Does hemp oil work for anxiety

Skip navigation! Story from Wellness. But cannabidiol is not weed. Well, not exactly weed.

I Tried Taking CBD Oil For My Anxiety – & This Is What Happened

My mind immediately turned to weed and the unnerving experiences I'd had with heightened anxiety in college.

For me, a person who's already predisposed to overthinking , marijuana, no matter what the form, would typically put my mind into overdrive and result in a common yet dreaded side effect: Paranoia. But, let's back up a bit. What even is CBD? A bit of online digging led me to realize that the active ingredient in Charlotte's Web Everyday Plus Hemp Oil , the product I'd been offered to test, was the chemical compound CBD, which stands for cannabidiol.

Unlike THC, the other crucial compound in hemp and marijuana plants, CBD when derived from the hemp plant does not produce the psychoactive effects that make you feel "high"; instead, emerging science has hinted that CBD may actually ease anxiety, and therefore, makes you less likely to freak out. For example, one study comparing the effects of THC and CBD found that, while THC increased anxiety by activating the neurotransmitters involved in the "fight or flight" response, CBD actually repressed autonomic arousal—or the nervous system response associated with sudden increases in heart rate or respiration.

In other words, CBD may be ideal for people looking to relax and unwind. While the science behind CBD's effectiveness for treating anxiety, pain, and insomnia is still in its infancy, Charlotte Figi's inspiring story sounds promising. Figi, a 6-year-old girl diagnosed with a rare and resistant form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome, was placed on hospice care and given a "do not resuscitate" order when her parents, desperate and frustrated with pharmaceutical medication, considered medical marijuana; specifically, a strain low in THC and high in CBD.

Charlotte is now nearly seizure-free since she began supplementing with Charlotte Web's CBD oil, which the brand named after Figi.

The current CBD industry is like the internet's early years It's also important to note that people experience CBD differently. For the most part, the Mayo Clinic says that while most people can tolerate CBD, side effects do exist. They might include dry mouth, drowsiness, and reduced appetite, among others. That said, those interested in exploring the potential benefits of CBD should consult with their doctor especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or currently taking medication and be mindful of your dosage, writes Consumer Reports.

Shape magazine also suggests purchasing CBD products made from domestically-grown hemp, and reading up on the difference between full- and broad-spectrum and CBD isolate.

With that, I threw caution to the wind and asked for a sample. Here's what happened—including what it feels like—when I took one full dropper of Charlotte's Web's Everyday Plus Hemp Oil in the mint chocolate flavor every morning for seven days. It was actually a bad bout of jet lag after a trip to California that inspired me to finally test out the CBD oil I'll admit that my weed-based reservations kept me from trying it for the first few months.

Knowing that the oil had also helped people with sleep issues, I squeezed one full dropper of the Everyday Plus oil onto my tongue, per the instructions , and waited. Thirty minutes later, I was surprised by how subtle the effect was. While I expected a hazy nodding-off effect similar to melatonin's , the oil simply relaxed my body ever so slightly—my heart stopped pounding against my chest, my legs stopped kicking beneath my sheets, my mind stopped racing.

I wasn't sure if it was the oil or the late hour, but eventually, physical relaxation gave way to mental relaxation, and I drifted off to sleep. Reflecting the next morning, I was most surprised by the fact that I never felt "high" in any way—there was never a moment of It's kicking in; I can feel it now like with pain medications or even anti-anxiety drugs. Considering it takes time, consistency, and the right dosage to experience the full effect , I continued taking the oil once a day for the next six days.

Here's what went down. Rather than overthinking a sternly worded email or analyzing a social interaction, I found it easier to recognize the irrationality of these thoughts and actually let them go. While normally I'd be slightly tripped up by little things like an overly crowded subway car or a full inbox at work, the CBD oil seems to have taken the edge off of my anxiety a bit. In some ways, I feel more like myself.

With that said, I've still experienced some social anxiety when meeting new groups of people—I'd be interested to see what taking the full recommended dose would do. I work well under pressure, but being extremely busy at work has almost made me less productive—I'm constantly distracted by email, Slack, and the people around me, to the point where getting my work done becomes difficult.

This week, however, I've found it easier to put my blinders on, block out all distractions especially social distractions , and focus on one task at a time.

I think this is partly related to the lessened anxiety—I feel more frazzled and off task when my anxiety is running high. It almost feels like a newfound sense of clarity and calm that enables me to focus. I assume this is also a side effect of feeling less anxious, but I seem to fall asleep faster; within the minute range rather than my normal 45 minutes to one hour or longer. Not only do I seem to be skipping or at least shortening the whole tossing-and-turning phase of my sleep cycle, but I'm able to snap out of the overthinking that often keeps me up at night.

Of course, there's no telling whether a big life event would disrupt this newfound bliss, but I'd like to think it's helped on a day-to-day basis.

Would I say that CBD oil has fundamentally changed my life? But per the Charlotte's Web website, this is the typical first experience. For most of us, though, dietary supplements take time. With that said, I'm definitely intrigued enough by the subtle effects to continue taking the oil and to possibly up the dosage to the recommended two full droppers of the 30mL bottle per day.

Plus, I take comfort in knowing that it's an all-natural product that's responsibly grown on family farms in Colorado. Something that's safe, legal, requires no prescription, and makes me less anxious, less scatterbrained, and more focused?

I'm definitely on board. Go deep on the subject of CBD with this book that includes case studies, interviews with doctors, an overview of the latest cannabis research, and how scientists are exploring cannabis for various medical uses. There is also an explainer about the difference between CBD products made from industrial hemp versus in a lab, and products made from the whole marijuana plant. It's also its most potent. Gretchen Lidicker puts a lifestyle spin on the world of CBD as the author draws on the "knowledge of leaders in the health and wellness world" to explain why CBD has become a top beauty and wellness trend for top athletes and celebrities.

