CBD and mental health

Attitudes towards mental health issues have changed colossally over the past decade. People become less shy about admitting common psychological problems and choose to get medical help instead of self-medicating or trying to mask the symptoms with alcohol or drugs. Common mental illnesses include depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Scientists keep seeking a medication that can give maximum results and CBD has been in their focus recently. What is CBD and what is already known about its effects on mental health? Read on to discover.

What is CBD?

Using marijuana for medical purposes is not the latest new thing. Today, consumers discuss the use of the major plant’s active constituents separately. Though the cannabis plant contains more than 100 cannabinoids, only HTC and CBD have healing properties. THC (delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is a major psychoactive ingredient causing you to feel a euphoric “high”. CBD (cannabidiol) is another active ingredient that can provide you with medical benefits without making you “high”.

Consumers’ interest in CBD increased due to the appearance of vaping. A common way of consuming marijuana has always been smoking. The best cbd vape pen offered a new and safer way. It was especially appealing for those who don’t smoke and want to avoid side-effects of smoking medical cannabis.

The trick is vaporizing marijuana doesn’t produce the toxins that smoking does. It’s possible as a disposable cbd vape pen heats the plant matter and doesn’t burn it. Thus, the vapor from cannabis contains about 94% cannabinoids, 5% flavonoids (beneficial plant pigments), and about 1% of aromatic hydrocarbon (an organic compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen).

How Does It Work?

When cannabinoids enter the human body, they interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoid receptors are present in the brain and throughout the body, even in the immune system. The ECS helps to bring balance to the body. Cannabinoids send signals to the body to decrease the stress response, lower inflammation, boost memory and appetite, and even reduce pain.

Research has shown that CBD can help support ECS functioning. Small, regular doses of naturally occurring cannabinoids from the cannabis plant might act as a tonic to this physiologic healing system.

How Effective Is CBD in Treating Mental Health Disorders?

Unfortunately, scientific research on CBD is still quite modest. It is stunted by prohibition and restrictive regulations. The current evidence is not enough to state categorically that marijuana is good or bad for mental health. However, existing studies of CBD effects have given researches plenty of food for thought. Here are some of the findings.

Anxiety & CBD

In 2015, a group of scientists from the U.S. and Spain conducted a study to determine the potential of cannabidiol in treating anxiety. They assessed a substantial amount of evidence and found out that CBD helped to relieve the symptoms of a whole range of anxiety-related disorders, but only if administered acutely.

Depression & CBD

As of 2020, there have been no human studies involving CBD and depression. One study using 367 rats showed that a single dose of cannabidiol can help to ease symptoms of depression the day treatment is received. Moreover, the beneficial effect can be maintained for up to one week.

Researchers say that this extract activates a neurotransmitter that helps repair neural circuitry in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which get damaged as a result of depression. Traditional psychiatric medications target the same receptor.

Schizophrenia & CBD

Individuals with schizophrenia are twice as likely to use marijuana in comparison with the general population. This tends to worsen their psychotic symptoms and increase the risk of relapse.

Canadian researchers found out that it is THC that worsens symptoms. CBD has the potential to ease the negative symptoms and restore cognitive impairment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & CBD

Existing research suggests that CBD might help people who suffer from PTSD. Cannabidiol affects the way the brain organizes memories and connects them with emotions in individuals experiencing trauma. It helps to eliminate general anxiety and anxiety caused by memories of a traumatic experience.

Bipolar Disorder

Patients who consume medical marijuana report a feeling of relief from the anxiety of mania. American researchers proved that cannabis use improves cognitive functioning (increases focus) and alleviates mood which is needed in manic episodes. For some bipolar patients, marijuana may result in partial alleviation of clinical symptoms as the dual nature of the disease requires two or more types of medicine.

How to Use CBD for Mental Health?

Are you one of those patients who refuse to try marijuana because you don’t want to feel drugged all the time? Than CBD is a solution for you.

THC doesn’t only create a euphoric feeling but also impairs coordination and memory. High THC containing products may be dangerous as this psychoactive element is known to exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety and psychosis and contribute to paranoia in some people.

Commercial CBD, including the oil for CBD oil vape pen, contains less than 0.3% of THC. Such a small amount won’t get you high and won’t lead to the mentioned side-effects.

It’s important to understand that people who participated in CBD studies had prescriptions, followed them, and were supervised by experts. Psychiatrists emphasize on being cautious when using medicine derived from marijuana.

Statistics say that 1 out of 10 people who try cannabis at least once in their lives become addicted. This sounds discouraging. But lets’ put another way – 9 out of 10 people who try cannabis don’t become addicted. So, your motto should be to follow the prescription and not to change the dosage or frequency of taking CBD medicine without consulting your doctor. Also, avoid self-medication and buying weed off the streets.

Though CBD is shown to help some people, this doesn’t mean that you should rush to buy a CBD oil vape pen starter kit and start vaping cannabis. Consult a psychiatrist about the mental problems you are struggling with. Together you will reach a healthy solution. CBD is not the magic pill, anyway.

For now, there are no miracle cures for most mental illnesses. But many people can live happy and productive lives with mental conditions. And modern medicine, including CBD, can contribute to this.