Studies have proven that CBD reduces anxiety in people who have to speak at social gatherings. Read this article to know more.
As we grow older, we are faced with new challenges and responsibilities that increase our stress and anxiety. We constantly find ourselves looking for new methods to help cope. CBD has great potential in battling mental health issues and researchers are aiming to find if it helps with the symptoms of anxiety.
CBD (also known as Cannabidiol) is a product of the Cannabis sativa plant family that manufactures marijuana and hemp (though they are from a completely different plant, they belong to the same family). A psychoactive compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) helps differentiate hemp for marijuana.
Hemp contains a high concentration of CBD and a low concentration of THC and has many medical benefits. Recent research has concluded that taking CBD can help not only with the symptoms of anxiety in general but also with certain anxiety-related disorders. Let’s see how.
Role of CBD in Reducing Anxiety
Whatever feelings or sensations of anxiety we experience are triggered by signals that our brain provides. Researchers have taken brain scans from partakers. Comparing these with normal brain scans has revealed that there is a significant increase in blood flow to the areas of the brain during episodes of anxiety.
Studies show that CBD tends to interact with specific receptors that modify the levels of serotonin. These are the CB1 and CB2 receptors found in the central nervous system. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how CBD mingles with these receptors to reduce anxiety.
Serotonin has at least 14 distinct receptors, but CBD binds to 5-HT1A, which is regarded to play the most important role in anxiety disorders; this scientific fact explains CBD's anti-anxiety benefits in rats subjected to stressful settings. CBD may significantly minimize the brain damage caused by persistent stress. Simply put, CBD has been shown to encourage the creation of new neurons in the brain, implying that it may be used to heal a brain injury.
Apart from a general anxiety disorder, CBD can also help with other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and pain disorder (PD).
How Much CBD Should I Administer?
Here in the UK, CBD can be found in many forms. There are CBD oils, tablets, drops, tea, vapor, and you can even try some edible CBD gummies UK. Yet the real question stands, how much of it should you take?
Before using CBD it is important that you determine your initial dose amount. To do so there are certain things you need to keep in mind.
CBD Concentration
Calculating how much CBD is ingested in each dose requires looking at the concentration of CBD per 1 mL dose. Several products will list the quantity of CBD per bottle; however, the difference between the amount of CBD in each bottle and the amount of CBD per dose should be noted.
Your Body Weight
CBD's effect on the body is influenced by body weight. A heavier person, for example, may require a higher dose, whilst a lightweight person may require a lower one to achieve the same results.
Anticipated Outcome of CBD
People with minor symptoms are usually advised to start with a low dose. If the amount of pain and discomfort you suffer is extreme, then you can go for a higher dose. However, make sure your doses are prescribed by an expert.
What are Some CBD Side Effects?
CBD has been reported to have low adverse effects in studies. However, some patients who were given Epidiolex (which is approximately 100 percent pure CBD) experienced negative effects like:
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Weight loss
CBD can also interact with Lipitor, a blood-thinning medication, and other medicines such as:
- Opioids
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Calcium CH blockers
- Antihistamines
- Benzodiazepines
Not enough research is done on how these medicines are affected by CBD or on how safe CBD is for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is suggested that women who find themselves in these situations should not use CBD.
According to studies, taking High doses of CBD will not increase the levels of anxiety, unlike THC which, when administered in low doses, may decrease anxiety but increases anxiety at high doses.
The Big Question: Is CBD Legal?
The legal status of CBD is still in flux. CBD extracted from hemp plants with less than 0.3 percent THC is permitted on the federal level, however, CBD extracted from marijuana plants is illegal. This is due to the fact that growing marijuana plants is illegal.
CBD must also be produced under strict guidelines. The producer/manufacturer must be authorized and adhere to federal and state rules. The FDA does not regulate CBD products. That means you can't be certain you're getting exactly what the label says.
Even if you buy the same product, given the lack of regulation, the dose can fluctuate from product to product. As a matter of fact, a 2017 study found that approximately 70 percent of CBD products marketed online were mislabeled, containing more or less CBD than promised. In addition, the items included more THC than what was claimed.
Does CBD Have Recreational Effects?
CBD in pure form should not get you ‘high’. Even though CBD and THC both interact with the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain, the effect of THC is said to be of much greater strength than CBD. This brings a dispute in a person’s perception and thinking which is usually associated with the effects of marijuana.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization discovered that CBD does not create any form of addiction or cause the type of dependence seen with illicit drugs. Nevertheless, THC is present in some CBD products, whether they are labeled as such or not. So, there's a chance you'll get high if the CBD contains too much THC.
What Other Benefits Does CBD Have?
The use of CBD has many more benefits than just reducing anxiety and its related disorders.
Helps You Sleep at Night
Insomnia or loss of sleep can be due to various reasons such as stress, depression, anxiety, etc. In a study on rats, scientists were able to demonstrate that subjects given CBD showed less depressive behavior and were able to acclimatize to more stressful situations. CBD can even work better than antidepressants according to many researchers.
Helps Reduce Symptoms of Cancer
CBD may help to reduce cancer-related symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and pain, as well as side effects like discomfort.
In one study, 177 persons with cancer-related discomfort who had not found relief from pain medication were given CBD and THC to try. As a result, people who had only THC extract did not show any changes in pain relief, however, people who received both extracts showed a great amount of change in their experience with pain.
Helps Reduce Acne
Are you annoyed with your acne-prone skin? You can use CBD oil to help reduce this acne on your face or other parts of the body. Acne can be caused due to many reasons which include bacterial infection, genetic inheritance, production of sebum, and any other cause of inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD oil make it a very desirable anti-acne product. It is both safe and effective for fighting acne.
Has Neuroprotective Properties
The discovery of CBD interaction with the central nervous system has opened doors to use for neurological disorders. In fact, in many types of research involving epilepsy and sclerosis, CBD is already being tried as a promising drug. Though it is a relatively new field of research, the results are quite auspicious.
Helps Reduce Blood Pressure
CBD has been known to improve many hearts and circulatory system problems such as high blood pressure according to recent studies. High blood pressure has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and metabolic syndrome, among other health problems. CBD has been shown in studies to aid with high blood pressure.
Many scientists believe that the properties that allow CBD to reduce stress and anxiety are also responsible for reducing blood pressure.
Bottom Line – CBD Has Many Medical Benefits
Though the legalization of CBD is still a big debate, scientific research has proved that CBD causes more benefit than harm. Nonetheless, that does not mean you should get involved in any unlawful act regarding CBD.
CBD contains properties that make it a promising agent in reducing anxiety and stress and improving performance under high stimulating conditions. You can either take CBD orally or use it topically to reduce skin-related problems such as acne.
If you feel that you have a problem and the only solution is CBD, make sure to consult a doctor first. Only if advised and prescribed by the doctor, you should then start using CBD under proper supervision. Even though CBD cannot get you high, if not taken from a trusted store, the amount of THC can be more than stated and you might get in trouble.
Stay healthy and use CBD wisely!
