CBD Oil for Anxiety – Is It Effective?

Anxiety Disorders are often the primary factors that affect your quality of life. Do you suffer anxiety and constant panic attacks and that consuming overwhelming feeling? CBD Oil for anxiety has been in play for quite some time now. But is it effective?

If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, chances are that you will feel a constraining feeling and a feeling of despair every once in a while.

In this article, we will be sharing some of the benefits of CBD Oil for Anxiety that you can use and administer.

What is CBD Oil?

Chances are that if you are someone completely oblivious to the realms of marijuana and medical cannabis, you wouldn’t know what CBD Oil is.

CBD Oil, also known as Cannabidiol Oil is an essential oil that is extracted from the cannabis plants. It is primarily extracted from hemp (a variant of cannabis). The cannabinoids present in the oil have essential impacts in binding to the specialized receptors inside the brain. This is what helps in subsiding and alleviating the symptoms of Anxiety as a whole.

What many people often confuse the CBD oil with is the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is often what people smoke or consume to get the feeling of “high”. It is considered as one of the best known around cannabinoid in the market but its usage in the medical and pharmaceutical industry is strictly none.

Unlike the other forms of cannabis and cannabinoids, the usage of CBD Oil for Anxiety Relief is quite pronounced. Owing to the fact that studies have show how effective cannabidiol oil is, using it to soothe the gushing realm of thoughts while suffering from an anxiety disorder. Not just that, because of its versatility, it can easily be consumed in any form – by adding it to the food or even by consuming a few drops.

Smoking with the CBD oil is still a question mark because we don’t have concrete studies and researches supporting those claims.

How Does CBD Oil help treat Anxiety?

This is one of those important and major questions that will intrigue your senses, right? Because if we are plain and simple, talking about using a form of marijuana for treating anxiety, chances are that you will blow it out thinking it as a complete waste of time.

There have been several conducted studies which definitely state otherwise. CBD Oil benefits for Anxiety root from a complex process that is involved within.

When it comes to how the CBD Oil for Anxiety works, the process is extensive and quite detailed. If you are not that sound with medical terms, it might be a bit confusing as well. But, I’ll try and ensure that the entire mode of action is explained as easily as I can for easier understanding.

CBD Oil is believed to exert impactful actions on the brain which in turn helps in relieving the signs of anxiety. Before we delve into a discussion of the process, it is important to understand that majority (or rather every) kind of scientific evidence around CBD Oil has been derived from pre-clinical trials. What proved right in the mice and lab rats might not always theorize the same for humans too.

Being an antagonist to 5-HT1A

The serotonin in our blood is often described to be the reason behind our happy mood. Any kind of altercations in the levels of serotonin often ends up being the reason behind the triggers for our anxiety. But, are you here wondering how CBD Oil benefits for anxiety with serotonin in the equation.

Majority of the medications manufactured and prescribed for anxiety as well as depression are primary moulded to target the serotonin system. Most of the pharmaceutical companies tend to develop formulas that are focused around the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) much like the popular drugs like Zoloft and Prozac.

These SSRIs have the primary function to block any kind of serotonin reabsorption happening in the brain. In short, serotonin reabsorption stopped, the blood serotonin levels are maintained, you mood is happy. The SSRI help in increasing the availability of the serotonin between the synaptic clefts which allows the neurons to transmit more serotonin signals – otherwise known as the happy signals.

On a whole, the CBD Oil has a similar work process like that of the SSRIs or the drugs that you consume for keeping your anxiety and depression in check. The CBDs help in boosting the overall signaling via the serotonin receptors. If you are going to rely on studies, let me suggest that a recently study (R) conducted by a group of skilled Spanish researchers on animal found that the administration of CBD had far better impacts in triggering the 5-HT1A transmission in comparison to the SSRIs.

So, to summarise it all:

CBD Oil helps enhances the serotonin signaling in the body, the same way as that of the SSRIs. They increase the availability of serotonin in the blood stream and inhibit the rapid reabsorption of the compound to ensure that the feeling of “happiness” is sustained in the patients suffering from anxiety.

