How to Use CBD Oil For Anxiety?
Anxiety isn’t a bad thing in itself. It is a reaction that people have developed over time as a defense mechanism against other predators. It is also referred to as the “fight or flight response” due to how we respond as humans when faced with an uncertain situation.
Anxiety often happens from time to time, and it’s completely normal.
However, the times we are in often put quite the pressure on us. As a result, we may sometimes find ourselves driven into anxiety regularly. The time also makes us feel as if we are in danger.
Anxiety affects every area of our life.
It reduces our efficiency and effectiveness. Many research works have been embarked on to find ways and things that could help us curb and deal with anxiety to this length.
Plants and herbs have received huge attention. The research shows that some plants possess potent relaxing properties to help manage anxiety. The cannabis plant and its products, such as CBD oil, particularly seemed extremely potent in curbing the symptoms and effects of anxiety and other stress disorders.
It isn’t clear how CBD may help people with anxiety disorders.
However, some research has made evident that it affects the serotonin level in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the body that plays an active role in our mental health, mood, sleep pattern, behavior, and digestion. It works by regulating the brain to reduce anxiety and depression. It is pretty much the same way antidepressant works.
Numerous studies have shown that CBD may help treat anxiety and discomfort in people with social anxiety disorder, PTSD, and paranoia.
The result of these studies was generally positive but failed to put many factors into consideration. some of the factors are; the long-term effect of using CBD oil for anxiety, the right amount of CBD oil to be taken, etc
Not to worry, this article discusses how CBD oil may help in treating anxiety, how soon the effect takes place, the right amount of CBD oil to treat anxiety, and much more.
Table of Contents
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil and hemp oil are hemp-derived CBD products of cannabidiol (CBD). It is extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the numerous compounds found in the cannabis plant. It differs from the others because it doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), i.e., it doesn’t have a psychoactive effect.
When CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, it is usually mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or avocado oil to form CBD oil. Cbd oil may then be administered orally for the treatment of various health problems. It contains a high concentration of Cannabidiol, which is responsible for its therapeutic and medicinal effects.
Does CBD oil really work for anxiety?
The typical ways of managing stress and anxiety are talk therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, and using medications like anti-depressants, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines, and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).
The problem with managing anxiety the typical way is that it can be quite exhausting and expensive. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that non-pharmaceutical and natural remedies are now being explored in the treatment of anxiety.
There are currently several natural and non-pharmaceutical resources known to be very helpful in the treatment of anxiety. CBD products are one of them. CBD products containing little or no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) come in various forms ranging from CBD oils or hemp oils, gummies, and vape-pen tinctures and so on.
The important question, though, that needs answering is; does CBD actually work for anxiety?
The answer to the question posed above is Yes.
Cbd works for anxiety, and very well too.
In fact, studies and research over time have revealed that CBD may be a better alternative to anxiety pills and shots. We say this because CBD poses a lower level of risk and side effects than the other options of relieving anxiety.
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How does CBD oil work for anxiety?
There are many receptors in the human body. Receptors are protein-based chemical structures that are connected to the human cells.
According to research, CBD (cannabidiol) affects the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are found mostly in the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
When writing this post, the way CBD affects the CB1 receptor isn’t fully diagnosed. They are speculated to alter the signals of serotonin level in the brain.
Serotonin is a chemical that plays an important role in mental health determines our moods and state of mind. People who suffer from depression and anxiety usually have low serotonin levels.
CBD regulates the serotonin level by upping it for patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and panic disorder.
Studies carried out on CBD for anxiety.
With the buzz around CBD gaining quite more popularity, many studies and research have been embarked on to examine the potential of using CBD for treating anxiety.
Some of them are:
- A study carried out in 2011 by neuropharmacology revealed that CBD reduced anxiety levels and discomfort Induced by Simulated Public Speaking test in Treatment of Social Phobia Patients.
- Another study carried out in 2011 by the national center for biotechnology information researchers found that CBD reduced anxiety symptoms in people with social anxiety disorders.
- In a study carried out in 2015 by neurotherapeutics, researchers found evidence that supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
- A study by wholeness center carried out in 2019 used CBD in treating people struggling with anxiety and sleep. After the clinical trials, many of the population under study improved greatly in the first month.
These studies though generally positive, have quite some limitations. For example, many of these studies were carried out on a small sample size, so their result may not necessarily represent a general population.
These studies also did not look into the overtime effects of using CBD oil for anxiety, which further assures that taking CBD over time would consistently reduce anxiety.
Does CBD help anxiety immediately?
How fast the CBD works depends on individuals and their sensitivity to drugs.
Some patients treating anxiety with CBD have been seen to start experiencing improvements after just a few hours. Others take days before they see improvements.
Also, the form of CBD being taken determines how fast it kicks into action. On a general note, CBD oil is known to produce a quick effect in relieving anxiety. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to monitor how you consume CBD oil and use high-quality products.
How much CBD do I need to help anxiety?
There’s no standard CBD dose for anxiety.
Some studies have shown that doses between 300 mg and 600 mg reduce the anxiety levels in people suffering from a social anxiety disorder. But more studies and research is needed to arrive at the correct and effective dose of Cbd for relieving anxiety.
Also, how much CBD oil you’ll need depends on a few things like whether you are using full-spectrum CBD (those containing multiple cannabinoids and oils) or isolate product (contains pure CBD) and a range of factors such as;
- your body weight, your individual body chemistry
This is to say that many variables go into deciding how much CBD oil to take.
To start using CBD oil, it is advisable to take smaller doses and then work your way up to a higher dose (300 mg) that delivers effective relief. You may consult your doctor for medical advice or any further help.
