CBDA & CBGA...what are they?
CBDA and CBGA
Excerpts from Healer.com, Dr. Dustin Sulak
CBDA: CBDA is comparable to CBD in many aspects, having activation at serotonin and capsaicin receptors. CBDA, unlike CBD, has not been found to affect cannabinoid receptors, but it has been demonstrated to target the COX enzymes linked to inflammation, a process similar to that of common over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines.
Therefore, if you’re unsatisfied with the results from CBD products, do not assume that CBDA won’t work any better. CBDA gets absorbed significantly better — 5x-11x times better— than CBD when taken orally.[1] There is also some evidence-based on animal models that CBDA is stronger and more potent than CBD, not just because it’s getting absorbed better but because it is acting more powerfully.
The health benefits of CBDA may include improvements in:
Inflammation
Mood and anxiety
Resilience to stress
Cognition
Neurologic healing
Pain signaling
Gut function
Tissue recovery after exercise or injury
On to CBGA: Some have referred to CBG as the ‘mother of cannabinoids’, because its raw, unheated form, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), is the precursor cannabinoid that is later converted into THCA, CBDA, or CBCA. Like the other cannabinoids, CBGA is decarboxylated into CBG by heat and time, but few cannabis varieties have any significant amount of CBGA in the mature flowers. In the past, some growers used early harvesting techniques to increase the yield of CBGA from common medical varieties. More recently, breeders have developed varieties of cannabis that lack the enzymes responsible for converting CBGA into the other cannabinoids, resulting in fully mature flowers dominant in CBGA and low in THC and other cannabinoids. These flowers can be extracted to produce products with high levels of CBG that offer distinct medicinal benefits.
Nerve pain with shooting and stinging discomfort
Physical anxiety and fight or flight feelings
Attention deficit and hyperactivity
Trouble Sleeping
Inflammation
Gut health
Why Tinctures and what makes them so special?? →
The natural occurring compounds found in plants are called phytochemicals and have been extracted using ethyl alcohol for use as medicinal remedies for a long, long time. The ingredients in plants are highly soluble in alcohol and easily extracted, however cannabinoids are only significantly soluble in more concentrated ethanol solutions greater than 75% (150 proof) but ideally 190 proof should be used. With the 190 proof ethanol the cannabinoids, terpenoids, flavonoids and other essential oils will be easily extracted.
Tinctures made with alcohol are generally better preserved than other types of tinctures due to the antibacterial nature of alcohol. They can have a shelf life of 2-5 years. They tend to be more stable and reliable over a long period of time with or without refrigeration. Another plus with using ethanol in our tinctures is that the alcohol when taken orally permeates the mucus membranes of the mouth and is delivered into the bloodstream. This is a much quicker delivery system than taking an edible and waiting for the digestive system and liver to break it down, which can be 1.5-2 hours later. Lastly, tinctures provide a way to get consistent dosing drop by drop where you can find a dose that works for you!
What is THCA??
What is THCA?
It is often confused with THC, THCA is a little known cannabinoid that is abundant in the raw cannabis plant.
The health benefits provided by THCA are most well absorbed by the body through a raw method of consumption such as cannabis juicing or raw tinctures. THCA works to relieve inflammation, pain and is an ideal cannabinoid for treating symptoms of such conditions as arthritis, seizures.
THCA is an effective neuroprotectant, so it is beneficial in the treatment of such conditions as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It can also help to stimulate the appetite in patients suffering from cachexia and anorexia nervosa. Most impressively, research shows that THC-A helps to slow the proliferation of cancerous cells.
Medicinal Benefits of THCA
Studies have found THCA to have anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, anti-emetic, and anti-proliferative properties, all which could make it medically beneficial for a range of conditions.
This variety of potential medicinal benefits could make THCA an important cannabinoid for patients with a variety of medical conditions that already benefit from marijuana. Its anti-inflammatory properties could make it beneficial for those with pain, muscle spasms or auto-immune conditions.
How Long does CBD stay in your system?
Here is a recent article from GreenFlower Media……
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
by Rae Lland
August 31,2020
There are many great, valid reasons to want to add CBD to your life, and with skyrocketing popularity, it’s easy to understand why more and more people are asking questions about this seemingly commonplace cannabinoid. One such question that many want to know is — how long does CBD stay in your system? The answer to this varies depending on a few factors; quantity and frequency of use, your unique biological makeup, and the method of consumption, and even your diet can affect how long CBD stays in your body. Learn more below.
What Is CBD?
