Government agencies view marijuana as a drug that has no medical use, and severe safety concerns. But, doctors are researching CBD oil use and have found that it may have a place in treating a few conditions. Most recently, doctors are doing research to see if patients can use CBD oil for anxiety.
What is CBD Oil?
Within the oily resin of the cannabis plant, scientists have found the CBD compound. Within this resin, there are several compounds, including CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). To protect itself from the sun rays, as well as insects and bacteria, the marijuana plant produces this resin. The resin that protects the plant is the part that benefits human health.
CBD oil contains chemicals called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain. The most commonly known cannabinoid is THC. THC causes the âhighâ that people experience when they use marijuana. CBD oil though is a different cannabinoid. It has little to no THC in it, so it wonât produce a âhighâ feeling. It is important to keep in mind that even though you wonât have any alteration in your mental state, you might still test positive for THC on a drug test.
Can CBD Oil Actually Help with Your Anxiety?
Absolutely! Much of the research on cannabis products has looked at marijuana rather than CBD oil. Because THC produces a high, there is a possibility that it can worsen anxiety. Therefore, it is important that only CBD is used for anxiety. Several small studies have looked at using CBD to treat several kinds of anxiety disorders. All these studies found that the use of CBD oil for anxiety helped to reduce symptoms.1,2,3,4Â Based on these studies, scientists have concluded that CBD oil is a promising treatment for several forms of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Currently, most of the research looks at CBD oil for treating short-term anxiety. But, scientists have conducted a lot of research looking at using CBD oil as a prolonged treatment.
Are There Risks Associated with Using CBD Oil?
Doctors have found that marijuana can have negative health effects when it is smoked. However, scientists have found CBD oil to be relatively safe. There have been few or no side effects with CBD oil use. Therefore, using CBD oil may be a good option for people who have side effects with other medications or do not see an improvement for their anxiety. Patients taking medication for anxiety can experience a lot of side effects as well, which is why CBD oil for anxiety is gaining popularity.
References
- Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881110379283. Accessed Mar 29, 2019.
- Anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naĂŻve social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. https://www.nature.com/articles/npp20116?foxtrotcallback=true. Accessed Mar 29, 2019.
- Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1. Accessed Mar 29, 2019.
- Effectiveness of cannabidiol oil for pediatric anxiety and insomnia as part of posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report. The Permanente Journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5101100/. Accessed Mar 29, 2019.
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