then went to a nutritionist and have been on a restrictive diet for 3 months. I lost about 20 pounds but do not feel better, my numbers are still all over the place. Because of your articles, I am starting on LDN in a couple of days. I have also since stopped the diet. I’m still eating healthy…no sugar, no gluten, and very little dairy. But I’m slowly adding my caloric intake up from 1000/day. Keeping my fingers crossed that the LDN will finally help the pain, brain fog and all the other stuff that goes with Hashimotos.
Hi Amy,
Remember that many of these products work only if dosed correctly. So it could have been that you didn’t use a high enough dose or for long enough, etc. Most of what I do is figure out what people actually need (dosages, duration of therapy, etc.) to get results but I often find that patients try things that could actually work for them but they don’t do it correctly.
Do you have a recommended brand of Cbd oil yet? I’ve tried several and they don’t seem to do much.
Hi Teri,
Yes, I believe the link is in the article itself. I got it from someone I know personally who sells it but I included a link to her website in the article. I personally evaluated the third party assay of the ingredients and ratios of CBD/THC etc. and it’s the one that I’ve been using personally.
Dr. Child’s,
I am a 68 yr old female with Hashimoto’s which I am getting under control working with an integrative practitioner…antibodies were 138 last test. I am on 50 mcg of levothyroxine and 120mg of Armour…prefer Naturethroid but it seems to be unavailable at times. I also am up to 4mg of LDN. I experimented with CBD oil in capsules but didn’t feel any different. Now using the brand PLUS CBD oil extra strength 3 mg in liquid form and I love it. I sleep really well. I am wondering if it is okay to take it before bed along with the LDN. Sometimes I am groggy in the morning. Also I read one of the above posts where her doctor said it could be damaging to the liver. Do I have to give up wine or alcohol when using this?
Hi Kathy,
Are you asking if CBD can damage the liver? The answer is no if used in the right dosage. I recommend that you avoid alcohol because of its negative effects on thyroid function but if you choose to drink it that is your choice 🙂
I can not find the link to the specific CBD you are trying and I would love to try but there is so many brands and sellers out there would love to use one that you are comfortable with Can you email me the information please? Thank you for all you do
Hi Jami,
I apologize, I thought it was in the post but it wasn’t but I just added it.
I have Hashimotos and am on a T3 and T4 replacement. I am also gluten free. My biggest problem is I have tons of food sensitivities, which through research is caused by “leaky gut.” When I have a reaction, it manifest in inflammation in my ears and sinuses. I constantly have sinus trouble. It usually causes me to become nauseous a few times a week that results in vomiting. Once I can get the inflammation to reduce in my ears, I can begin to feel better. Do you think the CBD can help reduce this type of inflammation? Also, I have been told that because CBD oil is unregulated that you can have some piece that will show up positive on a drug test, which made me nervous but I don’t know if this is accurate information so I wanted to check on this too. I will await your response and your article on the amounts and I will probably try it.
Hi Donya,
If the CBD doesn’t contain THC then it will not cause a positive drug test result. Not all companies confirm concentrations/ingredients in their supplements, unfortunately. I know this because I do it for all of my supplements and it’s expensive (and this cost is often reflected in the total cost of the product) but if you want to have a good product it’s necessary. If you buy a cheap product then it may be more likely to contain ingredients you don’t want.
I’m sorry I don’t see any link. I live in Glendale AZ is she local you buy it from? Would you mind sending me the link, thank you.
I’ve been taking CBD oil for a month – I have Hashimoto’s. I take CBD first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I just had a doctor visit and for the first time in a long time my blood work indicates I need more thyroid medication – ugh. Of course my doctor wants me to stop the CBD oil all together. I’m thinking it may be more of the morning CBD oil interfering with the absorption of my Synthroid which I also take in the morning. Thoughts?
Hi Sarah,
It could be, or it could be your lab tests are not accurate 🙂 I would check out this video for more info: https://youtu.be/5CLTaAxK9vg
Referencing Teri, above, her request for the CBD oil link. I, also, did not see it in the article. Could we please get that? Thanks so much.
SuZanne, I’m about to give up on getting an answer lol….There is no link, I checked everywhere!
Hi Teri,
I just added it 🙂 Apparently, I added it to a different blog post and failed to add it to this one as well but it should be there now.
