Most Americans have turned to CBD oil, terming it as a remedy for anxiety. Some individuals use CBD oil as a way of soothing their daily worries. At the same time, some individuals use it in treating serious conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder. CBD is one of the many compounds that are found in marijuana plants. The reason why the availability of this compound is on the rise is that marijuana has continued to become legalized in most states. Unlike THC, CBD will not cause a high. So many brands have started selling salves, supplements, and other products that have CBD oil in them. These brands have touted the items as natural remedies for conditions like stress, anxiety, and pain. The question that we ask in this case is, does CBD work for anxiety? In this article, we shall explain the reasons why people take CBD for anxiety and stress.
Anxiety and Stress
Due to the rising popularity of CBD, there are so many studies that have looked into the ability of CBD to treat stress and anxiety. According to studies, CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety and any discomfort during public speaking for people with social anxiety disorder. CBD is also effective in reducing generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD.
What Is CBD?
CBD is the short form for cannabidiol. It is a cannabinoid (chemical compound) naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Even though research is in the early stages, there is a promise that CBD oil could help in relieving anxiety and stress, among other health issues. THC is another cannabinoid of cannabis plants that is known for its euphoric effect. As opposed to THC, CBD will never cause such feelings. Learn more regarding the likely benefits of CBD for anxiety and whether it could be a natural remedy for you.
How Does CBD Work?
Your body has different receptors, which are simply chemical structures attached to the cells. These receptors receive signals for various stimuli. According to experts, CBD is believed to interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors. You will find these receptors in your central nervous system and your peripheral nervous system in that order. It is yet to be understood how CBD affects the CB1 receptors in your brain. All the same, it is believed that it alters serotonin signals. Simply put, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has a role in mental health.
When the serotonin levels get low, you are likely to suffer from depression. In other cases, serotonin deficiency leads to anxiety. The known treatment for low serotonin condition is SSRI which is only availed on a prescription basis. You can still manage anxiety with CBD. This, however, requires you to converse with your doctor before making any treatment plan changes.
CBD for anxiety
There is convincing evidence that CBD could reduce anxiety despite the FDA being yet to approve CBD for anxiety. Conventionally, medical treatment for anxiety revolved around drug prescriptions such as Klonopin and others. The bad thing about these medications is that they always have adverse side effects. When they are misused, they could also lead to addiction. The anti-anxiety medication poses a danger to your health by inhibiting the brain’s GABA receptors. This slows down the body’s electrical activity to alleviate anxiety signs. However, the body develops a tolerance to these medications after some time by removing GABA receptors.
After removing these receptors, you will develop a dependency on the drugs to realize similar effects. The good thing about CBD is that it works naturally with the body. CBD works naturally with the ECS to regulate mood, physiology, and general wellbeing. This is why CBD is preferred in anxiety reduction. Therefore, it is a good idea to go for CBD in anxiety management instead of using synthetic medicines that have major side effects. All the same, make sure to consult the doctor.
CBD for Stress
Even though research is still ongoing, several studies have shown that CBD has positive effects on people with stress symptoms. One review in 2020, for instance, showed the effects of CBD on effects like stress, depression, dementia, and anxiety. These studies concluded that even though CBD serves as a promising treatment for stress, more studies will still be needed.
CBD Products to Treat Anxiety and Stress
With so many CBD products in the market, it turns difficult to decide what to buy. When choosing, make sure that the products are made from hemp with less than 0.3% THC. Independent third-party labs must also test the products, and certificates of analysis provided to prove that. You can choose between different CBD products, including CBD oils, CBD gummies, capsules, and a lot more. If you dislike the strong taste of CBD oil, gummies will be a good alternative for you for alleviating anxiety. All the same, you have to buy your gummies from leading brands to achieve your desired results.
CBD Dosage for Anxiety and Stress
Researchers and professionals in the health industry are yet to get a standard dosage recommendation for any CBD therapy. According to studies, however, it was found out that a dosage between 300 and 600mg CBD could reduce anxiety symptoms in adults. In most cases, the dosage for anxiety relief will depend on the CBD product used as well as the form of administration.
In case you have made up your mind to use CBD for stress and anxiety, ensure to involve your doctor before getting into it. They will help you to get a good starting dosage that will be right for you. According to the NORML, however, only a few products available for sale have adequate CBD to bring forth the health benefits seen in the clinical trials.
Where to Buy CBD Products?
Some parts of the US only allow CBD products for particular medical issues like treating epilepsy. Research is going on using CBD for other medical conditions, like anxiety and stress. If your state has approved the medical use of cannabis, it will be possible to buy CBD products online and at local stores (special cannabis dispensaries and clinics). We recommend to buy cbd products online as you will be able to check customer reviews, lab results, what type of ingredients has been used etc. But when you buy from local stores options are limited to do research. You can even check the reviews done by reputed websites on different brands and you can easily choose one from the list when you looking for the best CBD oil for anxiety. With more research on CBD being done, more and more states have considered legalizing different cannabis products. As such, CBD availability has increased.
Final Thoughts
Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder that people are suffering from today. Even though research is still ongoing, it is believed that CBD could help to relieve anxiety. You, however, need to acknowledge that the FDA is yet to regulate CBD for the treatment of anxiety. It, therefore, means that both the quality and dosage will vary so much between different manufacturers and products. If you are using prescription supplements or medication, you will want to consider talking to your doctor before using CBD.
