CBD Oil Part 1: Anxiety and Pain

Cannabidiol Oil (CBD Oil) is derived from cannabis (marijuana plant), using the chemicals that are naturally found in the plants. This oil does not produce the ‘high’ that you would assume comes from marijuana. There is actually no form of intoxication associated with the oil, but it is still looked upon in a negative light because of its origin. As the research unfolds though, people are beginning to understand just how powerful and beneficial this plant can be to our society. CBD oil has benefits to long to describe in one article, and instead of giving you a short overview, I am breaking it into two separate articles. Even then, there is more to read and uncover! I highly recommend digging in to the research available out there!Research shows that CBD Oil Benefits the following:

• Anxiety
• Chronic Pain
• Seizures
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Social phobia
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Mild to moderate depression
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Stroke
• Arthritis
• Menstrual Cramps
• Migraines
• Muscle Pain
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Acne
• And More…

Anxiety:

18% of adults (40 million Americans over age 18) suffer from an anxiety disorder. It is rarely talked about, and either over-medicated for or under-treated, as many doctors do not take it seriously. Of course, I will recommend exercise, dietary changes, and alternative outlooks on the conditions as first treatments, but sometimes it is not enough.Researchers believe that CBD changes the response to serotonin through the brain’s receptors. A 2012 study discovered that CBD oil successfully reduced anxiety in adults suffering from social anxiety disorder. A 2011 study revealed that CBD oil greatly reduced stress and anxiety in those who fear public speaking. With dozens of other studies finding similar results, it is time that this legalized natural treatment be more well-known and accepted.We have learned that CBD oil alters the cerebral blood flow, reducing uptake in the left parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, and inferior temporal gyrus. The blood flow increased in the right posterior cingulate gyrus. CBD may then help the hippocampus regenerate neurons, which then relates to an overall impact on the activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas, significantly reducing anxiety.Further research shows that CBD oil:

• Aids in sleep with those suffering from insomnia due to anxiety
• Lowers the heartrate and other physiological effects of anxiety
• Improves Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms

Pain:

As mentioned above, CBD oil has an effect on the brain’s receptors, and this effect has been discovered to help in pain management. The oil has the ability to lessen inflammation and reduce chronic pain.Over 38 million adult Americans suffer from chronic pain, and doctors (again) typically over-medicate these individuals, who then still suffer. Cannabidiol shares neuroprotective effects with THC (the strain of marijuana that produces the ‘high’), inhibits glutamate neurotoxicity, and displays antioxidant activity greater than ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or tocopherol (vitamin E). It is a TRPV₁ agonist that inhibits fatty acid amidohydrolase, which reinforces CBD’s ability to manage pain.This pain can be related to everything from menstrual cramping to chemotherapy side effects. There can be pain from injury or pain from illness, but one thing is consistent, CBD has the research behind it to provide pain relief. Even if not used alone, it should be considered as part of a management regimen.   Resourceshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/23195365_Russo_EB_Cannabinoids_in_the_management_of_difficult_to_treat_pain_Ther_Clin_Risk_Manag_4_245-259https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28061971https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22729452https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-anxiety-disorder-among-adults.shtmlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28268256https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829306