It is not yet fully known as to whether full-spectrum CBD oil can help with anxiety – although much of the research on this up-and-coming compound containing Phyto cannabinoids like CBG and CBN suggests this will be the case due to their anxiolytic properties. There is a lot of reasonable ground that suggests that it helps in reducing inflammation and stress responses as a result of cortisol production, indicating there may be a link towards anxiety reduction for many users and potentially depression. Some recent research by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse showed in 2016 that CBD oil may work to decrease anxiety by affecting the serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the human body that has an active role in controlling our mood, sleep, digestion, and behaviour – it’s a key neurological ‘regulator’ similar to dopamine and affects many brain functions. Altering serotonin levels may be the key to helping with anxiety and depression as well as issues like mood regulation. There’s already some solid research that’s been carried out to find an accurate answer to these questions – let’s take a look at what the science says.
How Might CBD help with anxiety?

Firstly, some clinical research studies from the US showed that ” CBD oil reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment trials – a form of social phobia. A broad research program conducted by ``The Pharmacogenomics Journal” in 2011 shows that Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is also among the most common anxiety conditions that affect one’s social life. CBD oil from hemp which is a major non-psychotomimetic compound of the cannabis Sativa plant showed considerable anxiolytic effects in both humans and animals (which can also suffer from anxiety issues). The study was aimed at comparing the effects of a simulated public speaking test on healthy control patients and comparing treatment against affected patients who were given a single high dose of full spectrum oil. Some 24 patients who were never treated before were given either full-spectrum CBD oil or a placebo in a double-blind randomized design - both were given 1.5 hours before the test.

The same number of subjects performed the test without receiving any medication. Each person participated in only one experimental session in a double-blind procedure. Subjective ratings in anxiety tests and physiological measures (blood pressure, heart rate, and skin conductance) were calculated during and after the test. The results were submitted to a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Conclusions were clear – the CBD oil reduced anxiety significantly, cognitive impairment, and fatigue in their speech performance, and helped to decrease stuttering in their speech. The placebo category showed higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and alert levels when compared with the control. The scores showed increases during the testing of the placebo category which was mostly eliminated in the full spectrum oil category. The shoot-up in anxiety produced by the test on patients with anxiety disorders was decreased by using the oil. In short, the researchers concluded that full-spectrum CBD oil containing CBN and CBG as well as Phyto cannabinoids could help with problems like anxiety.

Another renowned study was conducted in 2011 on the same question, which was published by the US National Library of Medicine, with almost the same conclusion. The research titled “Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of CBD oil in generalized social anxiety disorders: a preliminary report” stated that human and animal studies show that the oil has anxiolytic properties. Anyhow, up until the release of this study, no one had yet tried to find out the effects of the compound on human pathological anxiety and the brain mechanisms associated with it. The purpose of this study was to find the impact on subjects having social anxiety which was detected via neuroimaging. The results suggested that CBD oil reduced the impact of social anxiety; it linked this result to activity in limbic and paralimbic brain regions which control the stress response.

Evidence of CBD’s Benefits for Anxiety
A third example of real-world evidence was a review of 49 studies conducted by the US National Library of Medicine in 2015 which “strongly supported” the assumptions and conclusions of the previously conducted research, helping to reinforce their findings. The review stated that full-spectrum CBD oil is a pharmacologically broad-spectrum drug that is recently being used to treat multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. The review aimed to determine the supplement’s potential as a remedy for disorders related to anxiety, by testing pieces of evidence from preclinical, experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies. They figured out that existing preclinical evidence supported the product as a remedy for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder when administered acutely with the right dosage protocol; however, very few studies have investigated chronic dosing.

Similarly, evidence from human studies supported the view of the anxiolytic role that the oil plays but was limited to acute dosing. This means full-spectrum CBD oil was found to be effective in helping conditions such as anxiety disorders. An update in a 2019 study by the US National Library of Medicine found that CBD did not appear to change consciousness, have psychoactive effects, or cause a "high." However, an increase in scientific publications found preclinical and clinical evidence documenting the benefits of the oil in some neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia. It pointed towards the calming effects of it in the central nervous system and limbic system.

Researchers in Australia have used CBD to treat people with sleep and anxiety disorders, with medication becoming more accessible now via Green Doctors. Interestingly, it was found effective for 80% of patients that had anxiety disorders, and it was also effective for around 70% of the patients that had sleeping problems but notably didn’t work for all individuals. One study that was carried out in 2017 and published in the SAGE Journals didn't find any evidence that could show the effectiveness of the product in helping with anxiety-related problems. One unusual finding of the research was that in some people treatment even increased anxiety. It’s important to note that in all of these studies, the quality of the product was clinically controlled and was ensured to contain less than 0.3% Tetra Hydro Cannabidiol (THC) and was extracted from organic hemp plants.
How to Use CBD for Anxiety

All of this evidence and proof begs the question – how much should I be taking? No specific or ‘one size fits all’ dose can be recommended to all patients; however, in most cases, 300mg to 600mg is given to patients with Social Anxiety Disorder. CBD and CBN come in multiple forms and products such as oil, capsules, drops, teas, vaporizers, and sublingual strips. If taken in a highly pure form with THC completely filtered and extracted from it - it will never get you high. Both CBD and THC work on the same brain receptors, however, only THC is psychoactive which can cause a “high” condition. Further to this, the World Health Organization declared this compound was not found to be a habit-forming drug and had no sign of any dependence found with drugs of abuse. They also cleared it for any potential risk with side effects – only minimal nuisances can occur like dry mouth or mild stomach irritation.

The people that were treated with Epidiolex (a CBD-based clinical product used to treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder) reported some effects like drowsiness, fatigue, decreased appetite, insomnia, and diarrhoea. Also, the FDA warns that it can cause mild liver damage if combined with other pharmaceuticals. However, on a large scale and in general use, very few people reported such conditions which means that it has side effects on some people while it has no side effects on others.

Conclusion
We’ve covered some reasons to consider CBD oil for its potent anxiolytic properties and ability to help with issues like stress and anxiety through the endocannabinoid system. This product is becoming more and more available globally and you’re sure to see it near you – for example in Australia it became legal in pharmacies for over-the-counter purchasing in 2020. We covered how CBD, CBN, and CBG are some of the many naturally occurring plant compounds found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is said to be useful in treating several health issues such as anxiety, and stress, and relaxing the limbic system to assist with sleep. While much of the research on this up-and-coming medication is still fairly new it’s clear from the multiple corroborated findings that there is a significant anxiolytic response that occurs from the consumption of broad-spectrum CBD oil like that from www.bondihempoil.com.au.

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