CBD is still being studied for various health issues, particularly anxiety, sleep quality, pain relief, and many more. Evidence from pre-clinical and clinical trials has provided CBD’s anti-anxiety effects and its ability to reduce the physiological stress response. Stress is rising at an alarming rate across the country, to the point where nearly half of us (48 percent) are more stressed than a year ago, affecting our health.
Stress can affect our daily lives, including how we look and appear, impacting sleep patterns, immunity levels, and overall health and well-being. According to research, stress can significantly impact our moods and emotions simultaneously.
CBD may be an effective way of controlling and reducing stress and anxiety issues. One can take CBD in the form of CBD gummies in UK, tinctures, and even oil to reduce stress.
- What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural chemical in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Early research indicates that CBD oil has the potential to help relieve anxiety. Further, CBD does not cause intoxication or the “high” many people associate with THC.
Cannabinoids are a class of chemicals found in the Cannabis sativa plant. That said, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is further the most well-known component of cannabis (THC). However, CBD is derived from hemp, a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant that contains only trace amounts of THC Gummies. CBD appears to affect some brain chemicals, distinct from THC’s effects.
Top 5 research findings on CBD and Stress:
Research 1
A recent study shed some light, conducting the first meta-analysis on cannabinoids by a nutritional supplement company. Nutrition Formulators of Florida created the report published in the peer-reviewed Innovare Journal of Medical Science.
In a review of 76 articles published over the last two years, more than 70% of cannabidiol (CBD) research on anxiety and stress yielded positive results.
The meta-analysis focused on CBD isolate and classified the research into several categories, such as CBD’s effects on depression, sleep, panic attacks, dementia, inflammation, metabolism, behavior, Parkinson’s disease, and psychiatric illnesses. The review has included both human and animal studies.
When it comes to anxiety, research shows that CBD reduces anticipatory anxiety. It affects the areas of the brain that help process emotional information. The study also found that clinicians who used CBD as an alternative treatment for depression gave positive results.
Therefore, one of the more significant questions addressed by the study was how much CBD should be used. The dosing in the reports ranged from 50mg to 600mg daily. More research is required on CBD’s impact on liver function and how CBD interacts in the body.
Research 2
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report, CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals such as rats when treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The study showed the animals had less anxiety, and there was an improvement in their physiological anxiety symptoms too.
Research 3
CBD may also help people suffering from other types of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). CBD also helps to reduce anxiety-related insomnia. Another study that showed the effects of CBD on people suffering from SAD was conducted in 2011. Participants were given 400 milligrams (mg) of CBD or a placebo. Those who received CBD reported less anxiety overall.
Research 4
A placebo-controlled double-blind study for social anxiety disorder discovered that CBD treatment before simulated public speaking significantly reduced anxiety. It also helped ease cognitive problems and discomfort in their speech performance and reduced considerably alert levels in their anticipatory speech. The placebo group displayed higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, discomfort, and alertness levels than the control group.
Research 5
CBD has been shown in several recent studies to help with PTSD symptoms such as nightmares and replaying negative memories. CBD has been studied as a standalone PTSD treatment and a supplement to traditional treatments such as medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
A small study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that CBD reduced nervousness and cognitive problems in patients with social anxiety during a simulated public speaking task.
How Does CBD Work?
All cannabinoids have physiological effects by interacting with cannabinoid receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system. The body generates two receptors. CB1 receptors are eventually found all over the body, especially in the brain. Movement, pain, emotion, mood, thinking, appetite, memories, and other functions are coordinated. In the immune system, CB2 receptors are more common. They influence inflammation and pain. THC binds to CB1 receptors, whereas CBD stimulates the CB1 receptors, causing the body to produce endocannabinoids.
Conclusion
As CBD research advances, more states may consider legalizing cannabis products, resulting in greater availability. Moreover, the CBD industry is thriving, with a conservative estimate of $16 billion in revenue in the US by 2025. The plant extract is already included in cheeseburgers, toothpicks, and breath fresheners. According to the Brightfield Group, a cannabis market research firm, more than 60% of CBD users have used it to treat anxiety.
Chronic pain, insomnia, and depression follow. Overall, existing research suggests that CBD has significant potential as a treatment for stress and anxiety disorders. However, more research on chronic and therapeutic effects in relevant clinical groups is required.