You know that feeling when you’re going through a rough period in your life and stress as well as anxious thoughts are always on your mind? It doesn’t matter if you have to make an important presentation at work, are about to go on vacation, or just need some help getting out of bed, these anxious thoughts and stress are hard to get rid of as it affects your life at a fundamental level.
When it comes to CBD and its variety of strains like CBD aliejus that are also easily accessible in the form of oil, there’s nothing more stressful than facing anxiety and panic attacks. So how can CBD oil help with stress and anxiety? Let’s get into it in more details.
First off, let’s define what we mean by “stress” and “anxiety.” Stress is a normal response to anything that causes us to feel uncomfortable or uneasy. The physical effects of stress include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. For example, if I’m stressed about making an important presentation at work, my body will respond by releasing epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) which helps prepare me for action. This means that I may start to sweat, breathe faster, and experience increased blood pressure in order to fight or flee from danger. If this happens too often and regularly without any proper reason, stress becomes chronic. Chronic stress can lead to insomnia, digestive problems, headaches, and even depression. So what’s the best way to deal with chronic stress? You guessed it — CBD! We’ll talk more about this later.
Anxiety is a little different. Anxiety is defined as a fear or nervousness that has no logical reason behind it. Common causes of anxiety include public speaking, being away from home, having people around who might harm you, feeling like you don’t belong, etc. Symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, muscle tension, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.
While anxiety can be caused by many things, one of its most common triggers is stress. In fact, according to recent research, between 70%-80% of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, etc. Unfortunately, these conditions aren’t always treated effectively because they often come with a host of unpleasant side effects such as stomach pains, dizziness, dry mouth, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, sleep issues, and so on. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, chances are your doctor hasn’t heard of CBD oil.
If you’ve been diagnosed with any of these types of anxiety, you probably already know that the first step to fixing them is finding a good therapist. However, if you think that therapy isn’t for you and would rather fix your problem yourself, then read on. There are plenty of natural ways to treat anxiety without having to go see a doctor. That said, if you do decide to seek medical advice, keep in mind that you should only use CBD oil under supervision.
What Is CBD Used For?
As mentioned earlier, CBD is a cannabinoid compound that can relieve many of the symptoms associated with anxiety and stress. It also has a wide range of other medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, immunomodulatory, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic properties.
The endocannabinoid system is responsible for controlling our physiological functions and maintaining our overall health. It consists of CB1, CB2 receptors, and endogenous cannabinoids derived from THC. Cannabinoids bind to certain proteins called G protein coupled receptors (GPCR). These receptors are found throughout the body but are mostly concentrated in the central nervous system.
There are five main types of CBD, all of which act differently based on their chemical makeup. They are tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Each of these compounds has unique therapeutic benefits and each one acts in a slightly different manner. For instance, CBD has shown promise in treating epilepsy, while CBC is used to treat glaucoma. The list goes on and on.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD interacts with GPCRs, mainly in the brain and central nervous system. The two most abundant GPCRs in the brain are CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptor is located primarily in the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. The CB2 receptor is predominantly found in the cerebellum, olfactory bulb, spleen, and thymus. By binding to these receptors, CBD activates anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), which leads to the release of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, and endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that play a major role in reducing pain and promoting feelings of euphoria. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine also interact with the reward pathways in the brain and play a role in regulating your appetite, sleep/wake cycles, and mood.
In addition to acting directly on CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD also works indirectly via the endocannabinoid system. As mentioned above, the endocannabinoid system plays a large part in regulating your body’s physiology. Since CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system, it can produce similar results as exogenous cannabinoids like THC.
Finally, there are a number of mechanisms that CBD uses to alleviate anxiety. First, CBD binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors which reduces inflammation, pain, and anxiety. Second, CBD increases levels of AEA and 2-AG. Third, CBD inhibits serotonin reuptake, which prevents serotonin from leaving your neurons. Fourth, CBD blocks the reabsorption of serotonin back into your neurons. Fifth, CBD reduces the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters, which increase GABA levels in the synaptic cleft. Finally, CBD decreases the release of glutamate, which makes us more relaxed.
Now that we’ve covered what CBD is and how it works, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to consume CBD oil.
Where Should You Buy Your CBD Oil?
One of the biggest questions that consumers ask is where to buy their CBD oil. With the current popularity of CBD, there’s no shortage of places to buy CBD online. But choosing the right place to buy CBD can be tricky.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular options.
Online stores like Hempworx and CannaRoyalty are great if you want to shop online. Both companies offer a variety of products made from hemp, including tinctures, edibles, topical creams, salves, lip balms, and pet treats. In addition to offering a full line of CBD products, both companies have an active customer support team and are very responsive to inquiries and requests.
But perhaps the best option for buying CBD online is Green Roads. Green Roads offers a wide selection of CBD oils, creams, gummies, capsules, vape pens, and more. Their entire inventory is lab tested for potency, quality, and purity. The company also offers free shipping and easy returns.
When it comes to where to buy CBD, CannaCraft is a fantastic choice. CannaCraft offers high-quality CBD products backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. All products are tested for safety and purity before going on sale and come in five different strengths: 350mg, 700 mg, 1000 mg, 1500 mg, and 2000 mg.
And finally, if you prefer to shop locally, you can find CBD oil at dispensaries across the United States. It’s important to note that not all local dispensaries sell CBD oil. Some require you to purchase a medical marijuana card in order to purchase it. Others simply don’t carry CBD oil at all due to federal restrictions. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to contact your local dispensary ahead of time to ensure they carry CBD oil.
Final Thoughts
While CBD oil has numerous medicinal applications, it’s still illegal on the federal level. The legality of CBD oil varies state-by-state; however, most states allow CBD oil to treat various forms of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, arthritis, and many other diseases.
When purchasing CBD oil, it’s important to understand the differences between CBD isolates, full spectrum products, and broad spectrum CBD. Isolates contain virtually no trace amounts of THC, while full spectrum CBD contains trace amounts of THC. Broad spectrum CBD, on the other hand, contains trace amounts of THC and is legal to buy in all 50 states. Full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum CBD are typically more potent than CBD isolates, which means smaller doses are required to achieve the same effect.
