How to Use CBD for Anxiety
Research is starting to show that it’s possible to use CBD to treat anxiety with few to no side effects. According to the World Health Organization, more than 260 million people all over the world live with anxiety.
It can come in a variety of forms and the symptoms can be severe enough to prevent people from living a normal life. If you’re interested in using CBD to treat your anxiety, it is important to understand more about it and what to expect.
Why CBD is an option for treating anxiety
CBD (Cannabidiol) is a compound found in the cannabis plant, as is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). Both of these compounds interact with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body in different ways.
The CBD that comes from hemp contains only a trace element of THC and doesn’t get you high. While high amounts of THC can make you feel paranoid or restless, CBD works with the ECS to inhibit these symptoms.
Researchers have established that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in managing anxiety. They have also found that CBD appears to enhance serotonergic signaling through a 5-HT1a receptor-dependent mechanism. In other words, it has a rapid effect on serotonin receptors to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
As many anxiety medications are habit-forming and have unwelcome side effects, people are increasingly looking at using CBD as an alternative. CBD has a much better side-effect profile than SSRIs commonly used to treat anxiety, like Zoloft and Prozac.
In 2015 researchers reviewed and analyzed previous studies and reached the conclusion that CBD oil shows promise in treating many different forms of anxiety, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Choosing the right CBD product
There are many different CBD products and they all contain different ingredients and have different potencies. It may take some experimentation to find the right CBD product and dosage for treating your anxiety.
Taking CBD oil orally/sublingually
This is the most straightforward and easy way to consume a therapeutic dose of CBD for anxiety. When you take it under the tongue, it is important to keep the drops there for at least 60 seconds before swallowing. This allows CBD to get into your bloodstream instead of having to go through your digestive tract.
Tip: Try taking your CBD oil together with olive oil or some other edible oil. Recent research shows that CBD has a higher bio-availability when you take it with other dietary lipids.
Vaping CBD
If you’re going to vape your CBD, make sure that you’re using a product suitable for vaping. Vaping CBD oil has immediate effects, although they won’t last as long as when you use edibles. If you suffer from panic attacks, you want a method that works quickly, such as vaping.
Using CBD edibles
Edibles are also popular, although they go through the digestive system so the effects are not felt quickly. The advantage is that the effects may last longer.
What is the right dosage?
There’s no standard dose recommended to relieve anxiety. Effectiveness depends on numerous factors, including the method of consumption, type of CBD product as well as the physical and biological characteristics of individuals such as metabolism and weight.
A 2018 study looked at the effects of CBD on anxiety levels when it came to public speaking. Researchers discovered that 150mg of CBD and 600mg of CBD did not have any effect on anxiety levels. They had to give the 57 healthy male subjects 300mg of CBD isolate to significantly reduce anxiety.
An effective dose of CBD can obviously range quite widely from one individual to another, and therefore, some experimentation is essential. It is important to consume a therapeutic amount but it is best to start low and slowly work your way up in 10mg increments until you reach an amount that works for you.
CBD is not a cure-all for high stress and anxiety. It is most effective if it is used as part of a healthy regime to manage anxiety. It is also important to be patient when you start taking CBD as the effects are subtle and it can take a while for you to notice a difference.
This article is brought to you by Verified CBD
