Using cannabis plant extracts for wellness isn’t something new. History indicates that the flowering plant has been used for centuries for medical purposes. even though it had a shady reputation in the past, laws regarding cannabis plant extracts are rapidly changing.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the prevalent compounds in the cannabis plant. Over the years, it has shown great efficacy in providing lasting therapeutic benefits. Lab studies and consumer reviews indicate that it’s great for managing behavioral, physiological, and psychological issues related to stress such as anxiety. This article offers an overview of the five common ways to use CBD for anxiety. It also highlights how CBD works and what research says.
Top 5 Popular Ways to Use CBD for Anxiety
CBD’s versatile profile means that it can exist in multiple forms. You can use it for external applications. besides that, you can inhale its vapor, or even ingest it like pills or an edible treat. Here is an overview of 5 popular ways highlighting how to take CBD oil for anxiety.
- CBD Oil
CBD oil is by far the most popular way of taking CBD for anxiety relief. It features CBD extract that’s mixed with a carrier oil to increase bioavailability. It’s usually consumed by mouth.
Many CBD oil for anxiety products usually comes in bottles with droppers. This means that you need to count the number of drops per serving. Generally, manufacturers usually indicate the approximate amount of CBD.
- CBD Gummies
CBD edible gummies are candies that are infused with CBD oil. CBD gummies are usually sweet, chewable, and often fruit-flavored treats. They normally provide lasting effects in the body even though these effects usually take longer to kickstart.
CBD gummies come in pre-dosed servings. This means that if you need to take 10 mg of CBD daily and the gummies each have 5 mg, then you should take two gummies daily. This helps to enhance dosage precision.
- CBD Capsules
This includes products such as soft gels or tablets. Capsules need to be taken by mouth, individually. Just like gummies, their effects also take longer to kickstart but usually last in the body for hours.
When it comes to dosage, CBD capsules come in pre-dosed servings. So, if you need to take 20 mg daily and each capsule has 10 mg CBD, then you need to take two capsules every day.
- CBD Topicals
CBD topical products include gels, creams, lotions, salves, and balms. They are made for external application, via the skin. Generally, topicals provide localized relief since they work on a specific body part.
If you are using a high potency CBD topical product for anxiety, then consider using around 8 to 10 mg per application. low potency topicals are around 3 to 5 mg per application. however, the dosage is usually based on estimates.
- Vaping CBD
CBD vapes are made for inhalation. Each hit normally provides almost instantaneous effects since the compound can find its way into the bloodstream quickly. Vape oils are found in vape pens where the CBD oil is heated. The resulting vapor is what you should inhale.
Finding the right vape dosage of CBD oil for anxiety can be challenging. It’s important to know the amount of CBD that’s in each puff. Besides that, the amount also depends on your vaping style. Are you planning to take bigger hits that strongly hit the lungs or simply smaller mouth-lungs puff? To determine the best dosage for you, consider finding the amount of CBD per 1 ml by dividing the total mg per bottle by the total ml of the bottle.
For instance, if a 50 ml bottle contains 1000 mg of CBD, then each ml will have around 20 mg of CBD. Thereafter, consider the size of the vape tank. If the vape take has a 2 ml capacity, then the total CBD content in it will be 20 ml x 2 = 50 mg per tank. So, by the time you finish a tank, you would have consumed 50 mg. it should be noted that some vape pens come with features that can measure the puffs.
How to Properly Dose CBD for Anxiety?
Understand that there are several factors that influence CBD dosage for anxiety. There are different methods of how to use CBD for anxiety and this means that there are significant dosage variations. Factors such as the severity of the condition, age, sex, weight, and metabolism also play a vital role in determining the dosage. Below is an overview of CBD dosage based on weight.
| Anxiety/Weight(lbs.) | Less than 25 | 26-45 | 46-85 | 86-100 | 151-240 | >241 |
| Mild | 4.5 mg | 6 mg | 9 mg | 12 mg | 18 mg | 22.5 mg |
| Medium | 6 mg | 9 mg | 12 mg | 15 mg | 22.5 mg | 30 mg |
| Severe | 9 mg | 12 mg | 15 mg | 18 mg | 27 mg | 45 mg |
How Does CBD Even Help Reduce Anxiety?
CBD works by interacting with the serotonin-subtype receptor. It’s worth noting that serotonin is the “feel good” hormone that helps to stabilize moods. Besides that, it normally helps to increase the feeling of happiness and plays a role in promoting a sense of good well-being. Low levels of serotonin are usually associated with anxiety and depression. That’s why many anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications usually work to increase serotonin levels.
CBD is a promising anxiolytic that also activates the CB1 receptors found in the brain’s amygdala. These receptors normally get blocked due to anxiety. So, by heightening the amygdala’s activity and activating these receptors, CBD normally leads to enhanced emotional processing.
What Does the Research Say?
Research indicates that CBD can help significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. A 2015 review indicates that CBD can reduce anxiety by helping to regulate anxiety-induced behaviors. It interacts with cannabinoid type-1 receptor, serotonin receptor, and other brain receptors that are critical in regulating fear and anxiety-induced characteristics.
It should be noted that the authors of this study also found preclinical and clinical evidence indicating that CBD is an effective therapy for various types of anxiety. This includes:
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
A 2020 article reviewed several studies to establish CBD’s role in managing various forms of anxiety. The authors of this study found that CBD is effective and can be used as a monotherapy or complementary therapy for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
Furthermore, the studies found that there is a significant dosage variation. The CBD doses used ranged between 6 mg and 400 mg per dose. From this information, it’s evident that there is a need for large-scale clinical trials to establish a universal dosage. This would also help with the clinical use of CBD for anxiety as an alternative form of therapy.
Final Thoughts
CBD is an organic compound that has lots of health benefits. It’s effective for managing anxiety symptoms. CBD normally works with the endocannabinoid system to enhance the relevant receptor activity. You can use it to manage various types of anxiety including panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. Due to its versatile nature, you can use CBD in multiple forms, depending on the effects you desire. Topicals are great for external application, on the skin. Oils, tinctures, and vapes are great for faster effects while capsules and gummies are ideal for lasting effects.
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