Learn How CBD & CBD Oil Helps With Anxiety Naturally

Cannabidiol or CBD is a compound that is derived from a cannabis plant. Research has shown that it helps people with stress and anxiety reduces their symptoms with little to no side effects at all.

Although research on CBD oil is still in its infancy there is mounting evidence on behalf of the compound which suggests that people with chronic stress and anxiety get relief once CBD oil is administered in them.

So, What Is CBD Oil?

As already discussed, Cannabidiol or CBD is extracted from a cannabis plant and it can be used as an oil. The oil is known to be rich in chemicals called cannabinoids that can bind with special receptors present in our brain.

The most popular cannabinoid is known as tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which produces the high that people get after smoking marijuana.

However, THC is one of many cannabinoids. Cannabidiol is yet another cannabinoid that also binds to these receptors yet it does not produce a similar high. It also has many health benefits, which range from slowing down the growth of cancer and it also improves mental health.

Anxiety and CBD Oil

A majority of the research that has been done on cannabis products have been on marijuana and not on CBD oil as a standalone product. While there are studies that reveal the healing aspect of cannabis, there are others that indicate that having anxiety can be a potential risk factor for recreational use.

Thus, it is suggested that those who are interested in knowing about the anxiety-healing side of CBD oil should look exclusively at studies and research carried out on Cannabidiol.

So, What Do The Studies Say?

A small study carried out in 2010 revealed that people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) found relief once they started using Cannabidiol.

The brain scans of the participants revealed that there was a change in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety.

The study showed that CBD oil not only made the participants feel better but also radically transformed the way their brains reacted to anxiety.

In 2011 another study was carried out the conclusion of which was also that CBD oil can reduce anxiety, especially anxiety related to public speaking.
Yet another research published in 2014 found that CBD oil had anti-anxiety qualities and anti-depressant effects in an animal model.
A comprehensive analysis done in 2015 revealed that CBD oil can be used as a potent treatment for various forms of anxiety, like social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, it should be noted here that data on long-term usage of CBD oil is limited. While research clearly shows the role that Cannabidiol can play in treating short-term anxiety, there is very little that can be said about its long-term effects.

A case study in 2016 explored whether Cannabidiol could reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and also whether it could reduce anxiety-provoked sleep disorder of a child with a history of trauma.

The results indicated that Cannabidiol reduced the child’s symptoms of anxiety and also helped sleep.

Is There Any Proof That CBD Soothes Anxiety and Stress?

There are countless testimonials to the fact that CBD ails anxiety and stress and there are thousands of people to attest to that fact (all of whom have administered CBD oil).

Scientific evidence also shows that CBD goes a long way in healing both extreme cases of stress and anxiety. And, most of this research has been carried out in rodents. According to a recent study, experiments conducted on 32 rodents showed positive results in the case of 31 of them and the result of only of them was inconclusive.

Now, the question is what about human experiments? Well, the answer to this question lies in the fact that human experiments are not only highly expensive but are also legally complicated. This means that human studies are fewer and the results have been much less conclusive. However, there are 2 fascinating uses for CBD in anxiety that have come up common both in the case of rodents and humans:

Better response to stress and much less anxiety:

In these experiments, the subjects are exposed to stressful situations and their anxiety levels are measured:

Rodent Evidence:

In one experiment, mice were placed in a cage with a boa constrictor and they were administered with low doses of CBD which would be equivalent to a 20 mg dosage for a 150-pound man.

The mice were reported to take their time scanning their environment, looking for a strategic position instead of trying to run or escape.

Human Evidence:

Public speaking can be understood to be the equivalent of a boa constrictor. CBD has proven that it improves performance anxiety both for people without anxiety and also for people with social anxiety.

Extinction Learning:

Scientific research has shown time and again that one of the best ways to let of anxiety is by practising a method called “extinction learning”, which includes letting go of your triggers when there is nothing left to worry about or fear.

In these experiments, the subject is taught to associate something harmless with something painful. Then the duration is measured as to how long it takes to stop fearing the harmless trigger after it has stopped delivering pain. This is particularly relevant for people with or suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Rodent Evidence:

Rodents are known to be frozen with fear when they are conditioned to expect to receive an electric shock. But, interestingly, research has shown that once CBD had been administered by scientists the mice were less likely to freeze up with fear in expectation of the shock, and that too after the CBD had worn off.

Human Evidence:

Human beings have also been conditioned to expect an electric shock once they see a visual cue. During the experiment, those who had ingested dosage of 32 mg of CBD for the period of extinction training without the shocks were much less expectant of receiving a shock, even when tested 2 days later, long after the effects of CBD had worn off.

How Does CBD Combat Anxiety?

It is extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact sources of the many therapeutic properties of Cannabidiol or CBD as it has more than 65 targets throughout our body. According to recent studies, CBD combats anxiety by stimulating neurotransmitter systems and neural regeneration. Here’s how it does it:

Serotonin:

Usually, people associate this neurotransmitter with happiness. But, the role of this neurotransmitter is complex, to say the least, and their effect mainly depends upon where it is and to what it is bound to.

It is important to state here that more serotonin does not mean more happiness as an imbalance of this neurotransmitter can lead to dysfunction as well as a malfunction with their receptors.

Serotonin has at least 14 receptors, however, CBD binds specifically to 5-HT1A which is regarded to have the strongest role in anxiety disorders. Comparisons can be drawn with the anti-depressant drug Buspirone which is known to bind with the same receptor, which explains the anti-anxiety effects of CBD on rats when exposed to stressful situations.

Endocannabinoids:

Cannabinoids are naturally produced by our body which is used throughout and also in the brain in the endocannabinoid system. What happens is that this system becomes deregulated under extreme stress. But the good news is that CBD can assist in restoring the balance to the endocannabinoid system.

It does so by preventing the overstimulation of our bodies’ CB1 receptors and also by boosting the body’s production of endocannabinoids. Experiments conducted on rodents show that CBD relieves OCD as well as other anxious behaviours due to its effect on the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for processing and forgetting our fears – crucial for extinction learning.

Neural regeneration

It is a known fact that extreme stress for a prolonged period can damage neurons and shrink brains. But there are certain areas of the brain that are still capable of regeneration.

We form new neurons throughout our lives, and also make new connections and grow our brains. You will be surprised to know that CBD plays a crucial role in this process. This naturally means that CBD helps in the boosting of this process and helps by counterbalancing the brain damage caused by chronic stress.

Several studies prove that CBD assists to a great extent in neural regeneration, especially in the hippocampus. Its unique ability to reduce stress in stressed mice comes from CBD’s ability to boost up the growth of new neurons.

Effective Dose of CBD Oil for Those with Anxiety

An effective dosage of Cannabidiol varies from user to user. It depends on the individual’s weight, ailment severity, metabolism, tolerance, and also sensitivity to CBD.

To figure out what dosage works best individuals are requested to start slow when it comes to the milligrams of CBD. One does not need too much of a potent Cannabidiol to feel its effects.

Following is the average dosage of CBD oil-based in the severity of anxiety:

Mild symptoms: 5mg-15mg
Moderate symptoms: 15mg-30mg
Severe symptoms: 30mg and above

It is important to remember here that each individual will react differently to cannabinoids based on their tolerance.

FINALLY, THOSE WHO ARE TRYING OUT CBD OIL SHOULD REMEMBER THAT CANNABIDIOL CANNOT STOP YOUR PROBLEMS. IT CAN HELP YOU TO REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS THAT YOU ARE HAVING.