First, a quick recap. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid naturally found in the cannabis plant that is often used for reported health benefits such as reducing inflammation, pain, nausea, and even in the treatment of seizure disorders with positive results. It can be taken in many forms, such as oils, topicals, edibles, vaping, and smoking. Unlike its sister cannabinoid, THC, cannabidiol is non-psychoactive and will not make users feel high or intoxicated.
How Long Does CBD Last In Your Body?
A 2018 review of prior CBD research reported that the estimated half-life of CBD when consumed daily was around 2-5 days. Effects, on the other hand, can generally be expected to last anywhere between 2-6 hours. That said, as mentioned above there are several factors at play that may cause your results to vary.
Quantity
The amount of CBD you use will affect how long it lingers. Higher doses give your body more to process, and thus it will take longer for it to fully move through your system.
Frequency
Similarly, how often you use CBD will determine its longevity in your body. Cannabidiol can build up in the body over time with regular use, so using CBD often will also slow down your body’s processing time, and leave it in your system for longer.
Your Diet
Like most things we consume, how fast our body can process it depends on how busy it is processing other things. When taken on an empty stomach, CBD can metabolize much faster than on a full stomach, and thus pass through at a quicker rate.
Your Body
Speaking of metabolism, you may be aware that everyone’s digestive system is different! One person may metabolize CBD very quickly, while another may not. Other factors that play a role here are your body mass index and even water content.
Method of Use
There are many great CBD products, and the method of delivery can affect the amount of time it sticks around. For example, when you vape CBD the effects are felt quickly, it’s processed quickly, and it tends to leave the body more quickly as well.
CBD canna oils on the other hand are processed by the body’s bloodstream and can hang around longer, much like CBD topicals which typically have a longer duration as well.
CBD edibles meanwhile can be slightly unpredictable, as metabolism really comes into play here. Some may find they hit quickly and don’t take long to leave your system, while others may not feel the effects for some time.
How Long Do The Effects Last?
When it comes to the onset of the desired effects of CBD, methods such as vaping and oils are felt most quickly, generally around 15 minutes or so, while topicals and edibles take longer to be felt — approximately 1-2 hours.
Will CBD Show Up On A Drug Test?
Most drug tests are not searching for other compounds, and thus CBD won’t show up on a drug test. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) guidelines include detection for THC but not CBD, and are followed by most employers. However, depending on the cannabidiol product you are using, you may still be consuming tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
A full-spectrum CBD product contains cannabidiol as well as all naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant. This means that THC and even other cannabinoids such as cannabinol (CBN) and more can be present. While some studies suggest that these full-spectrum products are more effective due to the cannabinoids enhancing one another, for those who are concerned about drug test results, you will want to avoid anything that could possibly contain THC.
Instead, you will want to opt for a broad-spectrum product refined to exclude THC, or a pure CBD isolate with no other cannabinoids besides cannabidiol. Regardless of what you’re looking for, make sure to choose products that can provide certificates of analysis and have been tested for content and quality by third-party manufacturers.
Potential CBD/Drug Interactions - An Easy test.....
This is a question that comes up alot and because many people are taking prescription drugs, it’s good to know if CBD will interfere or interact with those drugs. I am not a healthcare provider and if you have any questions or doubts, please check with your healthcare provider regarding interactions.
CBD and other plant cannabinoids can potentially interact with many pharmaceuticals by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P450, a family of liver enzymes. This key enzyme group metabolizes most of the drugs we consume, including more than 60 percent of marketed meds.
At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize a wide range of compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the high that cannabis is famous for.
According to one article I recently read, CBD should never be taken with Clobazam or Valproic Acid. But most people fall into the second category of being aware and cautious when taking prescription drugs with CBD. It all has to do with Cytochrome P450 enzymes. Taking CBD with certain drugs may either increase or decrease how quickly your liver enzymes are able to break down the drugs, so they might reduce or intensify the drugs effects. Here a list of some of the category of drugs that might interact with CBD:
Muscle relaxers
Bronchodilators
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Beta blockers
Cancer medicines
Pain relivers
Epilepsy drugs
Diabetes drugs
Anti Inflammatories
Blood thinners
Benzodiazepines and more!
THE GRAPEFRUIT JUICE TEST:
There is a simpler way to help identify whether CBD could potentially interact with your prescription medication. It invovles asking whether or not it is safe to drink grapefruit juice! Harvard Medical School indicates that CBD can increase the level in your blood of the blood thinner coumadin and also raise levels of certain other medications in your blood by the exact same mechanism that grapefruit does.. So if you have bee told or there is a warning on your prescription bottles that says “DO NOT DRINK OR EAT GRAPEFRUIT WHILE ON THIS DRUG” then there is a possibility it might be unsafe to take CBD as well.
