It is likely that you have come across cannabidiol, or CBD, somewhere along the line when searching the internet. Most likely, you were looking for a natural means to diminish feelings of anxiety. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence out there about how people were rid of their symptoms of anxiety after taking CBD, but are those experiences legitimate? Research has gathered a decent amount of data to suggest that there is at least some truth to the claims.
How can CBD help with your anxiety? And how effective is it? Let’s find out.
What is CBD?
Knowing a little bit about cannabidiol (CBD) and how it works can help you decide if it is something to add to your routine. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid—an organic compound—that comes from Cannabis sativa (or Cannabis indica, to a lesser extent) [1]. Another familiar cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is known for producing a “high.”
In the US, legal CBD is produced from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC. Therefore, you do not have to worry about feeling any psychoactive effects. What you may feel is the effects of CBD on your endocannabinoid system (ECS) [2].
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Does CBD Actually Curb Anxiety?
Let’s focus on the endocannabinoid system for a moment. Throughout the years, the ECS has been found to be something of a network throughout the body that is connected to the nervous system and supports homeostasis. As such, it is believed to be a mechanism for adapting to the environment. For instance, certain signals produced by the endocannabinoid system influence fear.
You may have guessed, the endocannabinoid system plays a role in anxiety.
Since CBD interacts with specific receptors within the endocannabinoid system, it may seem obvious that CBD helps with anxiety. However, that is not the case. There are many questions about CBD and anxiety and depression that still need to be answered through research, so the answer of whether CBD has an effect on anxiety is still “maybe.”
The Science Behind CBD and Anxiety
The meteoric rise of CBD’s popularity has led to a load of science being conducted on it since 2010. Prior to that, CBD was minimally researched. Fortunately, this means there is a lot of recent data to analyze.
Early Research on CBD and Anxiety
In 2011, one study suggested that CBD helped those with anxiety perform better with public speaking [3]. The participants all had a generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD). They had never taken CBD prior to the study, and those who did not get a placebo were dosed with 600 mg. Those who had the placebo exhibited greater amounts of anxiety and cognitive impairment compared to those who had CBD.
A second study from 2011 supported the evidence from the above-mentioned research [4]. More people diagnosed with SAD were either given a 400 mg dose of CBD or a placebo. This happened in two sessions, and in both, CBD was associated with a significant reduction in anxiety. The researchers suggested that CBD interacted with the limbic and paralimbic areas of the brain.
In 2015, a review of studies on CBD and anxiety up to that year took place [5]. It was concluded that, overall, the evidence from 49 studies found the potential of using CBD for anxiety disorders. The researchers stated that more work must be done to figure out the proper dose because some studies done at higher doses of CBD produced contrasting results.
Research From 2019 and Beyond
One breakthrough piece of research was published in 2019 [6]. Researchers looked at the effects of CBD on Japanese teenagers between the ages of 18 and 19 who were diagnosed with SAD and avoidant personality disorder. The double-blind study provided some participants with 300 mg of CBD for 4 weeks. By the end, those teens who received the CBD reported experiencing far less anxiety than their peers who took the placebo.
Another large case series from 2019 considered the effect of CBD on anxiety and sleep [7]. 72 adults were given 25 mg of CBD at the beginning. The amount of CBD gradually increased to 175 mg a day. By the end, individuals reported decreased anxiety for the first month. 66.7% of the patients stated that their anxiety and sleep improved during the first month but later fluctuated.
One review from 2021 took into consideration a vast number of studies looking into the use of CBD as an anti-anxiety treatment [8]. The researchers found evidence that CBD has therapeutic-like properties and suggested the “continued evaluation of CBD as a promising new agent in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders.”
In short, the future of CBD as an anti-anxiety is optimistic. Although there is still so much to discover about CBD, the potential can’t be disregarded.
Is There Any Risk to Trying CBD for Anxiety?
For the most part, research tells us that CBD is low-risk for most people [9]. That said, you should not start taking cannabidiol without first sitting down for a chat with your doctor first. One of the greatest known risks to taking CBD is how it reacts with some prescription medications. If you are using something that comes with a grapefruit warning, it is best to stay away from CBD.
Other side effects may include:
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Decreased appetite
- Mood changes, such as irritability
Should you use a CBD product and end up feeling unwell, do not use it again. Instead, it is recommended that you continue searching for a brand and product that suits your needs.
Looking For High-Quality CBD?
How does CBD help with anxiety? Research tells us that the interaction CBD has with the ECS can help soothe some of the symptoms of anxiety. However, there is still much evidence to be collected before it can be said with certainty that CBD works on anxiety. That said, CBD is well tolerated by most people, and so you can try it with minimal risk to figure out if it is what you need.
Sugar Bottom Hemp has been producing high-quality CBD for years, and our formulas are minimally processed and clean. Our CBD is also tested in an independent third-party lab. Check out our full lineup of products fit for people and beloved pets. You are bound to find something that you love!
Bibliography
1. Epling, S. (2022, January 25). The scientific trends of cannabinoid research. CAS. https://www.cas.org/resources/cas-insights/consumer-goods/scientific-trends-cannabinoid-research
2. Lutz, B., Marsicano, G., Maldonado, R., & Hillard, C. J. (2015). The endocannabinoid system in guarding against fear, anxiety and stress. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(12), 705–718. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn4036
3. Bergamaschi, M., Queiroz, R., Chagas, M. et al. Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients. Neuropsychopharmacol 36, 1219–1226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.6
4. Crippa, J. A. S., Derenusson, G. N., Ferrari, T. B., Wichert-Ana, L., Duran, F. L., Martin-Santos, R., Simões, M. V., Bhattacharyya, S., Fusar-Poli, P., Atakan, Z., Filho, A. S., Freitas-Ferrari, M. C., McGuire, P. K., Zuardi, A. W., Busatto, G. F., & Hallak, J. E. C. (2010). Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(1), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881110379283
5. Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015b). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825–836. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
6. Masataka, N. (2019). Anxiolytic Effects of Repeated Cannabidiol Treatment in Teenagers With Social Anxiety Disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02466
7. Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente Journal, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/18-041
8. Melas, P. A., Scherma, M., Fratta, W., Cifani, C., & Fadda, P. (2021). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Molecular Targets and
Epigenetic Insights from Preclinical Research. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 1863. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041863
9. Office of the Commissioner. (2020, March 5). What You Need to Know (And What We’re Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
