If you suffer from anxiety or depression and do not know much about CBD, the thoughts of how it would affect you and legal issues can cause further stress or depress you. You may also have come across information that you need to confirm. That is why we have come up with this article to help you know everything that relates to CBD to these health issues.
Anxiety and depression are two mental health disorders that affect millions worldwide. While anxiety is a state of nervousness or worry that is accompanied by panic attacks, and chest pains, depression is the mental state of pessimism that comes with a sad feeling and lack of interest in activities you once derived pleasure from.
While these conditions are treatable using medications and therapy sessions, the quest for more effective remedies has led to research on the effects of CBD on these conditions. Many analyses have been carried out, and all the findings are presented below.
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the compounds found in the hemp plant. It is extracted from the CBD flower of the plants and is sold in many forms, including oil, capsules, tinctures, edibles, vapes, and topical. CBD is similar to the popular TCH, or tetrahydrocannabinol, but does not give the psychoactive effects that THC brings. CBD also has no risk of addiction.
The Studies on CBD, Anxiety, and Depression
There has been numerous research, particularly in the last decade, on CBD’s effects on the body. Many of these studies were carried out on animal subjects, and there is a need for more studies on humans to ascertain more specific positive and negative effects, if any. However, widespread reports from researches are welcoming, with no discovery yet of any long-term risk.
For instance, a study published in The Permanente Journal reported that CBD reduced 79% of the participants’ anxiety. Another one carried out in 2010 reported blood flow pattern changes in the anxiety-linked area of the brain, thereby reducing anxiety symptoms.
In a 2016 test of CBD’s effects on a child, positive changes were recorded as it helped the child calm down and fall asleep. A similar positive result in the 2014 test was carried out to help animal subjects with anxiety and depression symptoms.
These studies are just some of the many that have been carried out already. There have also been reports that CBD users in America are as much as 14% of the total population, while 37% of that number use it directly for anxiety.
How Does CBD Work on Anxiety and Depression?
These two cannabinoids, CBD and THC, affect the body, just like our endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system was discovered by recent research to be possessed by all vertebrates. The ECS is available in our bodies and is responsible for producing cannabinoids internally.
The endocannabinoids carry out the sending and receiving of signals between the endocannabinoid receptors and cannabinoids. The effect of this exchange is what influences some physiological functions in our body. The functions are either positive or negative, and they include sleep, pain, hunger, mental balance, and immune response.
CBD, derived from plants, uses the system in place and affects the body, just like the internally produced endocannabinoids. The interaction after using CBD involves passing through the sublingual glands to the bloodstream, where it comes in contact with the cannabinoid receptors and non-cannabinoid receptors. Therefore, it is easy to understand how CBD affects anxiety, depression, and symptoms.
Why You Should Use CBD and Why Not
While different kinds of treatment are used for solving the issues of anxiety and depression, CBD presents one of the most effective. Medications leave the body with side effects while therapy may be slow or even less effective in some cases. Since CBD does not follow the same pathway as other medications, it does not have side effects.
CBD is available in different forms, although the effects on anxiety and depression may not be expected with some forms such as lotions, balms, or creams. Usage through vaping may also come with risks of throat irritation and coughing as well as long-term problems. The use of CBD shows the effects almost immediately. This makes it better than therapy, which takes time or other medications.
Sadly, due to the little control of CBD and its products at the moment, it is easy for a lot of misinformation to fly around. Manufacturers may make false claims, while users may find it challenging to know the right dosage to use.
Before taking CBD, you should consult your doctor. There have been no side effects from its usage, but CBD may interact with other medications. The proper dosage must also be used for the best results.
Conclusion
Those suffering from anxiety and depression may have found a permanent way out in CBD. Even when there is a need for more research, the early ones have strong indications that CBD is highly effective for these conditions. Pending when we have more information, you should buy only from trusted brands and do so with a doctor's prescription.
