Most of us are under stress at work or trying to stretch our dollars trying to make ends meet for our families. While a little stress is to be expected, being constantly stressed out can have devastating effects on your health. Fortunately, there are many ways to de-stress to maintain your blood pressure, prevent headaches and depression, including taking supplements like CBD oil for anxiety.
What is CBD Oil?
The CBD stands for Cannabidiol oil, or cannabidiol hemp oil, since it is derived from hemp. It is specifically made from low-THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, hemp so it can be sold without needing a medical marijuana card and in places where medical marijuana isn’t legal. There are several health benefits to using CBD oil, including providing a healthy response to stress.
Stress Responses and CBD Oil
The cannabinoid receptors present in CBD oil help to produce anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory responses in the brain. When someone is under stress, it triggers the brain to release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is secreted from the, hypothalamus, which is located in the brain, the pituitary and adrenal glands.
When you are feeling stressed or anxious, such as a job interview, your brain triggers the release of cortisol and other hormones. The responses to anxiety are more from internal sources than other stress responses, such as fear, and are directly linked to the hippocampus and amygdala, which are parts of the brain. Anxiety can lead to depression, social isolation and physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea, headaches and insomnia.
Effects on Brain
Fortunately, CBD oil can help control the body’s response to stress because of the cannabinoid receptors it contains, which includes:
- CB1
- CB2
- TRPV1
- GP55
There are many other receptors in CBD oil which help to control stress. These receptors act on different structures of the brain, such as the:
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala
- Nucleus Accumbens
- Periaqueductal Gray, located in the midbrain
Studies concluded that with the activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, blood pressure and heart rates can be lowered and it can reduce both anxiety and panic caused by stress responses. Other studies conducted with CBD oil have shown people with PTSD, including military veterans, can be helped because it slows down stress responses and produces a calmer feeling in people. It also reduces the effect of stress, so your body has positive responses when you experience anxiety, fear, angry or other types of stress responses.
Reducing Anxiety with CBD Oil
Anxiety can be debilitating for some people, but taking CBD oil has been shown to help people with Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD. A study involving SAD patients, some of the participants were given 600mg of CBD oil and were asked to give a speech.
After measuring their psychological and physiological stress responses, including heart rate and blood pressures, it was found those who were given the oil had lower anxiety and fewer problems thinking and speaking. If you have problems with anxiety, consider using CBD oil to reduce its effects in your life.