Boosts Hippocampal Activity

If I would have mentioned Hippocampal neurogenesis right off the bat in the sub-heading, chances are that people are going to walk right out. That is definitely not what I am aiming for, quite the contrary actually.

The Hippocampus is a structure that is predominantly found in our brain and has tied associations with our cognitive abilities and even emotions. So, given the fact that anxiety is a mental health disorder; chances are that hippocampus does play a critical role in its induction or suppression, right?

If prior researches and studies are to be considered, there have been evident CT Scans and reports of several patients suffering from anxiety and depression tend to have a smaller hippocampus that what the standard size should be. The approached treatment using standard drugs for anxiety have show that it propagates the birth of new neurons in the hippocampus which is associated with better functioning of the hippocampal region and in turn, alleviates the signs of anxiety too.

But, how does the CBD Oil fit inside the picture?

There has been a conducted animal study which has shown successful regeneration of neurons upon the administration of the CBD Oil. This has been proven to have amazing impacts in the treatment of anxiety and depression as well. So, when one is intrigued about the benefits of CBD Oil for Anxiety, the mode of action is definitely quite unique in the sense that not only does it impact the serotonin functions but affects the hippocampus too.

Evidences and statistics have shown the connection between neuronal plasticity with imbibed thoughts of suicide and the allied downsides of mental health. There have been comparative studies showcasing the impacts of both the CBD Oil along with the SSRIs to be helpful in triggering the regeneration process of neurons in the hippocampal region of the brain.

So, to summarise it all:

The administration of CBD Oil helps in triggering the regeneration of neurons in the hippocampus. These are notably known to reduce the signs and symptoms of neuroplasty and helps in getting rid of the signs of anxiety that majority of the people often suffer from.

How Effective is CBD Oil for Anxiety?

Anxiety is a type of mental health disorder that has impactful evidence on the overall quality of life of an individual. With the recently piling pre-clinical studies concerning the CBD Oil for Anxiety Relief, it is mandatory that the same could pave way for recent clinical trials too, if everything is clear enough.

But, that being said, there have been a few clinical trials around that have successfully catered conclusions much like what the researchers focused on with that of the animal studies as well.

The answer to the question that we are seeking now is, “Is CBD Oil for Anxiety effective?”

Majority of the researchers and studies – animal and clinical, have shown that CBD Oil and its consumption do have beneficial impacts on your overall health and alleviates the signs of anxiety. While we have explained the entire process of how CBD Oil works neurologically, it is time that we discuss the associated prospects around it.

Researches (Animal and Clinical trials)

We all rely on evidences and official scientific explanations and that is exactly what we are going to discuss about in this section of the article.

The suddenly grown interest on the subject of the benefits of CBD Oil for anxiety was a breakthrough in the scientific field because people were shocked knowing about the wide range of positive impacts that the cannabidiol had in improving our overall mental well being.

Let’s talk about the studies that support the effects of CBD Oil for treating Anxiety.

Study 1

The study (R) was conducted back in 2010 to test out its potency in treating the signs and symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder (SAD) in people. The subjects involved were administerd with 400 mg of CBD Oil or placebo and the conclusions were seen to impact the blood flow to the regions of the brain that are linked with anxiety to help alleviate the symptoms. It was seen that the anxiolytic properties of the CBD Oil primarily affected the limbic and paralimbic areas of the brain, thereby aiding in keeping the signs and symptoms of SAD in check.

Study 2

This particular study (R) was conducted back in 2011 in which a group of researchers from Brazil pointed out the potent benefits of CBD Oil for anxiety, especially social anxiety, mainly asserting their focus on situations like Public Speaking. The above graph is graphical representation of the conclusions the researchers drew from the study on CBD Oil for Anxiety. For the most part, the main focus was emphasised on SAD with correlation to public speaking.

