April 15
CBD, Treatment
1 comments
With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed many of the federal restrictions on the production and sale of hemp and hemp-related products, a cascade of CBD products flooded the market, promising everything from improved heart health to chronic pain relief.
While the research on the benefits of CBD is still in its infancy, early studies point to the potential value in treating a number of health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
If you suffer from anxiety, you may already be considering adding CBD products to your treatment regimen. Below, we’ll take a look at what CBD is, how it functions in the body and how it may affect anxiety, depression and other mood disorders; we’ll also review nine popular products for treating anxiety with CBD.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical compound derived from cannabis plants, including both marijuana and hemp. CBD is just one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in these plants; another is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which creates the “high” commonly associated with marijuana.
Unlike THC, CBD does not have a psychoactive effect on the body, and the emerging body of research on its potential health benefits has resulted in the development of hundreds of new CBD-containing products now available to consumers.
Cells in the human body contain receptors, which are protein-based chemical structures that receive and process stimuli from a variety of different sources. While scientists are still exploring how CBD interacts with these receptors, they believe that it interacts chiefly with the CB1 receptors of the central nervous system and CB2 receptors of the peripheral nervous system.
When CBD enters the bloodstream, it activates or inhibits other compounds in the body’s endocannabinoid system, such as anandamide, a pain-regulating compound. CBD also appears to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the nervous system.
When it comes to treating anxiety and depression, researchers surmise that CBD may influence the body’s serotonin receptors. Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are closely associated with anxiety and depression. For some patients, CBD may be useful in addition to or in place of traditional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) that are commonly used to treat these conditions.
Though research using CBD to treat anxiety is still relatively new, several key studies have shown it to have a measurable effect on multiple forms of anxiety, including:
In addition to anxiety, CBD is also being studied for treatment of other mood disorders, such as:
The burgeoning CBD industry is currently not well-regulated, and some products may not always contain the amount of CBD reflected on the label. Before starting a CBD regimen for anxiety, consult your physician for recommendations about reputable brands as well as appropriate dosing for you, which may be influenced by your height and weight, current medications and other factors.
In a 2018 study of CBD and anxiety, scientists tested a range of dosages and found that 300 milligrams of CBD administered orally was the most effective level of treatment; subjects who received half that amount and double that amount saw relatively little benefit.
However, most studies have also been conducted on male subjects, and correct dosing for women could vary. Fortunately, the side effects of CBD are negligible for most people, so it may take some trial and error to decide what dose works best for you.
To date, most of the observed side effects of CBD have been relatively mild, even at doses of up to 1,500 milligrams per day. The most common side effects seem to be appetite changes, bloating, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and nausea.
However, CBD is known to have interactions with the same categories of drugs that include a “grapefruit warning,” such as some pain medications and blood thinners. CBD could impact how these medications are metabolized by your body, so always get your doctor’s approval before starting CBD treatment.
Additionally, you should never stop taking any prescribed medication, including drugs for anxiety and depression, without first consulting your physician.
Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.
With hundreds of CBD products available in stores and online, finding the best one to treat your anxiety can feel overwhelming. The following products have been tested and rated highly by fellow anxiety-sufferers, giving you a good starting point for discovering your ideal delivery method, dosage and brand.
Even if you’re new to the world of vaping, the CBD Living Disposable Vape Pen is incredibly easy to use, with no cartridges to change or batteries to replace—once the liquid is gone, simply toss it out. The pen is filled with 250 milligrams of CBD oil from organic Colorado-grown hemp, and it comes in six flavors, including blueberry, bubble gum and natural. It’s also certified THC-free, so you won’t need to worry about legal gray areas.
Got a sweet tooth? You’ll love the fruit-flavored CBD gummies from Sunday Scaries, which are shaped like traditional gummy bears but contain 10 milligrams of CBD per chew. In addition to high-quality broad-spectrum CBD, the gummies also pack a healthy dose of vitamins B12 and D3 for an additional nutritional kick. Sunday Scaries also offers a monthly subscription plan, which will save you money and keep your sweet stash stocked.
Lord Jones is a major player in the luxury CBD market, with its lemon- and peppermint-flavored tinctures among the most popular products in the category. Tinctures are made from liquid hemp extracts that are infused with additional ingredients, in contrast to oils, which are developed from the seeds, stalks and flowers of the hemp plant. In its tinctures, Lord Jones blends premium grape seed oil with broad-spectrum, phytocannabinoid-packed CBD for a total of 250 milligrams per 25-dose bottle. Unlike many lower-quality tinctures, Lord Jones products leave no herbal aftertaste to linger throughout the day.
As one of the most respected luxury cannabis brands on the market, Beboe launched primarily as a purveyor of THC products and later expanded to the rapidly growing CBD market. This elegant rose gold vape pen is filled with 500 milligrams of CBD oil as well as citrus essential oils for a pleasant, refreshing vaping experience.
If you prefer to get your CBD in a quick, virtually tasteless hit, PlusCBD Oil Softgel Capsules are an excellent option. Available in 10- and 15-milligram doses, the convenient capsules feature a complex phytocannabinoid matrix along with Vitamin D and essential fatty acids for improved absorption.
For a more potent dose of high-quality CBD, try the newly-released 25-milligram gel capsules from CBD juggernaut Lord Jones. Developed from domestically-cultivated premium hemp, the capsules are known to help improve sleep quality as well as reduce anxiety.
For a double dose of relaxation, enjoy your CBD in a steaming cup of herbal tea from Brothers Apothecary. Each package includes three teabags with 60 milligrams of CBD as well as beneficial ingredients like stomach-soothing spearmint and inflammation-fighting turmeric. Pair your tea with a shot of the company’s Lavender CBD Honey to boost the tea’s CBD dosage as well as its sweetness.
While it may not be the most efficient CBD delivery method, MONK CBD Drinking Botanicals can help you meet your hydration goals while also reaching your desired CBD dosage. These light and refreshing beverages provide 20 milligrams of CBD per 16-ounce bottle along with essential oils and tempting flavors like grapefruit cayenne and ginger maple shrub. Delicious on their own, they also work beautifully as a mixer for cocktails and mocktails.
Beekeeper’s Naturals B. Chill Raw Honey + Hemp makes it a snap to incorporate CBD into your daily routine—simply add it to coffee, tea, yogurt or cereal for a potent pop of premium hemp oil. Each jar packs 500 milligrams of CBD and is completely free of pesticides, preservatives, genetically modified ingredients and artificial colors.
While many years of additional research will be needed to verify the effectiveness of CBD in treating anxiety and depression—as well as a host of other health concerns—initial studies suggest that for some people, it may be a valuable addition to a well-rounded treatment regime that could include traditional medication as well as cognitive behavioral therapy.
While you should always consult your doctor before starting a course of CBD, the compound’s minimal side effects and easy availability mean you have little to lose by giving it a try.
Tags
anxiety, cbd, cbd for anxiety
You can choose to ignore it as another ‘voguish’ trend carved out by a savvy and partly-unscrupulous nutraceutical industry that thrives on buzzwords. But you cannot deny that CBD’s popularity has as much to do with scores of anecdotal-instances that are flooding social media. Advertisements can be churned out by the dozens. Surrounding you with
Read MoreThe CBD industry continues to rise like a juggernaut on nitrous and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. From a customer’s perspective, it couldn’t get any better though. Unlike a decade ago, you don’t have to order CBD oil from a distant part of the country or a different country even.
Read More