CBD oil and anxiety
Anxiety refers to a type of mental health condition that is widespread across the globe today.
The symptoms include feelings of panic, nervousness, and fear which can lead to a rapid heart rate, sweating, hypertension and stomach cramps. The commonality and severity of the condition have led to extensive clinical research on how to treat anxiety.
This is often a complex task for doctors as each patient is entirely unique. The treatment options usually include prescription medication, counselling, and/or cognitive behavioural therapy.
Prescription anti-anxiety medication in Australia is one of the most prescribed medicinal products across the country.
In recent years, plant-based therapy, specifically CBD oil, has become an option for individuals looking to alleviate the symptoms of their anxiety via a natural remedy. It is now a common occurrence in many western countries for people to use CBD oil for anxiety and its related issues.
The efficacy of the plant-based treatment option is still up for debate, but it has fast become a part of many people’s lives.
There are differences in responses to plant-based products that are influenced by a variety of factors such as one’s tolerance and the strength of the strain. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have published a guide to the use of plant-based treatments in Australia.
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Does CBD oil help with anxiety?
The relationship between the plant-based treatment and anxiety is a complex one that seems to be dose-dependent and specific to each person.
Research in 2017, by the University of Washington, found that THC has a habit of decreasing anxiety in lower doses while increasing anxiety in higher doses. On the other hand, CBD was seen to decrease anxiety at all doses.
A study performed in 2020 concluded that CBD may currently be the most useful plant-based treatment for pre-existing anxiety disorders, but stressed that more research is needed to explore the various other cannabinoids present in the plant.
A retrospective study was performed by Canadian researchers in 2022 analysing the effect of plant-based treatment on over 7000 adults. It concluded that after 12-18 months of using plant-based treatments, the symptoms had improved in adults diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
The researchers emphasised that this type of data offers sufficient justification to complete further large-scale clinical trials focused on understanding plant-based products as a treatment for anxiety and depression.
Most of the available data seems to highlight that one of the main determining factors in the treatment’s effect on anxiety is the percentage of THC present.
A high percentage of THC can lead to an increase in anxiety and is not recommended for those seeking relief from their symptoms. CBD oil for anxiety is a far more viable treatment option.
As anxiety is often associated with a multitude of conditions and circumstances, the potential of CBD is an exciting prospect for researchers.
Whether you have trouble at social gatherings or get anxious before sex, the idea of a wide-ranging anti-anxiety treatment is driving the renewed effort. In the years to come, we will have a clearer idea of whether CBD oil is that treatment.
We are still in the early phases of large-scale clinical research being performed on plant-based products as a treatment for anxiety, but the signs have been promising enough to justify the continued effort.
The pros and cons of CBD oil for anxiety
As with any medication, there are side effects and risks to using medicinal plant-based products.
Consuming high levels of THC can lead to an increased heart rate, rapid thoughts, paranoia, lethargy, and general feelings of nervousness; achieving the opposite of what those seeking to alleviate anxiety need.
It can also reduce motivation and impair concentration for many individuals. This means high levels of THC should be avoided when you need to focus.
There are also health risks connected to any form of smoking, and doctors recommend avoiding this due to the detrimental effect on the lungs.
As with all medication, there is a risk of dependence and abuse of plant-based treatment options. It is important to approach with caution and maintain moderate usage.
Understanding the difference between CBD and THC
Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two of the several compounds naturally present in the plant these treatments derive from. Both CBD and THC interact with receptors in the body with the potential to contribute to your body’s homeostasis. They are the primary active ingredients in these plant-based treatments.
CBD dominant strains are normally sourced from hemp, which is classified as a Sativa plant containing less than 0.3% of THC.
The main difference between the two is that, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and therefore cannot give you the characteristic high feeling that people associate with the source plant.
Each compound interacts with slightly different receptors in an individual’s brain.
CBD and THC share a similar chemical structure with the only difference coming in how the atoms are arranged.
Conclusion
How plant-based treatments and anxiety interact with each other is complicated and differs from person to person. Plant-based medicinal products for anxiety have emerged as a seemingly viable treatment option for many with pre-existing anxiety disorders.
CBD oil is by far the most widely-applied form of medicinal plant-based products used to treat the symptoms of anxiety and does not have the psychoactive component that causes the high.
Individuals with no history of using plant-based treatments might find that THC only serves to aggravate the symptoms they are experiencing.
It is also important to keep in mind that despite the promising signs, research has a long way to go before we can reach any definitive conclusions.
Ultimately, you will have to speak to a medical professional to know if medicinal plant-based products are a suitable treatment option for you.
For more information on how to use CBD oil for anxiety, feel free to contact a member of the Harvest team.