HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP ANXIETY?
CBD Oil could help treat anxiety through a number of mechanisms. CBD interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain that control fear and anxiety-induced behaviours and one study indicated that CBD was effective at treating anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. CBD has also been shown to reduce blood pressure, helping to reduce anxiety and better deal with stressful situations.
INTRODUCTION
CBD oil oral drops and gummies have grown in popularity recently, and most of us have at least heard of it or know someone who uses it. And it’s not surprising to see why, as CBD seems to be able to help with some of the most common issues we all face in today’s world. CBD is extremely new, but from early studies there do seem to be significant benefits of CBD including sleeping, pain and mental disorders like anxiety.
As you could tell from the title, we will be focusing on the last problem, and with 8.2 million cases of anxiety being reported in 2013 (with that number to be much higher now), if CBD can help people with anxiety it could end up helping a lot of people.
WHAT IS CBD OIL?
Before we delve into if and how CBD can help, we should first cover what it actually is.
Cannabidiol CBD is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in cannabis (otherwise known as marijuana or hemp plants).
Perhaps most importantly CBD doesn’t have the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that is also in Cannabis. THC is the intoxicating chemical of cannabis, and so without it CBD doesn’t cause any feelings of intoxication or the “high” that is associated with cannabis.
Because CBD doesn’t have the THC that is why it is legal to sell!
CBD is one of the most researched cannabinoids from the Cannabis sativa plant but along with CBD and THC, the Cannabis sativa plant contains over 540 chemical compounds (called cannabinoids) which research suggests can have powerful pharmacological effects.
HOW DOES CBD OIL AFFECT THE BODY?
All these Cannabinoids, including CBD, bind to receptors in the brain, which can stop or reduce many mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Receptors are protein-based structures that are a part of your cells. These receptors receive signals from different stimuli and then cause feelings like pain or panic.
How CBD and the other cannabinoids interact with 2 receptors called the CB1 and CB2 receptors is what is causing the beneficial effects.
The precise way CBD talks to the CB1 receptors in the brain isn’t understood at the moment. However one theory is that when the CBD and the cannabinoids attach themselves to these receptors it may alter serotonin signals.
But it is not just issues of the mind that CBD may help. There is also research showing that CBD has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties as well. It works by blocking certain enzymes that trigger inflammation in the body.
IS CBD OIL SAFE TO USE?
As well as being non intoxicating (due to not having any THC in) another reason that CBD is legal to sell is that it is generally considered safe. In fact there is already one medicine that has been approved for use in the USA and the UK that uses CBD called Epidyolex.
Like many medications that can help you, there may be side effects. These may include:
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Changes in weight
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Changes in weight
All of these are fairly rare, but if you do start to experience any of these then we would suggest talking to a medical professional to see if CBD is right for you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that CBD can interact with other prescription medications or dietary supplements you are using, especially if you are using anything that comes with a “grapefruit warning”.
This is because both CBD and grapefruit interact with the enzymes that are important to drug metabolism (the enzymes that make sure you get enough of your medicine and not too much).
In general if medicine (like some statins) warns about grapefruit it’s because that medicine can be affected by an enzyme called CYP3A4, which is found in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice and CBD can block the CYP3A4, so instead of being metabolized and safely disposed of, more of the drug enters the blood and stays in the body longer. The result: too much of that drug in your body.
USAGE OF CBD OIL TO TREAT ANXIETY
As we mentioned before, CBD seems to interact with receptors in the brain and so may alter serotonin signals.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which means it is chemical that relays connects different parts of the brain. Having low serotonin levels is commonly linked to people who have mental health
According to the authors of one 2015 review CBD interacts with the receptor (CB1R), the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor, and other receptors in the brain that control fear and anxiety-induced behaviours.
The scientists also found evidence that showed CBD as an effective treatment for several different types of anxiety disorders, including:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Panic Disorder (PD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Panic Disorder (PD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Though the study was small, in the conclusion they do say that there is strong evidence that CBD can help treat anxiety and prevent the long-term adverse effects of stress, as well as “enhancing the extinction and blocking the reconsolidation of persistent fear memories”.
