It is believed that 5-10% of people worldwide suffer from anxiety-related disorders, affecting their quality of life as well as stopping them from enjoying their life to the fullest. Over the last decade, there has been a huge increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression due to a variety of factors such as global instability, the COVID-19 epidemic, and social media, to mention a few. Some existing medicines have undesirable side effects, which is why there is a strong need for new treatments to be created in this field. CBD may help those suffering from mental health disorders.
For thousands of years, the cannabis plant has been used for therapeutic purposes. The plant includes around 80 distinct compounds known as cannabinoids. While tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is well-known for its psychoactive properties, cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant component, does not contain any such psychoactive properties but research establishes that CBD or cannabidiol oil India strain extracted from Cannabis has 0.3% of THC is safe for human consumption. Those who are concerned about the legality aspect can also be assured that CBD oil having 0.3% is safe to consume.
In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in CBD’s possible mental health advantages. But is it true or it has been hyped up? Let’s find out in this blog.
Does CBD work for mental health, or is it just a fad?
Some existing research suggests that CBD may be useful in the treatment of a variety of illnesses, including depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and sleep disorders, among others. CBD is said to alleviate a variety of illnesses, but more research is needed in this area.
Epilepsy: CBD appears to provide several neurologic effects, including reducing the frequency and severity of seizures.
Anxiety: For many people, anxiety is a major issue. Anxiety disorders impact a considerable population. Some research suggests that CBD may help relieve anxiety symptoms. One study looked into the probable neurological basis for CBD’s ability to alleviate symptoms of social anxiety disorder. A 2015 study published in the journal Neurotherapeutics examined preclinical studies on the use of CBD for anxiety and discovered that CBD was useful for a variety of anxiety problems, including Anxiety disorder in general, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Anxiety disorder, Anxiety about social situations, PTSD.
Depression: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting a considerable population. CBD or cannabidiol oil India has been studied for its potential anti-depressant properties. Some antidepressants work in the brain by binding to serotonin receptors. For those who do not know that low serotonin levels may contribute to the development of depression, animal studies indicate that CBD may affect these receptors, resulting in antidepressant effects. Cannabidiol appears to impact how the brain responds to serotonin that is already present in your body rather than increasing serotonin levels.
Helps you sleep: CBD has a soothing effect, and it may be useful in treating sleep disorders. Sleep is essential for mental health and well-being, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of U.S. people do not get the necessary amount of sleep each night. That’s just data from the USA. This is important because a lack of sleep has been related to health problems such as depression, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. One research conducted with adults stated that those with anxiety and poor sleep revealed that after a month of taking an average of 25mg of CBD daily, 65% had improved sleep quality ratings, however, those values changed over time.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD symptoms include reliving traumatic events, having intrusive thoughts, having nightmares, and avoiding items that may trigger memories of the trauma. According to some research, CBD may be beneficial in lowering the symptoms of this illness. Researchers discovered that taking an oral dose of CBD in addition to conventional psychiatric treatment for PTSD was associated with a reduction in symptoms.
I have anxiety, should I try CBD?
While CBD shows potential, a recent comprehensive evaluation of the data finds that support for CBD’s mental health applications is still lacking. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry in 2019, examined 83 publications on the use of CBD to treat mental illness. The researchers focused on six conditions in particular: depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosis. The review looked at prior studies from 1980 to 2018. According to the evaluation, there is insufficient evidence to justify the use of CBD in the treatment of mental health disorders.
However, the study did discover that pharmaceutical TCH (with or without CBD) was associated with small reductions in anxiety symptoms in patients with other medical problems such as chronic pain. This is not to say that CBD isn’t beneficial; nevertheless, the majority of the studies evaluated only involved a small number of people followed participants for a short amount of time and were less than 50% randomized controlled trials. Instead, the study concludes that there is simply not enough high-quality evidence to support the use of CBD to treat mental illnesses. This could alter in the future when more study is conducted. Many experts are still hopeful that CBD will be beneficial for a variety of mental health disorders.
Are there any side effects I should be aware of?
While CBD has certain advantages, it is also necessary to understand some of its side effects. Though CBD appears to be well tolerated at levels up to 600mg, according to research this does not rule out the possibility of negative side effects. While they may vary from person to person, some side effects include:
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Changes in appetite
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
Conclusion
If you have symptoms of a mental health disorder and are thinking about using CBD products, you should consult a doctor or a mental health professional. This is especially true if you already have a medical or psychiatric issue, or if you are using any medications or supplements. Self-medicating with CBD or other supplements may result in delaying your treatment, which may worsen your symptoms. Hempstrol is one such brand that sells CBD-based products from where you can buy CBD oil online and those who are confused that whether they should take CBD for their mental health or not can take medical consultations from the experts they have on-boarded. Their healthcare specialists can help you monitor your symptoms. Based on your symptoms and any treatments you are taking, your doctor may recommend an appropriate product and dose. Always keep an eye out for any potential negative side effects and consult your doctor before discontinuing CBD use.