Anxiety is a condition that most people, if not everyone, have experienced at least once in their lives. We can have anxiety over almost anything, like an important decision that needs to be made at work, or a school project that needs to be done ASAP. Maybe you even get anxiety over being around other people. Regardless, anxiety can affect so many different people, especially in the modern age.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of anxiety and depressive disorders grew. Depressive symptoms grew from a base of about 193 million people worldwide to 246 million, which is about 28%. Anxiety disorders grew from about 298 million people affected to 374 million, which is about a 25% increase. CBD can help greatly improve your symptoms of anxiety/anxiety related conditions, though there are still cases that require additional help. We recommend speaking to your doctor or a licensed professional if you are experiencing conditions such as PTSD, OCD, Depression, or other conditions that have are having extreme effects on your day-to-day life.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Early research is promising regarding the ability of CBD oil to help relieve anxiety. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another type of cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t cause any feelings of intoxication or the “high” you may associate with cannabis. CBD is also known for its ability to relieve stress and anxiety in the brain.

How does that exactly work?

Well, let’s start by talking about the human body and its many different receptors. CBD is thought to interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, respectively. These receptors are part of our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), this system in the brain is responsible for so many of our day-to-day functions. A few of these functions include mood, sleep, appetite, memory, etc. There is still a lot that is being discovered about this system in our bodies.

What has been discovered is amazing. We all have this ECS in our systems, even if you haven’t had any form of cannabis in your system. When we are born, this system in our brains is in a form of homeostasis, though over time it can become unbalanced. That’s where CBD can come in to help. The endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor, the effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds to. The CB1 receptors are located in the brain and throughout the body, while CB2 receptors are found mostly in the immune and gastrointestinal system; although CB2 receptors are also found in the brain, they are not expressed quite as densely as CB1

receptors. We have another blog that goes deeper into this topic.

What type of CBD can help with my anxiety?

At AHS, we have many different products that help with differing levels of anxiety. For example, we have our personal brand of gummies that have shown amazing results with clients. One of the most popular choices is our AHS Clarity gummies. What makes this product so special is the unique CBG/CBC compound. These ingredients together help with higher anxiety, mood, focus, mental clarity, and even pain. This product has 20mg CBC, 30mg CBG, 25mg Ashwagandha, and 5mg Full Spectrum CBD. All of these ingredients together give your body the relaxation it needs to come down from high anxiety. This has be shown to help alleviate these symptoms within half an hour or so. This form of intake goes through your digestive system, which the CBD (also having anti-inflammatory properties) can also help with any stomach aches or pains you may be having.

Another intake option would be a tincture/CBD oil that works throughout your entire body and more with your brain’s receptors. While gummies are good for anxiety you’re having at the moment, a tincture helps with overall anxiety and bodily care. You take the oil by leaving it under the tongue for about thirty seconds to a minute, allowing the CBD to enter into your blood stream faster. The CBD oil works best when taken in the morning and before bed so it can stay in your system for a full 24 hour period. The tincture can help with overall health by putting your brain in homeostasis as mentioned before. It’s like putting part of your body in an optimal setting.

Though, if you’re having other medical conditions, always speak to your doctor before trying new treatments. For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals such as rats. Study subjects were observed as having lower behavioral signs of anxiety. Their physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, also improved. CBD may also benefit people with other forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may help treat anxiety-induced insomnia as well. In 2011, a study researched CBD’s effects on people with SAD. Participants were given an oral dose of 400 milligrams (mg) of CBD or a placebo. Those who received CBD experienced overall reduced anxiety levels.

If you take any medications or have any questions on how you should take CBD, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff at AHS who can help answer any questions you may have.