Cannabidiol [CBD] is among the many active compounds found in Cannabis sativa plant. Another active compound is the Tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] that’s popularly known for its psychoactive properties. Cannabidiol is non-psychoactive, but it has many medical benefits just like THC. This makes it great since you can take it without having to feel ‘high” like in the case of THC.
About 20% of the population suffers from some form of anxiety. If you are suffering from anxiety, you may be looking for some ways to relax your body and mind. Depression is also one of the common types of mental disorder. It is can often lead to a patient to abuse drugs and contemplate suicide. Some of the characteristics of depression include mood swings, loss of emotional expression, loss of energy, lack of interest in things that you used to enjoy, etc.
There are various treatments for mental disorder [depression and anxiety]. The conventional treatment for these mental disorders includes therapy and medications. A combination of these two is effective when it comes to treating depression. There are also advanced techniques used to treat depression. The techniques include the electroconvulsive therapy, which uses high-energy electric stimulation and bright-light therapy, which involves exposing an individual with depression to bright light of about 10,000 lux for an hour. CBD is now available in various countries including one of the UK’s leading brand.
CBD for depression and anxiety
Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions, they can have lasting effects on a person’s health, social life, ability to work, and overall well-being. Pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by the doctor to treat and manage depression and anxiety may have difficult side effects such as sleeplessness and mood swings.
Research has shown that CBD oil can be used to treat depression. However, it may cause some fewer side effects in some people. A study from 2014 explains why Cannabidiol could be useful in treating depression. The study findings indicate that CBD appears to have a positive interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain.
Serotonin affects various functions in the body- for instance, the feelings of well-being, a person’s emotional state, and happiness. Having the serotonin level balanced is a primary therapy for people with depression.
The world health organization’s [WHO] expert committee on drug dependence for decades has offered a long list of conditions that CBD may benefits. The research showed that both animals and humans have shown that CBD may help to reduce feelings of isolation and relieve post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD].
CBD can calm the brain and support the hippocampus- a brain area that is important for healthy emotion and memory. Another study showed that CBD could reduce social anxiety in a way that is comparable to ipsapirone and diazepam.