From CBD drinks, CBD gummies, and recently Kim Kardashian having a CBD themed ‘Zen Baby Shower’, it seems like CBD is popping up everywhere lately. You probably ask yourself; is CBD just a trend, or really nature’s best kept secret?
CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety in not only everyday situations (like work, school, and traffic) but even more neurological forms of anxiety, such as SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder), PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and even anxiety from drug and alcohol addiction. Anxiety is also one of the biggest reasons people turn to CBD…but not many people understand why or how it helps, that’s where your friends at Hudson Valley CBD step in.
What exactly is CBD?
Even though CBD has blown up over the last few years, not many people know exactly what it is. While CBD sounds like an acronym for something, it really stands for cannabidiol, and it is a natural component of the cannabis plant. Unlike it’s cousin component THC (which some find the more fun part of the plant), CBD does not get you high.
The coolest thing (we think) about CBD is that we have something called an endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoid System is connected to receptors in our brain and body, and play a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood, and everyday experience. In recent years, scientists associated with the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) have elucidated a number of molecular pathways through which CBD exerts a therapeutic impact. (read more at https://www.projectcbd.org/science/endocannabinoid-system-0)
So how does CBD help with Anxiety…Scientifically?
Stress and Anxiety are the body’s natural response to a situation you perceive as risky, dangerous, or unwanted. An unbalance of hormones or excessive messages within the brain will often increase your cortisol levels, causing you to feel anxious. CBD combats stress by regulating how your brain responds to stress signals and maintaining your cortisol levels.
According to Minstryofhemp.com, CBD produces effects through various molecular pathways. Although CBD does not really bind with two of the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, it acts through several different receptor-independent channels. CBD enhances and inhibits the binding action of certain protein-coupled receptors.
CBD targets a specific serotonin receptor, the serotonin 1A receptor. Serotonin receptors regulate the release of hormones like cortisol, which is responsible for metabolism and reactions to stress, and oxytocin, which affects social behavior. Serotonin receptors also affect a person’s mood, cognition, and appetite. Its affinity with this receptor is associated with a lot of CBD’s therapeutic properties.
All hype? Here’s the research.
While cannabis is still in its early stages of research, many independent studies have been done to understand the correlations between CBD and anxiety.
One particular study from 2011,by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology concluded that: Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients.
This preliminary study aimed to compare the effects of a simulation public speaking test on healthy control patients and treatment-naïve (Social Anxiety Disorder) patients who received a single dose of CBD or placebo. A total of 24 never-treated patients with SAD were allocated to receive either CBD or a placebo.
Those treated with CBD showed significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech. The placebo group presented higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, discomfort, and alert levels when compared with the control group
Another Study from Publmed.gov (the US national Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health), shared a case from The Permanente Journal 2016, about anxiety and sleep disorders with PTSD patients. Anxiety and sleep disorders are often the result of posttraumatic stress disorder and can contribute to an impaired ability to focus and to demonstration of oppositional behaviors. A child whom suffered violent abuse was dealing with the long lasting effects of their trauma, anxiety and decreased sleep.
The study concluded that; ‘Pharmaceutical medications provided partial relief, but results were not long-lasting, and there were major side effects.A trial of cannabidiol oil resulted in a maintained decrease in anxiety and a steady improvement in the quality and quantity of the patient's sleep.’
Disclaimer:
We are not doctors, nor do we claim to be experts. All of the information we have provided has been from numerous studies and sources from around the web, as well as from our own experience. Like anything regarding your health, we advise you use your best judgement and do your own research. Hudson Valley CBD prides itself on quality, and we use all of our own products. Our friends and family also uses our products and we never give anyone anything we would never use ourselves. We are a proud member of the CBD community, and just want everyone to feel good and be educated on this amazing plant!
Sources:
https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/cbd-in-the-brain/ CBD In The Brain: The Neurological Effects Of CBD Oil Devin Yirka May 9, 2018 12:40 pm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21307846 Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 May;36(6):1219-26. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.6. Epub 2011 Feb 9. Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27768570 Perm J. 2016 Fall;20(4):16-005. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-005. Epub 2016 Oct 12. Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report
https://medium.com/cbd-origin/the-endocannabinoid-system-everything-you-need-to-know-1c38a648cafb Aaron Cadena Nov 5, 2018 The Endocannabinoid System: Everything You Need to Know