Cannabidiol, which is sourced from cannabis plants, can be used as an oil. CBD oil is packed with cannabinoids, chemicals that attach to specific receptors found all over your body. Experts believe that cannabidiol oil comes with a plethora of health benefits, ranging from ameliorating mental health to retarding cancer growth. You can add CBD oil to your meals or use it to prepare your food. What’s more, recent studies on the oil indicate that it can help mitigate symptoms of anxiety with no or minimal side effects.
What is Anxiety and How it Affects the Body?
By definition, anxiety means a feeling of nervousness and fear about a looming event or situation with an ambiguous outcome. It is normal to experience mild anxiety before a major and important meeting or presentation; however, persistent anxiety can negatively affect an individual’s well-being.
About 40 million American people suffer from anxiety disorders each year, Anxiety and Depression Association of America reported. Separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobia, and obsessive compulsive-disorder are some of the types of anxiety disorders. A person suffering from anxiety can experience a spectrum of psychological symptoms, including a fast heart rate, restlessness, shaking, and dizziness.
CBD and Anxiety
Cannabis has been found to play a significant role in alleviating anxiety. However, according to some studies, marijuana use can put you at risk for anxiety.
Only a small number of studies has been carried out on cannabidiol; however, the preliminary research is encouraging.
CBD can help reduce symptoms associated with social anxiety in individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder, according to a study. Researchers involved in the study scanned the brains of test subjects and observed blood flow changes to the brain areas associated with feelings of anxiety.
The study found that in addition to making subjects feel better and relaxed, CBD changed the response of their brain towards anxiety. Further, a study reported in the Journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that CBD can definitely help with social anxiety. In an animal study, CBD oil played a crucial role in reducing depression and anxiety.
This is not all. CBD oil has also been shown to treat different forms of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder to name a few. However, not much is known about the long-term effects of using CBD oil.
How CBD Helps Fight Anxiety
Studies suggest that CBD activates neural regeneration and neurotransmitter systems and fights anxiety.
Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is linked to happiness and contains about 14 different receptors. CBD, however, particularly attaches to 5-HT1A receptor that plays a significant role in dealing with anxiety disorders.
Endocannabinoids: Your body makes endogenous cannabinoids that are used throughout your body in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Under stressful conditions, this specialized system ECS can become imbalanced. CBD can help ECS restore balance by preventing CB1 receptors from being overstimulated and by enhancing endocannabinoid production in your body.
Neural regeneration: Chronic stress can shrink the size of your brain and destroy nerve cells. However, CBD can help offset chronic stress-induced brain damage. According to various studies, CBD promotes neural regeneration in the hippocampus.
Risks
CBD has been found to carry no or minimal side effects. Also, experts assume that CBD oil is a viable option for those who cannot endure the side effects that come with taking other anxiety medications.
For your information, only some American states have authorized the use of CBD oil. Therefore, it would be better if you understand the risks of using or buying it. Also, please note that if the Controlled Substances Act does not list CBD oil, then you should speak to your health care provider before using the product for treatment.
