The therapeutic benefits of cannabis are not unknown to any of us. Historians estimate that this plant has been cultivated since 500 BC for medicinal purposes. The cannabinoid called CBD has gained the attention of various medical researchers around the world for the multiple health benefits that one can attain through its use. CBD is a natural compound with anxiolytic properties that is found in the cannabis plant.
The usage of CBD in different animals has shown therapeutic efficacy by reducing anxiety, stress, and other behavioral or physiological complexities.
In this article, we will discuss how CBD works in your body to reduce anxiety. Although the exact cannabinoid mechanism is yet unknown, scientists explain the suspected ways how the compound helps to reduce anxiety. The CBD as a natural compound interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system’s receptors to balance chemical reactions and promote relaxation.
CBD works by targeting the endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system is a complex network that plays an active role in neural activity and supports the cardiovascular as well as the central nervous system. It controls important bodily functions like appetite, sleep, fertility, memory, mood, etc. studies have suggested that CBD interacts with the 5-HT1a receptor which is a serotonin subtype to control your mood. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that regulates and stabilizes your mood. The hormone is responsible for making you feel happy and promoting a sense of wellbeing. Serotonin is linked to anxiety and depression. It is for this reason that many anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medicines are used to increase the serotonin level that in return helps relieve anxiety.
Activating neural receptors
CBD, while interacting with the 5-HT1 receptor, also activates the receptors located within the amygdala of the brain. The blocking of these receptors increases anxiety. Thus, CBD here plays an active role to reduce anxiety by simply activating these receptors.
Although there are only limited trials to explore the anxiolytic properties of CBD, the existing research still seems promising. Many studies have also proved the benefits of CBD for treating anxiety disorders.
Research and evidence
CBD can be of great help for treating generalized anxiety disorder. It has shown positive results in reducing the signs of anxiety in animals such as rats according to NIDA. The animals that are observed have shown a reduced behavioral sign of anxiety. Also, their physical symptoms like an increased heart rate have improved. But still, more research needs to be done on animals and humans for generalized anxiety disorder.
Besides generalized anxiety, CBD has also helped people with other forms of anxiety-like post-traumatic stress disorder or social anxiety disorder. It may also relieve insomnia caused due to anxiety as well.
In the year 2011, research has shown the effects of CBD on people with social anxiety disorder where the participant is given 400 mg of CBD. It was observed that all the participants who received the dose experienced an overall reduction in anxiety. Multiple studies have also shown the effectiveness of CBD with PTSD symptoms like experiencing nightmares or rethinking negative memories.
Can CBD relieve anxiety?
There are several pieces of research and evidence to prove the efficiency of CBD. Besides treating anxiety, CBD can be useful for treating several other medical conditions too. The range of medical conditions that CBD has been assessed for is quite diverse with its antipsychotic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties.
Although the scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of CBD to treat anxiety and depression is insufficient, that doesn’t mean that it won’t help. It is simply the lack of properly controlled clinical trials to support the efficacy of CBD for treating anxiety and depression. Instead, more research is required to prove the potential benefits of CBD as a treatment for depression and anxiety.
Before buying CBD oil to treat anxiety, you must remember that you can expect to get the best results only when you purchase the best quality CBD oil. The popularity of CBD oil and its potential benefits has let many fake sellers enter the market. Hence you must identify the best CBD oils for anxiety by doing detailed research about the same.
Dosage
If you want to experience the benefits of CBD and want to try CBD oil for anxiety, then consult your doctor. A medical expert can guide you with the right dosage for your condition. However, many non-profit organizations advise that there are very few products available commercially that contain the required amount of CBD to replicate its effects, the same as seen in clinical trials.
According to a study conducted in the year 2018, a few male participants were given CBD just before they went for a public meeting test. The dose of 300mg of CBD was administered to the subjects just 90 minutes before the test. It proved sufficient enough to reduce the speaker’s anxiety. The study included only 57 subjects which is too few. Hence, more research needs to be performed including females to determine the appropriate dosage for anxiety.