Study 3

This study was conducted back in the year of 2014 and highlights the impacts that the CBD Oil for Anxiety Relief. The study was primarily conducted on animal model and emphasizes on the anti-depressant as well as the anxiolytic aspects of the CBD Oil in treating anxiety and depression. The study also focuses on explaining the interaction between the impact of the CBD Oil and the 5-HT1A serotonin receptors located in the brain.

Study 4

The study (R) in the group was conducted in 2015 following the findings of the various pre-clinical and human trials. The study concluded stating that the impacts of CBD Oil for Anxiety is not just limited to the generalized disorder but can be very potent in treating a number of conditions associated with the various types of anxiety disorder, be it social anxiety disorder, panic disorders or even the post-traumatic stress disorder.

The study also throws in a disclaimer concerning the fact that majority of the conclusions are for short term anxiety. There needs to be further extensive studies to point out the further impacts of CBD Oil benefits for Anxiety on a long term basis.

Study 5

This particular study (R), which was conducted in 2016, emphasises on the importance and impacts of the CBD Oil in the treatment for post-traumatic disorder in a child with a history of trauma. Upon the administration of the cannabidiol, the researchers did find changes in the sleeping pattern in the child alighting the fact that the CBD Oil actually does have beneficial impacts in improving the symptoms of PTSD and sleeping disorders associated with it.

Now, let us focus on the studies that have a negative outlook on the subject of CBD Oil for Anxiety.

Study 1

The study (R) was conducted back in 2017 and unlike the previously mentioned studies, doesn’t ascertain the impacts of CBD Oil in treating the condition of anxiety and depression. According to the study, the impacts of CBD Oil are minimal and not profound. There definitely needs to be more behavioural as well as neural mechanisms of CBD to help ascertain the clinical abilities of this specific drug.

Study 2

In this study (R) conducted in 2018, the researchers concluded results that insinuate that the benefits of CBD Oil for Anxiety was little to nothing when it came to subjects with high trait paranoia. Although, the researchers have claimed that in order to solidify their claims, it is necessary to have a larger sample.

How Long Does it Take for CBD Oil to Work for Anxiety?

Given the fact that CBD Oil is still illegal in some states around the United States of America, you need to have proper guidance from the doctor to get your priorities sorted. The studies and researches surrounding the CBD Oil is still in its preliminary stages and will require further studies to deduce every aspect of its impacts on the treatment for anxiety.

If the mode of action and the existing studies around CBD Oil for Anxiety is to be considered, it is believed that the CBD Oil primarily induces its impacts within seconds, mainly because of the fact that it affects the neural pathway directly. Because the transmission of signals is completely based around the neural control of the serotonin receptors and the hippocampal region of the brain, the results are pretty instantaneous.

Side Effects of CBD Oil for Anxiety

Given the fact that CBD Oil more or less has been believed to have little to no side effects, there are preliminary set of negatives that have been witnessed during the conducted trials that are worth looking into.

Some of the commonly traced side effects of CBD oil for Anxiety include:

Mild side effects include:

• Gastrointestinal problems or impaired digestion
• Sleeping disorders or temporary difficulties in getting proper sleep
• Constantly changing mood / Mood swings
• Dry Mouth
• Dizziness and nausea
• Fatigue and a lower energy level at times

Severe side effects include:

• Irritability constantly
• Dizziness and nausea that is persistent for longer periods of time
• Mind fogging

If you have been experiencing any of the severe side effects, it is always best advised to stop taking CBD Oil. Discontinue it immediately and ensure that you consult a doctor to get the symptoms checked out.

CBD Oil for Anxiety has profound impacts in treating the condition for good if the scientific evidences are anything to go by. If you have been constantly dealing with the signs of anxiety and depression and have been swearing by the prescribed medications as the only way to get out of the condition, consult your doctor and talk to them if you can start with the CBD Oil for Anxiety relief. It doesn’t impose drastic negative impacts and the benefits are too good to be true.