CBD Oil Uses: From Anxiety To Insomnia
Research into the ever-growing uses of CBD oil is still in full swing, but on top of its overwhelmingly positive anecdotal evidence, the science is starting to catch up, too.
We’re here to explore the facts about how CBD oil can have a positive effect on anxiety, sleep, heart health and more. Please note that we’re not medical experts and although all information is based on scientific research, do speak to your doctor if you’re on any medication.
CBD Oil For Anxiety
While anxiety rates are rising at a rapid pace, scientific evidence has shown that CBD oil may help alleviate the symptoms that can often creep up on us. As we already know, it’s CBD’s job to restore the natural balance of the body (homeostasis) which, in itself, can help us feel more calm and relaxed.
But the proof is in the pudding (or, the CBD oil in this case) and preclinical evidence has found that cannabidiol may be a safe and effective way to help treat anxiety in its various forms. When administered acutely, CBD is said to act as a remedy for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. As more research was needed into the effects of chronic CBD dosing, another study was conducted at a psychiatric clinic in 2019. Promisingly, it revealed a 79.2% reduction in anxiety levels across 103 adult patients that used CBD oil for at least one month.
The conclusion? Taking CBD oil on a regular basis can reduce your overall anxiety levels, and it may also provide instant relief when anxiety hits you out of the blue. Inhale, drop, exhale.
@hijessiemay shared her experience with using our Citrus CBD oil to help her anxiety back in January, also reminding us that even though our mental health drifts up and down, looking after yourself is important year round.
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CBD Oil For Depression
Experts believe that CBD’s benefits in relation to depression are linked to the positive effect it has on serotonin levels – or what we all know and love as the ‘happy hormone’.
CBD interacts with our CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is part of the body’s nervous system (we’ve discussed this before in our CBD vs THC guide). CB1 receptors can be found at nerve terminals in the brain which modulate hormones such as serotonin. By activating these receptors we can alter the way our brain releases and absorbs serotonin, producing anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.
There is promising evidence that CBD can be as effective at tackling mood disorders as typically prescribed antidepressants. One study found that CBD induces a fast and sustained antidepressant-like effect (while most medications take a good couple of weeks to kick in) and also results in fewer common side effects, such as insomnia, mood swings, sexual dysfunction and more. However, this study was an animal study, so it’s unclear how the effects of CBD on depression would transfer to humans. There needs to be much more evidence before anyone throws away their sertraline in favour of a bottle of CBD.
CBD Oil For Pain
In addition to its obvious mental health benefits, CBD oil works its magic on the body’s physical ailments, too. Whether you’re suffering from a niggly knee post-run or something more serious, incessant pain can be pretty exhausting and have a negative impact on your day-to-day life.
The research on CBD oil for pain management has so far been promising. Remember our CB1 and CB2 receptors? Well, when CBD interacts with our CB2 receptor, the response creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that can help with anything from chronic back pain to sore muscles, arthritis, spinal injuries and more.
Certain types of pain, such as those associated with cancer and neuropathic pain, can often be difficult to treat via prescriptive drugs or medication – this is where CBD oil comes into the equation. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has stated that CBD has potential to reduce chemotherapy side effects including pain, vomiting, and lack of appetite. Evidence from a study on mice has also revealed that CBD use can lead to the shrinking of cancerous tumors – further studies are yet to be conducted in humans, however.
CBD Oil For Sleep
There’s nothing worse than lying awake at night. Your mind is on overdrive thinking about every life decision you’ve ever made and why, and you’ll almost certainly end up 22 profiles-deep on Instagram’s explore page – are we right?! As well as being highly frustrating at the time, poor sleep can take its toll on your health and wellbeing too, by affecting your energy levels and mood the following day.
Sleeping problems can occur due to any of the reasons listed above as well as certain medicine use, continuous intake of caffeinated drinks, and outside factors such as noise, of course – but there is a solution. Since CBD oil can help with anxiety, pain relief, and depression – all potential causes of sleep deprivation – it may consequently help promote a good night’s sleep.
While scientific research into CBD oil for sleep is in its infancy, preliminary studies suggest that CBD oil may be an effective natural remedy for insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, thanks to its ability to promote REM and deeper-stage NREM sleep. Study evidence has revealed that 160mg CBD per day will increase a person’s amount of sleep time and decrease the number of awakenings during the night. For recreational use, however, we recommend sticking to a maximum CBD dosage of 70mg a day – this way, your CBD intake is unlikely to interfere with any other medication that you might be taking.
And as for your partner’s erratic snoring tendencies (drumroll please), there’s hope yet! CBD could protect the brain from symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which causes abnormal patterns of breathing while asleep.
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CBD Oil For Heart Health
So far, it seems this magic little compound can fix everything from chronic pain to anxiety, depression and world peace. But can we look at CBD oil for heart health, too?
There are ongoing studies into whether CBD oil can have a protective effect on the heart. Inflammation is a risk factor that can lead to coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes – the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties in CBD can help to alleviate or prevent these conditions. Various studies on rats have proven that CBD lowered both the blood pressure and heart rate of the animals when faced with a stressful situation, and in 2017, a similar study was carried out on humans, which provided the same results. Research into the use of purer forms of CBD for a variety of heart conditions and circulatory diseases is ongoing to this day.
CBD Oil For Migraines
Research has linked CBD oil with a variety of properties that are relevant to migraine treatment, including the ability to provide pain relief, improve sleep, reduce stress, ease nausea, and reduce inflammation. Medical experts believe migraine pain is caused by intense stimulation of the sensory nerves – a response to inflammatory agents when a migraine occurs. With this in mind (pardon the pun), it’s possible that anti-inflammatory agents such as CBD oil could be an effective treatment. Time to bin your beloved 4head sticks, then!
If you’re suffering from any of the above (or even if you’re not), Good Hemp’s range of Pure CBD oil will make a great addition to your shopping list this week. Browse our bottled collection of flavours and strengths and soak up the benefits…