CBD, or Cannabidiol, from premium hemp oil has made a name for itself in the world of natural medicine. But what exactly is it and how can it impact our health?
As the second most prevalent of the active ingredients in cannabis, a lot of people have questions about the uses and side effects of CBD. CBD is derived directly from the Hemp plant, which contains much higher levels of CBD than a Marijuana plant would. Like all phytocannabinoids, CBD works by directly and indirectly stimulating your body’s own natural Endocannabinoid System (ECS). CBD alone has no psychoactive effects – meaning it will not cause a “high” like smoking marijuana, but CBD extracted from premium hemp oil is well known for its calming, soothing effects that are often experienced as relaxing and beneficial for mitigating pain, stress, and anxiety.
CBD For Anxiety
For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals that share similar nervous systems to humans. Study subjects were observed as having lower behavioral signs of anxiety. Their physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, also improved.
CBD may also benefit people with other forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may help treat anxiety-induced insomnia as well.
In 2011, a study researched CBD’s effects on people with SAD. Participants were given an oral dose of 400 milligrams (mg) of CBD or a placebo. Those who received CBD experienced overall reduced anxiety levels.
The authors of these studies found evidence to support the use of CBD as an effective monotherapy or complementary therapy for treating generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, the studies showed considerable variation in CBD doses, ranging from 6-400 mg per dose. This variation highlights the need for more high-quality, large-scale clinical trials to help establish standardized dosing and clinical usage guidelines for CBD therapy.
CBD For Stress Induced Muscle Tension
The anti-inflammatory and pain relieving agents of CBD reduce inflammation within muscles and joints. When considering a topical CBD product, such as an oil or cream, it is important to look at the ingredients. Many products are not able to effectively carry the CBD into deep layers of tissue. However, we have specific carrier oils and several essential oils into our Mindful Medicinal topicals that are able to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin, muscles, and blood vessels. This practice optimizes CBD’s benefits to the body providing healing and relaxation to muscle tension.
As our experts in the store will tell you, finding the right form of CBD product for your anxiety is a personal decision based on your health and preferences. If you’re new to CBD and not a smoker, starting with edible gummies or tincture drops are the best way to start. You can dial in the right dose with differing strength concentrates and by varying the number of drops until you get it just right. As you get more comfortable, you may want to branch out into the topicals and vape pens.