CBD oil for anxiety: Does it work?
Anxiety can be a particularly difficult condition to live with and it often is coupled with a heart rate that is racing, sweating, difficult thoughts and more. For people that face anxiety every day, the symptoms can be extremely debilitating.
With roughly one in every 13 people worldwide experiencing some type of anxiety disorder, anxiety is seen as one of the most common health disorders in the world. For individuals that are living with anxiety, managing their symptoms and finding a way to live their lives more comfortably often means relying on medication.
Anti-anxiety medication like Valium, Xanax and Prozac can reduce the symptoms of anxiety over time but they can often come with a series of side effects. Using Cannabidoil or CBD can be shown as a complementary treatment for anxiety and one of the best alternatives to be used for the symptoms of this condition.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is extracted from cannabis plants and it can be used in an oil. The oil is rich in a series of chemicals which are called cannabinoids and these chemicals can bind to receptors in the brain. When most people consider cannabis, they are quick to think of THC which often causes the elevated high that many people experience when they take marijuana.
THC is just one cannabinoid and it is entirely unrelated to CBD. Cannabidoil did not produce the same high and there’s elevation like you might experience with other forms of cannabis products. Cannabidiol is also much more readily available because it does not contain the mind altering substances that you would find as a result of using THC based cannabis products.
Can CBD be a helpful treatment for anxiety?
Clinical CVD treatment for people that have anxiety disorders have showcased that there is some evidence for the therapeutic potential of CBD with those that struggle from anxiety disorders. Most of the studies on CBD are considered to be in their preclinical stage and CBD is widely used on a number of animal models and in small clinical studies.
As published in medical news today, studies were reviewed that showcased the CBD could work at reducing the symptoms of social anxiety in people that experience social anxiety disorder. Various brain scans performed on participants showcased that there was a change in blood flow to regions that were associated with anxiety when patients were treated with CBD.
Studies conducted in 2011 also showcased that cannabidoil was effective at reducing social anxiety. Throughout this study, researchers were able to determine that CBD produced an anti-anxiety affect with the help of anxiety-based public speaking. Participants in this study were able to try public speaking with and without CBD oil and discovered that results were favourable with CBD for its anti-anxiety properties.
In studies conducted in 2019, teenagers that were diagnosed with SAD received a 300 mg dose of CBD oil as well as a control group with placebos every day over four weeks. Teens were then assessed via surveys to diagnose the symptoms of their SAD condition. The genes that were taking CBD noticed reduced symptoms associated with their disorder and ongoing relief that was comparable to paroxetine. As an interesting aside in this treatment, a portion of the teenagers that were taking CBD sought out extra treatment for their condition during this time because they felt better able to regulate their symptoms.
The use of CBD oil for anxiety is not something that has taken place over long-term research. Cannabidiol is particularly effective at treating short-term anxiety but we do not know what the effects could be when it’s used for a prolonged treatment.
The risks of using CBD oil
CBD oil can actually reduce some of the risks that are associated with anti-anxiety medication. Studies into Cannabidiol would suggest that there are few to no negative side effects associated with the use of CBD oil. Using some of these medications could even help to mitigate some of the symptoms. CV products should contain at least 0.3% or lower THC content in order to be legal on a federal level. It can be illegal to find some of these products in your area so it’s important to check back and see more on the THC content before you make a purchase.
It could also be a wise idea to consult with a doctor who has experience with CBD oil to make sure that you can get the right dosage to manage your anxiety. Finding the right dosage may not come with any side effects but it can be helpful for regulating your symptoms and ensuring you can enjoy the best results from your dose.
CBD has been used for the treatment of a series of anxiety disorders
CBD has shown promise in treating generalized anxiety disorder by reducing stress in test subjects. It’s also been effective in treating social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety induced insomnia. Individuals that regularly suffer from these conditions can find relief by trying CBD over the regular methods that they would typically use for managing their conditions.
CBD is starting to see more widespread use especially with the assistance of PTSD symptoms. Many people that struggle with negative memories or nightmares have found assistance in treatment with CBD when it is used in conjunction with cognitive behavioural therapy.
Use of CBD in other conditions
CBD has been shown effective in treating a number of other neurological disorders. CBD has been shown to assist with anxiety disorders and it’s also been shown to have a series of antipsychotic affects. In treating individuals that have schizophrenia, CBD has shown effective results and it does not come with the same debilitating side effects that are present in many antipsychotic medications.
CBD in treating a number of mental health conditions could provide benefits to individuals who are used to experiencing negative side effects as a result of their ongoing treatment. Rather than having to take medications that have highly addictive properties or working to take a medication that can come with a number of negative side effects, patients could utilize entirely natural results from CBD oil.
Should I consider using CBD for anxiety?
Using CBD for anxiety is something that you need to properly understand before you start dosing with. Understanding each type of ingestion method and finding a dosage that’s going to work for your needs is something that you will have to experiment with. Some of the main methods that you can use for taking CBD oil include:
- Oils and tinctures
A CBD tincture or oil is one of the easiest ways to manage your dosage of CBD. Most of the tinctures of cbd contain an alcohol base as well as the extracted CBD. Most of these oils are infused with carrier oils like hemp seed or coconut as well as additional options for carrier oils.
These oils are often taken using an eye dropper and this is one of the easiest ways to manage the intake of CBD. One of the best parts about using this delivery method is that the CBD will very quickly enter into the bloodstream and it can generate long-standing results. Taking CBD using this method often helps to provide you with an even dose that can last 3 to 4 hours.
