CBD and Anxiety
Mental health is a trending topic within our society as a whole. Recent years have made Americans pause and take an in-depth look at their mental health and figure out ways to help nurture a vital need that has been largely ignored. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Generalized Anxiety impact 6.8 million US adults, but less than half are receiving treatment.
While currently approved treatment options include therapy, medication, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, these options often lie out of reach for many individuals. Forbes released the findings of a panel of studies completed by the University of Calgary in 2021, and the results were alarming. According to the article, “The meta-analysis found that the pooled estimates of clinically elevated child and adolescent depression and anxiety were 25.2% and 20.5%, respectively, suggesting that both had likely doubled.”
Adolescent anxiety was not the only spike seen during the 2020 pandemic. According to researchers at Boston College, the anxiety rates in adults (specifically young adults) increased during the pandemic to over six times higher than rates reported in 2019. These numbers reported were alarming, to say the least.
With many individuals unable to afford traditional treatments, alternative options have risen in popularity. As research surrounding the properties of CBD became more available and a mass variety of CBD products hit store shelves, hemp products stepped into the spotlight. CBD’s calming properties were viewed as an appealing alternative to many, especially those who could not afford more traditional methods of help.
As more individuals turned to CBD as a potential alternative, the concern surrounding safety and efficiency arose. A late 2015 study found in the National Library of Medicine’s archives recited the results of a study conducted by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine. Researchers observed CBD’s impact on individuals with anxiety behavior relevant to various disorders, including PTSD, OCD, and SAD.
According to the results of the study, “CBD’s anxiolytic actions appear to depend upon CB1Rs and 5-HT1ARs in several brain regions; however, investigation of additional receptor actions may reveal further mechanisms.” Overall, the study was considered a success, and the preliminary results warranted more in-depth research in the future.
In 2019, the results of a study observing the impact of CBD on younger individuals were released in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Researchers stated, “This study investigated the safety and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating component of Cannabis sativa, for anxiety disorders in young people who previously failed to respond to standard treatment.”
The open-label trial was conducted with 31 individuals ranging in age from 12 to 25 years with diagnosed anxiety. Over the course of 12 weeks, these individuals were observed using the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale.
According to the results of the study, “findings suggest that CBD can reduce anxiety severity and has an adequate safety profile in young people with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.” However, researchers noted that the results were still considered preliminary and warranted further examination.
A later report published in 2021 in volume 6 of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research observed the use of CBD on COVID-19 related anxiety. The rise in reported anxiety rates and side effects with current treatment options were noted in the report, as well as the rise in the use of CBD as an alternative for other options available to those suffering from anxiety.
According to the report, “Alongside the anecdotal use of CBD for stress and anxiety, there is a growing body of clinical studies demonstrating the anxiolytic effects of CBD across various patient cohorts and various pathological situations.”
The 2021 report observed a variety of studies ranging in size, gender, and health from 1993 to 2020. This allowed for a wide information pool for observation. After careful consideration, the report announced, “We suggest that the pre-clinical and clinical evidence base supports the hypothesis that CBD could be a novel pharmacological option for treating COVID-related anxiety disorders that merits testing through well-designed clinical trials.”
At the time of this writing, CBD is not yet approved by the FDA as a certified treatment option for anxiety. However, many individuals have chosen to use CBD for its calming properties. Thanks to various studies and trials done over the past 30 years, consumers have a wide pool of information to help make a decision.
While there are a seemingly endless amount of CBD products on the shelves of stores across the nation, no two are alike. Finding a quality CBD product is necessary, and finding a brand that is focused on quality and promoting education is the best place to start. CBD American Shaman is proud to be a leader in the hemp community. We are US Hemp Authority Certified and strive to exceed customer expectations with every product sold.
Customers can shop all CBD American Shaman products online or in-store. Not sure where to begin? We recommend stopping by any one of our locations in Irving, Richardson, or Midlothian. When shopping in-store, you receive the benefit of one on one help from any of our experienced staff members. While shopping, we can answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.
And when you stop by to shop in-store, you can pick up a free sample product to try!
With everything going on in the world, anxiety rates are at an all-time high. Traditional options to help mitigate anxiety are often out of reach of many individuals, especially young adults. As a result, they have turned to alternative options. CBD has a history of calming properties that appeal to those with anxiety symptoms. And while much of the research backing CBD’s use for this problem is still considered preliminary, they offer promising results.
Future research surrounding CBD’s potential as an alternative option for anxiety treatment has a solid foundation to build on. The influx of hemp biomass available on the market ensures plenty of material for researchers. No matter how you look at it, CBD’s future looks bright within both the scientific and medical communities.
