In the late 80s, scientists discovered that humans have an endocannabinoid system consisting of two types of receptors.
Since that discovery, we have seen an impressive amount of research concluded with regards to this system. Current evidence has helped us understand how cannabinoids from hemp, such as CBD, can have so many positive effects on our health.
Cannabinoid receptors occur virtually everywhere throughout the body, including the cells of the immune system and the gut microbiome.
Put all those elements together, and you’ll understand why people are turning to CBD to take care of their gut health and deal with problems like candida.
In this article, we’ll shed light on how candida, a yeast-like fungus, can negatively affect your gut — and how you can use CBD to overcome that problem. We’ll also highlight the best CBD products on the market in 2022.
CBD Oil for Candida: Best Products in 2022
1. Royal CBD (Editor’s Pick)
| Potency | 250 mg – 2500 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Berry, Mint, Vanilla |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 83.3 mg |
Why Royal CBD is the Best CBD Oil for Candida:
Royal CBD is an American company launched in California by a group of cannabis activists. The brand offers premium CBD extracts in different potency options and cannabinoid profiles to choose from. Royal CBD sells full-spectrum oil drops and capsules, THC-free gummies, and broad-spectrum topicals.
If you want to use Royal CBD products for Candida, I recommend their CBD oil and roll-on gel. The Royal CBD oil is available in four concentrations, including 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg, and a whopping 2500 mg of CBD per bottle. The strongest oil carries 83.3 mg of CBD in each milliliter. The potency range makes these oils appropriate for different types of consumers.
For those who need localized relief from Candida overgrowth, the roll-on gel should come in handy. Not only does it contain 350 mg of CBD, but it also comes infused with menthol extract to provide a cooling touch to the affected areas. Unlike many anti-inflammatory gels out there, this one is easy to apply and doesn’t leave any grease on hands thanks to its convenient applicator.
All of Royal CBD products are sourced from organic hemp, extracted with CO2, and third-party tested for their CBD content and purity.
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2. Gold Bee (Best Value)
Product Details
| Potency | 300 – 1200 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Honey |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 33.3 mg |
About Gold Bee
Gold Bee is another brand from California that sells affordable organic hemp extracts. This company makes honey-flavored CBD oils, which are some of the tastiest products I’ve ever tried. This is the best choice for conscious consumers who want to test different potency options but their daily dosage doesn’t exceed 40 mg CBD.
Similar to Royal CBD, Gold Bee specializes in making full-spectrum extracts. This type of CBD is made using the entire plant, meaning it contains other beneficial compounds on top of cannabidiol, including trace cannabinoids and terpenes. Gold Bee’s products are extracted under low temperatures, which helps preserve the original chemical profile of hemp. The CBD content, as well as the purity of Gold Bee’s extracts, are proven by Certificates of Analysis from a third-party laboratory.
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3. Hemp Bombs (Best CBD Isolate)
| Potency | 125 – 4000 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Acai Berry, Orange Creamsicle, Peppermint, Watermelon |
| CBD per serving | 4 – 133 mg/mL |
About Hemp Bombs
Hemp Bombs is my favorite CBD oil provider when it comes to isolate-based products and broad-spectrum CBD oil. This brand sells CBD oil in a wide range of potency options, from 300 mg to 4000 mg of CBD per bottle.
The broad-spectrum CBD oil contains CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes, but with no detectable traces of THC. Isolate, on the other hand, contains pure cannabidiol that has been separated from the other compounds.
Isolates are a good option if you’re interested only in the benefits of CBD, or you’re apprehensive about taking any THC into your body for various reasons. These products are also odorless and flavorless, so you won’t have to deal with the earthy and nutty aftertaste of full-spectrum CBD. However, CBD isolates lack the entourage effect, which makes them a less popular option among consumers.
Aside from its impressive product selection, Hemp Bombs offers a variety of appealing flavors, including Acai Berry, Peppermint, Watermelon, or Orange Creamsicle.
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4. CBDPure (Top Transparency)
Product Details
| Potency | 100 – 1000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| CBD per serving | 3.3 – 33 mg/mL |
About CBDPure
CBDPure sells mostly low-potency oils, but the company has recently added a 1000 mg CBD oil to its lineup. It’s one of the best US manufacturers for those who value transparency. The company goes above and beyond to cover every detail of their activity on their website and social media.
Although CBDPure has a lower potency range than Royal CBD and Gold Bee, these products meet the highest manufacturing standards. CBDPure’s collection is extracted from organic hemp, using supercritical CO2 without additional heat or solvents. These oils are rigorously tested in third-party laboratories for their CBD content and purity.
