We’ve all heard the saying, “stress kills.” Unfortunately, it’s true. While occasional anxiety is an expected part of life – feeling nervous before a big interview or making a life-changing decision – how we cope with it makes all of the difference.
But when a person experiences anxiety that is persistent, uncontrollable, and overwhelming, it can be disabling. When anxiety interferes with daily activities including school, work, and relationships, it’s called an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety-related disorders affect a huge segment of our population – some studies say as many as 40 million adults (18%) in the United States age 18 and older suffer from an anxiety-related disorder. And while there are all sorts of medications one can take, today many people are taking a more holistic approach ranging from complete lifestyle changes to all-natural remedies. One of the most popular trends today is CBD oil.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD is one of over 100 chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, that are found in the cannabis family of plants. It’s a naturally occurring substance, which is extracted and mixed with a carrier oil to create CBD oil. Unlike THC (tetrahydro cannabidiol), the cannabinoid that is found in marijuana that gets people ‘high’, CBD is not psychoactive.
In addition, CBD oil is most often extracted from the hemp plant, which is the non-psychoactive sister plant of marijuana. With little to no THC, there’s no reason to worry about CBD getting you high. CBD has, however, been shown to offer a wide range of health and medicinal benefits.
In fact, the best CBD oil is practically exploding in its popularity as a natural substance that can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions due to its anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic – aka anxiety-reducing – effects.
How Does It Work?
Without getting too technical, here is a very basic explanation of how CBD can help with anxiety. 🙂
While the exact mechanisms behind how CBD works are not yet totally understood, it appears that it interfaces with our body’s own, natural endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is thought to be responsible for managing a large number of our bodies’ capacities, including Appetite, Memory, Sleep, Mood, perception of pain, and recuperation from stress, aka anxiety.
It is also thought, that the best CBD oil is able to trigger neurogenesis in the hippocampus region of the brain, aka the formation of new neurons in the brain. This is important because increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis is believed to help reduce anxiety and depressive behaviors.
Google “how CBD can help fight anxiety“, and you will find lots of articles that explain it in more detail and much better than I have!
CBD Oil for Anxiety
While more studies on humans are definitely needed when it comes to CBD for anxiety, so far CBD oil is proving to be an all-natural, non-habit forming remedy for anxiety. It appears to be beneficial in treating a number of anxiety-related disorders, including:
- Panic disorder,
- Social phobias,
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
How To Take CBD Oil for Anxiety
There are many different ways to take CBD, from oils to sprays to candies to capsules. And no one way works best. A lot depends on the condition to be treated and the person using it. It’s best to choose the administration method that works best for you and for what ails you.
When it comes to CBD Oil for anxiety, one of the most popular ways is by swallowing or ingesting CBD oil.
Ingesting CBD Oil
Ingesting CBD orally is one of the easiest ways. It is easy to swallow and available in several forms including:
- tincture and/or spray
- edibles – candies, gummies, etc
- capsule/pill
With a spray and tincture, you can either spray or drop the CBD oil under your tongue. You’d then hold the oil in your mouth for a few seconds, and swallow.
You can also buy CBD pill capsules. CBD capsules are designed to be easily swallowed and offer a convenient way to ingest high-quality CBD products.
CBD edibles are another option. These are usually candy, such as gummy bears, that you chew and ingest.
Other Ways to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety
Other ways to use CBD for anxiety include vaping and topical applications. To vape, you would need a vape pen and CBD e-juice. You would then place a few drops of oil on the coils and inhale. Topical applications can range from lotions to oils that you would apply to your skin, although this method may not be as effective as ingesting.
In Conclusion
For those looking for a more natural way to treat anxiety, CBD oil is showing a lot of promise. If you decide to give it a try, here are a few things to remember. One, while there are a growing number of quality CBD oils on the market, always make sure the product you buy is third-party tested for quality and potency—and that the hemp was organically grown. And as always, consult with your doctor before starting any new supplement or holistic treatment.