CBD for anxiety: What you need to know

A lot of health claims now surround CBD, some of them more substantiated than others. You may have heard that CBD is an effective anxiety medication, but how true is that? In fact, while many sell CBD as an easy fix to a variety of problems, some things need to be considered when it comes to using CBD as a medication – especially when it comes to anxiety.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a cannabis byproduct that was discovered in 1940. It is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids that have been discovered in the cannabis plant. Most of CBD’s positive effects are caused by the way it interacts with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for modulating several bodily functions, including sleep, appetite, pain and immune response.

As a result, CBD has been linked with better sleep, pain reduction and increase in appetite, and it is known to reduce inflammation by affecting the body’s immune response, all of which makes the substance a powerful source of health and wellness, at least in theory.

Studies are still being conducted on the effects of CBD, with a particular interest in how the substance affects the body in the long term. Since widespread CBD use is still a new trend, there is little literature on its long-term effects. Long term use of high-CBD marijuana strains appears to be safe, but we still lack studies looking at how isolated CBD affects the body in the long term.

CBD and anxiety

One of the less well-established benefits of CBD is its anxiolytic properties. CBD is promoted as being able to reduce the severity and the frequency of anxiety symptoms, with mountains of anecdotal evidence to support both claims.

This application of the substance isn’t in itself surprising; teens and adults have been self-medicating with marijuana as a way to deal with anxiety for years, and one of the most common uses of medical marijuana is as a treatment for PTSD among veterans and victims of abuse. Medical marijuana users often prefer strands that contain high amounts of CBD and very little THC.

There have also been promising studies looking into the effects of CBD as an anxiety treatment, with more research currently underway.

How it can be used

If you suffer from anxiety and want to try using CBD, there are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to risks and benefits. First and foremost, bear in mind that CBD does interact with certain types of medication, including certain types of anxiety medication. Make sure to research interactions and talk to your doctor before you start using CBD.

It’s also good to remember that the benefits of CBD extend beyond immediate anxiety relief. The substance’s sleep-aiding properties reportedly make it easier for you to follow a regular sleep schedule. And CBD’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties can potentially help you recover from post-workout pain. Since regular sleep and exercise are both known to help bring down anxiety, those benefits are perhaps worth considering. Anyone wishing to try out CBD can check out Cibdol’s products.

The editorial unit

The material contained in this article is of the nature of general comment only and does not give advice on any particular matter. Recipients should not act on the basis of this article’s information without taking appropriate professional advice.