CBDPure is confident about the quality of its product. The brand has a satisfaction guarantee program for those who want to try out its products in a risk-free way. If you buy the CBD oil (or capsules) and decide they don’t work for you, simply send the package back and CBDPure will give you a full refund.
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5. CBDistillery (Most Affordable)
CBDistillery closes our ranking of the best CBD oils for Candida. It’s one of the pioneer brands and largest manufacturers in North America. The company was established in 2016 as a daughter brand of Balanced Health Botanicals.
Since then, CBDistillery has reformulated its product selection and it now offers CBD extracts in two types: full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD. The broad-spectrum version is labeled as “pure oil” and contains all the non-psychoactive cannabinoids but without traces of THC. The THC has been removed during filtration.
CBDistillery has some of the widest product range on the market, and it covers the entire potency range for CBD oils, from 250 mg to 5000 mg per bottle. Although the higher concentrations are priced higher than low- and mid-potency bottles, the cost per mg of CBD becomes lower when you choose a stronger oil.
In other words, the more CBD in your oil, the further it will get you.
| Potency | 250 – 5000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| Potency | 8.3 – 166 mg/mL |
About CBDistillery
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Understanding Candida
Candida is a type of fungus that can cause a fungal infection known as Candidiasis. This infection may cause discomfort, although it typically doesn’t do much harm.
Human bodies are home to many types of fungi, and Candida is naturally occurring in minimum amounts in the oral cavity, gut microbiome, digestive tract, and vaginal tract without causing any health problems.
However, candida overgrowth is anything but good for your health.
Different Types of Candida
Candida overgrowth can result in a range of unpleasant symptoms. For example, when Candidiasis impacts the skin, it leaves a red or painful rash that becomes serious with a white or yellowish discharge. The infection is typically manifested by the presence of fungus in the armpits and between the fingers or groin.
If the Candida infection is left neglected, it can result in a systemic Candidiasis, which affects many parts of the body and is usually triggered by a compromised immune system.
Another type of fungal infection is invasive candidiasis. It happens when Candida species pass into the bloodstream or binds to internal organs, such as the heart, kidney, or brain. Invasive candidiasis can be treated with antifungal medication, as explained in a 2016 study from the Clinical Infectious Disease Journal.
Typical Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth
- Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia, which is a disorder characterized by stiffness and tenderness of muscles and joints, and accompanied by chronic pain without inflammation.
- Digestive problems, such as constipation, bloating, and gas
- Sugar cravings. Candida feeds on sugar.
- Skin problems like rashes, hives, dandruff, eczema, rosacea, and Versicolor
- Seasonal allergies or chronic sinus infections
- Autoimmune diseases caused by leaky gut
- Urinary tract infections or vaginal infections.
How Doctors Diagnose Candida
Doctors use several methods to diagnose candida. One of them includes asking the patient seven questions highlighted in the book Reset the Yeast Connection by Carolyn F.A. Dean MD ND.
Dean uses the term Yeast Overgrowth Syndrome (YOS) to describe candidiasis, Candida-related complex, Candida hypersensitivity, and yeast allergies.
Here are the seven questions mentioned in the book:
- Have you, at any time in your life, taken “broad-spectrum” antibiotics?
- Have you taken tetracycline or other broad-spectrum antibiotics for one month or longer?
- Are your symptoms worse on damp, muggy days or in moldy places?
- Do you crave sugar?
- Do you have a feeling of being “drained?”
- Are you bothered with vaginal (or penile) burning itching or discharge?
- Are you bothered by burning, itching, or tearing of eyes?
What Is the Best Treatment for Candida?
The researchers that conducted a 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry tested the efficacy of different pharmaceuticals as treatments for oral candidiasis.
The research team concluded that the following drugs proved to be an effective treatment:
- Nystatin
- Amphotericin B
- Fluconazole oral suspension
The above pharmaceuticals were examined in terms of treating oral candidiasis.
For skin (cutaneous) candidiasis, the study pointed to different antifungal powders and creams as effective medications. The authors of the study also underlined the importance of keeping the skin surrounding the affected area clean and dry during the treatment.
Antifungal medications, in turn, could be used to deal with vaginal yeast infections by reducing their severity and frequency. More research is needed to determine if any alternative medicine therapies can treat vaginal yeast infections
The study recommended using the above medications along with complementary therapies under a doctor’s supervision.
