5 Cons and Pros of CBD Oil for Anxiety
Statistics show that an estimated 31.3 % of all US adults suffer from an anxiety disorder. And more women experience anxiety than men. And that’s a lot of anxious individuals. Anxiety disorder types range from generalized anxiety disorder to social anxiety disorder, among many others that I will mention later. The fact of the matter, having anxiety isn’t fun, so what are some natural treatments for anxiety? And what are the cons and pros to using them? Let’s find out.
Using CBD for anxiety has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. But many studies show considerable variations in CBD, so that makes it harder to set up a standard dose. Also, a very small percentage of studied participants experienced worsening symptoms after trying CBD. So as you see, there are pros and cons.
In this article, I will be discussing CBD for anxiety and give you 5 pros and cons of using CBD. Just in case you aren’t familiar with what CBD is, here is some background — according to hemppedia.org, CBD, which is Cannabidiol in full, is a compound from the resinous flower of the cannabis plant that occurs naturally. It has a close relation to THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, which is responsible for people getting high. But CBD has more medical advantages as compared to THC, and does not have any psychotropic effects.
Let’s get into it…..
5 Pros of Using CBD for Anxiety
Elevated mood. The human body has many different receptors that receive signals from different stimuli. The peripheral and nervous system contains CB1 and CB2 receptors, which CBD has been shown to interact with. What this means is that somehow that interaction might alter and improve serotonin levels in individuals. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and plays an important part in our mental health. Not having enough serotonin has been associated with depression and anxiety. That’s why some people with depression and anxiety might manage their anxiety symptoms with CBD instead of using artificial drugs, which tend to be presented with harsher side effects.
Improved stress levels. Studies also showed that people who suffered from generalized stress disorder or GSD, have had improved stress levels with CBD. And some physiological symptoms that were seen in the same individuals are decreased heart rates.
It’s a more natural/healthier alternative in comparison to synthetic drugs. For example, Benzodiazepine is a popular drug that is used to calm the mind and to relax your muscles. But there is a huge problem in using it and that is, it can create dependency and can negatively affect your memory and balance. Some other highly negative side effects from using pharmaceutical medication for anxiety include sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and headaches. CBD, on the other hand, comes with risks that are much more tolerated, like reduced appetite, fatigue, and dry mouth and does an excellent job at acting just like an antidepressant. CBD is also very difficult to overdose on.
Improves public speaking/test taking related anxiety. According to healthline.com, in one Brazilian study, 57 men received either oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes before they underwent a simulated public speaking test. The researchers found that a 300-mg dose of CBD was the most effective at significantly reducing anxiety during the test.
It’s an effective treatment for many forms of anxiety, not just one. Clinical and preclinical evidence that established CBD as an effective treatment for various anxiety disorders such as:
panic disorder (PD)
social anxiety disorder (SAD)
And now that you have learnt some pros in relation to CBD, let’s take a look at the other side. Let’s find out what the cons of using CBD are.
5 Cons of Using CBD for Anxiety
Commercially sold CBD products might be impure/deficient in CBD. A recent study of 84 CBD products that were bought online showed that more than a quarter of the products showed less CBD than labelled. So you could be wasting your money and not getting the benefits that you’re looking for.
No established dose and a lack of clinical usage guidelines. A lot of different studies have been done, but most contained doses that were too diverse. These studies contained dose variations that ranged from 6-400 mg/dose. So we need more high-quality, large-scale clinical trials to provide a standardized dose and clinical usage guidelines.
Not enough data and human trials to make proper conclusions. A 2017 review of Literature Review on CBD and psychiatric disorders have concluded that there isn’t enough data to declare CBD as an effective treatment for depression. They have shown that we need more human subjects to understand the risks that come with using CBD, to properly assess and prescribe the right dose, and to better understand how CBD works.
The legality of CBD is confusing. CBD from cannabis is only available in nine states recreationally and 30 states medically as of 2018. If CBD is extracted from hemp, which legally has under .3% THC content, it can be bought in all 50 states. If your purified CBD plant comes from hemp plants, then it is federally legal, but if it comes from marijuana plants, then it is illegal.
Negative interaction with certain medications. People that take pharmaceuticals or have blood pressure issues need to consult a doctor before using CBD as CBD can negatively interact with certain medications. Be especially careful if the supplements of drugs that you’re taking come with a grapefruit warning. Both grapefruit and CBD interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism. And this interaction can turn a normal dose into overdose.
To Conclude
Like anything, CBD comes with both pros and cons of using it for anxiety. On one hand, CBD has been proven to boost endorphin levels in depressed and anxious individuals and elevate their mood. It also improved stress levels in a study and test subjects experienced positive physiological signs like decreased heart rate. CBD is also a more healthy and natural alternative in comparison to synthetic drugs that come with harsher side-effects. CBD also improved public speaking anxiety and has been proven to be an effective medicine in multiple anxiety disorders, not just one.
On the other hand, not enough studies have been done to allow CBD effective and safe in the long run. More human test subjects are needed to truly understand CBD. The CBD from the marijuana plant is still illegal in many states and commercial forms can be impure and unreliable. CBD can also cause an accidental overdose if it’s mixed with certain medications, so it’s especially important to consider this if you do decide to use it for anxiety. And finally, many studies show considerable variation in CBD doses ranging from 6-400mg per dose. So to set up dose and clinical guidelines, we need more high-quality, large-scale clinical trials.
How You Can Purchase CBD Oil
As more data on CBD safety and efficacy becomes available, more states might consider the legalization of cannabis products, which will lead to a wider availability. But for now, it is still illegal in many states to buy CBD from the marijuana plant. The states that have legalized it for medical use give you the option to buy CBD online, in dispensaries, or in certain clinics. Here is a great site to read the reviews of some reputable brands and companies that sell quality CBD- Where to Buy CBD Oil - 2021's Definitive CBD Purchasing Guide (cannainsider.com). Before making a purchase, always check whether it is legal to buy in your particular location, as the laws in each state vary significantly. In general, the CBD oil from the hemp plant is legal to buy in most states, but there are some exceptions. So always check first.