The book also includes recipes and recommendations for how to choose a top-quality CBD product. This travel-friendly roll-on is packed with CBD and fragrant essential oils, including lavender, bergamot, and chamomile, for an easy de-stress quick fix. The result? With this book, CBD is explained from A to Z and breaks down the good, bad, and ugly of a fledgling industry that is poised for rapid growth.

Charlotte's Web's body cream combines aloe, coconut oil, and shea butter with mg of CBD per ounce. It's also available in an unscented version, and both are made with GMO-free and sustainably grown ingredients.

The website offers capsules as a convenient and precise way to take CBD—on the go, stash them in your gym bag, pocket, etc. What Is Dermalinfusion? Editors Put the Skincare Treatment to the Test. Wellness Self-Care. Kelsey Clark. Kelsey was MyDomaine's lifestyle news editor for over two years.

MyDomaine's Editorial Guidelines. What Are the Benefits of Hemp Oil? Related Stories.

Find out what the research says about CBD oil and anxiety. a chemical found naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Based on their review, more human tests are needed to better understand how CBD works, what the (​NORML) does advise that very few commercially available products. Unlike THC, the other crucial compound in hemp and marijuana plants, CBD (​when derived from the hemp plant) does not produce the or a full inbox at work, the CBD oil seems to have taken the edge off of my anxiety a bit.

In conjunction with lifestyle changes and my precious essential oils , using CBD for anxiety daily has leveled out the hum of anxiousness I tend to feel. Before you read more, please know that there is a major difference between cannabis and hemp. Cannabidol is a naturally occurring compound found in hemp and cannabis plants. I encourage you, as with any new wellness product, do to your research about the incredible benefits of incorporating organic hemp into your lifestyle to help ease those anxious feelings.

Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder GAD , social anxiety disorder and panic disorder are prevalent in

Sponsored by TruGen3. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America ADAA reports that anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder GAD , panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder afflict approximately 18 percent of the population, or roughly 40 million adult Americans. While some treatment options involve taking prescription medications to relieve the emotional distress, one all-natural option is hemp seed oil.

Hemp seed oil and anxiety: How it helps

Powered by Shopify. But sometimes a challenging job, family demands, or just surviving the unexpected events of life can feel like a continual test. If that impending sense of disaster is never-ending it's a sign of chronic anxiety, and you might need an intervention to reset your baseline stress-response. One in four Americans will suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime — where feelings of dread, unpreparedness, and imminent danger recur more and more often, leading to racing thoughts and physical reactions. Where do these feelings come from? A major contributor is our genetics.

How I Use CBD Hemp Oil for Anxiety

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a natural compound that has gained popularity in recent years. CBD is cannabidiol. It is one of almost cannabinoids that can be found in marijuana plants. Unlike many other cannabinoids, CBD is not psychoactive and has a different pharmacologic profile than other psychoactive cannabinoids. CBD can be extracted from both marijuana plants and from hemp. If there are adequate safety studies of a product, it would be considered safe. However, the CBD products flooding the market are not likely to have undergone any safety testing. In fact, the FDA has issued several warning letters to firms that market unapproved new drugs that allegedly contain cannabidiol. As part of these actions, the FDA has tested the chemical content of cannabinoid compounds in some of the products, and many were found to not contain the levels of CBD they claimed to contain.

Cannabidiol is a compound derived from cannabis plants.

Many people use hemp CBD oil for anxiety because of how effective it can be. Multiple scientific studies have documented the hugely positive effects that this oil can have for people with anxiety disorders. If you struggle with this issue as well, you should at least look into taking this oil. One study conducted in found that hemp CBD oil can be of great help to those who have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.

Hemp CBD Oil for Anxiety

My mind immediately turned to weed and the unnerving experiences I'd had with heightened anxiety in college. For me, a person who's already predisposed to overthinking , marijuana, no matter what the form, would typically put my mind into overdrive and result in a common yet dreaded side effect: Paranoia. But, let's back up a bit. What even is CBD? A bit of online digging led me to realize that the active ingredient in Charlotte's Web Everyday Plus Hemp Oil , the product I'd been offered to test, was the chemical compound CBD, which stands for cannabidiol. Unlike THC, the other crucial compound in hemp and marijuana plants, CBD when derived from the hemp plant does not produce the psychoactive effects that make you feel "high"; instead, emerging science has hinted that CBD may actually ease anxiety, and therefore, makes you less likely to freak out. For example, one study comparing the effects of THC and CBD found that, while THC increased anxiety by activating the neurotransmitters involved in the "fight or flight" response, CBD actually repressed autonomic arousal—or the nervous system response associated with sudden increases in heart rate or respiration. In other words, CBD may be ideal for people looking to relax and unwind. While the science behind CBD's effectiveness for treating anxiety, pain, and insomnia is still in its infancy, Charlotte Figi's inspiring story sounds promising. Figi, a 6-year-old girl diagnosed with a rare and resistant form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome, was placed on hospice care and given a "do not resuscitate" order when her parents, desperate and frustrated with pharmaceutical medication, considered medical marijuana; specifically, a strain low in THC and high in CBD.

I Took CBD Oil Every Day for My Anxiety—Here's What Went Down

Occasional feelings of anxiety are normal. People who suffer from anxiety disorders , however, frequently experience intense, persistent, excessive worry and fear over everyday occurrences. These repeated episodes of sudden fear, terror, and anxiety can trigger a panic attack within minutes. Whatever form your anxiety takes, there is help available. The first stop, of course, is discussing treatment options with a medical professional. Cannabidiol CBD is one of the hundreds of active ingredients found in cannabis plants.