In recent years, the use of CBD in many different industries has seen a huge increase, CBD-infused products are dominating the health and wellness industry. This is owed to the fact that CBD has been shown to be beneficial to your mental and physical health, and the hemp plant has been used to heal people around the world for centuries.
It is within the last decade that scientific research into the benefits of CBD has increased, showing promising outcomes. Moreover, mental health disorders are on the rise and CBD could potentially treat them!
CBD is now legal in many countries across the world including the United States, due to the 2018 Farm Bill.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that is similar in structure to the endocannabinoids found in the human body. It is derived from the hemp plant, which contains little to no THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives you a “high”.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is non-psychoactive and safe for human consumption. Cannabidiol oil is extracted from different parts of the hemp plant!
CBD for Mental Health
Research into the benefits of Cannabidiol oil has shown that it may help improve the symptoms of many mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.
CBD and Anxiety
Surveys have revealed that about 1 in 5 people in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder! Moreover, only about a third of these get treatment for it!
These statistics are beyond alarming. In a fast-paced, digitally-centered world like ours where work pressure and competition are exponentially increasing, it’s no surprise that a huge proportion of the population suffers from anxiety disorders.
Studies reveal that CBD oil may help improve the symptoms of many anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and performance anxiety.
Cannabidiol may help eliminate anxiety by exerting its effects on two aspects of the human body: the endocannabinoid system and serotonin receptors.
The endocannabinoid system is an inbuilt system present in humans that regulates many aspects of human functioning including mood, appetite, and inflammation. It contains two receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD may influence these receptors and improves mood.
Studies reveal that CBD also influences serotonin receptors in the brain. It may make these receptors more sensitive to serotonin, a neurochemical that regulates mood, the sleep-wake cycle, and appetite. Also, CBD may help reduce palpitations in patients suffering from anxiety.
Pharmaceutical drugs used for anxiety have many side effects like sexual dysfunction, loss of short-term memory, and many others. Drugs like SSRIs take weeks to show their effects! On the other hand, CBD is natural and safe to use. Moreover, it shows rapid effects on the body!
CBD and Insomnia
Many mental health disorders can ruin your sleep-wake cycle, resulting in inadequate, restless sleep. Cannabidiol oil may improve your sleep by improving the duration and quality of your sleep. Moreover, it may reduce the time it takes for you to fall asleep. How often do you toss and turn in bed because you’re anxious and sleepy but unable to sleep? That’s where CBD comes into play!
Getting adequate, restful sleep is important for your physical and mental health! Sleep helps the body heal, improves brain function and memory, and is vital for your organs to work properly.
Traditional prescription sleeping pills can give you a “hangover” effect during the day. They cause daytime drowsiness. On the other hand, CBD doesn’t cause a hangover effect during the day. Instead, it makes you feel relaxed!
Studies show that CBD could significantly help you sleep better, especially by targeting the underlying cause.
CBD and PTSD
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) affects about 1 in 11 people at least once in their lifetime! It’s common for people to associate PTSD with veterans and other military personnel. However, anyone who has experienced trauma (even if it’s second-hand trauma, that is, not experiencing the trauma but hearing about it from someone), can have PTSD.
PTSD is a chronic mental health disorder characterized by nightmares, recurrent thoughts of the traumatic event, insomnia, and palpitations. Cannabidiol may improve many of the symptoms of PTSD by influencing the endocannabinoid system of the body. The intake of cannabidiol oil could reduce the occurrence of nightmares. Moreover, it could reduce the retention of traumatic memories, thereby reducing recurrent thoughts of the event.
CBD and Depression
Depression is a very common mental health illness that can often lead to suicide. Symptoms of depression include suicidal thoughts and ideations, feelings of sadness and hopelessness, irritability, mood swings, and low self-esteem.
Cannabidiol oil may help in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression by influencing serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin regulates mood and appetite; thus, CBD may help improve depressive symptoms. SSRIs are the first-line therapeutic drugs used to treat clinical depression. However, they usually take weeks to show their effects. Moreover, SSRIs are known to have a wide range of side effects like sexual dysfunction, mood swings, irritability, nausea, and weight gain. On the other hand, cannabidiol shows instant results without any major side effects.
CBD and Alcohol Use Disorder
Studies have shown that taking CBD for Alcohol Use Disorder may prove fruitful. CBD could reduce alcoholism by exerting the following effects:
- Decreasing the urge to drink alcohol
- Decreasing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Altering the circumstances that may enhance alcohol abuse. For example, CBD could help reduce anxiety and depression which can often lead to substance abuse.
Not only this, but CBD products like CBD oil may also help prevent damage to the brain in both the short and long runs as a result of chronic alcohol abuse!
Thus, CBD products could be used to treat alcohol use disorder.
CBD for Eczema, Rosacea and Psoriasis
Eczema occurs as dry patches of skin that itch a lot. Eczema can cause a lot of discomfort and pain to individuals suffering from it. There is no current cure for eczema and it’s a recurring skin disease that could be caused by multiple factors.
Psoriasis is also a similar skin condition that appears as dry, itchy, and flaky skin.
CBD oil may help reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis owing to its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and anti-itch properties.
CBD for Neurodegenerative Disorders
The progression of many neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease could be slowed down with the use of CBD. It has shown to have neuroprotective properties. These neuroprotective properties can be attributed to CBD’s role as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compound.
CBD for Pain
CBD balances pain and the perception of pain by stimulating the reabsorption of neurotransmitter, adenosine, boosting adenosine levels in the brain and inhibiting pain sensations. CBD can also block pain signals from reaching processing centers in the brain.