According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults or around 18.1% of the population every year. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that it has become increasingly popular in recent years for those suffering from an anxiety disorder to seek out alternative treatment options.
These disorders come with a plethora of symptoms that can greatly reduce an individual’s quality of life. Some of these symptoms include restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, increased heart rate, GI problems, and a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom. Anxiety disorders also commonly coexist with depression, with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) stating that around 60% of people with anxiety will also have symptoms of depression.
Although there are treatments available, many of those who suffer from these disorders go without treatment. Studies suggest that CBD can help relieve the disorder and many of its accompanying symptoms and so hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oil products may be a possible solution.
What is Hemp?
Hemp is a part of the cannabis family along with marijuana. Although hemp and marijuana are similar, their chemical makeups are very different. Hemp contains high concentrations of CBD, which is the primary element that may help with anxiety, as well as countless other ailments.
Marijuana, on the other hand, contains low amounts of CBD and high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the chemical responsible for giving a high feeling when smoking or ingesting marijuana. However, according to Medical News Today, high levels of THC have been associated with increased anxiety symptoms and so might not be a good solution for existing anxiety sufferers.
Hemp contains little to no THC meaning you won’t get high from hemp-derived products like CBD oil and hemp gummies when used as directed, and therefore doesn’t worsen existing anxiety symptoms.
What is Hemp Oil?
The terms “hemp oil” and “CBD oil” are often used interchangeably. However, there are many different kinds of hemp and CBD oils which all have different benefits. The hemp seed oil contains low amounts of both CBD and THC, hemp-derived CBD oil contains high amounts of CBD and virtually no THC, and marijuana-derived CBD oil contains a high amount of THC and a low amount of CBD.
Hemp-derived CBD oil is extracted only from hemp that contains a high amount of CBD using one of several processes: either CO2 extraction or ethanol.
How Hemp-Derived CBD Oil Can Help Anxiety
While the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that hemp-derived CBD oil can help those with the disorder, the evidence is not conclusive due to the lack of large-scale clinical trials. There have only been a few studies on small groups of people with the majority of CBD testing having been done on lab animals.
According to a small but groundbreaking double-blind Neuropsychopharmacology study published by Springer Nature in 2011, patients with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) that were treated with CBD oil versus the placebo showed a significant reduction in “anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech.”
CBD Dosages for Anxiety
The dosage of CBD seems to have a large impact on how CBD affects those with this disorder. The anti-anxiety effects of CBD follow a bell-curve, suggests a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. A 300mg dose of CBD seems to be the sweet spot, while 100mg and 900mg servings did not seem not to have a substantial effect.
Research is still being done on dosages for those with these disorders. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a published study has shown that for some users, CBD can cause depression as a major toxic side effect. Due to the fact that half of those with these disorders are also diagnosed with depression, it’s important to be careful so that depression is not worsened. Always consult a doctor before using CBD oil or any other dietary supplement.
Other Common Uses for Hemp-Derived CBD Oil
Anxiety disorders are only one of the uses of CBD oil. Research suggests that hemp-derived CBD oil is helpful for:
• Insomnia
• Epilepsy
• Depression
• Nausea
• Inflammation
• Glaucoma
• Chronic Pain
• Parkinson’s disease
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), CBD oil can potentially kill certain types of cancer cells and reduce the size of some tumors.
Side Effects of CBD
According to the Mayo Clinic, CBD does have a handful of side effects. However, they tend to be mild and are somewhat rare. Some of the side effects include:
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in mood
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Dizziness
Is CBD Legal?
CBD oil with a THC level of less than 03% is Federally legal. However, this may vary from state to state. MArijuana lawas are going through a huge change and update regularly. Check your State Laws on this to be sure that you are legally using your CBD.
Final Thoughts
Anxiety affects a large number of people in the world. Unfortunately, only a small portion of those affected by this disorder get the treatment they need. Research suggests that hemp oil has a positive effect on those with these disorders, especially socially. This may mean that CBD could be the answer to a happier and healthier life for the 40 million Americans who struggle with this disorder every day.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Due to FDA Regulations, we recommend that you do your own research on CBD products. We also suggest that you read the reviews on our website, where our customers record their real-world results of using our products.
