Cannabidiol or CBD is the kind of cannabinoid or chemical compound that exists naturally in cannabis and hemp plants. Early research about using cannabis for anxiety has been promising. Compared to THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD does not trigger any signs of intoxication or “high” that you can experience in smoking high-THC cannabis. CBD oil is highly effective in treating a variety of health problems, including anxiety. Thus, everyone should learn how to use CBD oil for anxiety.
How Does CBD or Cannabidiol Work?
The human body comes with various receptors – the protein-based chemical formations connected to human cells. They are responsible for getting signals from various stimuli. CBD seems to interact with the receptors CB1 & CB2. Those receptors are normally found within the CNS or central nervous system, including the peripheral nervous system.
The exact manner the CBD can work and deal with CB1 receptors within the brain is not completely understood. However, this may change the serotonin indicators. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that has a critical role in a person’s mental health. Poor serotonin levels can lead to depression. In cases wherein a person lacks serotonin, anxiety can be the outcome.
The traditional treatment for poor levels of serotonin is the SSRI like Fluoxetine and Sertraline. These are prescription medicines. Some people are able to manage anxiety by taking CBD oil instead of those medicines. However, consulting your doctor is still more important before changing your original treatment plan.
CBD Oil for Anxiety – Benefits and Dosage
CBD oil has been found useful in alleviating the signs and symptoms of anxiety. For GAD or generalized anxiety disorder, the NIDA said CBD could reduce stress in some animals such as the rats. Study subjects appeared to have lower behavioral symptoms of anxiety. Physical symptoms like increased or abnormal heart rates also enhanced. Further research is still necessary, particularly for humans who deal with GAD.
For other types of anxiety, CBD oil can benefit those who suffer from SAD or social anxiety disorder and PTSD. It can help relieve the signs of anxiety-induced insomnia, too.
A study held in 2011 revealed what CBD or cannabidiol could do for people who deal with SAD. The participants received a dose of 400mg CBD or a placebo to be taken orally. Those patients who used CBD felt better sooner after taking.
Several recent studies revealed that CBD has the ability to help people who deal with the signs of PTSD like having nightmares and recalling negative memories. Those studies suggested that CBD is a standalone treatment for PTSD and a supplement for traditional treatments such as medicines and CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you want to use CBD oil for anxiety, then you should visit your doctor before anything else. He will help you in figuring out the right starting dose for you. However, the NORML advises that some commercial products contain sufficient amounts of CBD to mimic the healing effects seen in the clinical trials.
How to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety?
Education is very important if you are thinking of using CBD oil for anxiety. Recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods of ingesting CBD oil will help you in determining the right type of consumption according to your needs.
1. Oils and Tinctures
CBD oils and tinctures represent an easy, quick, and accurate method to consume cannabidiol. In many cases, tinctures have CBD in the alcohol-based formula. CBD oils have CBD extracts that have been infused in the carrier oil like hemp seed or coconut oil.
Oils and tinctures are gathered by using a dropper that lets you measure intake with ease. The cannabinoid will instantly enter your bloodstream when you take the CBD oil sublingually. The result may kick in in just 10 minutes and last between 3-4 hours.
2. CBD Vape Oils
You can also vape CBD by using the specialized pen that vaporizes this oil. The safety of vaping CBD is still in question. A severe lung condition called EVALI or VAPI has hospitalized over 2,000 persons and resulted in 42 deaths.
The National Centers for Disease Control has revealed that many cases were associated with the consumption of the grey-market tetrahydrocannabinol vape cartridges stained with tocopheryl-acetate. The CBD vape cartridges that you can buy in the registered marijuana stores in the states where cannabis is legal are extremely regulated.
The CBD cartridges bought from some other sources were entirely unregulated. You must be extra careful when you proceed, considering any vaping item available in the unregulated environments.
3. Edibles
CBD can also be added to nearly every food you might be eating. While it is fast to ingest when prepared as edibles, CBD may take 60 minutes or even longer to show you the results. Often, CBD is mixed with delicious gummies.
The oral bioavailability of cannabidiol may hinder the absorption of CBD. If you consume cannabidiol by mouth, it needs to pass over your GI tract before the liver metabolizes it. Due to this, a limited amount of CBD can penetrate the circulatory system.
Take note as well that the Food and Drug Administration recently deemed the food with CBD illicit. You will need to get the CBD edibles only in the licensed cannabis stores.
4. Smoking
Smoking gives a quick instantaneous technique to experience and enjoys the effects and benefits of CBD. Smoking CBD oil sends the cannabinoids straight to the alveoli in the lung. From there, the molecules of CBD penetrate the bloodstream for fast absorption. However, measuring the CBD intake can be difficult once you smoke. Besides, smoking can be dangerous to health as it triggers lung inflammation.
Conclusion
Every patient who has been dealing with anxiety deserves to know how to use CBD oil for anxiety. If you feel CBD oil can be useful to your case, don’t forget to seek advice from a health professional beforehand. This way, you will be more certain that you will gain the benefits and healing power of CBD oil.
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