One of the most explored avenues of medical cannabis research is into its properties as a sedative, specifically in terms of its ability to suppress symptoms typically associated with anxiety. CBD oil for anxiety and related symptoms is now widely prescribed in states where it is legal. It is also widely taken without medical supervision all over the world for the same reason.
CBD oils are cannabis oils that contain a high percentage of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the active chemicals in cannabis that has been found by researchers to reduce pain as well as feelings of depression, nervousness, and anxiety.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the best-known component of cannabis’s over 500 chemical compounds, CBD has been shown to have similar medical value, with the bonus of not being as psychoactive as THC. In other words, it is extremely unlikely you will get a “high” from CBD oils provided that they are made to strict quality control standards.
While CBD oil have been associated with beneficial effects on several other health conditions, its effectiveness at treating the palpitations, unease, sweating, restlessness, agitation, worrying, and virtually all other symptoms of anxiety have made it a major contender for use in mainstream medicine.
Anxiety affects millions of Americans and it is a condition for which an extremely wide variety of drugs is prescribed. This includes benzodiazepines and opiates, which have both become very controversial in recent years for very widely prescribed as well as the thousands of fatalities that have been associated with them. Many critics of “big pharma” have even gone as far as to describe the current situation where opioids are easily accessible as an “opioid epidemic”.
Detractors of opiates and benzodiazepines point out that those commonly prescribed drugs have far higher risks of death and complications when taken with other medications, making them a highly risky choice for the treatment of anxiety. CBD oils, on the other hand, have not been linked to any such risks, with most American physicians today supporting the use of medical cannabis.
Evidence
Several meta-studies and specific studies on the effects of CBD have been conducted since CBD was first isolated in 1940. A different analysis of meta-studies has failed to show anything conclusive for many health claims for CBD — with the notable exception of anxiety and similar conditions.
As a treatment for anxiety symptoms, the evidence is extremely strong. A recent study has shown CBD to have about the same level of effectiveness as traditional drugs, but with far fewer side effects and far less potential harm to the patient, provided that doses were administered in controlled amounts.
Other studies concerned with different but related disorders such as social anxiety disorder and depression have shown a similar easing of symptoms, and similarly fewer side effects compared to mainstream methods. A study on reducing fear in public speaking with CBD also showed very similar results.
Many other meta-studies and related studies also seem to corroborate that CBD oils, can be effective at reducing or eliminating anxiety or anxiety-like symptoms with a much-reduced risk to the patient.
Will CBD work for you?
The mechanism by which CBD works on the human body is not yet well understood, and there are implications that there may be dangers for brains that are not yet fully adult, which may limit CBD’s utility for children, teens, and young adults. Your individual system may also not necessarily respond well to CBD treatments.
If you want to take CBD oil for anxiety, first make sure that it is legal where you are, and make sure that you only take it under the supervision of a qualified physician.
