There's been widespread debate for and against CBD's potency.
While some perceive the compound as a cure-all therapy, others insist it's all but mere hype.
It may be too early to say whether it's as miraculous as touted or nothing but hype. But one thing is apparent – CBD has become an intimidating trend in the health niche for its role in managing a range of health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
Our daily lives are filled with stress – from your overwhelming workload to thebossy boss, all down to your nagging spouse. These concerns gradually add up to cause health concerns, which often lead to concerns like depression and anxiety.
Where no sustainable measures to check these stress factors, chronic stress is often the result.
Effects of chronic stress
When the body triggers stress hormones, it alerts the body for a flight or fight.
Since the human body isn't wired to stay long in a panic state, perpetually high-stress hormones cause havoc, including:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Weakened immunity
- Digestive issues
- Heart disease
- Muscular tension
- Weight gain
- Headaches
- Endocannabinoid imbalance
Besides these effects, chronic stress alters brain functions. Stress hormones send signals to the brain to “concentrate and get prepared.”
When this message stays on for too long, the brain tries to shut it down. This may lead to several changes in the brain in response to the unending stress signals.
As a result, parts of the brain may overreact and become hyperactive while some other regions may contract. This effect also affectsthe production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endocannabinoids, as well as the brain's chemistry and structure.
Even if you attempt to work on your exposure to stress later, it may take time for these reactions to fall back to normal, causing long-term effects on your entire body. In such cases, you'd need medical support to restore your brain's functions.
Traditional Prescriptions for Stress?
In abid to get an effective solution to these stress-related concerns, many have resulted inchemical-packed prescription medications that create even new health challenges.
The shortcoming of these conventional prescriptions has led to an increasing search for a more holistic treatment. Among many others, CBD has become an important consideration.
But, does CBD actually work for these stress-related concerns, or is it just another hype?
Let's find out:
How does CBD handle depression, anxiety, and stress?
CBD has gone mainstream for its loads of therapeutic promises, including its ability to fight depression, anxiety, and stress.
It interacts with over 65 target spot in the body, fighting these neurological signs and symptoms.
Study suggests CBD handles anxiety by triggering neural regeneration and neurotransmitter systems. It as well controls the endocannabinoid system, which may be negatively impacted by chronic stress.
No doubt, stress ranks among the most predominant cause of mental disorders. When stress is left untreated, it results in several health concerns.
Typical resultant effects of stress include heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating, and restlessness, as well as indecision, constant worrying, and paranoia.
CBD may help handle anxiety symptoms in social anxiety disorder patients. The compound may also help reduce panic attacks.
Depression and CBD oil
According to research, CBD may also help alleviate stress and depression and, in turn, insomnia. By relieving these symptoms, the compound improves one's life quality, according to Depression Alliance.
Research says CBD contains anti-stress properties, which reduces stress-induced depression. Interestingly, while conventional anti-depressants may take as much as two weeks to show results, CBD's calming effects come fast – can be felt almost instantly.
Managing stress with CBD
Since we've come to embrace stress as a part of our everyday life, it is, however, essential to find an effective anti-stress remedy.
Because, if left unattended, stress can aggravate into several health-threatening conditions, including heart diseases, fatigue, weight gain, muscle tension, depression, anxiety disorder, digestiveissues, etc.
CBD will come handy here, as it makes a great addition to your holistic treatment plan, alongside traditional medication, as well as physical and breathing exercises. CBD has grown to become a significant component of most health care regimens.
An integrative approach
If anxiety and chronic stress have altered your brain functions, you may need some efforts and patience to undo the harm.
While your habitual thinking pattern may eventually fall into place, it comes quicker if you actively assist your brain in rebuilding and growing the damaged neurons.
Although CBD may prove safe and efficient, CBD supplements are more potent in synergy with a holistic treatment plan.
How to dose CBD for depression, stress, and anxiety?
If you wish to try out CBD oil for stress and related symptoms, first, discuss it with your doctor. They'd offer the most suitable dosage recommendation, weighing in your body weight, medical history, and other related peculiarities that dictates the right dosage.
However, a 2018 study found that 300 mg CBD oral dose consumed 90 minutes before the test showed a remarkable effect in reducing the speaker's anxiety level.
Another group that got 150 mg doses had but a lower effect. Surprisingly, the same weak effect was recorded in people who dosed 600 mg.
However, since the research is relatively small – with only 57 subjects – more research may be required to ascertain an ideal dosage for neurological concerns.
That said, there's a rising concern that most commercial CBD products do not contain similar CBD content as those used for the clinical trials. Hence, the effects reported by researchers are not always replicated in patients.
Can I consume too much CBD?
A 2011 publication concludes that CBD is safe even when consumed in doses as high as 1,500mg daily. A 2017 review thinks the same.
However, in 2019, a mice-based study reports CBD may be toxic to the liver and may interact with other drug prescriptions.
Noteworthy – in the study where CBD was considered liver-toxic, the subjects were given extremely high doses of the compound.
Other Side Effects of CBD
Typically, CBD is widely considered safe. However, a handful of CBD users report minor side effects, including:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Change in weight
- Change in appetite
Research also saysCBD may interact with dietary supplements and medications if taken together.
Check out for the “grapefruit warning” on your medications. If found, avoid taking CBD with such prescriptions. Both grapefruit and CBD reacts with drug metabolismenzymes.
Don't swap out your medications for CBD without consulting your doctor.
Finding The Best CBD for Anxiety
As mentioned, the CBD market is flooded with a truckload of options from a bunch of manufacturers. Identifying good quality among the increasing fakes can be a daunting task.
To help you make a well-informed decision, here are typical factors to consider when shopping for a CBD product:
- Hemp Source
The source of your CBD extract makes a huge difference. If they are sourced from hemp plant picked from regulated farms in the US and EU countries, quality controlled is assured.
These options are safe, GMO-free, contaminant-free, highly potent, and contains low THC levels. Even if the CBD is sourced from plants with high cannabinoids, its THC level must fall under the .3% benchmark.
- Extract types
CBD can be grouped into three categories, depending on its cannabinoid profile. They include full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolates.
- Full-spectrum, containall the natural portions of cannabinoids obtainable in the cannabis plant.
- The Broadspectrum contains the same levels but without the high-causing THC.
- CBD isolates, however,contain only CBD; without the other plant materials.
- Lab result
For quality assurance, ensure you opt for only products with third-party lab tests. If you can't find the certificate of (COA) on the product, check up their websites. A third party lab test confirmsthe product's quality, potency, and safety. If the producers cannot provide this info, look elsewhere.
- Customer reviews
Customer reviews tell us a whole lot about a product's quality. From first-hand experiences, you can easily match your desire with other user's testimonies to see if it's something you want.
Wrap up – should you use CBD for depression, anxiety, and stress?
Maybe you should.
Stress is a common concern that is often overlooked. If left unattended, it can soon turn into severe health concerns and perhaps aggravate into a long term mental concern.
Although there are a handful of approved prescription drugs, these pharmaceuticals usually fall in either of two groups – the overhyped ineffective products or the chemical-packed options with numerous side effects.
Preclinical studies, backed by anecdotal reviews, think CBD is a safer and more effective treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, and relate neurological concerns.
While we await more science-based data to ascertain the actual state of CBD's efficacy and if there are any side effects, the matching evidence cannot be all a mere coincidence.
However, as mentioned, do well to consult your healthcare expert before you begin with any CBD product.
