Cannabidiol (CBD) has featured heavily in news headlines in recent times. Among the most interesting coverage is the fact that it has been credited with helping to cure or alleviate various types of mental health conditions.
A survey carried out by Gallup in 2019 revealed that 14% of Americans now use CBD products. One of the increasingly popular reasons for using CBD is to deal with anxiety. Does this really work, though?
What is CBD?
To start off, it is important to understand what CBD really is. This is a chemical that can be found naturally in cannabis plants. It doesn’t give users the “high” that is associated with smoking cannabis, as it does not include the psychoactive ingredient of THC found in marijuana. However, it has been linked to several beneficial effects.
Bear in mind that the use of CBD products is legal in some US states but not in others, so you should check the legislation where you live if you are considering buying it for medicinal use. On a global basis, it is currently legal in countries such as the UK, Germany, Bulgaria, and South Africa. The exact laws vary from one country to another, so you need to be certain about things such as the maximum strength allowed and whether a prescription is needed.
Does it Treat Anxiety Effectively?
Close to 40% of Americans who took part in an American Psychiatric Association survey revealed that they were more anxious in 2018 than the year before. Around 40 million people in the country are said to live with some sort of anxiety disorder.
In terms of using CBD for anxiety, the number of studies carried out on this subject is relatively limited. However, the results to date suggest that there may be beneficial effects to these products that help to lower anxiety levels.
For example, the National Institute on Drug Abuse produced a report in 2015 that looked at some of the potential benefits of cannabis oil. Among other findings, they reported that “CBD reduced anxiety in patients with social anxiety.” Although, it should be noted that their paper confirms that more research is needed.
In general terms, it has been observed in most of the studies to date that CBD oil can lower anxiety levels; these include cases relating to insomnia, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, it still isn’t clear exactly how this works.
How can You Try it?
The range of products that contain CBD for anxiety includes, in addition to oil, coffee that combines caffeine with cannabis oil, chewing gum, and even relaxing bath bombs. For those residing in locales where CBD is legal and want to try, it is just a question of finding the right product for your needs and taste. To ease up your concern, here is a review for you if you’re suffering from prolonged anxiety and CBD list of some trusted brands you should consider before buying
The decision to try CBD oil is a deeply personal one. If your life is affected by anxiety then it is certainly worth looking into the subject, but it is important to become fully informed on whether it may be right for you right now.
The first step is to take professional medical advice, as your doctor can look at your medical history and recommend whether these products are right for you or not. Naturally, you will also need to find out the exact legal situation where you live.
