How Can Medical Marijuana Help in Anxiety?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical naturally contained in plants of cannabis (marijuana and hemp). Early research on the potential of medical marijuana for anxiety shows its potential to help alleviate anxiety. CBD does not induce any sensations of addiction or the "high" you may associate with cannabis, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another kind of cannabinoid.

There are several different receptors in the human body. Protein-based chemical structures that are bound to the cells are receptors. Various stimuli send signals. It is suspected that CBD interacts with receptors for CB1 and CB2. The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, respectively, are mainly located in these receptors.

It is not completely known the exact way CBD affects CB1 receptors in the brain. It can alter serotonin signals, however.

A neurotransmitter, serotonin, plays a major role in mental wellbeing. People who have depression are usually associated with low levels of serotonin. Not having enough serotonin can also cause anxiety in some instances.

A Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), such as sertraline (Zoloft) or fluoxetine (Prozac), is the conventional therapy for low serotonin levels. Only by prescription are SSRIs available.

In most strains, CBD is the most abundant, non-psychoactive cannabinoid. The molecule has become well known for its promise to benefit from modulating biological processes. The anxiolytic capacity of CBD concerns one such field of interest. Research in this area, albeit early, has provided some promising results.

Let's look at the mechanisms by which the anxiety phenomenon can be positively influenced by CBD:

In the 5-HT1A receptor, CBD tends to act as an allosteric modulator. This suggests that it may be able to facilitate signaling in the serotonin system, a mood-associated network, and the key focus of current therapies for anxiety.

The anxiolytic ability of CBD has been displayed by an entire battery of animal studies. Interestingly, in some settings, lower doses tended to be more effective, while other studies found that moderate doses were more effective than medium or high doses. During a simulated public speaking session, a 2011 paper showed CBD to be successful in people diagnosed with GAD. Compared to the placebo community, those who obtained CBD displayed substantially decreased subjective anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort.

A research that investigated the effects of CBD on blood flow in the human brain is detailed in a 2010 article. Utilizing the functional neuroimaging, they have found that by changing the blood flow to the limbic and paralimbic brain regions, CBD could decrease anxiety.

Timing Is Important

It helps to decide the best time to take it, after determining which strain and mixture of phytochemicals works best for you. There is not much detail about timing, so you're going to have to figure out what works best by trial and error.

For Generalized Depression

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), medical marijuana for anxiety has been shown to decrease stress in animals such as rats.

Subjects of the study were found to have lower behavioral symptoms of anxiety. They also strengthened their physiological signs of anxiety, such as elevated heart rate.

For other forms of depression

People with other types of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also benefit from CBD. It can also help relieve insomnia caused by anxiety.

A research investigated the impact of CBD on individuals with SAD in 2011. An oral dose of 400 mg of CBD or a placebo was given to the participants. Those who obtained CBD experienced decreased levels of anxiety overall.

Several recent studies have shown that CBD, such as experiencing nightmares and replaying traumatic memories, can help with PTSD symptoms. The studies have looked at CBD as both a standalone treatment for PTSD and an addition to conventional therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT and medication.

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**Disclaimer: This content is not the advice of a doctor; no product promoted herein is approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.