CBD for Anxiety, Does it Work? – DailyNurse

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental complications in the United States affecting more than 40 million adults in the U.S. or at least 18% of the population every year. Although anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only about 36% of anxiety patients receive treatment.

Several factors can lead to anxiety. Some of
these factors include brain chemistry, genetics, personality, and drastic life
changes. We are all, therefore, prone to anxiety.

Anxiety affects us differently. Some people
might feel unprepared, unsure, or nervous when trying something new or before
giving a speech. These feelings may manifest in physical symptoms such as
headaches, shortness of breath, or clammy hands.

Anxiety is actually an adaptive response that
can help us cope with challenges or day to day threats. These responses can
help identify and avert potential threats, encourage us to work harder, etc.
However, when we don’t respond well to these triggers, they can become
maladaptive leading to clinical anxiety disorders.

There exist many medications to deal with this
condition. Some of the common drugs include tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax
and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft and Prozac. While some
of these drugs may work, some people may not respond well. There have been
cases where patients fail to see any changes or are unable to tolerate the side
effects. Also, drugs such as Xanax and Valium can be highly addictive.

For this reason, more and more people are
looking for natural alternatives that can help them cope with anxiety
disorders. This is where CBD comes in. But the question is, can it work?

FIRST THINGS FIRST:
WHAT IS CBD?

CBD (Cannabidiol) comes from the cannabis
plant. It is one of the 120+ chemical compounds (cannabinoids) that are
naturally produced by the plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), another
popular compound in the cannabis plant, CBD is not psychoactive. This means
that you won’t get the ‘high’ that is usually associated with cannabis
consumption.

CAN CBD HELP WITH
ANXIETY?

Cannabidiol has been touted for its many health benefits, including remedying chronic pain, depression, cancer symptoms, and now anxiety.

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

Before we delve deeper into this subject, it
is worth noting that most studies describing how CBD works for anxiety are
preclinical and based on animal models. This means that more research is still
needed to ascertain the effectiveness of CBD as a natural remedy for anxiety.

That said, Cannabidiol exerts several actions
on the brain that may help explain why it may be an effective treatment for
anxiety disorders.

5-HT1A AGONIST

5-HT1A is a subtype of the serotonin receptor.
According to experts, anxiety can be treated using medications or drugs that
target the serotonin system.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
such as Zoloft and Prozac treat anxiety by inhibiting the re-absorption of
serotonin in the brain. This ensures that serotonin is available in the
synaptic space, which helps the brain cells to transmit more serotonin signals.
It is believed that this can help boost moods and reduce anxiety. (Of course,
the actual biological process is more complicated than this)

Just like selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors, Cannabidiol may boost serotonin transmission.

According to a study conducted by Spanish researchers,
CBD can enhance 5-HT1A transmission and can actually affect serotonin faster
than standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

HIPPOCAMPAL
NEUROGENESIS

The hippocampal is a vital brain area
responsible for critical roles such as cognition and brain formation. Scans on
patients suffering from anxiety or depression have often shown a smaller
hippocampus. Depression and anxiety medications, therefore, aim at triggering
neurogenesis (birth of new neurons)

In a study involving mice, it was discovered
that repeated application of Cannabidiol may help boost neurogenesis. A
growing body of research suggests a link between CBD, SSRIs,
neurogenesis and anxiety and depression.

Based on these findings, researchers are
bringing forward data suggesting that CBD may help improve the common
anxiety-disorders in humans.

HUMAN STUDIES
SUGGESTING CBD MAY HELP TREAT ANXIETY

A study carried out in 2010 found out that CBD
could help remedy symptoms in social anxiety disorder (SAD)
patients. Follow up brain scans on the group revealed altered blood flow to the
brain parts concerned with anxiety and mood regulation. In this study, CBD was
not only found to be effective in making people feel better but also altered
the way their brains responded to stress and anxiety.

In 2011, another study was conducted to find out
whether CBD could remedy social anxiety disorder. In a public speaking test
that followed, people who received 600mg CBD experienced less anxiety, had less
cognitive impairment, were more relaxed and comfortable than their counterparts
who received a placebo.

A 2015 analysis of existing studies concluded
that Cannabidiol has great potential as a natural remedy for different forms of
anxiety including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized
anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In 2017, researchers from Sao Paulo University
in Brazil found out that CBD helped reduce anxiety in patients with social phobia.

WRAPPING UP

It is clear that more studies on human are
still needed to ascertain the link between anxiety and CBD. However,
preliminary findings validating CBD’s efficacy as a natural remedy for anxiety
are promising.

It is important that all stakeholders in the
health sector come together and see if there is a way to improve this natural
compound to produce even better results. This should be treated as a matter of
urgency, given the huge economic and social cost that anxiety impacts not only
in the US but across the globe.

This story was originally posted on MedicalMarijuana411.com.