How Can CBD Oil Help Depression?

People fall into depression due to the many challenges. This article focuses on how CBD oil can help with depression, the best way to take CBD oil for depression, benefits and side effects of CBD oil.

When experiencing sadness and little enjoyment from the experiences you used to enjoy, you might suffer from depression. There are many options for treating depression though most of these options come with side effects, while others can cause addiction. Most people opt for natural ways to relieve anxiety and depression. Researchers are typing to develop natural ways to help people suffering from depression. One of the most recent options is the use of CBD oil. This method is becoming popular now that more countries are legalizing CBD products in their jurisdictions.

CBD Oil

CBD also referred to as cannabidiol, is one of the many components of the cannabis plant. It is one of the most beneficial compounds enhancing the functioning of various body processes and addressing certain conditions. CBD, unlike THC, does not possess psychoactive effects. Some countries, including the UK, have legalized using products made with hemp CBD. Hemp is a variety of cannabis plants that contain 0.2% THC. In the UK, CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and used to make CBD oil. Depending on the CBD spectrum used, there are three types of CBD oil in the market.

Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

This oil contains CBD and other ingredients from the cannabis plant, including THC. Taking a high dosage of full-spectrum CBD oil can cause a high feeling.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains components of the hemp plant except for THC.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolates contain only CBD as the only compound of the cannabis plant.

How CBD Oils Help With Depression

Ferrarini et al. (2022) showed that CBD oil might help relieve depression. Depression occurs when the levels of serotonin in the brain are low. CBD has shown the potential to alter serotonin levels in the brain. CBD increases serotonin levels and therefore reduces depression levels. Serotonin is a transmitter used to regulate mood, emotions, and stress. When suffering from depression, the hippocampus fails to work well. CBD may affect the hippocampus, contributing to emotional regulation and making it function well by promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

According to Cuttler et al. (2018), CBD helps to reduce symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. The research also stated that using a high amount of CBD and a low amount of THC can be more effective.

Best Ways To Take CBD for Depression

There are many forms of CBD, including oils, vapors, capsules, edibles, creams, and nasal sprays. There is a high preference for CBD in the form of oils. CBD oils can be taken sublingually by vaping or mixing with tea or other drinks. Taking CBD oils sublingually involves placing CBD oil drops under the tongue, where the capillaries absorb them into the bloodstream. Vaping involves using vaporizers to turn CBD oil into vapor taken into the body by inhaling. Since it is unclear whether vaping can negatively affect the lungs, most people do not prefer it. However, more research is being done to determine the adverse effects of vaping.

Benefits OfCBD Oil

Aside from using CBD for depression, CBD can also be beneficial in the:

Relieving Pain

Using CBD oil is a good option to treat pain. According to Fine & Rosenfeld (2013), CBD binds with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system to help relieve chronic pains, including nerve and back pains and inflammations. CBD oils containing low amounts of THC help treat multiple sclerosis and arthritis. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of CBD in pain management.

Reducing Symptoms Of Mental Health Disorder

Mental health disorders are commonly treated using prescription medicines. However, this medication is associated with side effects that include drowsiness, insomnia, agitation, headaches, and sexual dysfunction. Larsen &Shahinas (2020) noted that CBD had shown promising results in treating mental disorder symptoms, for example, anxiety disorder helping many people overcome these conditions.

Benefiting Heart Health

Jadoon et al. (2017) stated that CBD oil had been linked to taking care of the heart by lowering high blood pressure. This helps avoid high blood pressure risks, including metabolic syndrome, stroke, and heart attack.

Helping With Neuroprotective Properties

According to Zhang et al. (2022), CBD oil acts on the endocannabinoid system and other brain systems to help treat neurological disorders like epilepsy, and MS. Patricio et al. (2020) stated that CBD also improves the quality of sleep for people who have Parkinson's disease. However, no research has shown whether CBD can treat Parkinson's disease. Epidiolex, a CBD drug, could treat seizures. This is one of the main uses of CBD in the medical field.

Side Effects OfCBD Oil

CBD is considered safe for human beings. Liu (2019) stated that CBD oil could cause mild side effects that include the following:

• Low blood pressure
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dry mouth, especially by taking tinctures

CBD interacts with other medications and causes side effects. It is, therefore, important to avoid taking CBD oil alongside other medications to avoid potential side effects. Your doctor can advise you whether it is okay to take medications for depression together with CBD oil. However, if you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, you should avoid taking CBD oil. Always consult your doctor if you intend to use CBD oil.

Conclusion

Although several kinds of research have shown the effectiveness of CBD oil in treating depression and related symptoms, more research needs to be done to give conclusive information on CBD oil dosage for anxiety. CBD oil is considered safe if you buy a quality CBD oil product that contains quality ingredients without contamination. You may find bad-quality CBD oil in the market because the selling of CBD oil is largely unregulated. It is advisable to buy CBD products from reputable companies and licensed Cannabis dispensaries. Before buying any CBD product, visit your doctor for a consultation. CBD oil may become more beneficial in the coming day due to the promising research about its effectiveness in the body.

Reference

Cuttler, C., Spradlin, A., & McLaughlin, R. J. (2018). A naturalistic examination of the perceived effects of cannabis on negative affect. Journal of affective disorders, 235, 198-205.

Fine, P. G., & Rosenfeld, M. J. (2013). The endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and pain. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 4(4).

Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O'Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. JCI insight, 2(12).

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

Patricio, F., Morales-Andrade, A. A., Patricio-Martínez, A., & Limón, I. D. (2020). Cannabidiol as a therapeutic target: evidence of its neuroprotective and neuromodulatory function in Parkinson's disease. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 595635.

Zhang, S. S., Zhang, N. N., Guo, T. T., Sheen, L. Y., Ho, C. T., & Bai, N. S. (2022). The impact of phyto-and endocannabinoids on central nervous system diseases: A review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.