CBD Oil for Stress and Anxiety: Does it Work?
In this post, we are going to discuss about CBD Oil for Stress and Anxiety that does it work? So let start.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting nearly 40 million adults. Every year approximately 18.1% of the population aged 18 and over is affected.
In addition, with the current COVID-19 pandemic causing tremendous health concerns and financial turmoil, it can be assumed that these numbers are unfortunately on the rise.
The stress and anxiety caused by self-isolation and uncertainty are difficult to deal with. Suddenly finding ourselves confined to our homes is taxing and forces us to be creative when seeking outlets to release stress.
As such, many are trying out new methods to cope and inject some control and normalcy into their lives. Some people are turning to yoga and meditation, some are implementing new exercise and diet regimes, while others are simply reaching for CBD oil.
What is CBD?
According to Sunil Kumar (BAMS), Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a phytocannabinoid found in both marijuana and hemp. Though research pertaining to the benefits of this compound are still in their infancy, there have been a variety of promising studies pertaining to CBD’s effects on myriad issues such as stress and anxiety, pain, and insomnia.
Unlike its more famous cannabinoid cousin THC, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it will not alter consciousness or produce a high when consumed. In spite of this, CBD uses a very similar mechanism of action.
Humans possess an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which contains receptors throughout both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Though there is still much to be discovered about this system, it is believed that the ECS helps the body to maintain a state of homeostasis, which in its simplest form is best understood as a state of balance.
In other words, the endocannabinoid system helps the body regulate functions and processes such as sleep and appetite in order to ensure they function normally.
It is believed that phytocannabinoids such as CBD are able to bind to the same receptors as the endocannabinoids we produce naturally, known as endocannabinoid receptors.
As a result, CBD may allow us to better regulate these homeostatic mechanisms to better control and reduce stress and anxiety.
Can CBD reduce stress and anxiety? What research shows
According to a review published in both The US National Library of Medicine and The Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, preclinical evidence conclusively demonstrated that acute administrations of CBD have the ability to reduce symptoms associated with multiple disorders.
Some of these disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. This review focused on 49 different preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies.
Research focused on both the effects of CBD on anxiety symptoms and the potential protective properties of CBD on the anxiety induced by cannabis use. The team’s findings also revealed that CBD did not demonstrate any anxiogenic effects, even when administered in elevated doses.
Another study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology researched the effects of CBD on public speaking in a group of healthy young adults. For many, public speaking is a highly stressful experience. As such, the experiment aimed to find if CBD could help mitigate the anxiety induced by the task.
The researchers verified that the participants had no history of past or current psychiatric illness, alcohol or other drug dependence to ensure that the anxiety they would measure stemmed from the act of public speaking alone.
By analyzing stress levels throughout the experiment, they were able to confirm that acute administrations of CBD do indeed have an anxiolytic effect on public speaking. Thus once more provides support to the benefits of CBD on stress and anxiety.
Finally, a study published in the Permanente Journal aimed to determine whether CBD could help with sleep and anxiety issues in a clinical population. Though additional research will be necessary to further elucidate the benefits of CBD, the results suggested that it could indeed help to better cope with anxiety-related disorders.
The study also stated that CBD appears to be better tolerated than routine psychiatric medications and that there is no evidence of safety issues that would limit future studies on this cannabinoid.
What to Know before Trying CBD
In order to see a noticeable reduction in symptoms, it is recommended to use a CBD product that contains between 300 to 600mg of CBD. However, these values can vary tremendously from one person to another based on tolerance and sensitivity. Factors such as body weight and the severity of the symptoms being treated must be considered before selecting an optimal serving size.
As a result, many suppliers and vendors of CBD have begun to develop serving size calculators to better determine the ideal volume to consume.
It is also recommended to use CBD consistently in order to see a noticeable difference. Indeed, though certain people may notice immediate improvements after a single serving of CBD, others may require recurrent servings over a few days to begin to notice improvements.
It is also a good idea to consider the type of CBD desired. Indeed, the CBD found within products can exist in three different forms: full spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate.
To begin, full-spectrum CBD contains the full range of phytocannabinoids that are found within the plant. Nothing is removed, meaning the product can contain several other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBC.
This is highly valuable, as the interaction between the various phytocannabinoids can yield better results than anyone compound alone, a phenomenon known as the Entourage Effect. This type of product can also contain low quantities of THC.
Nonetheless, regulation dictates that THC levels within hemp-derived products must contain 0.3% THC or less. As such, it will never be sufficient to alter consciousness or intoxicate a consumer.
Broad-spectrum closely resembles full spectrum, however, THC has been completely removed from this type of product. As such, the presence of countless other phytocannabinoids still offers consumers the opportunity to experience the Entourage Effect.
Finally, as the name indicates, CBD isolates contain exclusively CBD. All other cannabinoids, including THC, have been removed from isolates. As such, those experiencing sensitivity to specific phytocannabinoids or concerns pertaining to drug testing may prefer to orient themselves towards this type of CBD.
Beyond the different CBD types, it is also important to determine the type of CBD product one should seek. Indeed, when looking for CBD for stress and anxiety, orienting oneself towards oils and tinctures may be favorable when compared to products such as gummies or coffee.
This is due to the difference in absorption rates between these types of products. The sublingual administration of a high-concentration CBD oil or tincture offers a greater rate of absorption than edibles. These types of products can enter the bloodstream and take effect more rapidly than edibles as well.
As such, there are several factors to consider when starting to look into CBD for stress and anxiety. Above all, however, it is important to discuss these points with your doctor before beginning to consume CBD.
CBD Products for Stress and Anxiety
Taking into consideration such a large set of factors may be difficult at times, especially with the tremendous amount of concerns and distractions that now fill our lives. As such, there are several online marketplaces such as shop CBD that have taken the time to select the ideal products for all needs and purposes.
They have carefully reviewed CBD brands and the products they sell. The products they offer have also undergone rigorous third-party testing to verify accurate cannabinoid concentration and ensure that contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals are not present within the products.
For example, when dealing with the stress induced by self-isolation and COVID-19 concerns, a full spectrum CBD oil such as Kanabia’s Turmeric Rosemary Extract may be ideal. This product contains 500mg of CBD, in addition to other phytocannabinoids such as CBG and CBDV. In addition, it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties due to the turmeric and rosemary extracts that have been added.
For those that may seek the CBD isolates instead, products such as Medterra’s Medoil CBD Tincture may be a better option. This product offers 1000mg of 99% pure CBD isolate extract, which ensures all the benefits of CBD without the need to concern oneself with drug testing.
In the case of those for whom life continues to rush forward with classes and project deadlines, products with a higher concentration of CBD such as Koi’s Orange CBD oil may be favorable. Once more, this product is a full-spectrum oil, ensuring the benefits of the Entourage Effect via a variety of phytocannabinoids.
In addition, it also contains 2000mg of CBD. Finally, it offers an extra layer of stress relief through the soothing aromas provided by the orange extract.
The search for the ideal CBD product to deal with one’s stress and anxiety can be overwhelming. There are many facets to consider, from the type of product to its cannabinoid concentration. However, this search can yield great results when doing careful research. These are stressful, unprecedented times, but finding good solutions can make everything easier.