- CBD vape oils
CBD can also be consumed using a vaporizer. Vape pens or desktop vaporizers can vaporize CBD oil. And CBD vape oil can work at helping you manage your dose without having to ingest any smoke or carcinogens. What is important if you plan on using it is to never buy aftermarket vape cartridges. Making the choice to purchase CBD cartridges only from repeatable services will make sure that you can calculate your dosage more appropriately. Aftermarket CBD pods could often contain a variety of extra chemicals which could pose a health risk or potentially be associated with some of the vaping conditions that have caused lung concerns in long-term vape users.
- Edibles
CBD can also be added into food products. It can be quite easy to consume CBD in this form and it is one of the most delicious ways that you can get your dose in each day. CBD can be taken orally through a product like CBD gummies or even baked into a product. CBD food products will pass through your gastrointestinal tract and get absorbed by the liver. The limited quality of CBD will make its way into your circulatory system and this can be a great way to capture your daily dose. The only downside to using edibles is that you may have to eat a lot more to gain the same benefits as you would receive from a tincture. The dosage of CBD is lessened in edibles than what you would receive from something like a highly concentrated oil droplet or vaping.
- Smoking CBD
Smoking CBD based cannabinoids can be another way that you can absorb CBD into your body. The only drawback to smoking is that you are likely to ingest extra THC which can produce the mind altering effects that could make it difficult for you to drive a vehicle, have your judgment non impaired and more.
Smoking will send CBD directly into the alveoli in the lungs and the CBD molecules will then make its way into your bloodstream for the best level of absorption. Measuring your overall intake of CBD can be difficult if you are smoking and the overall process of absorption can also cause inflammation in the lungs and other difficulty if you continue to use smoking as your main source of CBD absorption.
What dose should you consider for CBD and anxiety?
As stated in these studies above, one of the best doses that you should consider for CBD and anxiety means ingesting at least 300 mg of it daily. Many studies have patients that suffer from anxiety taking as little as 25 mg and this does not produce the same results.
Even a large dose of CBD causes very little in the way of side effects and it can be a fantastic way that you can manage your anxiety symptoms while keeping a larger dose in your systems throughout the day. The general dose that you should be considering comes down to a number of factors but consider a higher dose to make sure that it can remain effective over at least a 3 to 4 hour period of time.
Tips for finding your dose
The main factors to consider when you are looking for a dose of CBD comes down to your overall metabolism, the concentration found in the delivery method, the severity of your anxiety as well as your body weight. CBD will have different concentrations based off of the products that you are choosing to take. When you start to understand the potency of the CBD product, you will be able to dial in your dose based off of the severity of your symptoms and the way that CBD makes you feel after you dose with it.
The body chemistry that you have is an individual will also change the way that you respond to CBD. Many individuals can metabolize medicine much faster than others and this ultimately comes down to lifestyle and genes. If you know that you can metabolize medication quite quickly, you could benefit from a higher dose of CBD initially.
Understanding bidirectional effects
CBD can also accomplish a number of things with different doses. Under bidirectional effects, you may notice that you can feel overstimulated and you might experience some other symptoms as a result of your dosage. A common symptom that many people start to experience when they use CBD is increased feelings of sleepiness and relaxation. Taking a high-level docent CBD at around 300 mg can really help to relax you and it may lead to you feeling a bit drowsy at times. When you start to reduce your dose is also possible that you could experience high levels of alertness. Choosing a way that you can avoid unwanted drowsiness and dialing in your dosage to a point where you feel both alert and on top of your symptoms can be important.
The best way to start dosing
The best way to start a dose of CBD is to start lower and then work your way up to a 300 to 600 mg dose. CBD is extremely safe even when it’s taken in high doses. Working your way up to a high dose can be something that you take on quite quickly. Choosing to start with a small dosage of around 150 mg and then working your way up by 20 to 50 mg until you reach your limit is a good way to get started. This method is one of the best ways to observe the changes in your body and just how effective CBD can be at regulating your symptoms.
It may take some time for you to eventually find a dose that works well for you but this is an ideal solution for noticing the subtle changes in your body as you begin to adjust your dosage.
Small side effects
Using CBD may result in a number of small side effects in some individuals. Working to find an ideal dose can help you to manage these side effects over time. Some of the main side effects that can occur from regular CBD use in high doses include:
- Diarrhea
- Changes in mood
- Dry Mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Changes in appetite
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- And more
How you can buy CBD Oil?
CBD oil can occasionally be a difficult product to find especially in areas where cannabis legalization has not taken place. CBD products are much easier to get a hold of overt cannabis products that contain THC. You just may be limited to CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC content. If CBD based oils are legal in your state or area, you should be able to get access to CBD oil for medical use from a licensed doctor that specializes in CBD. You can also go to local dispensary and purchase CBD oil.
Although it may be tempting to buy CBD oil from some online retailers inexpensively, choosing a reputable CBD retailer that has verified products is often the best way to go. Companies like Vape4Ever will verify their manufacturers and ensure that every single pod contains 100% safe CBD oil.
As we continue to research CBD oil, it is important to consider their availability and how they may benefit patients with anxiety in a long-term setting. As more areas around the world start to relax their thoughts on CBD oil, we could start to see this medication become much more widespread. With its benefits associated with an extremely low risk of addiction and side effects, this is a treatment that could produce hopeful results for many people that manage the symptoms of anxiety every day.
Be sure to check out the latest CBD oil products today to learn more about using CBD for anxiety.
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