I have been using a good quality CBD oil for 4 months and have experienced results with lessened pain and inflammation, within one week. I am also sleeping better and have less anxiety.
For those who are considering CBD, please do your research, there is a lot of “junk” out there; I know, I’ve tried those and they didn’t work! Things to consider: Is the CBD GMP certified? Is it organic? Is what they say is in the bottle, really in the bottle.
I have seen tremendous testimonies just within my family alone! My Dad hasn’t been able to walk more than 100 ft for ten years, due to severe back pain. Four days after using CBD, he was walking 1/2 mile and is now walking one mile twice a day with little to no pain.
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for sharing and I definitely agree! If you want to confirm that the product is quality it needs to be produced in a GMP compliant facility and it should undergo third-party testing and verification for both CBD and THC (it should contain only trace amounts of THC). Many products out there right now are made with dubious standards which results in the products not containing what they claim they contain.
Dr Childs, The product you recommend has Curcumin does it make a difference if I buy the one without?
Hi Teri,
I think the one with curcumin works best but you can use the other one if that is your preference. I’ve used both, both on myself and on others and have had success with them.
Do I need to use a CBD oil with THC or can I use one without and it be just as effective?
Hi Liz,
You do not need to use THC in order for CBD oil to be effective.
I was on it for a couple months. Titrated up to 83mg twice a day. I did not see any benefit at all with me. I experienced some side effects, like my face and eyes swelling up like a balloon. Had some nausea. Probably allergic to hemp. Did try reducing the dose down. But the lower dose didn’t do anything. So, I was disappointed it didn’t work since my friends had some success with it. CBD Distillery is where I got it from. Great company and customer service. They refunded my unused bottle. It isn’t cheap, that’s for sure.
After reading this just questioning if taking CBD if you are to continue with your thyroid medicine too. I take synthetic 125 mg. They cannot seem to get my thyroid where it should be. In the last year I’ve been given armor thyroid 125 then synthroid 90 then back up to 125 synthroid. Would love to know what I should do. Hate the weight gain. Have been on thyroid medicine now for 30 years but just recently the weight gain as in increased. Chalked it up to age – 62. Not sure anymore. My endroconologist wanted to put me on this strong diet pill – not sure I really want to do that. I’m really not that heavy – I’m 5 ft 6 weight is 172. Please let me know what you think
Hi Lisa,
They can be used together without any issue, provided they aren’t taken at the same time.
Lisa, do you also have hashimoto’s? what are your numbers?
What dose is good for Hashimoto’s? What form is best pill form or putting CBD drops under the tongue?
Julie, have you received a response to this? i would also like to know.
Thank you for this information. I have been prescribed CBD (produced by Tilray). We have also experimented with various combinations of THC (lower content than CBD) and CBD. A higher THC content aggravated my anxiety, so I am now on CBD only. It helps me relax and sleep a lot better. The muscle pain also seems to be positively affected by CBD. However, it has no effect on the TgAb. They remain at the same level. I have had Hashimoto’s for at least 40 years and my thyroid is pretty well shot (it is very , very small). Still, if the inflammation could be kept down, I assume that the rest of my body is a bit safer. I have lately also been diagnosed with Celiac. So again I’m hoping to not accumulate anymore autoimmune issues and hope that a healthy lifestyle (to the best of my knowledge and capabilities) combined with CBD will help with that. By the way, my GP was very angry about me taking CBD but bit his anger down when I told him it was prescribed by an MD who specializes in medicinal cannabis and follows the emerging research. I also participated in a study by the Colorado University, which gave me the opportunity to really pay attention to the effects of different THC and CBD contents. The only challenge is that good products are quite expensive and I might not always be able to afford to buy them.
Thanks for the detailed information. I am recently diagnosed with Hashimotos. I enjoy smoking marijuana. (legal in my state)Can I continue to smoke without affecting my thyroid health? Is there a product with good proportions of CBD/THC to give me ‘high’ that you can recommend?
Been on synthroid for years for Hashimoto’s. Worked well until menopause. Can’t find a doc to treat my barely normal T3. Overall pain and chronic plantar fasciitis have ruined my ability to work out effectively. Just started CBD oil two days ago. Hoping it changes things.
Hi Dr. Childs!
