Let’s have a look at just what CBD oil can do for you and your anxiety. According to research from Our World in Data, done in 2017, almost 4% of the world’s popular have experienced anxiety. That means not only is it common, but chances are we all know someone who’s been affected by it. The influence of depression on society is well known but according to this survey, anxiety was even more common. There are common prescriptions to help with both of these conditions, but more and more people wish to try CBD products as an alternative treatment.
Anxiety and CBD
A recent study found that around 40% of anxiety sufferers would choose to swap their prescription medicine for cannabis products, with the report suggesting that users found cannabis a more effective way to relieve their symptoms.
In countries like the US, treatment prices are often very high and therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can cost as much as one hundred dollars per hour. Not everyone can afford this or has insurance that will cover it. If determined, your average hourly paid employee might have to take on a second job to afford sessions. Even when insurance does cover a condition, not every insurer will pay for every treatment or medication, and this may be one of the reasons why CBD based treatments are appealing.
One of the things that always stood against the use of CBD-based therapies is that it had been considered unsafe due to psychotropic effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a key ingredient of cannabis. However, after thorough research, these fears have been shown to be unfounded and the therapeutic abilities of CBD have slowly been embraced.
This may explain why CBD medications have become more common and more easily available in countries throughout the world. It’s gaining a reputation as a versatile and inexpensive treatment; even countries that have shown hesitancy have started offering cannabis licenses to allow people with verified need to buy products from legal vendors.
Just how good is CBD at improving mental health disorders?
Research has suggested that CBD can help reduce symptoms for a surprising range of conditions such as MS, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Last but not least is depression and, of course, anxiety. Due to this, CBD is increasingly used in a variety of applications like patches, tinctures and creams and these methods of delivery have become popular because they don’t require direct consumption of cannabis in the traditional way.
The FDA even approved the use of cannabidiol under certain circumstances when treating epilepsy, and clinical trials are starting to show clear indications that CBD can be a useful treatment for anxiety. For example, in a recent trial by a publication called The Permanente Journal, it was found that almost eighty percent of participants in a CBD trial reported reduced anxiety.
It’s not even completely clear why CBD is effective, although it hasn’t stopped many from turning to it to relieve their symptoms and scientific research is ongoing. As many as 14% of Americans admit to using CBD products, and 37% of those cite anxiety as their prime reason and report it as an effective treatment. That’s why it’s fast becoming associated as a natural and holistic way to ameliorate anxiety disorders.
The scientific case for more research
There’s a strong need for more research so that we can really be sure of the long-term effectiveness and safety of CBD with regard to mental health. So far, the results look good, but it’s always important to make sure. While significant side-effects are rare, reports of CBD sensitivity are not uncommon which can result in fatigue or diarrhea when using CBD products. As well as research on long-term safety, more work needs to be done to understand how it works. It’s also important to remember that CBD isn’t a replacement for pharmaceuticals and that users should follow the instructions of their healthcare providers.