CBD For Stress
If you feel that stress is affecting your life or if you are suffering from anxiety or PTSD, there are ways to help manage it. Lifestyle habits like meditation and exercise can help keep stress at bay, as could certain pharmaceuticals. Additionally, with the emergence of CBD and the research surrounding its beneficial properties, more and more people are curious to use CBD for stress and as a natural option for stress management.
Stress 411
Stress is the body’s natural defense mechanism and has many beneficial properties. For example, stress keeps one alert and able to respond to danger. However, if a person experiences stress regularly and is constantly in a fight or flight mode, unhealthy wear and tear on both the body and mind can occur.
In times of stress, the body’s other functions slow down so that the body may focus on the immediate danger ahead. In fact, the body can diminish processes like digestion and immune defenses, and if this happens on a regular basis it can become a cause for concern.
When the body experiences stress it produces a stress hormone called cortisol. Overproduction of cortisol can result in adrenal fatigue and increased inflammation, which in turn can result in other health problems. Headaches, low libido, insomnia, frequent colds and infections, and tense muscles can all be results of stress. Chronic stress also has links to heart disease and cancer.
In addition to bodily symptoms, stress can adversely affect the mental state. Feelings of moodiness, depression, inability to unwind, and agitations can all point to stress.
Stress Management
Proper management of stress is essential to a well-balanced life. Different techniques like meditation, yoga, physical exercise, proper rest, and nutrition can have positive effects on stress management. Along with the above-mentioned lifestyle changes, research has shown that CBD may be able to provide continuous and sustainable support for those who are dealing with stress.
CBD For Stress Management
CBD is a cannabinoid in both hemp and marijuana plants. Unlike marijuana’s other component THC, CBD does not produce a euphoric effect or a high. Hemp-derived CBD is legal on the Federal level, although there are some states that still strictly regulate it. National Botanicals takes care to thoroughly examine and label all CBD products, so consumers know exactly what they are getting.
There is evidence that CBD has the potential to aid with stress management. CBD is able to interact with the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, which is responsible for keeping homeostasis or balance throughout the body and all its functions. The ECS communicates with itself through a network of CB1 and CB2 receptors located in the skin, brain, and other organs.
CBD can bind with these CB1 and CB2 receptors, stimulating the neurotransmitter systems and promoting neuron regeneration. The support CBD provides to the ECS is believed to help reduce stress and maintain overall balance. CBD has also been noted to help maintain healthy serotonin levels, by binding with 5-HT1A receptors.2 Proper serotonin levels are essential in stress management. CBD can further support the body and mind during stressful situations by lowering inflammation.
A study conducted in 2014 found that CBD administration reduced stress and anxiety in animal models.2 Mice that were given CBD for stress management and were observed performing stressful tasks like complicated mazes exhibited less stress-related behaviors than the placebo control group. Another study performed on human models found that administering CBD 30 minutes before a public speaking engagement decreased feelings of anxiety and symptoms associated with stress.3
Takeaway
Research on CBD and its effects on stress are ongoing. While there is still much that is unknown, there is promising evidence that CBD may be able to provide neuroprotective and stress-reducing qualities. Many consumers choose CBD as a natural addition to their health regimes.
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References
1 National Center for Biotechnology Information; “5-HT1A receptors are involved in the cannabidiol-induced attenuation of behavioural and cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress in rats”
2 National Center for Biotechnology Information; “Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa.”
3 Nature.com; “Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients”