Is CBD Antifungal?
Certain cannabinoids, especially CBD, have been highlighted as a natural antifungal remedy that may help treat Candidiasis and other fungal infections.
In a 2011 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, CBD, CBC, and CBG were described as “having moderate antifungal properties.” However, the study mostly focused on the health benefits of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid, and not CBD.
Nevertheless, the researchers found that the aforementioned cannabinoids might enhance the effects of a remarkably potent antifungal, caryophyllene oxide. This compound is the oxidized form of beta-caryophyllene, one of the major terpenes found in cannabis, hops, basil, rosemary, and pepper.
Terpenes are similar to essential oils and provide cannabis strains with their distinctive aromas and flavors. They also have many health benefits on their own and can engage with cannabinoids to provide synergistic effects known as “the entourage effect.” According to this concept, cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than each of them in isolation.
Some terpenes found in CBD oil are antifungal agents, while others can help reduce inflammation, which is also one of the most talked-about benefits of CBD.
CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects have been highlighted in several human and animal studies. Some of those studies referred to cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs.
How Could CBD Oil Help with Candida?
When it comes to CBD and Candida, we need to take a closer look at CBD’s interaction with the CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system — and how CBD regulates the immune response.
The longer pro-inflammatory compounds remain inside the system, the more intense they act on the pain receptors of the nerve cells. These compounds, known as cytokines, increase pathologic pain caused by nerve damage and also worsen the pain experience in oral and vaginal Candidiasis.
When CBD binds to the CB2 receptors on the surface of the immune cells that are hyperactive, it activates an anti-inflammatory protein called caspase.
Caspase sends signals that trigger cell death of the immune cell, and then inflammation gets leveled down as cytokines release gets reduced. According to recent studies, lower levels of cytokines in the body are linked to better restoration of a weakened immune system.
On top of that, CBD can reduce itchiness and skin irritation caused by candidiasis through its anti-inflammatory and antipruritic properties.
The Pros and Cons of Using CBD Oil for Candida
The Pros
- Studies mentioned in this article point to CBD as a potent anti-inflammatory. They also highlight its antifungal and antipruritic properties, both of which can prove useful in treating Candidiasis.
- CBD is a non-addictive substance, which makes it safe for daily consumption.
- According to a critical review by the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD is generally well tolerated and has a high safety profile.
- You don’t need a prescription to buy hemp-derived CBD oil.
The Cons
- Research is limited when it comes to the direct effects of CBD on conditions such as Candidiasis. The FDA has only approved one CBD-based drug for treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy (Epidiolex). Hemp-derived CBD oil, however, is considered a health supplement.
- There are a few possible side effects, such as dry mouth, drowsiness, diarrhea, or changes in appetite. However, these are very rare and nearly nonexistent among most users.
- CBD can compromise your body’s ability to process certain medications, including conventional treatments for candida overgrowth.
- CBD products sold locally are mostly unregulated, so there’s a risk of buying a mislabeled and dangerous product. Those looking for high-quality CBD oil should look for a reputable online retailer. Research is the most important part of buying CBD products.
CBD vs. Alternative Forms of Treatment: A Quick Comparison
In healthy people who experience skin candidiasis, thrush, or vaginal yeast infections, these problems can be dealt with using a short treatment or even a single dose of antifungal solution.
However, many people with weakened immune systems find Candida infections particularly challenging to treat. Oftentimes, Candidiasis is a recurring condition.
The majority of the autoimmune diseases derive from inflammation, and CBD appears to be very helpful in bolstering the immune system, as well as in reducing its hyperactivity. With a strengthened immune system, Candida infections may be easier to treat.
Fortunately, you can prevent most Candida infections by keeping the skin clean and dry, eating nutritious food, and following a healthy lifestyle.
When you somehow catch a Candida infection, you may need to use antibiotics — but only as the doctor prescribed.
One dangerous side effect of using antibiotics is that they can promote yeast infection, as studies suggest. The problem begins when a person takes some antibiotics for an ailment but then has to cope with the unwanted symptoms of a yeast infection.
When something like this happens, CBD can help by exerting antibiotic actions without causing Candida overgrowth.
According to a study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), CBD is active against Gram-positive bacteria, showing similar efficacy to antibiotics such as daptomycin or vancomycin.
The research team leader Dr. Mark Blaskovich said, “The combination of inherent antimicrobial activity and potential to reduce damage caused by the inflammatory response to infections is particularly attractive.”
