Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from the hemp plant is used by people for its various potential therapeutic and medical effects. Health and wellness products formulated using it can be effective for reducing anxiety and stress because of the positive effect of this cannabinoid on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Remember that the ECS regulates homeostasis, and this includes your mood and behavior. Besides, its effectiveness depends on how you consume it. In this article, we will explore three ways of using cannabidiol for anxiety; read on to know more about them.
An Overview About Cannabidiol
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of the major cannabinoids found in the cannabis family of plants. Both CBD and THC are isomers, i.e., they have the same molecular formula but different molecular structures. This difference makes cannabidiol non-psychotropic, while tetrahydrocannabinol is psychotropic. Also, their concentration varies between different strains of cannabis plants. CBD is the major cannabinoid in the hemp plant, and because of this, its extracts are used for making cannabidiol health and wellness products like oils, tinctures, edibles, vape oils, etc.
CBD And Anxiety
CBD was legalized at the federal level in the US with the Farm Act of 2018 mainly because of its therapeutic and medical benefits. It produces its effects by stimulating the ECS, and because of this, it can be useful for treating anxiety. Apart from this, it can be used for reducing chronic pain, side-effects of chemotherapy, inflammation, etc.
Conventional treatment for anxiety uses pharmaceutical drugs such as benzodiazepines. However, they have the risk of being misused because they are habit-forming. But, cannabidiol (CBD) can be used for the same purpose due to the absence of risk of developing an addiction, as well as there are no side-effects at normal doses. That said, these are anecdotal evidence, and more clinical trials are required for confirming these benefits.
Using CBD For Anxiety
The potential anti-anxiety effect of cannabidiol (CBD) depends on how it is consumed or administered. This is because different types of CBD products have different bioavailability, and they are discussed in detail below.
Vaping CBD
Vaping CBD gives the quickest anti-anxiety effect because cannabidiol enters the bloodstream through the highly permeable alveoli of the lungs. But this method is not suitable for those who have asthma or other pulmonary issues. Due to its fast onset time, it is popular among beginners as well as experienced CBD users.
CBD is vaped using a vape pen, which is similar to an e-cigarette. It is easy to use and can be used any time of the day. Some people vape CBD after waking up and again just before bedtime at night. Also, one of the newer methods of consuming cannabidiol is micro-dosing it. In this method, the dosage for a day is split into smaller doses and consumed at regular intervals so that you get the health benefits throughout the day. In vaping, this significantly lowers the risk of overdosing.
Two of the main concerns about vaping CBD for anxiety are regarding the chemicals used in the vape oil or e-liquid and the materials used for making the heating coils inside the vape pen. Some less reliable manufactures use substandard chemicals and materials in their vape oil and vape pens. When you vape CBD using them, you might experience unwanted and harmful side effects.
Orally Administering CBD
You can administer CBD orally in the form of sprays and oils to ward off anxiety. They are either sprayed or administered sublingually so that cannabidiol enters the bloodstream through the oral mucosa or the sublingual gland. Because of this, you can feel the effects quickly, and the bioavailability of CBD is high.
The oral administration of cannabidiol (CBD) can be useful for quickly relieving anxiety, stress, and discomforts like chronic pain. Depending on the type of cannabidiol product used, i.e., full-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate, the quality of the therapeutic effects vary. Full-spectrum products are more widely used because they have enhanced therapeutic effects due to the entourage effect.
The oral administration of CBD is suitable for those who have difficulty consuming edibles like gummies or swallowing pills. That said, the earthy and unpalatable taste of the CBD oil may be a turnoff for some people. But, nowadays, cannabidiol manufacturers are introducing flavored CBD oils that taste good, and they are becoming popular among cannabidiol consumers.
Consuming CBD Edibles
You can eat edibles like gummies or swallow CBD oil capsules for managing anxiety. In this method, the onset time for cannabidiol’s anxiolytic effects is 45 to 60 minutes. This is because, for CBD to enter the bloodstream, it must pass through the digestive system. Apart from this, cannabidiol’s bioavailability is low because of the first-pass effect in the liver, and a significant amount of it is eliminated through the intestines. However, compared to the previous two methods, consuming edibles gives long-lasting effects because cannabidiol is slowly absorbed into the bloodstream.
These are some of the important points that you must keep in mind about using CBD for treating anxiety. We hope that the details shared above were useful to you.