Can CBD Oil Improve Mental Health?
Mental health problems are no longer a stigma in today’s world. People all across the globe are now more well-informed about the importance of mental health. Recently, many people have come forward to talk about their issues with anxiety and depression. This indicates that they are looking for solutions to incorporate into their lifestyle to improve their mental health. There’s a lot of curiosity regarding natural remedies to treat such conditions, in comparison to prescription drugs—which brings us to this article. CBD oil is gaining popularity at lightning speed as a treatment remedy for not only mental but overall health issues too. Let’s dive into some real facts about whether CBD oil can improve mental health, particularly whether full-spectrum CBD oil is good for anxiety.
What Is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is derived from a natural plant that contains phytochemicals known as cannabinoids. They are basically molecules that are found in the body that make us feel relaxed and calm. It is often compared to the feeling of happiness which we experience while doing activities that we enjoy. Cannabinoids are the stimulators that switch on our feel-good responses. They are also released when we sleep or exercise.
The main source of cannabinoid molecules in our body is known as anandamide, which helps to maintain body balance. This system enables our intestines and stomach to work effectively while decreasing inflammation. It also modulates any pain while protecting our feel-good factor. Studies imply that cannabinoids derived from CBD can often halt the breakdown of anandamide. This means that the more anandamide is retained in our body, the happier we feel.
Forms of CBD
CBD is available in a wide variety of forms and types of products. Cannabidiol is generally extracted from marijuana and hemp plants. The difference between these two lies in the amount of CBD and THC present in the plants. For example, CBD extracted from hemp plants has almost no THC. This indicates that CBD from hemp plants will not make you high or give you any psychoactive effect. CBD derived from marijuana plants, on the other hand, contains higher amounts of THC.
The three main forms of CBD are as follows:
- Isolate contains only CBD
- Full-spectrum contains CBD along with other compounds extracted from the cannabis plant such as THC
- Broad-spectrum contains other compounds from the cannabis plant except for THC
According to research, full-spectrum CBD products double the therapeutic impact on people. To be more precise, people prefer full-spectrum because it includes both THC and CBD, providing users the ultimate feeling of relaxation and happiness. Studies also stated that CBD can in fact neutralize the negative side effects of consuming THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD products have various cannabinoids in them, just like full-spectrum. The only difference is that it lacks THC and produces no psychoactive effects.
Types of CBD-based Products
Here’s a list of CBD-based products that are available to purchase.
Oral
Oral CBD products include oils, tinctures, sprays, and capsules that are made by combining CBD with a carrier oil and other elements such as alcohol or water.
Topical
These are ointments or lotion that is applied to the skin. Topical CBD products are only known to produce localized effects, not mental health effects unlike the ones consumed orally.
Edibles
As the type suggests, they are to be consumed orally. They are available in candies, gummies, and beverages.
Inhaled
These are similar to vaping. There are certain formulations that include CBD oil for inhaling through a device like vaporizers. However, inhaling may not be the best option due to potential health dangers.
Mental Health Uses
CBD uses and benefits have been discussed by the World Health Organization for years in relation to health conditions. Research conducted on humans and animals in the past confirms that the consumption of CBD helps with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and relieves autism and PTSD symptoms. The brain area that’s responsible for healthy emotions and storing memory is called the hippocampus. CBD has been directly related to supporting the hippocampus and eventually calming the brain.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety is a common type of mental disorder for many people. For instance, it affects 19.1 percent of American adults. That number is probably on the rise too. CBD has been linked with alleviating symptoms of anxiety. A study conducted in 2015 talked about the benefits of CBD for anxiety. A number of conditions were addressed in terms of effectiveness. The list of conditions included generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Children’s anxiety is also on the rise in the US. So when we talk about anxiety disorders, it’s important to include children, too. These are all types of anxiety disorders.
Researchers are conducting research to determine the long-term consumption side-effects of CBD-based products.
Epilepsy
Another benefit of CBD has been identified for epileptic patients. Conditions like Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can be controlled with CBD. The frequency of seizures and episodes can be reduced, according to research. Many videos showing the improvements and effectiveness of these treatments went viral, increasing the demand for CBD products.
The FDA has passed an approval notice for the use of cannabis-based medication that contains Epidiolex and CBD to treat epilepsy in children. CBD-based treatments reduced seizure frequency by 50 percent for pediatric epilepsy and 43 percent for Dravet syndrome patients.
Sleep Disorder
People with sleep problems have also seen great results due to CBD’s calming effect. We all know that sleep is crucial to our well-being and mental health. Sleeping difficulties have been linked to anxiety, heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, as well as depression. A previous study evaluated that people with such symptoms had experienced improved sleeping patterns by 65 percent after consuming 25mg of CBD daily. Again, researchers are planning further studies to draw solid conclusions regarding the relationship between CBD and sleep disorders.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is found in 6.1 percent of American adults. It is a condition that causes the patient to re-experience a traumatic incident over and over. Common symptoms of PTSD are nightmares, staying aloof, avoiding situations that are triggered, and intrusive thoughts on a regular basis. Research suggests that CBD can contribute to the reduction of such symptoms. Some doctors turned to a combination of oral use of CBD along with regular psychiatric treatment for optimum results.
Potential Side Effects
Yes, CBD may have proven to improve mental health conditions in many ways, but that does not imply that there are no risk factors or side effects involved. Let’s look at some of the common and potential side effects of CBD.
- Dizziness
- Mood changes
- Appetite changes
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
However, it’s hard to determine the prevalence of these side effects because of the lack of guidelines and regulations. This basically means that CBD manufacturing companies all need to follow a uniform guideline in terms of labeling and purity. For example, some people lose their appetite as a side-effect, while others have an increased appetite. The point is that people have different reactions to different CBD products. Hence, formulations and dosages cannot be compared if the products available on the market do not meet a set of guidelines.
Demand for Research
More research is needed to clear all the confusion around the consumption of CBD. Mental health is a serious topic, and we should refrain from experimenting without knowing about its long-term effects. Hence, further research is required to identify all the ins and outs of using CBD. It’s also important to understand that people have different reactions and sensitivity to CBD. So keeping this in mind, before using CBD to treat any physical or mental issue, you should know how it works, what it can do to your overall body, and how it could affect your condition.
Conclusion
It’s true that CBD is becoming more popular with so much content around it on social media and word of mouth. Many people have the wrong idea that antidepressants or prescription drugs can be replaced with CBD. You may see some temporary benefits, but long-term side effects might cause more harm without your knowledge. Lastly, unknowingly CBD-based products can also interact with your current diet, if you are on one, and might affect your healthy eating habits. So it’s important to do your personal research before you experiment. To conclude, we highly recommend seeking medical help from your healthcare provider before turning to CBD-based products.
