Anxiety can take a toll on your life and affect your overall wellbeing. Your relationships and your performance day-to-day can be adversely affected by anxiety.
We’ve all experienced feelings of anxiety at one point or another, so what can we do to combat it?
Well, for a lot of people in the U.S. and all over the world, CBD is the answer.
In this article, we will explain:
- What is CBD and how does it work?
- How CBD different from THC?
- The pros & cons of taking CBD oil for anxiety
- Where you can get high-quality CBD oil
Let’s dive in!
What is CBD?
CBD, full-name cannabidiol, is a neurochemical that is extracted from cannabis Sativa plants. This is similar to the way tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is.
This chemical has been suggested to help:
- Memory
- Immune function
- Sleep regulation
- Hunger
- Mood
- Cognitive performance
- Pain reception
While you can find CBD gummies and other products in local gas stations they are not always pure CBD. Make sure the CBD you buy has a certificate of analysis that proves it’s safe and of high quality.
How Does CBD Work?
Your body has protein-based chemical structures attached to your cells called receptors. Those receive signals from stimuli.
It is believed that CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors and may alter your serotonin signals.
Serotonin, The Calming Chemical
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in your:
- Mood
- Digestion
- Sleep
- Concentration
- Behavior
Normal levels of serotonin can cause you to be more focused, happier, and calmer. While low levels of serotonin cause depression and anxiety as well as other unsavory side effects.
Is CBD different from THC?
THC is a chemical found in cannabis plants that is known to give you the high from marijuana.
While they both act on the same receptors, THC does so at a much higher level which can cause changes in the way you think.
CBD does not give you the feeling of being high like cannabis. CBD is used more often than THC for anxiety because it does not give users any negative side effects such as anxiety or paranoia.
Some CBD products may contain THC so make sure you read the label before using them.
Pros of CBD oil for Anxiety
There are a few key pros to taking CBD Oil when you are feeling anxious.
About 40 million Americans are diagnosed with clinical anxiety disorders a year. Even more experience some sort of anxiety.
When your chemicals are out of balance in your nervous system it can lead to symptoms of anxiety. As CBD has become more known, people have been turning to it to help reduce these symptoms.
In fact, in a recent survey conducted by Forbes Health, 51% of U.S. adults who use CBD take it to relieve their anxiety. First we need to examine the symptoms of anxiety and how CBD oil can help relieve feelings of anixety.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Fatigue
- Excessive worrying
- Feeling easily agitated
- Tense muscles
- Restlessness/Insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty concentrating
Pro: Studies Support That CBD Can Relieve Certain Feelings Associated with Anxiety
A major pro of taking CBD oil for anixety is the fact that many studies have found that CBD has alleviating effects on the symptoms of anxiety listed above.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) while testing CBD on animals found that it helped to reduce stress.
There have also been several studies with humans that have shown that oral CBD and CBD oil can be used for anxiety.
In a 2015 review of 49 studies, they found that CBD helps:
- generalized anxiety disorder
- social anxiety disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- panic disorder
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
Here are a few studies that have supported the idea of using CBD to relieve symptoms of conditions associated with anxiety.
Social Anxiety Disorder
A 2011 study showed that CBD reduced anxiety during public speaking for those with social anxiety disorders (SAD).
Another 2011 study backed up those findings when they showed CBD helped their participants’ social anxiety disorder.
PTSD
In a 2019 study at an outpatient psychiatry clinic 91% of patients experienced reduced symptoms of PTSD after taking oral CBD.
Insomnia/Restlessness
During a 2019 study at a psychiatric clinic 80% of participants had experienced reduced anxiety after taking CBD. Additionally, 70% reported better sleep after taking CBD at night.
Hippocampal Neurogenesis
In a hippocampus study, CBD was found to stimulate the hippocampus and regenerate neurons. New neurons in the hippocampus, also known as neurogenesis, can help retreat anxiety.
