CBD is a non-psychoactive compound which has been shown to effectively alleviate anxiety and elevate mood, as well as be an effective sleep aid.
This retrospective chart review included adult psychiatric patients who were prescribed CBD to address anxiety or sleep issues as an add-on therapy regimen to their regular medication regimes, with monthly assessments for anxiety and sleep being completed by experts.
1. Improved sleep
Sleep is vitally important in order to remain physically and mentally healthy, and CBD can provide a natural means of improving it by lowering anxiety levels and improving mood, while increasing melatonin production and encouraging relaxation. Establishing an ideal sleeping environment by taking soothing herbs like Chamomile as well as supplements such as 5-HTP, L-Theanine or Lemon Balm may further assist with improved slumber.
CBD has been demonstrated to reduce stress levels in humans while increasing serotonin, elevating mood and fighting depression. Furthermore, it may relieve pain through interaction with the ECS system.
Retrospective chart review at a psychiatric clinic showed that patients taking CBD had improved anxiety and sleep. Anxiety scores decreased quickly and continued to be reduced during the study period; CBD enhanced fear memory extinction in healthy participants which suggests it can serve as an alternative therapy for treating PTSD; in one experiment CBD even helped alleviate arousal levels in rats during public speaking tasks.
2. Reduced anxiety
CBD doesn’t produce any of the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana (THC). In the US, it is made from hemp and is an approved legal substance; psychiatrists often recommend it for helping their patients sleep better or reducing anxiety symptoms.
Studies of healthy subjects demonstrate that CBD effectively alleviates experimentally induced anxiety through CB1R-dependent and hippocampal AEA-dependent mechanisms, as well as preventing an increase in anxiety caused by unpredictable chronic stress, and blocking re-consolidation of fear memories. Studies using animal models demonstrate its anxiolytic effects in the midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), while microinjection into prelimbic cortex produces anxiogenic effects prior to restraint stress [80, 81].
A large retrospective case series at a holistic psychiatry clinic revealed that CBD helped 4 of 5 participants reduce anxiety and improve sleep, without experiencing side effects or being used to augment psychiatric medications as necessary.
3. Increased focus
CBD can help enhance focus and concentration by supporting a relaxed mental state and balanced energy, both essential for maintaining productivity throughout the day. CBD products range from oils that you drop under your tongue to creams you rub on your skin – the one you choose will depend on your preferred consumption method, desired onset times and duration periods; vapes or tinctures offer rapid relief that begins improving focus within minutes; for long-lasting effects choose edibles or capsules for the fastest results.
For optimal focus and concentration, look for products combining CBD with nutrient-rich ingredients like lion’s mane, cordyceps and B12. These ingredients may support natural clarity without the jittery side effects associated with stimulants; choosing from trusted, high-quality brands is key to finding a product that best fits into your daily life routine.
4. Reduced muscle tension
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to alleviate factors that contribute to muscle tension. This allows muscles to relax and heal more effectively.
CBD may help with anxiety. According to one study, participants who took 90 minutes of CBD prior to a public speaking test experienced significantly less nervousness compared to their counterparts who did not take CBD.
Another study demonstrated that CBD could decrease anticipatory anxiety associated with fear conditioning paradigm. Furthermore, these results suggested CBD may be an effective treatment option for social phobias in particular.
CBD comes in oil, capsules, tinctures and patches designed for consumption or topical application. People often turn to CBD as an anti-inflammatory muscle relaxer during massage therapy sessions; its oil penetrates skin layers directly targeting sore muscles for therapeutic relief. You can find CBD-infused products at wellness stores as well as online retailers; some may contain broad spectrum CBD while others contain only trace amounts or THC.
