Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

CBD has numerous therapeutic properties, like soothing anxiety. This article highlights all you need to know about this cannabinoid, including how it helps with anxiety, how to dose CBD, and the different methods of consumption.

We all have those moments when planning for public speaking, talking to your crush, or making changes to our life but feeling tense. Having these feelings is okay and normal, but sometimes they may get in your way of changing or improving your life. The legalization of hemp cultivation in 2018 in the UK and USA led to the use of hemp extracts like CBD. CBD fanatics claim that CBD has health and wellness benefits, like soothing anxiety. Does CBD help with anxiety? This article will explain what CBD is and how it helps with anxiety.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, CBD, is a cannabis compound with therapeutic properties. The cannabis compound has more than 100 known compounds with various properties. CBD is extracted from the hemp plant using solvent or alcohol extraction processes. The hemp plant is rich in CBD and has less THC, a compound that causes a high effect. CBD products are legal if they are hemp-derived and contain less than 0.3% THC in the US or less than 0.2% THC in the UK. The extracted CBD is refined into full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate CBD. Customers can choose which CBD product they want based on these CBD bases. The fullspectrum contains all the hemp plant cannabinoids andterpenes, including THC. The broadspectrum has all the hemp plant cannabinoids and terpenes except THC. The isolate CBD is pure, and it is available in high concentrations.

CBD Oil for Anxiety

Anxiety is normal, and everyone does experience it at some point. It indicates that the body is undergoing some changes. Anxiety becomes a problem when it prevents you from doing things you want to do. Anxiety can result from childhood experiences, current life situations, medications, and physical and mental health problems. Anxiety can be PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety is treated using medication and therapy. Medications can become addictive with time. According toShannon et al. (2019),CBD can soothe anxiety,

How CBD Oil Helps with Anxiety

CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, ECS. The ECS is made up of proteins that resemble cannabinoids. The ECS was discovered in the late 90s by scientists studying THC. According to L u & Mackie (2016), the ECS consists of receptors, neurotransmitters and enzymes. The receptors are placed on neurons and cells; they send or receive signals. Neurotransmitters carry the signals from the neurons to the cells.  The enzymes break the neurotransmitters. The role of the ECS is to create balance within the body, such as maintaining body temperature and blood sugar. The ECS also has a role inbody functions like mood, sex, and appetite.Nuss (2015) noted that serotonin receptors are responsible for regulating mood. High serotonin is an indication of a good mood and low anxiety. CBD affects how soon the enzymes will break the neurotransmitter.

How to Take CBD Oil for Anxiety

Sublingual Method

The sublingual method is the common method of taking CBD oil.  The method involves placing the oil drops under the tongue and holding it for at least a minute to allow absorption. The CBD enters circulation through the tissues and capillaries in the sublingual layer. According to Liu (2019),you can feel the CBD effect after 20 to 30 minutes.

Ingestion

You can ingest CBD oil by infusing it in meals and drinks. You can also bake CBD cookies. You can feel the effect of CBD after an hour because CBD will undergo metabolism before entering circulation. It is recommended to ingest CBD after meals because the fats and oils from food will increase the rate of CBD absorption. The effect of CBD can last for at least 8 hours.

Inhalation

Inhaling CBD oil requires a vape device like a vape pen or vaporizer. This device heats the CBD into an inhalable vapor. The inhalation method is, so far, the best method of taking CBD because at least 80% of the vaporized CBD enters circulation. You can feel the effect of CBD after 15 to 20 minutes,lasting for an hour.

When to Take CBD Oil for Anxiety

There is no specific time to take CBD oil for anxiety. You can take the oil when you feel anxious or when you are about to experience activities that make you anxious. When planning to take CBD for anxiety, you should consider;

Product Potency

The product potency is the strength of the CBD in the oil. High-potency product has faster results compared to low-potency products. If you need immediate results, high-potency CBD oil is the best choice.

Method of Administration

The method of administration will determine how soon you will feel the CBD effect. If you want immediate results, consider the sublingual and inhalation methods. The method will also determine how long the effect will last. The ingestion method has a long-lasting effect.

Dosing CBD Oil for Anxiety

Dosing CBD is unlike dosing medication because of its different potencies, metabolism, and tolerance to CBD. Dosing CBD oil requires one to work out their optimal dose. Your optimal dose will not have the same effect on your friend. You can achieve your optimal dose by starting with a small dosage, like five drops of oil,and gradually increasing them. You can also ask a physician to suggest a dose for you. The body builds tolerance towards CBD, and your optimal dose starts to induce less effect. You can increase the dose or take a break from CBD for a while.

Conclusion

Taking CBD oil can help with anxiety. CBD interacts with the ECS system to affect how soon the neurotransmitters are broken.You can take CBD oil through the sublingual, inhalation, and ingestion methods. There is no specific time to take CBD oil for anxiety; you can take it when you feel anxious or are about to undergo anxious activities. The product potency and method of administration can help figure out when to take CBD oil for anxiety. You can figure out your optimal dose of CBD for anxiety by starting with a small dose and gradually increasing it.

References

Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: a large case series. The Permanente Journal, 23.

Liu, T. (2019). What is CBD Oil? Learn the Facts: Uses, Benefits and Side Effects.

Lu, H. C., & Mackie, K. (2016). An Introduction to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System. Biological psychiatry, 79(7), 516–525.

Nuss P. (2015). Anxiety disorders and GABA neurotransmission: a disturbance of modulation. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 11, 165–175.