CBD is widely gaining popularity around the world, with many celebrities and influencers endorsing its use. In fact, Kim K even had a CBD-themed baby shower!
CBD is increasingly being used for the promotion of both, mental and physical health. Users of CBD claim that is has many health benefits including a decrease in the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Keep reading to find out more about the use of CBD for mental health!
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, a cannabinoid in structure. It is derived from the hemp plant, which is a member of the Cannabis plant family.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound and is safe to use.
CBD – Mechanism of Action
CBD is structurally a cannabinoid. It’s similar in structure to the endocannabinoids that are naturally produced by humans. CBD works on the body by acting on many receptors in the body, including CB receptors of the endocannabinoid system, serotonin receptors and dopamine receptors.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system is naturally found in humans and was only recently discovered – in 1992. The system is composed of three main components:
Endocannabinoid receptors (CB receptors)
These receptors are dispersed throughout the body, in different organs including the brain, gut, liver, kidneys, and many other sites. Most CB1 receptors, however, are found in the brain. This explains why CBD could be so beneficial to mental health.
Endocannabinoids
Endocannabinoids are chemical messengers that bind to the receptors whenever they need to convey a signal.
Enzymes
Enzymes make and then break down the endocannabinoids once they’re used.
The endocannabinoid system influences sleep, mood, appetite, immunity and inflammation. CBD works on the endocannabinoid system to enhance its internal effects.
By working on the endocannabinoid system, CBD could improve your mood.
CBD and Serotonin Receptors
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in your brain that affects mood, sleep, and appetite. When you’re depressed or feeling low, it may be due to a decrease in your brain serotonin levels. In fact, traditional pharmaceutical drugs used to treat depression work by prolonging the action of serotonin at serotonin receptors.
CBD has also shown to act as an agonist at serotonin receptors, thereby enhancing the effects of serotonin. This could be extremely beneficial in those suffering from depression and other mood disorders.
CBD and Dopamine Receptors
Dopamine is another neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in numerous conditions like schizophrenia and Parkinson’s. CBD has also shown to influence dopamine receptors, according to studies. It serves as a partial agonist of dopamine at dopamine receptors. Although more research into the effects of CBD on dopamine receptors is needed, current studies show a promising role of CBD in the future for managing conditions where dopamine function is dysregulated.
These are the main mechanisms of action of CBD. Apart from these, CBD may also have effects on other receptors in the body. Studies are still being carried out to explore these effects.
Possible Benefits of CBD for Mental Health
CBD for Stress
Taking CBD regularly could help you relax. It reduces your stress levels by affecting various systems and receptors like the endocannabinoid system and serotonin receptors. It’s a great idea to incorporate CBD into your routine if you have a stressful job.
CBD for Anxiety
Anxiety affects a major portion of the population. According to studies, about 1 in 5 people suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder, and most of them don’t even get adequate treatment for their condition.
Traditional pharmaceutical drugs used to treat anxiety include benzodiazepines. These have many side effects like confusion, poor memory, drowsiness and lethargy.
CBD could help in this regard. According to studies, CBD could help reduce many different forms of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, performance anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder.
CBD for Depression
Depression is a debilitating mental health condition that can lead to suicidal thoughts and decrease the quality of your life. Many factors can lead to depression, one of them being a chemical imbalance in your brain.
CBD could help those suffering from depression by acting at serotonin receptors. Pharmaceutical drugs used to treat depression include SSRIs, which have numerous side effects like loss of libido, poor memory and tolerance. Unlike these, CBD doesn’t have any major side effects and also shows results quickly.
CBD for PTSD
PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, can result from direct or indirect exposure to trauma. Its symptoms include nightmares, severe anxiety, trouble falling asleep, and loss of appetite.
CBD could help those suffering from PTSD by reducing the severity and frequency of the symptoms. It could help decrease anxiety and nightmares while improving your quality of sleep.
CBD for Irregular Sleep
CBD could help improve your sleep quality. It could also prolong your period of deep sleep so that you wake up feeling well-rested, not tired and drowsy.
Moreover, CBD could also make it easier for you to fall asleep so that you don’t spend a lot of time in bed, fidgeting and waiting for sleep to kick in.
Normally, your cortisol levels are highest in the morning, which helps keep you awake and improves your cognition. Those with insomnia have higher levels of cortisol at night, resulting in poor and interrupted sleep. CBD could help decrease cortisol levels at night, allowing you to sleep peacefully.
CBD for Epilepsy
CBD has been FDA-approved for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. This means that CBD is safe to use.
These are some of the many benefits of using CBD for mental health. Studies are still being carried out to explore these effects further!
What Dosage of CBD is Ideal?
CBD is a compound that acts on your body. Since every human body is different, the ideal dosage of CBD also differs from person to person. To find out your ideal CBD dosage, you should make a CBD journey log where you enter your CBD dosage along with the results.
It’s best to start with a low dosage and then gradually increase it till you experience maximum benefits. For starters, begin with a dosage of 20 mg per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, CBD doesn’t make you high. It’s a non-psychoactive compound.
Yes, CBD is legal in most countries around the world. You can always check your local laws to be sure.
No, CBD isn’t addictive.
Although CBD is safe to use, it may cause minor side effects in some cases, which include:
Changes in appetite
Dry mouth
Changes in bowel habits
It’s best to consult your doctor in this case because CBD may affect the metabolism of certain medicines.
A week of regular use should give you results. Other effects like an improvement in sleep can be seen an hour after taking an appropriate dose of CBD.
Conclusion
To conclude, CBD could have numerous benefits on your mental health and is widely being accepted as a remedy around the world. Many celebrities and wellness experts also endorse the use of CBD.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your daily dose of CBD oil today and experience its benefits for yourself. After all, your mental health is worth everything!
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