CBD Oil for Anxiety
In a time of crisis for mental health, we are looking for simple and natural remedies for anxiety. Is CBD oil good for something? We tell you about it.
For yet another year, we wish each other at least good health. This time, however, we are not only referring, in many cases, to physical health but also to mental health. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted another invisible pandemic: that of mental illness.
Cases of people suffering from stress and anxiety have increased exponentially in recent years and all the tools we can use to overcome them are welcome. In addition to getting in the hands of mental health professionals if we require it, natural remedies, such as essential oils, are proving to be an ally for those suffering from anxiety. One of the most searched for on the Internet is CBD oil or cannabidiol. But does it really work?
How does CBD or cannabidiol work?
Cannabidiol is a natural ingredient extracted from the hemp plant that can offer a safe and effective treatment for anxiety. However, being associated with hemp, its use is not without controversy.
The truth is that, within hemp, it is necessary to differentiate between CBD and THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, as no evidence has been found that the former generates any kind of dependence. Moreover, it neither alters our mental capacities nor has psychotic effects in any case; this is stated by the WHO in its December 2017 report. THC, on the other hand, in a high quantity can create anxiety and addiction.
Much has been studied about the effectiveness of CBD. As they recount in Psycience, “results from animal studies suggest that CBD can reduce anxiety, stress, panic, and compulsive behaviors.”
However, the only human studies examining CBD as a treatment for anxiety have been conducted in patients with social anxiety disorder. While these have been proven effective, research is needed in patients with other anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
On the other hand, it should also be taken into account that men and women do not experience anxiety in the same way. “Most studies have examined male participants, they add in Psycience, “but the evidence suggests that women tend to experience worse symptoms and a higher likelihood of having an additional diagnosis.
The benefits of CBD
It is not a product with miraculous effects, but it has scientific support for certain indications and there is even an approved drug. Among its benefits, taking into account its different formats and not only in oil, are the following properties:
It has anti-inflammatory effects. Many studies confirm that CBD is capable of relieving inflammations. These, affirm that CBD “influences the endocannabinoid system to modulate the bearable limits of pain”, they assure in Higeacbd. Thus, it avoids “the sending of inflammatory molecules to the damaged parts of the body, mitigating the so uncomfortable inflammation”.
Analgesic. It relieves us from the sensation of pain, whether it is from the joints, back, or knees.
Anti-epileptic. In fact, the Spanish Ministry of Health has approved Epidyolex, the first CBD-based drug for epileptic seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS).
Antitumor. There are some studies that have shown that CBD inhibits the growth of cancer cells in mice with lung cancer or colon cancer. However, although these are promising results, there is still a lot of research to be done in the treatment of people with cancer. In addition, it could improve vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapies.
Neuroprotective. Several studies have shown that CBD may work to strengthen the brain and protect it from steady decline as people age.
Anxiolytic. Thanks to its anxiolytic properties, we find it among the ingredients of products intended to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of anxiety. If you want to learn more, you may visit Hemponix for further info.