How Is CBD Oil Effective on Bipolar Disorder?
How Is CBD Oil Effective on Bipolar Disorder?
People use CBD oil for different reasons, from feeling relaxed and improving sleep to dealing with neurological and mental conditions. One of the ways people use CBD is to help with bipolar disorder. How is CBD oil effective in dealing with bipolar disorder? This article discusses that topic.
Bipolar disorder is one of the mental conditions affecting a person. Going from high to low moods makes it hard to predict how things might turn out. Several medications are used to help with the condition with few side effects that can threaten one's health when used for a long. Researchers and individuals are looking for natural ways to deal with bipolar disorder, such as CBD oil. CBD is an alternative because of its effectiveness in dealing with mental conditions like anxiety. This article discusses Bipolar disorder, available treatments, and how CBD oil can effectively treat the condition.
Bipolar Disorder
Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings alternating between high emotions and depression. Mood swings can affect one's behavior, energy, daily activities, and sleep. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition that can be managed by medication and psychotherapy. Other conditions, such as anxiety and eating disorders, can affect bipolar disorder treatment. These conditions and the disorder can be managed by strictly following the described medications and addressing symptoms early.
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
There are different methods of treatment used to manage bipolar disorder, as explained below:
Medication
Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs like Lithium prescribed by psychiatrists regulate moods associated with bipolar disorder.
Exercise
Doing regular exercise can help improve one's sense of well-being
Psychotherapy
Seeking therapy and support groups is one way that can help a person with bipolar disorder deal with the emotions and challenges of dealing with the condition.
Good Sleep Habits
Bipolar disorder can affect one's sleeping pattern. Practicing and maintaining good sleeping habits like having regular sleeping time can help one deal with bipolar disorder.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques
Breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga can help one develop calmness and help regulate emotions when under stress.
Endocannabinoid system, Cannabidiol, and Bipolar Disorder
The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that manages memory, metabolism, energy, pain management, inflammation, sleep, stress, and anxiety. There is a relation between how the endocannabinoid system works and bipolar disorder. An imbalance in the ECS between neurotransmitters can affect one's moods and cause bipolar disorder. Cannabidiol is also known to affect how the ECS works. Martinez et al. (2020) showed that Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the compounds of the cannabis plant and is non-psychoactive. CBD can signal the brain to produce more cannabinoids, balancing the ECS's functioning. It can also interact with receptors and enzymes and affect different functions that improve general health and well-being.
Benefits of CBD
Bitencourt et al. (2018) stated that CBD could be used to treat several mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia. According to Maroon & Bost (2018), CBD is used to manage symptoms in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Studies are still going on for using CBD in different health conditions. The following properties make CBD effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder:
CBD as a Mood Stabilizer
Mood stabilization in the brain is modulated by communication between neurotransmitters using the ECS. CBD helps ensure that the ECS is balanced and working properly. Melas et al. (2021) explained that CBD could also help regulate moods and emotional processing of situations by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain.
CBD as an Anxiolytic and Antidepressant
CBD facilitates the effect of serotonin on the brain. Enough serotonin in the brain is known to regulate sleep and prevent anxiety. Khan et al. (2020) reviewed that CBD exerts an anxiolytic effect on people dealing with a social anxiety disorder by reducing hippocampus activities and increasing activity in the posterior cingulate. The study also showed that CBD does not cause sedation. Bonaccorso et al. (2019) showed that CBD was used to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms of bipolar disorder patients.
Other Effects of CBD on Bipolar
The use of CBD can help improve the general health and life quality of an individual. Shannon et al. (2019) explained that people use CBD because it provides a calming and relaxing effect. This makes sleeping easy with improved latency. It also acts as an energy boost when needed. CBD is an all-around product used to deal with bipolar disorder symptoms.
CBD and other Bipolar Disorder Prescriptions
Ashton et al. (2020) stated that prescriptions like Lithium have benefits in dealing with Bipolar disorder symptoms but have limited effectiveness and certain disadvantages. They could have risks to women, may cause skin complications, cause unwanted mood elevation, and induce mania. CBD is a natural product that does not cause intoxication or extreme side effects. It works with the ECS system in the body without directly affecting it. It acts on specific neurotransmitters and hormones in the body to balance and enhance its activity. This helps the ECS maintain balance and normal functioning.
Using CBD for Bipolar Disorder
One should consult with their doctor if considering using CBD as an alternative or complementary treatment. CBD works differently in each individual, and one needs time to gauge how the body reacts to the CBD, starting with small doses. One should make sure they buy from reputable brands and check the ingredients to ensure they are organically produced.
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder can be a disruptive condition that is hard to diagnose. Different mood stabilizing medicines, therapy, and meditation are used to handle the symptoms. Mood stabilization in the brain is modulated by communication between neurotransmitters using the ECS. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs like Lithium prescribed by psychiatrists regulate moods associated with bipolar disorder.CBD for bipolar disorder is also on the rise, with researchers conducting studies to evaluate its effectiveness. Existing studies show that CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system and acts as a mood stabilizer. It also helps people deal with anxiety and depression. CBD has also been associated with having a mild effect on improving one's sleep quality and time. Though still under study, CBD can be used with individuals with bipolar disorder alongside other non-medical treatments. Embrace CBD for all kinds of diseases for better health.
References
Ashton, L. CBD For Bipolar Disorder: Potential Treatment And Benefits.
Khan, R., Naveed, S., Mian, N., Fida, A., Raafey, M. A., & Aedma, K. K. (2020). The Therapeutic Role Of Cannabidiol In Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Journal Of Cannabis Research, 2(1), 1-21.
Bitencourt, R. M., & Takahashi, R. N. (2018). Cannabidiol As A Therapeutic Alternative For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: From Bench Research To Confirmation In Human Trials. Frontiers In Neuroscience, 502.
Bonaccorso, S., Ricciardi, A., Zangani, C., Chiappini, S., & Schifano, F. (2019). Cannabidiol (CBD) Use In Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review. Neurotoxicology, 74, 282-298.
Martínez, V., Iriondo De-Hond, A., Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Del Castillo, M. D., & Abalo, R. (2020). Cannabidiol And Other Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids For Prevention And Treatment Of Gastrointestinal Disorders: Useful Nutraceuticals?. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 21(9), 3067.
Melas, P. A., Scherma, M., Fratta, W., Cifani, C., & Fadda, P. (2021). Cannabidiol As A Potential Treatment For Anxiety And Mood Disorders: Molecular Targets And Epigenetic Insights From Preclinical Research. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 1863.
Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol In Anxiety And Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente Journal, 23.
