Does CBD Help With Altitude Sickness?

CBD has been getting a lot of attention lately in the mainstream world, and for good reason. Studies have shown that using CBD products can help people cope with several ailments. But does CBD help altitude sickness? If you're planning a trip to higher altitudes and wondering how to prevent altitude sickness naturally potentially with CBD, you'll want to keep reading this post!

We've been formulating altitude and recovery supplements out of Colorado since 2008, and this question comes up a lot. So let's give you a straight answer instead of a sales pitch.

Quick answer: No, there is no research showing CBD prevents or treats altitude sickness. But there is evidence that CBD may help with a few overlapping symptoms, like poor sleep, nausea, and mild headaches. CBD is a symptom smoother, not an altitude solution. The things that actually work are hydration, gradual ascent, and altitude-specific nutrients like glutathione.

Now let's get into the details.

What Is Altitude Sickness?

You've finally arrived in Denver after a long plane ride, and you're excited to get out, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and hit the slopes. But, as soon as you step outside of the airport, you begin coughing and can't seem to catch your breath.

If you've ever been to Colorado, you know that it's not uncommon for people from sea level to experience altitude sickness. It can be a real bummer if you've planned a vacation around outdoor activities like hiking and skiing but end up feeling sick and exhausted instead.

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a condition that causes symptoms from mild to severe and occurs when you travel to an area with a higher altitude with less oxygen. It typically starts at 8,000 feet, but can start lower like in our city of Denver at 5,280 feet.

Altitude sickness is a condition high-altitude hikers, pilots and frequent flyers might be prone to. The effects are caused when the body is not able to provide enough oxygen for the body's organs to function normally.

The most common symptoms of altitude sickness include:

• Headache (usually the first one to show up)

• Nausea or vomiting

• Shortness of breath

• Trouble sleeping or insomnia

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Fatigue and weakness

• Loss of appetite

Roughly 20 to 40% of people who travel to high elevation feel at least some mild symptoms. And here's the part that surprises people: being young and fit doesn't protect you. Altitude does not care how many miles you run.

Here's a quick look at where the trouble usually starts:

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of more than 100 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Statistics show that over the past decade, it has become the most sought-after natural remedy used in case of symptoms of many ailments.

Unlike the THC cannabinoid, CBD is completely non-psychoactive therefore making it a safe alternative. CBD is extracted from hemp plants and is known to help with a variety of ailments such as chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

A couple of things worth knowing before you pack it:

• Hemp-derived CBD contains 0.3% THC or less. That's the federal legal line. It's not enough to get you high, but it can still show up on some drug tests.

• The FDA has approved exactly one CBD drug, and it's for rare seizure disorders. Everything else you buy off a shelf is a supplement, not a medicine.

• Quality varies wildly. Look for a third-party Certificate of Analysis. Plenty of products don't contain what the label says.

But does CBD help altitude sickness? We'll explore further below.

How CBD Works in Your Body

Think of your body as having its own internal thermostat system. It's called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, and it helps regulate things like pain, mood, appetite, inflammation, and sleep.

CBD nudges that system. It doesn't bind hard to receptors the way THC does, which is why it doesn't get you high. Instead it works more indirectly, interacting with serotonin receptors and slowing the breakdown of your body's own natural cannabinoids.

So why does this matter for altitude? Because the ECS touches a few of the same dials that altitude sickness turns. Sleep. Nausea. Headache. That overlap is the entire reason this question keeps coming up.

But overlap is not the same thing as treatment. Here's what we mean.

Does CBD Help Altitude Sickness?

You may have heard some rumors that CBD could alleviate some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. We did not find any research specifically showing CBD to prevent or avoid altitude sickness. The short answer is no, however, there is evidence of CBD helping some related or similar symptoms of altitude sickness.

Symptoms helped from CBD that may help altitude sickness include improved sleeping, mild to moderate headache relief, decreasing nausea, and increased oxygen intake.

• A Colorado study showed improved sleep and anxiety in the participants from CBD.¹

• CBD was found to subdue vomiting and nausea in a Canadian study.²

• Research in Brazil showed CBD to have strong anti-inflammatory effects on mice and improve lung function.³

• A medical review shows promising results from CBD on headaches, chronic pain, and migraines.⁶

Based on the research we found, there may be some overlapping benefits of CBD to your high altitude encounter. Although anecdotal evidence only points to CBD helping altitude sickness, it's possible it may help you with some symptoms.

Here's the honest breakdown of what that research actually covers:

See that last column? Every single one says no. That's the piece most CBD blogs quietly skip. The research is on general symptoms in general people, not on hypoxic travelers at 9,000 feet. It's suggestive. It is not proof.

What CBD Can't Do at Altitude

We'd rather you hear this from us than find out at the top of a chairlift.