CBD has also been found beneficial at reducing biofilms, a type of bacteria growth that results in treatment-resistant infections. Last but not least, CBD is much less likely to cause resistance than the existing antibiotics.
How to Choose the Right CBD Oil for Candida
The best type of CBD oil for Candida is a full-spectrum extract. Full-spectrum CBD oil contains other beneficial compounds on top of cannabidiol, including trace cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids. These compounds work synergistically to enhance the therapeutic effects of each individual cannabinoid, leading to the “entourage effect.”
Those allergic to THC or afraid of failing a drug test after taking full-spectrum CBD may opt for broad-spectrum products, which is much like full-spectrum CBD, but without any traces of THC.
There’s also the third type — CBD isolates. These products contain only pure, isolated cannabidiol. Isolate is typically derived from hemp because hemp plants naturally contain lower concentrations of THC. Therefore, the purging process takes less time.
Regardless of the cannabinoid spectrum and the overall formula of your CBD oil, you should always base your decision on meticulous research, including legal matters, hemp source, extraction methods, third-party testing, and more.
Follow these steps to save time and money on buying CBD oil online:
- Make sure CBD oil is legal where you live.
- Only purchase from reliable brands that grow their hemp on their farms, or purchase from licensed hemp growers.
- Read product reviews before buying from an online retailer. When shopping for CBD locally, check whether the store has the government’s authorization to sell CBD products.
- Look for third-party lab reports to compare company claims about its products’ potency.
- Check if the product has a certification code. Certain products can only be approved for sale after some thorough content analysis.
- Consult a trusted medical professional who has knowledge of CBD before you purchase your first bottle of CBD oil.
How Much CBD Oil Should You Take for Candida?
There is no recommended dosage when it comes to using CBD for candida.
We still lack sufficient high-quality evidence from human trials until scientists can determine effective doses for any particular medical condition. Since CBD is currently unregulated, it’s difficult to know what you’re getting.
Again, we recommend you consult with your doctor to make sure CBD supplementation is appropriate for you and avoid potential adverse interactions with other therapeutic compounds that you’re currently taking.
If you’re concerned about the possibility of causing toxicity after taking CBD, this 2017 study should quickly calm you down. In the study, researchers concluded that large doses of up to 1500 mg per day were well tolerated by humans.
That being said, the long-term effects of CBD are yet to be examined in the future.
How to Take CBD Oil for Candida
Different types of candidiasis may call for different forms of CBD depending on the area of the body affected by the infection.
If you want to use CBD effectively for Candida, you must apply it directly where it’s needed. Once you’ve figured out the location of the CBD’s target, you’re halfway home.
A diagnosis from a doctor should help determine the type of candidiasis you have, and this information may point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the right CBD product.
Topicals should work best for targets that are close to the skin or a mucous membrane (e.g. vagina). These products will deliver the highest concentration of CBD to the target area.
CBD topicals range from creams, lotions, patches, gels, and suppositories.
When the root of the problem lies in inflammation, CBD needs to be ingested orally or sublingually. Sublingual (beneath the tongue) absorption is one of the most efficient methods of taking CBD oil.
Peak blood levels of sublingual CBD are achieved in 15 to 20 minutes, which is faster than the same substances delivered orally.
If you don’t like the taste of CBD oil, you can try CBD gummies or capsules, which are two common oral products.
CBD and Drug Tests: Will It Show Up?
Some people are concerned about the possibility of CBD causing them to fail a drug test. The good news is that drug tests don’t look for CBD. Instead, they search for THC metabolites in your urine, so if you’re not a marijuana user, you’re in the clear.
Theoretically, it’s possible to test “false positive” for THC when you take large quantities of CBD oil. However, you would need to take 1900–2000 mg CBD a day to get such a result. Should that happen, you can always tell your employer that you take CBD oil and request another screening.
Bottom Line: Can CBD Oil Help with Candida?
Several studies have shown CBD is a promising natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal agent that may help with Candida overgrowth and associated infections.
There are different types of candidiasis, depending on the area of the body that was affected by the infection. Treatments, as well as types of CBD products, will also vary depending on your individual condition.
To date, there has been no research into CBD dosage specifically for Candida. Therefore, we recommend you consult with a trusted doctor experienced with cannabis use as a means of figuring out what type of CBD and what dose will work best for you.
When searching for the best CBD oils for Candida, make sure to research your potential supplier in terms of hemp farming practices, extraction methods, and third-party testing.
If you want to save time on comparing different brands, use the recommendations from our ranking — and let us know about your results with these products!