WHAT DOES RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE SAY ABOUT USING CBD TO HELP ANXIETY?
As we said earlier, CBD as a mass market item is very new so there have been no long term studies which can definitively prove its usefulness. For now, we do have some promising smaller studies that we can base our decisions on.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says - “CBD has shown therapeutic efficacy in a range of animal models of anxiety and stress, reducing both behavioural and physiological (e.g., heart rate) measures of stress and anxiety”.
In another study they got those with an anxiety disorder to perform a stressful public speaking task, and found that by all measures those subjects who had used CBD were calmer and better able to complete the task.
Lastly in another study of 72 anxious and sleepless people they found that after the subjects were given CBD oil over 79% felt less anxiety and slept better.
WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF CBD OIL FOR ANXIETY
When it comes to CBD there are still a lot of unknowns, and one of them is what precisely in the CBD is causing these great results.
There is a term that you might have already read about if you have looked into CBD oils before, and that is the entourage effect. This is referring to the fact that it might not just be the CBD chemical that is helping, but a combination of various chemicals in the CBD oil that is helping people with anxiety like going to a job interview.
That’s why broad spectrum CBD oils are the safest bet when it comes to any helpful outcome. What 'broad spectrum' means is that when the CBD oil is made as much of the cannabis plant as possible is left in so that you can get the most out of it.
There is one step up from broad spectrum CBD oil, which is called full spectrum, but that process leaves at least some THC in the liquid.
Though full spectrum is legal, there have been records of varying levels of THC in batches, which is why at SMOKO we went for a broad spectrum oil. That way you get the full effects of CBD from the cannabis plant, but none of the THC.
WHAT IS THE IDEAL DOSAGE OF CBD OIL FOR ANXIETY?
Determining how much to use is going to be a personal journey, as everyone is different and the CBD oil will have different effects on you.
However as a rule of thumb with anything like this, it is always a good idea to start low and work your way up until you find a dosage that is right for you.
The good news for those with any sort of anxiety disorder is that it might not take too much CBD oil to help. In a 2018 study, subjects received CBD oil for anxiety from a dropper before going through a stressful task, and the researchers found that a dose of 300 mg of CBD, administered 90 minutes before the test, was enough to significantly help the speakers’ anxiety.
This means that it doesn’t take much CBD oil to help, as 300mg is quite a small amount! Here at SMOKO our range of CBD Oils start at 500mg, so a little higher than what the subjects of the test had, and the strength in our range goes up to 2000mg.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING CBD OIL?
If after reading all of that you are interested in trying CBD, then there are a few things to look out for.
As we mentioned there is a range of methods of extracting CBD:
Full-Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method includes all parts of the cannabis plant. Full-spectrum might well contain THC
Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method contains most of the cannabis plant compounds except the THC
Isolate CBD Oil - This is just pure CBD chemical, with no other cannabinoids, terpenes or THC.
Full-Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method includes all parts of the cannabis plant. Full-spectrum might well contain THC
Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method contains most of the cannabis plant compounds except the THC
Isolate CBD Oil - This is just pure CBD chemical, with no other cannabinoids, terpenes or THC.
In our opinion broad spectrum does offer the most for your money, as you not only get the CBD but all the other cannabinoids and terpenes that can help, without the risk of THC.
The other big thing to look out for is common sense for anything that you are putting into your body, and that is the source. If you are buying something from a reputable company you can trust that what you are getting is not only legitimate but a quality product as well. SMOKO CBD product testing certificates from an independent third party are available to view on our website!
Here at SMOKO we went to great pains to make sure our CBD comes from organically grown cannabis sativa L from the USA and then proudly Made in The UK. Our CBD Oral Drops and CBD Gummies are also Vegan Friendly and Gluten Free!
HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP ANXIETY CONCLUSION
Though CBD oil has only been helping people for a few years now there is already growing support for it in scientific circles.
Multiple studies have shown that with only a few drops of the CBD oil people who suffer with anxiety disorders feel calmer and sleep better, but these aren't the only reported benefits of CBD!
So if you are looking for a CBD oil that can help you with your anxiety or provide any of the other health benefits of CBD, then make sure to get a high quality broad spectrum oil it from a trusted source like SMOKO!
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