CBD does not add oxygen to your blood. Altitude sickness happens because there's less oxygen per breath up high. CBD doesn't change air pressure, and it doesn't change how much oxygen your lungs pull in. That mouse study on lung inflammation is interesting, but it's a long way from a person gasping in Breckenridge.

CBD does not speed up acclimatization. Your body adapts by making changes to your breathing rate and blood chemistry over days. Nothing in CBD accelerates that clock.

CBD does not replace descending. If you're getting worse, going down is the treatment. It always has been.

CBD can mask symptoms, and that's a real risk. If CBD dulls your headache, you might push higher when your body is waving a red flag. That headache is information. Don't turn off the smoke alarm and keep cooking.

CBD can interact with medications. CBD affects the same liver enzymes that process a lot of common drugs, similar to grapefruit. If you take prescriptions, especially anything for blood pressure or blood thinning, talk to your doctor first.

We're not anti-CBD. We're in Colorado, we've watched this industry grow up around us. We just think you deserve a straight answer.

Does Weed Help With Altitude Sickness?

It has been proven in a study that CBD concentrations in blood were detected after smoking weed.⁷

Based on this information, combined with the benefits of CBD in relation to altitude sickness, smoking weed might have similar altitude benefits than straight CBD.

The downside is that smoking has been proven to cause long-term damage and effects to your lungs.

And there's a bigger issue at elevation. Your lungs are already working overtime at 9,000 feet. Adding combustion smoke on top of that is the opposite of helpful. Ask anyone who has tried to hike a 14er the morning after.

Different methods carry different risks up high:

• Smoking flower. Hardest on your lungs, and the one most likely to make you feel worse at elevation.

• Vaping. Easier on the airways than combustion, but effects come on fast, which makes it easy to overshoot.

• Edibles. No lung impact, but they sneak up on you. Colorado mountain towns have a whole reputation built on visitors who ate a second gummy too soon.

Here's a real-world data point. Emergency responders in Colorado's high country have publicly warned visitors that mountain-town dispensary products are often stronger than what people are used to, and that they field a steady stream of 911 calls from visitors. Panic, racing heart, severe nausea. Now imagine that stacked on top of real altitude sickness, at 10,000 feet, with a headache you can't tell the source of.

Our take? If you're going to partake in the mountains, do it after your body has settled in. Not on day one.

How to Use CBD at Altitude (If You Choose To)

Plenty of people are going to use CBD on their mountain trip regardless of what any blog says, and that's totally fair. So here's how to do it sensibly.

Start lower than you normally would. Your body is already under stress at altitude. Give yourself a smaller dose and see how you feel.

Skip the smoke. Tinctures, capsules, and gummies don't tax your lungs. At elevation your lungs need all the help they can get.

Try it at home first. Your ski trip is a terrible place to discover how a new product affects you.

Use it for sleep, not for symptoms. Sleeping badly at altitude is extremely common, and it makes everything else worse. That's the most reasonable use case here.

Don't use it as your only plan. CBD at bedtime is fine. CBD instead of hydrating and easing in is not.

Check the label. Broad spectrum, full spectrum, isolate. If you're subject to drug testing, isolate is the safer route.

CBD vs. Altitude Supplements: What's the Difference?

This is where people get confused, so let's lay it side by side.

CBD is a general wellness tool that happens to brush up against a couple of altitude symptoms. An altitude supplement is built from the ground up for what thin air actually does to your body. They're not competing. They're just aiming at different targets.

7 Ways to Actually Prevent Altitude Sickness

Here's what 15+ years of testing on ourselves in Colorado has taught us. None of it is fancy. All of it works.

1. Hydrate Harder Than Feels Necessary

Mountain air is dry, and you lose water through your breath up to twice as fast as at sea level. Dehydration makes every altitude symptom hit harder.

Aim for about half your body weight in ounces of water daily, and start the day before you arrive. Plain water only goes so far though, so add a hydration packet with electrolytes and glutamine to help your body actually hold onto it.

2. Take an Altitude Supplement

Two ingredients have real altitude research behind them:

• Glutathione. Your body's master antioxidant. Research has shown glutathione levels drop significantly at high altitude, up to 45%. Supplementing glutathione helps replenish what thin air burns through.

• DHM (Dihydromyricetin). A flavonoid from the Hovenia Dulcis plant. A study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found DHM improved physical performance at high altitude by boosting mitochondrial activity.

Look for supplements that combine both, and start a day before you head up.

3. Ascend Gradually

The single most effective thing you can do. If you're flying into Denver on your way to a Colorado ski town, spend a night at 5,280 feet before heading to Breckenridge at 9,600. One night makes a genuine difference.

4. Go Easy on Alcohol Day One

That après beer hits harder up high. Alcohol dehydrates you, wrecks your sleep, and slows acclimatization. Save the celebration for night two, once your body has caught up.