You can start with about 20 milligrams mg to 40 milligrams mg per day, then begin increasing it bit by bit until you begin to notice its effects on anxiety symptoms.
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What amount of CBD is too much for treating anxiety?
There is limited data regarding the effects of using too much CBD (full spectrum CBD or an isolated CBD product) in humans during anxiety treatment. Although many researchers agreed CBD is low in toxicity.
A study carried out on monkeys reveals that CBD doesn’t hinder the body’s functions until a dosage higher than 30 mg per kg was administered orally daily for 90 days.
Also, in a study done on humans, the participants consumed 1,500 mg of CBD daily, spanned four weeks. Observations showed that the participants of the study did not experience withdrawal until after the 28th-day trial. The results showed that the participants tolerated the 1,500 mg of CBD dosage.
Although there haven’t been many studies done on CBD’s toxic level, one particular study carried out in 2011 proposed that CBD’s too much dose is about 20,000 mg of CBD, when taken all at once. For most CBD oil, a bottle contains between 100 and 1,500 mg.
This implies that CBD’s toxicity starts from ingesting between 13 and 200 bottles of CBD oil at once. Which also largely depends on the CBD concentration within the bottles. Well, consuming that amount of CBD oil is just bizarre, right?
When CBD is taking per the recommended doses, i.e., starting with smaller quantities and then gradually increasing it based on the product’s effectiveness, you do not need to worry about taking too much CBD.
How do I start taking CBD for anxiety?
To use CBD or hemp oil to treat various forms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, you should start by taking the CBD oil orally (swallowing or sublingually). When you swallow the CBD oil, it passes through the digestive tract and absorbs into the bloodstream, then travels through the body.
When you then take the CBD oil sublingually, putting the CBD oil under the tongue is rich in capillary and is then directly absorbed into the bloodstream. This method bypasses first-pass metabolism and sends the CBD throughout the body.
Well, CBD products aren’t FDA approved and are unmonitored, so there is no uniform labeling of the products and approved dosage system. Therefore, you will have to work out the right dosage for you with your doctor and ensure you use high-quality products.
Using CBD Oil With Other Drugs
Now that CBD oil has gained a lot of attention for its potential to treat anxiety, it would be wise to ask if it can be used alongside other anxiety medication.
Even though CBD oil has proven to be safe, the fact still remains that it can interact with other medications. The major concern here lies within the way the body metabolizes specific substances when ingested.
A word of caution would be to first speak with your doctor before using CBD oil with any anxiety drug. They will be in the best position to give you medical advice.
Below is the major reason why having that conversation with your doctor is very important
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CBD Oil, Drug Metabolism, And CYP450 Enzymes
Any substance that the body ingests, be it food or medication, has to be broken down or metabolized.
The CYP450 enzymes are responsible for breaking down ingested substances so they can be easily passed out of the body. CBD oil inclusive.
However, there are some medications and substances that either slow or speed up CYP450 functions.
The CYP3A4 enzyme, which is part of the CYP450 enzyme family is particularly responsible for metabolizing CBD. But during the metabolism process, CBD alters the function of the CYP3A4 enzyme.
The catch here is that CYP3A4 handles the metabolism of more than 60% of prescribed medications, anxiety drugs included. So if CBD is altering CYP3A4, then it can’t properly break down the drugs in your system.
On the flipside, there are several clinically prescribed drugs that can hinder the functions of the CYP3A4. This means if you take CBD oil while on such drugs, your body will not be able to properly process the CBD oil.
If the medicine you have taken is being metabolized too slowly, it means you would have too much medication in your system at a particular time than clinically intended. This can happen even when you take the recommended dose.
This could lead to several side effects which are usually harmful.
There are other substances that can hasten CYP450 functions. If the medication in your body is being metabolized too quickly due to the effects of another substance, you will not have adequate amounts of the medication in your body at a particular time.
The Grapefruit Warning On Anxiety Medications
As at today, research is still being carried out to fully figure out the interactions between anxiety medications and CBD oil. However, all consumers of CBD oil should be aware of the “grapefruit warning”.
If the anxiety medication you are using has a grapefruit warning on the container, then you must not take CBD oil with it.
The warning prohibits those on such medication to desist from consuming grapefruit or its juice.
The FDA says ingesting grapefruit when using such medications may cause a higher concentration of the medicine in the user’s bloodstream. This will in turn lead to several side effects or even an overdose.
There are over 85 drugs that interact with grapefruit. This is because grapefruit contains furanocoumarins, a chemical that inhibits CYP3A4. The end result will be slowed metabolization of prescription drugs.
Is CBD oil legal?
Irrespective of how well it works for the treatment of anxiety, there is the issue of legality.
CBD oil is a cannabis product that contains less than 0.3 percent THC and is not a restricted substance in the United States. Although not restricted, CBD oils and other CBD products are not FDA approved. Therefore, they don’t have a dosing guideline.
Now, you have to discuss the course of treatment with your doctor and the legality of using CBD products in the US, which would determine if he would be able to treat your anxiety disorder with CBD oils.
It is key that you discuss with your doctor before you start using CBD oil.
Conclusion
CBD oil is cannabis-derived cannabidiol with little or no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Many people are currently using it as medication for treating different health issues, especially anxiety and various forms of health disorders.
But one should be wary and cautious of the CBD product to take.
Many of the available Cbd products are not approved by the food and drug administration agency. So, the ingredients’ strength and purity vary between different brands of CBD (cannabidiol) products. We, therefore, advise that you do your research and go for only high-quality products.
This post has made it quite clear that CBD could help to treat anxiety. It also explains how to get the right dosage (with the help of your doctor, though) of the cannabis-derived product to treat the health issue and disorders you might be suffering from.
