2020 has been a challenging year for most, with the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on everything from travel and socialising to business deals and property purchases. There’s no denying it’s been a more stressful twelve months than your average, and for many, it’s beginning to take its toll.
With the uncertainty of job security and future plans hanging over us, it’s little wonder that more people than ever are thought to be suffering with the likes of stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions, with the constant pressure and worry leaving many feeling frazzled, and in dire need of a good night’s sleep.
As a result, purchases of premium luxury CBD oils and other related products have sky-rocketed, as those in need of a little extra help turn increasingly to this natural remedy to help them cope.
The purest CBD products in the world – take, for example, one of Cibdol’s high-quality oils, which are 100 per cent natural and have undergone a rigorous testing process – have been showing some promising results in the treatment of anxiety and other mental health disorders, which is exciting news for many.
Derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, the healing compound has become the talk of the town in recent years, with properties that have been shown to help with all manner of health conditions ranging from chronic pain and inflammation to neurodegenerative illnesses and hypertension. CBD is devoid of THC – the psychoactive compound in the plant that is known for its mind-altering effects – which means that it is totally legal and readily available to buy over the counter in health food shops and pharmacies around the world, and for many, it has proven itself to be just the tonic.
When it comes to mental health, there is very much still a stigma attached in the minds of many, and this is particularly true when it comes to taking pharmaceutical medications – so the prospect of being able to rely on plant therapy to ease anxiety, reduce feelings of stress and lift mood is an attractive one. And, since it has also shown itself to be effective in helping people to switch off at night, it has become an essential part of many people’s bedtime routines, too.
Anxiety: The second pandemic?
In 2019, it was reported that the world was experiencing an anxiety epidemic, with data from a 2017 study by Our World in Data showing that 3.8 per cent of the global population – which equates to around 284 million people – were suffering from some type of anxiety disorder. Since then, the number has no doubt sky-rocketed, particularly in 2020 – and has made it the most prevalent mental health disorder globally.
Medicinal cannabis is nothing new; people have been self-medicating with it for some time now, choosing its soothing effects over prescribed medications from their doctors – but in many countries, including the UK, marijuana remains illegal. CBD has not just provided a welcome compromise, but has also opened the gates for others wanting to experience the plant’s benefits without the potential legal consequences attached.
The CBD solution
In a study published by the Permanente Journal, 79 per cent of participants in a CBD trial reported a reduction in their anxiety levels – not bad for an all-natural product which comes without the well-known side effects of pharmaceutical alternatives, such as the most commonly prescribed SSRIs.
In 2010, a small study showed that cannabidiol had the capacity to reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder, with brain scans of participants revealing changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain associated with the condition.
These early indications of CBD efficacy have led to praise from mental health advocates – although the exact way in which it works to treat anxiety is still not fully understood. It is thought that CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are mostly found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, potentially increasing serotonin levels – but ultimately, the jury is still out.
Today, around 37 per cent of all CBD users do so for its anti-anxiety benefits over any others, with 63 per cent of those deeming it to be extremely effective. For the millions of people around the world struggling with anxiety disorders each day, CBD provides the possibility of a holistic approach to the management of symptoms by leveraging the natural interactions of the cannabis plant in the body.
There’s no denying that it has won itself a legion of loyal fans as a result – many of whom are quick to credit its effects when it has come to getting them through one of our toughest years yet.