5. Don't Go All-Out on Day One

You drove all this way and the snow looks perfect. We get it. But day one is exactly when your body is least adjusted. Mellow terrain, extra breaks, shorter day. You'll ride better on day two.

6. Sleep Low, Play High

If you have the option, sleep at the lowest elevation you reasonably can. Sleeping high is what tips a lot of people from mild discomfort into full-blown AMS.

7. Listen to Your Body

Headache creeping in? Dizzy? Wiped out? Don't tough it out. Rest, hydrate, and if it isn't improving, go down. The mountain isn't going anywhere.

Best Altitude Supplement

With its fast-working, powerful blend of herbs and amino acids, Zaca chewables help fight the effects of high altitude. Packed with Glutathione, which is known to be depleted up to 45% at high altitudes, can be quickly replaced. This berry-flavored chewable is a convenient way to have mountain-friendly nutrients wherever you travel.

Here's what's actually inside:

• Setria® Glutathione for antioxidant support at elevation

• L-alanyl-L-glutamine to support hydration and absorption

• DHM from Japanese Raisin (Hovenia Dulcis) for altitude and recovery support

• Prickly Pear for added antioxidant support

• Electrolytes, sugar-free, no water or mixing needed

We started Zaca in Colorado back in 2008, and the reason is pretty simple. Two brothers moved to Denver, fell in love with the mountains, and then got hammered by pressure headaches, brutal workouts, and rough mornings. So we went looking for a real fix. We opened medical books, talked to vendors at trade shows, and ordered herbs and amino acids from around the world. Then we tested every prototype on ourselves at 5,280 feet.

That's the whole story, and it's why Zaca is now stocked at Vail Resorts and trusted by skiers, hikers, and travelers across the country.

Don't let the altitude ruin your fun, grab Zaca chewables today for your next trip.

The Bottom Line On CBD

Does CBD help with altitude sickness? Not directly. There's no study showing it prevents or treats AMS, and it doesn't change the one thing that causes altitude sickness in the first place, which is less oxygen in the air.

Could it take the edge off a rough night's sleep or a queasy stomach? Possibly. That part has some research behind it, just not at altitude.

So think of CBD as a nice-to-have, not a plan. The plan is hydration, a gradual ascent, easy first day, and an altitude supplement like Zaca built for what thin air does to your body. Get those right, and you'll spend your trip on the mountain instead of in the hotel room.

FAQs About CBD and Altitude Sickness

Does CBD help with altitude sickness?

There is no research showing CBD prevents or treats altitude sickness. Some studies suggest CBD may help with related symptoms like poor sleep, nausea, and mild headaches, but none of that research was conducted at high altitude. CBD may smooth a few symptoms. It does not address the underlying lack of oxygen.

Does CBD increase oxygen levels in your blood?

No study has shown CBD raises blood oxygen saturation in humans at altitude. One mouse study found CBD improved lung function and reduced inflammation, which is where this claim originated, but it has not been replicated in people at elevation.

Is CBD better than Diamox for altitude sickness?

No. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is a prescription medication with decades of clinical evidence for preventing acute mountain sickness. CBD has none for that purpose. If you're heading somewhere high and have a history of altitude sickness, talk to your doctor about Diamox rather than substituting CBD.

Can you take CBD and an altitude supplement together?

Generally yes, since they work through different pathways. CBD does interact with liver enzymes that process certain medications, so if you're on prescriptions, check with your doctor before combining anything.

Is CBD legal in Colorado ski towns?

Hemp-derived CBD with 0.3% THC or less is federally legal and widely available across the country. Recreational cannabis is also legal for adults 21+ in certain states like Colorado, though consumption rules vary by town and property. Always check local regulations.

 

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SOURCES

1. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
   https://www.thepermanentejournal.org/issues/43-the-permanente-journal/original-research-and-contributions/6960-cannabidiol-in-anxiety-and-sleep-a-large-case-series.html

2. Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165951/

3. Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25356537/

4. High Altitude Trekking & CBD
   https://oneworldtrekking.com/himalayan-trekking-tours/high-altitude-trekking-cbd/

5. How CBD Helps With Altitude Sickness?
   https://www.cibadol.com/cbd-helps-with-altitude-sickness/

6. Medical Cannabis, Headaches, and Migraines
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8459575/

7. Impact of smoking cannabidiol (CBD)-rich marijuana
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8635612/

8. FDA: What You Need to Know About Products Containing Cannabis or CBD
   https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

9. Glutathione levels at high altitude
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/

10. Dihydromyricetin Improves Physical Performance at High Altitude
    https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2014/11000/Dihydromyricetin_Improves_Physical_Performance.6.aspx

11. Marijuana at High Altitude, South Park Ambulance District
    https://southparkambulance.com/visitor-info/marijuana-high-altitude/

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