CBD For Anxiety- How Does It Work?

Anxiety is experienced by millions of people around the world every day. It really sucks, right? How could it not. It is a weird concoction of unpleasant emotions and cognitions. It manifests itself psychologically and physically, making it a difficult state for so many of us. 

It creates tension and chronic overarousal. Unlike panic, there’s no flight or fight response. In anxiety, we feel like escaping or avoiding situations where danger might be encountered. If you work in a stressful or extremely challenging working environment, you may find yourself in a position of reluctance to go to work every morning. Not just work, anxiety can arise in any space and when not in control, it can be debilitating. 

It is not in your imagination

Anxiety is not all in our heads or an imaginative state. There’s sincere and sound science behind it. Let us take a look at a few bodily responses and how they manifest our physiology.

Trembling: It is a result of a neurotransmitter called Adrenaline. It is released and increased oxygen is circulated throughout the body resulting in peak exertion and readies muscles for anxiety.

Difficulty breathing: During a strong anxiety attack, oxygen supply goes short in our blood because we breathe a lot faster. 

Irritability or aggression: Production of noradrenaline (a stress hormone) increases temporarily. This makes us more aggressive but also more likely to fight back against a predator.

Weird how our body works! The chemicals in our body are all great unless something alien enters our body. Then they go haywire and as you just saw, they end up causing a lot of difficulty. So, what’s the solution?

The Rescue Plan

Humans have devised ways to deal with debilitating and overwhelming experiences of anxiety. There are quick ways and long-term interventions too. Quick ways are aimed at relieving the immediate body and mental discomfort such as sweating, restlessness, increased heart rate, etc. Methods such as deep breathing, grounding practices, and aromatherapy have been popular amongst people. 

Long-term interventions include therapy, medication, and supplements. Supplements such as kava and CBD have proven to be effective in supporting anxiety reduction. 

Did you know? CBD based product sales are expected to reach a whopping $1.8 billion by 2022. (Source: Statista) Why? 

There are many ways to answer the why but we believe its hope. 

Why the hope?

Hope is a belief system humans create to continue life with meaning and a vision of a better tomorrow. It allows us to sail through difficult times such as illness and in 2021, a pandemic. It is the key to a possibility of a future, filled with a quality life. Why are people entrusting this hope to hemp?

Indeed a good question. Constant anxiety in the modern world has become a normalized experience. The readily available pharmaceutical solutions are expensive and harmful in the long run. Just because the experience is normalized does not make it any less evil towards our health. 

People lose faith in a good life when they are in a constant fight with their mind and body. Modern-day anxiety is born out of economic, political, and personal spaces. There’s only so much an individual can control, right? In these times, we look for some sort of resort. Meditation, yoga, meeting people, joining the gym, and whatnot.

We try new things to get by the day healthily and affordably. CBD is special and a symbol of hope because it is a natural, accessible, and affordable remedy to anxiety for millions of people. It is also a symbol of a new dawn where people don’t want to redirect their anxiety and escape them with the help of addictive substances like alcohol. People want a sustainable solution and CBD has the potential to help greatly.

Yes, you are right. We got a little emotional here with hope and stuff. Okay. Now, we’re gonna get all sciency and explain the science of CBD. Let’s go. 

Mechanism of CBD

CBD or cannabidiol has a compound called cannabinoids which offers health benefits such as anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory effects. Traditionally, these benefits are catered to people via medications which are not a long-term solution and take a huge financial toll on many. 

CBD comes from hemp plants which are grown all across the world. How exactly does CBD work with anxiety? We will have to get our chemistry hat on for this one. Are you ready?

CBD is not a one-person army but works with other compounds found in the hemp plant such as phytocannabinoids, cannabigerol, cannabinol, terpene, terpenoids, flavonoids. Together, they form a team called the entourage effect. 

These compounds attach to our system called ECS or endocannabinoid system. Our system has its mechanism to create entourage effects but when we are anxious, that mechanism is hit. ECS is responsible for homeostasis or balance but it can’t do it efficiently if our own body falters as a result of anxiety at producing cannabinoids. 

Therefore, phytocannabinoids found in hemp support the ECS externally. Here’s a simple representation of the same. When you take CBD supplements for your anxiety, you are nourishing your ECS to continue its work efficiently. 

The Power of Oil Tincture 

You can support your ECS by consuming CBD in versatile forms such as capsules, edibles like gummies and chocolates. They also come in the forms of topicals such as balms, creams, and lotions. The most effective and powerful amongst these lots is the CBD oil tincture! Wondering why?

Well, oil tincture is powerful and easy to consume. You can consume it directly by taking in a drop under your tongue. They also have a longer shelf life and are absorbed easily by the body. Thus, making it a popular and preferred choice by many. 

Many oil tincture (not all) have a broad spectrum cannabidiol profile, that is, it contains no THC (the stuff that makes you high) and has the goodness of entourage effects. The majority of tinctures are isolates which contain only cbd and no other cannabinoids. They are often infused with a splash of other goodness such as coconut oil, stevia, and peppermint oil. 

Few words of caution: Please do your own diligence and research before starting a CBD regime.  Talk to the company, ask questions and ask others. There is no quick fix for health related concerns, be it anxiety or anything else. If you are pregnant or on medications, always consult your physician before consuming any CBD based products. Keep it out of reach of children. We don’t mean to scare you but remind you of the healthy boundaries with any product.

If you want to venture into a CBD experience, we’d highly recommend you begin it with a tincture.

Start your journey with Ozia and start feeling the difference in the quality of your life. And hey, we don’t believe in quick solutions. Join us with patience and faith in taking on this journey and please ask us any questions you may have. So, are you ready?

Want to learn more about CBD? You can read our What’s the deal with CBD and does it really work? 

References:

Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S., Hooley, J. M., Taylor, S., & Antony, M. M. (2010). Abnormal psychology. Pearson Education Canada.

Mikulic, M. (2020, November 05). U.S. CBD sales 2014-2022. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/760498/total-us-cbd-sales/

Sandy. (2021, February 01). Endocannabinoids. Retrieved from https://library.neura.edu.au/schizophrenia/physical-features/functional-changes/biochemical-changes/endocannabinoids/