Can I take CBD and functional mushrooms together?
With the rise in popularity of both CBD and functional mushrooms supplements for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, you might be wondering if they can be taken together.
CBD has soared in popularity since its introduction into the UK in 2018. However, functional mushrooms are another health supplement that have recently taken the world by storm.
Both CBD and functional mushrooms offer support for wellbeing, but can they be taken together? In this article we explore everything you need to know about mixing these supplements
CBD Safety
Despite CBD only being available on the UK market since 2018, there has been a large volume of research into the supplement’s safety across the globe for many years.
This body of evidence has contributed to changing regulations that are now allowing CBD to be sold on retail shelves.
One review of human clinical trials investigating CBD found that anecdotal reports of CBD’s safety was confirmed in the reviewed research.
Another review of 29 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, six open label studies and 45 additional studies investigating CBD found that CBD is “exceptionally safe, with very few concerns even at the highest dose range considered (>300–400 mg)”.
A placebo-controlled study of various CBD doses demonstrated that CBD was safe and well tolerated, however, it suggested the compound produced small decreases in blood pressure.
Functional Mushroom Safety
Functional mushrooms, often referred to as medicinal mushrooms or adaptogenic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in countries such as Korea, China and Japan.
Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Chaga and many more adaptogenic mushrooms are now being utilised for natural wellness across other parts of the world.
One review looking at the safety of mushrooms supplements found that there was limited adverse effects from mushroom supplements in market data, and that mushroom supplements are generally considered to be safe for consumption.
The review emphasises that many mushroom supplements have a high degree of similarity to the culinary materials (mushrooms), such as Shiitake and Maitake, with a wealth of taxological data supporting their safe use.
The review reads: “The apparent prevalence in the marketplace, the lack of reported adverse events, as determined by the literature review and the very high degree of similarity between their mycelium growths (the raw materials investigated) and the culinary fruiting bodies to which they were compared give confidence that these materials are safe for consumption at doses consistent with dietary intakes of culinary mushrooms.”
CBD and mushroom interaction
As CBD and functional mushrooms are both fairly new supplements, there has so far been very limited research on the interaction between the two.
However, as both CBD and functional mushrooms have been found to be safe when taken alone, it is currently thought that combining the two will be safe.
One study has been carried out that investigated a combined formula of CBD and five medicinal mushrooms including Turkey Tail, Reishi, Shiitake, Velvet Foot, and Cordyceps militaris.
They study found that the combination formula was safe to use under in vitro conditions – which means in a petri dish. However, the authors encourage further research to determine the safety in humans.
If in doubt consult a medical professional
Given the current state of knowledge on the interaction between CBD and functional mushrooms, it is important to consult a doctor if you are thinking about adding any new supplements into your wellness routine.
CBD and mushrooms may interact with other medications you are taking, or may not be suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. A medical professional will be able to advise and guide you on whether a supplement is right for you.
Dosage and side effects
If you have spoken to a medical professional and have decided that you would like to incorporate CBD and functional mushrooms into your wellness routine, it is important to be aware of dosage and side effects.
As with any supplement, a rule of thumb is to ‘start low and go slow’. This will give you time to see how the supplement impacts your body, and you can raise your dose over time to suit your needs.
Keep an eye on any side effects that may be caused by the supplements and speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any.