Im struggling with a few autoimmine diseases and im starting to lose hope. I have fibromyalgia, hashimotos and im coeliac. Im trying to keep on top of it all with levothyroxine, endep and lyrica as well as a limited diet. My antibodies have been sitting at 1600 for almost a year with no improvement. I would like to consider cbd oil but the process in australia is much more extensive and very lengthy. Do you have any advice for me? Have a good day 🙂 love josie xxx
Hi Josie,
Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the regulation of CBD in Australia or how to bypass those rules/laws.
Do you think CBD would do anything to reduce nodules or goiter? Or just inflammation in general? And would it be internally taken or applied externally?
Hi Diana,
It probably won’t impact nodules but there’s always a possibility it could. For your purposes, it would be best to take it by mouth.
Hi Dr Child, I have been told I have Hashimotos but not so bad to have treatment yet. I had a stressful event H-Pylori infection which flared up my Thyroid. I have been to the Endo who said everything is ok. I have watery eyes, brain fog, Insomnia and balance problems sometimes. I started using CBD 2 weeks ago and the watery eyes have improved. I went to a functional medicine practitioner who said I need to avoid Gluten and dairy to reduce the inflammation. Also said I have symptoms of both Hyper and Hypo Thyroid. CBD helps with bringing the Inflammation down. Any advice how I can possibly reverse the situation as I feel am still at a early stage.
Hi Shahrukh,
Of course! Please see this article for more information: https://www.restartmed.com/natural-remedies-for-hashimotos-thyroiditis/
Are you currently using CBD oil? Yes. I have had been treated off and on for hypothyroid for 50 years. I have never felt good until the last 5 yrs when I started taking T3 and using many supplements. I had not considered CBD for thyroid issues
My use with CBD came after an accident where I completely tore my rotate cuff. It was so painful. I spent 3 1/2 weeks being treated by local clinic, then a specialized orthopedic center. Every step of the way, general practitioner, intake with PA at urgent care, x-rays, mri, surgeon, PT , insurance companies…., etc resulted in wait for appointments, wait for test results, wait for insurance approval, I was in horrible pain, trembling, no sleep type pain. Every single step over a month I was given hydrocodone, heavy duty NSAID, metacarpal, tordal, etc. I had the worst nightmarish reaction to these drugs. I believe it was the hydrocodone, but it could be the others.. I was in more pain, paranoid, extreme fear, very little sleep like 10 min, very dark, scary thoughts. I finally quit taking all the RX about the end of 3rd week. Self talk, logic, breathe, count, breathe kept me together in a semi sane way. Three days after stopping all RX I felt better, There was still pain. I felt like I had gone through a PTS event, afraid to leave my house, afraid for my spouse to leave, afraid for the pets to outside! I purchased a bottle of CBD drops. Within a half hour I felt a change, reduction of pain, reduction in all the mental panic I felt.
Is it working for you? It worked well. I went through the CBD 2 oz bottle within a week. I was determined to get off all RX, even the Advil and Tylenol. The CBD along with lots of ice on the shoulder and a supplement for sleep that contained GABA and L-theanine resulted in steady improvement within 7 days. I was sleeping again, increasing hours every night! (Normally I sleep too much!) I didn’t need or want any of the pain killers, the CBD was physically and mentally helping me get back in control.
What differences have you noticed (positive or negative)? I felt like the CBD helped me. No negative. Interesting…I was so impressed with the relief yet each day I found I used less and less, almost like auto adjusting dosage was just happening on its own
Are you thinking about giving it a try? Sold…it worked for me for pain. I am still waiting for a surgery to fix my unmovable shoulder, I still am afraid of the pain returning. I purchased patches, roll on and drops of CBD. Does it help thyroid issues? IDK but I will start paying more attention.
Hi Sher,
Glad it worked for you! I’ve seen good success with it as well but it’s great to hear other success stories.
Hi Dr. Childs,
Thank you for the great information.
I knew some of this but not all I have had Hashimoto’s since my earlier 30s and so it has been 20 years. I believe food is so important and I take thyroid medication…
Cbd has help my anxiety so much and joint pain and inflammation for sure. I have stopped a couple times and my symptoms do come back. I am now using a USDA organic CBD products that are so good.
I personally would rather take cbd than medication. If you have not found a good reach out Dr.Childs I would love to suggest one to you.☺️
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for sharing! Glad you were able to find one that works well for you.