PRO: CBD Is An Alternative to Potentially Dangerous Anxiety Pharmaceuticals
One of the most common forms of medication for anxiety is a class known as benzodiazepines. They bind to GABA receptors in the brain to slow down its electrical activity.
The reason these anti-anxiety medications can be dangerous is that they can become highly addictive. Additionally, your body can build a tolerance to the medication causing you to need more to get the same effects.
Overall, there are a lot of benefits to taking CBD oil for anxiety. From improving nervousness during public speaking to reducing restlessness.
But what makes it so much better than other forms of anxiety treatment is that it is not harmful to your health or addictive.
Cons Associated With Taking CBD Oil For Anxiety
Although there are a lot of good reasons to take cbd when you are having feelings of anxiety, there are a few downsides to discuss as well.
Con: Some Brands of CBD Can Be Weaker Than Others
One con is that many stores sell hemp oil labeled as CBD which has very little CBD in it. Therefore it is very important that you check their certificate of analysis before purchasing. The key is to look for “Broad Spectrum” hemp-derived CBD oil that has undergone extensive testing.
Con: CBD Does Not Have An Evaluation by the FDA
Another thing you need to be aware of is that CBD oil is not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That being said when it is formulated by neuropharmacologists like our products at Biomedical Pharms, it is thoroughly tried & tested to be of the highest quality.
Now that you understand the pros and cons of CBD oil for anxiety it’s important to review proper way to take it.
What is the Proper Dosage of CBD?
One study concluded that 300mg of CBD could reduce feelings of social anxiety in some cases.
But your dosage will vary based on:
- What form you are using
- How often you use it
- Why you are using it
There different forms of CBD you can take include:
- Oils and Tinctures
- Gummies
- Topical roll-ons
For example when you are taking CBD oil we recommend placing about 0.5 ML to 1ML under your tongue and leaving it there for at least 30 seconds before swallowing.
Talk to a doctor to talk about which form of CBD and dosage is right for you.
How Soon Does CBD Oil Work For Anxiety?
When you take CBD oil orally you should begin to feel the effects within 30 minutes to an hour.
Get High-Quality CBD Oil From Biomedical Pharms
Looking to try CBD oil?
Our CBD hemp oil is broad-spectrum meaning non-detectable THC. It can help you relax without any feeling of intoxication and you do not have to worry about failing drug tests.
We also have CBD gummies in the flavor of Berry Blue as well as topical roll-on CBD for muscle relief.
If you have any questions about the different types of CBD, ask our neuropharmacologist, Dr. Sandra Acosta.
Citations:
- Bergamaschi, M., Queiroz, R., Chagas, M. et al. Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients. Neuropsychopharmacol 36, 1219–1226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.6
- Crippa JA, Derenusson GN, Ferrari TB, Wichert-Ana L, Duran FL, Martin-Santos R, Simões MV, Bhattacharyya S, Fusar-Poli P, Atakan Z, Santos Filho A, Freitas-Ferrari MC, McGuire PK, Zuardi AW, Busatto GF, Hallak JE. Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. J Psychopharmacol. 2011 Jan;25(1):121-30. doi: 10.1177/0269881110379283. Epub 2010 Sep 9. PMID: 20829306.
- Blessing, Esther M et al. “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders.” Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 12,4 (2015): 825-36. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
- Lucas Elms, Scott Shannon, Shannon Hughes, and Nicole Lewis.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Apr 2019.392-397.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0437
- Shannon, Scott et al. “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series.” The Permanente journal vol. 23 (2019): 18-041. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-041
- Gulbransen G, Xu W, Arroll B. Cannabidiol prescription in clinical practice: an audit on the first 400 patients in New Zealand. BJGP Open. 2020;4(1):bjgpopen20X101010.
- Beale, Camilla et al. “Prolonged Cannabidiol Treatment Effects on Hippocampal Subfield Volumes in Current Cannabis Users.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 3,1 94-107. 1 Apr. 2018, doi:10.1089/can.2017.0047