What is CBD and What are its Mental Health Benefits?
Cannabidiol or commonly known as CBD is a type of cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants such as hemp and marijuana. Often preconceived by people that it makes people high or a feeling of intoxication. But it is quite the contrary. In fact, CBD does not get people high but created a relaxed and mellowed feeling that has many benefits. It can also be fabricated into a variety of forms such as CBD oils, CBD creams, and even CBD tablets, that have the ability to help relieve anxiety and other mental health benefits. If you want to know about cannabis and CBD, Leaf Nation has all the answer that you need.
There are more than 80 components that can be extracted from a marijuana plant and the two most common ones are, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Through some promising research, THC has proven to have psychedelic effects whereas CBD does not. As a result, the CBD market is gaining popularity among the masses because it offers a lot of qualities to ease certain disorders. You can now find CBD oil products online to treat everything from back pain and sleep problems to anxiety and mental health concerns.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oils are made from high-CBD and low-THC hemp. They have a low trace amount of THC which is non-psychoactive. Thus, it does not change the state of your mind when you use them. CBD oil is a natural plant-based oil that contains cannabinoids. This chemical creates a mellow relaxed feeling or something that makes us happy. Cannabinoids stimulate feel-good responses by releasing cannabinoid receptors in your body. It is often released while you exercise or when you are sleeping.
There a number of conditions that CBD can help with such as depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and so on. It is also said that it creates a balance in the body by ensuring your stomachs and intestines run well. It can also prove to be useful by modulating pain, maintaining moods, and keeps inflammation down. So, CBD does have some significant changes in the body and found to improve mental health as well.
How does CBD Work?
As mentioned before, CBD attaches itself to receptors in the body to two receptors of the human body. These are CB1 and CB2 that are present in our body and each has its role in improving your mood. CB1 is found all around your body and the majority of them are present in your brain. This receptor deals with the aspects of the brain such as mood, emotions, movement, coordination, pain, appetite, and so on. While CB2 is more focused on the immune system that reduces pain and inflammation.
4 Mental Health Benefits of Using CBD
- Epilepsy
CBD has been approved to treat a variety of neurological disorders including epilepsy and decreasing seizures. Studies have also shown to treat other types of epilepsy through the use of CBD. Research has supported the use and effectiveness of CBD in decreasing the frequency of seizures. Back in 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treatment of certain seizure disorders with medication derived from cannabis containing CBD. - Anxiety
Anxiety is a common problem for many people and it comes in different shapes and sizes. Studies have shown that CBD can help in reducing anxiety and improve mental health. A study in 2015 found that the use of CBD for anxiety was effective in a number of conditions such as:- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
Although, researchers and officials have yet to establish the dosage recommendation for CBD therapy. In a 2019 study, researchers deduced that the dosage depends on two things, CBD product and the process of administering it. The most common method would include oil, capsules, spray, and so on. It also determines how quickly it will begin to take effect.
- Combat Insomnia
Sleep is a vital component of mental health and well-being. And CBD has a calming, relaxed, and mellowed effect, it can help in sleeping difficulties. While insomnia is often caused by various external factors or mental conditions, CBD can help combat sleeplessness. Some researchers believe that CBD can treat anxiety and help improve sleep. A study in 2017 shows that 15 individuals with insomnia were given specific CBD capsules of 40mg, 80mg, and 160mg. Results suggested that 160 mg CBD was associated with an overall improvement in self-reported sleep quality. - PTSD
PTSD is a mental health condition that people develop after experiencing a traumatic event. It is often characterized by symptoms such as nightmares, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, and so on. These symptoms can trigger memories of the trauma and cause depression and anxiety. However, there are several treatments for PTSD, some research suggests that CBD may help manage symptoms better by reducing them. Multiple studies have used different CBD products to prove their effectiveness to people suffering from PTSD such as edible CBD and CBD oils. Studies that use CBD capsules saw a reduction in PTSD symptoms and those that use CBD also effectively treated anxiety and sleep issues.
Conclusion
If you are considering using CBD products to treat your mental health condition, you should talk with a mental health professional or doctor. Self-medicating without proper research can worsen your condition and aggravate your symptoms.
