CBD Oil for Pain and Anxiety
What is CBD oil? CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over 60 compounds found in cannabis that belong to a class of ingredients called cannabinoids. Research suggests this powerful compound can benefit pain, anxiety, cancer, nausea, seizures, cognitive function, diabetes and leaky gut.
CBD oil is extracted from industrial hemp. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over 60 compounds called cannabinoids. CBD does not produce a euphoric “high” or psychoactive effect.
Anxiety Relief
The first recorded use of cannabis for anxiety relief was around the year 1500 in India. [2] Ever since then, experts and healthcare professionals have been busy studying the effects of cannabinoids as a potential treatment for a wide range of brain diseases and emotional problems like depression, post-traumatic stress, work-related stress, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more.
Decades of research have concluded that, in a moderate dose, CBD can have numerous health benefits.
Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), cannabidiol doesn’t have any psychoactive effects on the brain which means you can’t get ‘high’ even if you get the dosage wrong.
By having a direct impact on CB1 receptors, CBD can affect your serotonin levels – the neurotransmitter that plays a huge role in mood disorders. [2] And that’s why using CBD oil for anxiety, stress, and depression might prove to be a viable option.
How can it help with anxiety?
Many anxiety sufferers use hemp oil, CBD oil, and other similar supplements to sleep better and deal with the constant stream of worry-filled thoughts associated with this emotional problem.
One case report published by The Permanente Journal in 2016 revealed that cannabidiol might be a safe treatment for the anxiety and insomnia associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. [3]
A 2013 study conducted on mice revealed that repeated administration of CBD could trigger hippocampal neurogenesis (the regeneration of neurons in the hippocampus). [4]
For those of you who don’t know, the hippocampus is a brain region responsible for cognition and memory. In the case of depression or anxiety sufferers, this brain area tends to be smaller, which may explain some of the irrational thinking patterns specific to these conditions.
Overall, it seems cannabidiol is not just a placebo, but a compound that can directly impact the functioning of various brain areas and neurotransmitter receptors.
What The Research Says
As a rational and decently cautious person, you may be wondering what researchers have to say about the use of CBD oil for anxiety.
Not only that cannabidiol can lower anxiety, but it also helps reduce the symptoms associated with a wide range of psychological conditions and brain disorders.
As the studies mentioned above indicate, CBD may prove to be an effective treatment for:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Stress
Watch to learn more.
[1] R. E. Musty, “Cannabinoids and anxiety,” in Cannabinoids as Therapeutics, Basel, Birkhäuser, 2005, pp. 141-147.
[2] D. R. Wilson, “Using CBD Oil for Anxiety: Does It Work?,” Healthline Media, 10 April 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-anxiety” rel=”nofollow”>https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-anxiety.pa, G. N. Deremusson, T. B. Ferrari and a. others, “Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report,” Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 25, no. 1, 2010.
[3] “Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report” The Permanente Journal, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 108-111, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5101100/
[4] A. Campos, Z. Ortega, J. Palazuelos, M. Fogaca, D. Aguiar, J. Diaz-Alonso, S. Ortega-Gutierrez and a. others, “The anxiolytic effect of cannabidiol on chronically stressed mice depends on hippocampal neurogenesis: involvement of the endocannabinoid system.,” International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 1407-1419, 2013.
