Many of us are battling difficult emotions during the current coronavirus pandemic. Research shows that the number of young people with anxiety doubled during the early stages of the lockdown. With potentially no rest in sight, many are turning to natural wellness supplements to help combat feelings of unease. Recently, Dragonfly CBD surveyed its customers and highlighted that over 35% of its users take CBD Oil for anxiety or stress reasons.
The cannabis derived health supplement has soared in popularity over the last couple of years. Unlike its cannabinoid counterpart THC, CBD does not get users “high” and is widely available in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
Last year, over 6 million people tried CBD in the UK alone. Made from hemp – or cannabis sativa – CBD is a safe and non-intoxicating compound with a number of purported health benefits.
People take CBD Oil for a wide range of reasons, from pain management to more severe illness such as epilepsy. In this article, we are going to separate fact from fiction, to investigate how CBD Oil can combat anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, like fear or concern, which can be either momentary or long-lasting.
Anxious thoughts are a normal part of life. For example, you might be worried about an upcoming interview or a test. However, some struggle to control their concerns on a day-to-day basis. Creeping doubts and fears infect everyday thoughts and can be crippling at times.
This form of anxiety is known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder and it is much more common than people might imagine. In the UK, GAD is thought to affect one in twenty people.
How does CBD Oil work?
Given even low-level anxiety affects so many people, it is a good idea to have an effective solution for this.
Humans have receptors all over the body. CBD interacts with two main receptors: CB1 and CB2. These receptors are available throughout the body but have a strong presence in the Central Nervous System.
In the brain, CBD is thought to affect the serotonin signals and help to stimulate them.
How does CBD Oil alleviate Anxiety?
Serotonin plays an important role in mental health. It is a neurotransmitter and acts as a mood stabiliser in the body.
Low serotonin levels are commonly associated with people who have long term depression. In many cases, not having enough serotonin can cause anxiety.
By stimulating serotonin signals, CBD is thought to help stabilise mood. As CBD inhibits serotonin reuptake, according to Royal CBD, it improves mood and stress responses. This explains why it has proved to be so popular amongst people for immediate relief from anxiety and depression.
Is there any Scientific Evidence?
While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the beneficial links between CBD and anxiety, many may be looking for more concrete clinical evidence.
A large case study highlighted anxiety levels decreased amongst patients taking CBD daily. In nearly 80% of patients, a drop in stress was registered. Furthermore, the quality of sleep improved in over 65% of patients.
The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has reported that CBD has reduced stress in animals such as rats. In a range of different animal models, CBD is described as having a “therapeutic efficacy,” reducing physiological and behavioural measures of stress.
Is CBD oil safe?
Often it can be a nerve-wracking moment trying a new health supplement or medicine. In particular, given CBD is made from the cannabis plant.
However, there is nothing to be concerned about. CBD is a safe product to take.
In fact, the World Health Organisation released a report in 2018, stating that it is “well tolerated” and safe for human consumption.
Dragonfly CBD
If you are looking for an effective CBD anxiety treatment, we would recommend you try Dragonfly CBD.
Its award-winning range of CBD Oil is trusted by retailers and consumers alike. Stocked in Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Amazon, Day Lewis Pharmacy and Harrods, Dragonfly CBD makes the best CBD Oil in the UK.
