Have you ever heard of CBD oil? It’s in vitamins, beauty items, and even chocolate bars. What exactly is this substance, and why is it causing such a stir? The health world seems to be made up of potheads, since it has something to do with marijuana. Not really, though.
The basics of CBD oil: hemp vs. marijuana.
The chemical cannabidiol, which is short for CBD, is found in both hemp and marijuana. Cannabis is the name of a plant family that includes both hemp and marijuana. The amount of THC in marijuana and hemp is what makes them different. THC is a type of cannabinoid, like CBD. Cannabinoids come in 60 different types, but THC is the most famous. You could call it the Beyoncé of cannabinoids. People are very familiar with THC because it’s linked to the high that people get from smoking or eating weed.
Marijuana and hemp both contain high levels of THC, despite the fact that their meanings can be quite ambiguous. CBD oil is a potent form of the substance cannabidiol. It is usually made from hemp, but it can also be made from marijuana. The market offers a range of CBD and THC levels in CBD oil items. There is little to no THC in many of them, and some have small amounts.
The health benefits of CBD oil.
There are a lot of different ways that CBD is good for you, but one of the main ways that it works is that it is a natural anti-inflammatory that works really well. Most of the long-term health issues we encounter today are associated with chronic inflammation. And when I say “most,” I mean all of them. An inflammatory condition is one that can be caused by cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, stomach problems, and hormonal issues.
It’s still important to know that inflammation isn’t always bad; in fact, it’s a great part of our defense system. When it’s in balance, inflammation helps wounds heal and keeps germs away. When inflammation gets worse and doesn’t go away, it becomes a problem. CBD can help fight this kind of long-term inflammation because it is naturally anti-inflammatory.
CBD oil, inflammation, and anxiety.
It is most common for people in the United States to have an anxiety condition. Anxiety affects about 30% of Americans (66 million people) and 25% of kids and preteens. Seeing a lot of people with anxiety and panic attacks as a functional medicine doctor shouldn’t be a surprise, given these numbers. But something isn’t normal just because it happens a lot of the time. Luckily, new information about what causes anxiety may help researchers come up with better ways to treat it.
The majority of people do not link inflammation to mental health problems like autism, ADD, ADHD, sadness, or anxiety, but research is finding that it is. The cytokine model of cognitive function is a whole area of research that examines how inflammation can mess up our brains and potentially lead to anxiety conditions. One finding is that people with higher levels of NF kappa B (NFkB), an inflammatory bad guy, are more likely to experience anxiety, whereas people with lower levels of NFkB frequently experience lower rates of anxiety.
An anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety substance is CBD oil. I have seen how CBD oil can help with anxiety in my life and in the lives of many of my patients. Researchers have found that CBD oil can help people with social anxiety because it is a natural stabilizer (anxiety reliever). CBD naturally calms anxiety without the side effects that some chemical anti-anxiety drugs may have.
In addition to reducing inflammation in the body, CBD oil may also help with anxiety by working directly on the brain. Researchers have found that CBD lowers activity in the amygdala and raises activity in the prefrontal cortex. These are two parts of the brain that are involved in anxiety. There is also proof that CBD can start brain neurogenesis, which means it can make new neurons! This turns on CB1 receptors, which balances GABA and glutamate levels in a good way, which is linked to lowering anxiety.
How much CBD oil should you take to help with anxiety?
CBD oil studies have used doses ranging from a few milligrams to hundreds of milligrams. Start with a low dose, like 10 milligrams, and slowly increase it over a few weeks or months to see what works best for you. Many people also do better when they split the dose up during the day instead of taking it all at once. If you’re on meds, consult the prescribing doctor. Even though CBD is usually very safe, there are some prescription drugs that CBD oil might combine with and either make them work better or less well.
There are more and more good CBD oils on the market. Just ensure the product’s hemp is organic and has been third-party tested for safety and efficacy.