Hemp-derived CBD is used for its potential therapeutic effects and medical applications. CBD produce its effects by interacting with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). You must keep in mind that the cannabis plant has been utilized in oriental medical practices like Chinese medicine for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. In this article, we will focus on CBD uses for mental health issues; read on to know more about this.
The Uses Of CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is popular among users for its potential therapeutic effects like relieving pain, reducing inflammation, managing headaches, etc. This is because of its positive effect on the ECS, which regulates homeostasis. Also, studies have shown that this effect of CBD can be useful for treating the symptoms of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.
Anxiety: One of the popular CBD uses is that it can be helpful for treating the symptoms of anxiety. A 2015 study found that cannabidiol can be effective for the following anxiety conditions:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Panic disorder
Epilepsy: One of the extensively studied therapeutic effects of CBD is the anticonvulsant effect. It appears that it can help with reducing the frequency and severity of seizures due to conditions like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome. In a large-scale study, it was found that using CBD for treating pediatric epilepsy reduced the frequency of seizures by more than 50% in 43% of the participants. Moreover, the FDA has approved the use of cannabidiol (CBD) derived medicine Epidiolex for treating pediatric epilepsy.
Depression: Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world. In most cases, people treat this condition with conventional pharmaceutical drugs and psychotherapy. It has been found from research that one of the promising CBD uses is its antidepressant effect. This is because it increases the levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and anandamide in the brain.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The symptoms of PTSD include re-experiencing traumatic incidents, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and avoiding anything that can trigger memories of the trauma. Some research suggests that CBD can be useful for reducing the severity of the symptoms of PTSD. Also, some researchers suggest that an oral dose of cannabidiol (CBD) can be used as a complementary medicine along with the conventional psychiatric treatment for PTSD.