It is always a good idea to take CBD tinctures away from any prescription drug you take so that they don’t compete or interact.
For further reading on the subject here is a link to a ProjectCBD article https://www.projectcbd.org/medicine/cbd-drug-interactions/p450
Personalized Cannabis Testing....follow your DNA to CBD and Cannabis Compatibility
This is something new that just came across my radar…DNA testing to see your own unique and personal response to CBD, THC and terpenes and potential side effects. An in-depth scientific report shows how your unique genetic makeup may best respond to cannabis strains and formulations. Results include product recommendations, suggested dosage guides and methods of administration. For patients and physicians.
Have you already done a 23 & Me, Ancestry or Family Tree DNA test? If so, you can upload your test and the cost is much cheaper. If you haven’t already done DNA testing then this company sends you a kit for you to take your own swab, register the kit online, send in the kit and they will take it from there.
Cannabis medicine can be tricky sometimes, finding the right mode of delivery, compatible strains for your own health situation and dosing, especially if you have many health issues going on at the same time
This might provide more insight. This is a new realm of testing and I would imagine as time goes on it will be more comprehensive.
To learn more about the company and how it works please visit EndoDNA
10 Newest studies on Cannabis →
Below is a great article listing the links to the newest studies on cannabis…enjoy!!
Elizabeth
April 17, 2019
By: Kim Nunley
It’s been an exciting 12-months for cannabis research, check out these top 10 marijuana studies published within the last year.
Every year, researchers discover more about marijuana and its effects. Celebrate 4/20 this year by learning what we know about cannabis in 2019 that we didn’t know at the beginning of 2018.
1. Cannabis Users Have a Better Chance of Surviving a Heart Attack
Brief Overview: After comparing the hospital records of more than a million heart-attack patients, researchers from the University of Colorado discovered that those who had used cannabis in the past were significantly less likely to die during hospitalization. Patients with a history of marijuana use were also significantly less likely to experience shock or require an intra-aortic balloon pump than patients without.
Read more about the study on marijuana use and heart attack outcomes.
2. Cannabis Leaves are Effective Against Staph Infections
Brief Overview: It appears that crushed cannabis leaves can effectively fight against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a cause of Staph infection that is resistant to some antibiotics and hard to treat. Researchers from Saaii College of Medical Science and Technology and the University of Gour Banga in India tested the antimicrobial properties of crushed cannabis leaves infused into an ethanol-based tincture. They found the leaves are even more effective when combined with common guava and an evergreen coniferous tree called Thuja orientalis.
Read more about the study examining the antimicrobial benefits of cannabis leaves.
3. Myth that Marijuana is a Gateway Drug Again Debunked
Brief Overview: That common misconception that marijuana will lead to the use of serious drugs? Research findings published by LiveStories found no connection between having used marijuana and the eventual use of more dangerous and addictive substances like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin. It’s not the first study to debunk the myth.
Read more about the research investigating whether marijuana use increases the risk of using harmful substances.
4. Medical Marijuana Can Help Combat the Opioid Epidemic
Brief Overview: Providing patients with a legal avenue for marijuana appears to lead to a significant drop in prescription opioid use. Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Weill Cornell Medical College looked at whether there is a correlation between medical marijuana legalization and prescription opioid use over a 21-year period. They found legalization led to a nearly 30% drop in opioids, suggesting the patients were opting to treat their pain with cannabis instead.
Read more about the study on the effects of medical marijuana legalization on opioid use.
5. We Now Know How Marijuana Stimulates Appetite
Brief Overview: Marijuana’s appetite-stimulating properties are well-documented, but last year researchers from Washington State University were able to identify how its compounds alter eating behavior. With their animal study, they discovered that marijuana triggers a surge in ghrelin, a hormone responsible for signaling to the brain when it’s time to seek out more food.
Read more about the research into marijuana’s appetite-stimulating effects.
6. Medical Marijuana is Gradually Replacing Anti-Anxiety Medications
Brief Overview: Anxiety is common in today’s society, and it appears that a growing number of patients are opting to use medical cannabis instead of traditional meds to treat the issue. A team of Canadian researchers found that 30% of medical marijuana patients discontinued their use of anti-anxiety drugs within two months of starting with their cannabis treatment. After six months, that value jumped up to 45%.
Read more about the study on cannabis being used in place of traditional meds for anxiety.
