What to Know About CBD for Anxiety

25th Nov 2021

What to Know About CBD for Anxiety

Is CBD a legal substance? CBD products derived from hemp that contain less than 0.3 percent THC are allowed in the United States, but they are still banned in several states. CBD products produced from marijuana, on the other hand, are banned on the federal level but legal in some states. Check local laws, especially if you're travelling. Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which could be labelled incorrectly.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It is one of numerous cannabinoids present in the Cannabis sativa plant. It's a non-psychoactive chemical that could aid with anxiety and a variety of other issues.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems in the United States, affecting 31.1 percent of individuals in the country.

Source you can trust.

Continue reading to learn more about CBD's effects on anxiety.

What exactly is CBD?

CBD may be useful in the treatment of a variety of anxiety conditions.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant that has been extensively studied. Tetrahydrocannabinol is another well-known cannabinoid (THC). The Cannabis sativa plant includes about 540 chemical components in addition to CBD and THC. Source you can trust.

CBD and THC are cannabinoids that bind to certain cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

THC is responsible for the well-known 'high' sensation that many people associate with marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, has no such impact. Instead, it may provide a number of health benefits.

Currently available research

According to Trusted Source, CBD has potent pharmacological effects. CBD has anti-inflammatory qualities, according to many scientists and experts. It works by preventing the body from producing particular enzymes that cause inflammation.

CBD medication reduced seizures in people with Dravet Syndrome, a drug-resistant seizure disease, according to a comprehensive analysis published in CNS Drugs in 2020.

Many experts are conducting research into the different therapeutic benefits of cannabis and CBD as a result of the expanding legalisation of medical cannabis in the United States.

One of the most common questions asked by doctors is if CBD can help with anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are among the most frequent mental diseases, according to an article published in Dialogues of Clinical NeuroscienceTrusted Source. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Trusted Source, 19.1 percent of adults in the United States had an anxiety condition in the previous year, with women experiencing anxiety more than males.

Here's where you can learn more about CBD's potential health benefits.

The findings of the research

CBD interacts with the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R), the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor, and other brain receptors that govern fear and anxiety-induced behaviours, according to the authors of a 2015 reviewTrusted Source.

Preclinical and clinical evidence confirmed CBD as an effective treatment for a variety of anxiety disorders, according to the review's authors, including:

Anxiety disorder, generalised (GAD)

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a type of anxiety illness that (PTSD)

panic attack (PD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of obsessive-compulsive (OCD)

Anxiety about social situations (SAD)

Researchers assessed CBD's effects on 397 adults residing in New Zealand in a more recent 2020 studyTrusted Source. Participants in the study were given medical CBD prescriptions for non-cancer pain, cancer-related symptoms, neurological symptoms, and mental health problems.

After three weeks of CBD treatment, all groups reported an improvement in their general quality of life. Individuals who got CBD treatment for anxiety or depression reported improved capacity to perform everyday duties as well as a reduction in pain and anxiety or depression symptoms.

70% of study participants said they were satisfied with CBD treatment in some way, ranging from good to outstanding. Only 9.9% of those who took part in the study had negative side effects like drowsiness and vivid nightmares. Even fewer people in the research (0.8 percent) said their symptoms were getting worse.

Researchers assessed the effects of CBD treatment in 72 persons with anxiety or sleep issues in a retrospective studyTrusted Source.

The majority of study participants took one 25-mg CBD capsule once a day (mg/d). A few people were given 50 or 75 mg per day. One person with schizoaffective disorder and a history of trauma received up to 175 mg/d.

78.1–79.2 percent of subjects reported improvements in anxiety symptoms after two months of CBD administration. However, after CBD treatment, 15.3–19.5 percent of patients reported worsening symptoms.

In a study published in 2020, the authors looked at eight research that looked into CBD's involvement in treating various anxiety conditions.

The researchers discovered evidence that CBD can be used as a monotherapy or a supplemental therapy to treat generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The CBD doses in the research, however, varied greatly, ranging from 6-400 mg each treatment. This discrepancy emphasises the need for more high-quality, large-scale clinical investigations to help create standardised CBD dose and clinical usage guidelines.

Please visit our dedicated hub for more information and resources on CBD and CBD products.

How to Make Use of

As previously stated, standardised dose recommendations for CBD therapy have yet to be established by researchers and healthcare experts.

Researchers discovered that 300–600 mg of CBD alleviated anxiety symptoms in 57 adult males in a 2019 study.

The amount of CBD a person needs to ease anxiety is determined by the CBD product and how it is administered.

  • Methods of CBD administration include:
  • oil
  • spray under the tongue
  • capsules
  • edibles
  • cannabis flowers or vaporised oil

The mode of delivery impacts how quickly cannabinoids take effect.

Within 30 minutes to 2 hours, the benefits of orally taken CBD, such as oils, edibles, or capsules, begin to work. The effects of smoking or vaping CBD oil or cannabis buds are more immediate.

Oral CBD products can be used to reduce anxiety throughout the day. It may be beneficial to take these supplements first thing in the morning with some meal.

Smoking or vaping CBD oil can provide rapid relaxation, which can be beneficial during stressful situations like giving a speech.

Here's where you can learn more about CBD dose.

Side effects and risks

The reviewers for this year's edition

People could handle CBD at doses as high as 1,500 mg/day, according to Trusted Source. There is a scarcity of data on CBD's long-term safety. The following are some of the CBD's negative effects:

  • drowsiness
  • reduced appetite
  • diarrhoea
  • alterations in weight

CBD is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating anxiety or other mental health disorders. When acquiring CBD products, people should use their best judgement. Buy from trustworthy manufacturers and wholesalers only.

Summary

CBD may help reduce anxiety, the most common mental health issue, according to an ever-growing body of research.

The FDA, on the other hand, does not regulate CBD for the treatment of anxiety. This means that the quality and dosage of different goods and manufacturers can differ significantly.

Before using CBD, people who are currently taking prescription medication or supplements should talk to their doctor.