CBD has garnered much interest as an aid to alleviate stress. According to one study, it was proven more effective than placebo at decreasing anxiety.
The study recruited participants through digital advertisements to test two CBD products; first an isolate product and later one with broad spectrum properties.
1. CBD is a natural pain reliever
CBD has been found to significantly decrease neuropathic pain in human and animal studies. Furthermore, CBD may help decrease anxiety symptoms and curb cravings for alcohol, cigarettes, or heroin in certain situations. Furthermore, chronic neuropathic pain due to multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia or injuries such as herniated discs can also be reduced with regular CBD use.
Preclinical evidence shows that CBD provides broad anxiolytic effects, such as reduced autonomic arousal, decreased conditioned fear expression and enhanced extinction in animal models of PTSD. These actions appear to be mediated through CB1Rs and 5-HT1ARs located throughout various brain regions.
CBD has also been proven to reduce PTSD symptoms in human trials; however, these results were limited by small sample sizes and lack of direct comparison with placebos. More research needs to be conducted before we know whether or not it can effectively treat clinical populations for this condition.
2. CBD is a natural sleep aid
CBD is an all-natural sleep aid that promotes relaxation and calmness, improving both quality and quantity of restful slumber. This may be due to its ability to ease anxiety and relieve stress.
CBD has been shown to possess anxiolytic effects in animal models of fearful and anxiety-inducing behaviors, with similar benefits to traditional pharmaceutical treatments but without side effects and risks of addiction.
This quasi-experimental study assessed and compared the self-reported effectiveness of two THC-free CBD products – an isolate and broad spectrum product – for stress relief. Overall, participants preferred broad spectrum product over isolate product, consistent with prior research that suggests multiple cannabinoids work synergistically to maximize effects.
When purchasing CBD for sleep, make sure that it contains ingredients grown domestically that meet FDA’s standards for pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements, or have been tested using methods accepted by American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, NSF International or the U.S. Pharmacopeia. When possible, look for brands who test each batch independently and include certificates of analysis on their websites.
3. CBD is a natural appetite stimulant
CBD differs from D9-THC by not acting as a psychoactive cannabinoid; instead it interacts with serotonin receptors to stimulate appetite in certain individuals – making it an appealing solution for people experiencing difficulty eating due to anxiety or physical pain.
CBD can help increase appetite without the side effects caused by other medications or sedatives, and can even assist those sensitive to THC’s psychoactive properties.
Studies on laboratory animals over the past decades demonstrate CBD’s effectiveness at relieving anxiety. Furthermore, its use proved superior than placebo when tested against people suffering from social anxiety in placebo-controlled clinical trials.
4. CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory
CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory that may help relieve anxiety and stress, as well as help treat depression. People suffering from anxiety or depression should consult their doctors prior to beginning CBD use; also avoid discontinuing or altering prescribed medication without consulting with them first.
Preclinical studies demonstrate that CBD’s anxiolytic, antistress and anticompulsive properties may provide relief in animal models of fear and anxiety behaviors. CBD directly activates 5-HT1A receptors while indirectly increasing AEA production; and has also been found to lower levels of small molecular oxidation products like 4-HNE and MDA found in cell membranes.
CBD also works to inhibit fear conditioning in the midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray and prevent behavioral responses to stimuli that arouse, via CB1R activation and hippocampal neurogenesis.
5. CBD is a natural antidepressant
CBD holds promise as an antidepressant due to its ability to decrease anxiety – one of the primary symptoms of depression. CBD works on over 65 receptors in the brain that regulate serotonin and cannabinoid-related receptors; additionally it helps balance hormones that influence mood through the endocannabinoid system.
Animal models of anxiety show that CBD reduces elevated plus maze (EPM) and Vogel conflict test (VCT) stress responses, increasing hippocampal AEA while attenuating stress-induced hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. CBD’s anxiolytic effects follow an inverted U-shaped curve with significant efficacy at moderate dosage levels.
CBD’s anxiolytic effects depend on previous stress and can vary depending on which part of the brain they affect; for instance, in the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex it prevents anxiety-inducing effects of restraint stress while improving fear extinction; while intracerebroventricular BNST it augments stress-induced heart rate increases.
