CBD Oil for Anxiety: Researchers have spoken

CBD oil, you’ve probably heard about it and seen it discussed everywhere from BBC to Forbes. Is it any good for anxiety?

In this article we’ll dive into what researchers have found. Before we address, whether CBD oil is effective for anxiety I just need to say this:

Supplements in general can be used very effectively, especially when working with a trained physician but taking CBD or another supplement, while useful, acutely isn’t going to address the underlying reason for why you’re dealing with anxiety. Get help and work with a therapist or naturopathic physician.

 First, let me give you a quick explanation for what CBD is and how it works in the body, our bodies, as well as those of other vertebrate animals, have a system called the endocannabinoid system. It’s involved in a variety of processes, including:

• Cognitive function
• Appetite
• Pain
• Sensation
• Memory
• Mood
• Metabolism
• Concentration
• Sleep
• Inflammation

 And many more

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. They can be made by our bodies or found in plants. CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it is one such cannabinoid compound. It comes from hemp plants. There are actually a few cannabis species that fall under the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants. In case you were curious.

The cannabinoid you’ve probably heard a lot about over the years, the one that get’s you ‘high’ is 9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

Do not get THC and CBD confused, they are completely different compounds and act very differently in the body. THC produces psychoactive effects or that high feeling and CBD has no psychoactive effects.

Is CBD safe?

 The FDA has not approved cannabis as a medical treatment, but the National Institutes of Health-NIH has researched CBD. Their findings indicate that CBD may have potential positive effects for mental health issues, along with inflammatory conditions and other. That said, this is one of those times where I have to say you ought to work with a naturopathic or integrative physician to determine if these compounds are right for you.

Alright, CBD for anxiety, a paper was published in the journal Neurotherapeutics entitled Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. The authors studied 49 preclinical clinical, epidemiological and neuroimaging studies to determine whether CBD had a role as a potential treatment option for anxiety-related disorders.

They concluded that CBD was effective in reducing anxiety, behaviors relevant to multiple disorders, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety, Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder.

They also found the lack of anxiogenic effects, meaning CBD did not add to anxiety symptoms.

A three month, study of 103 adults found that nearly 80 % of the participants who were given CBD reported improved anxiety, symptoms which remained improved for the duration of the study.

 A study examined patients with social anxiety disorder and found that CBD treatment was associated with reduced anxiety as measured through neuroimaging.

So does this mean you should go out and get a CBD supplement for your anxiety?

 Here are some things to consider first, the recommended dose of CBD is still yet to be thoroughly studied. Some studies indicate that increased dosages work better to a certain point. Then, as you go, even higher becomes less and less effective.

That bell shaped curve very well may vary from person to person – and this applies to all nutritional supplements – you need to know where your product is coming from.

 There are a lot of poor quality supplements out there from major retailers that don’t have enough active ingredient or just aren’t effective. If you want the highest quality, medical-grade supplements that integrative physicians recommend and prescribe you want search our extensive list of CBD Oils we stock in our CBD online shop.