7. Legalizing Marijuana Makes the U.S. Southern Border Safer
Brief Overview: Cannabis advocates have a new argument they can utilize in their pursuit of legalization: Ending marijuana prohibition makes communities safer. An analysis from the Cato Institute found that smuggling over the U.S. Southern Border has significantly dropped as more states have legalized marijuana. Over a five-year period, Border Patrol seizures fell 78%. The findings suggest that legalization leads to less business for cartels and a subsequent reduction in smuggling-related violence.
Read more about the research into the effects of marijuana legalization on smuggling.
8. Frequent Marijuana Use Does NOT Adversely Impact Brain Structure
Brief Overview: Using cannabis regularly appears to have no association with brain morphology. A team of 20 investigators from 13 institutions across Australia, the U.S., and the UK examined MRI scans of more than 1,000 young adults and middle-aged men to assess whether habitual marijuana use leads to decreases in gray matter volumes in the brain. They found no such relationship.
Read more about the study investigating marijuana use and brain morphology.
9. Older Adults Benefit From Medical Marijuana Too
Brief Overview: Providing legal access to medical marijuana can improve the health and employment prospects of older adults. After researchers at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Temple University compared medical marijuana laws to more than 100,000 survey responses from adults 51 years and up, they found that those who qualified for medical marijuana experienced significantly less pain and were able to work more hours.
Read more about the research into the effects of legalizing medical marijuana on older adults.
(Separately, researchers last year also found that cannabis is “safe and efficacious” for senior adults.)
10. Legal Marijuana Users Consume Less Alcohol
Brief Overview: A market research report from Chicago-based High Yield Insights found that adults who use marijuana and live in a state where it’s legal consume 21% fewer cocktails and 20% fewer beers than those who use marijuana but live where it’s illegal. Their report also found legal marijuana use to be associated with reductions in prescription anxiety, pain, and depression medications.
Read more about the report’s findings on how marijuana legalization impacts alcohol usage.
Cannabis Overdose: What Happens If You Consume Too Much? →
This article from Green Flower Media is a great article that explains Cannabis overdose, why it isn’t fatal, what you should do if you find that you took to much THC…Using medical cannabis tinctures help you to avoid this issue, but it is still good to know if you ever find yourself in this situation.
byAnna Wilcox 3/21/2018 www.greenflowermedia.com
The cannabis overdose is not lethal but important to recognize.
Given the cannabis’s bad reputation as an illicit substance, many find it surprising to know that cannabis is non-toxic.
In fact, there has yet to be a single recorded death caused by cannabis.
Yet, just like with coffee or sugar, consuming too much cannabis can still resort in an uncomfortable experience.
The biggest risk for cannabis newcomers, is that they’ll experience an overdose and never trying cannabis again.
This is unfortunate because they could have a completely different experience if they took a much smaller dose next time.
Learning more about the cannabis overdose, how to avoid it, and how to deal with it, is important for this reason.
Here’s what happens when you consume too much cannabis and some tips on how to deal with it when it does happen:
What is a cannabis overdose?
People are overdosing on cannabis quite regularly. But they don't always realize it.
You may be wondering, if cannabis is non-toxic is it possible to overdose on the herb?
The answer to this question is yes, it is possible to overdose on cannabis.
However, a cannabis overdose is not fatal like an alcohol or caffeine overdose.
No matter how much cannabis you consume, the herb does not suppress the respiratory system like many other substances.
With substances like alcohol, an overdose can cause the respiratory system to shut down and thereby prevent you from breathing. This is called central respiratory depression.
This suppression of the respiratory system can kill you or cause organ and brain damage.
Cannabis compounds, on the other hand, do not cause central respiratory depression when used on their own.
This means that you cannot fatally overdose on the herb.
Instead, a “cannabis overdose” may cause you to fall asleep or simply have an uncomfortable psychoactive experience.
While some people become so frightened that they prefer to get themselves to an emergency room, the negative side effects of consuming too much cannabis will usually dissipate within a few hours.
Overdoses are significantly more common with edible cannabis.
Edibles take longer for the body to metabolize, and the effects can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to fully express.
Many consumers make the mistake of eating more edibles before the first two-hour window has passed.
When BOTH doses take effect, it may be significantly stronger than you had expected.
The edible cannabis experience is also stronger and longer lasting than the inhaled experience.
When trying edibles for the first time, it is highly recommended to start with half of a dose and work up two hours after your first treat.
What are the symptoms of cannabis overdose?
Consuming too much psychoactive cannabis can create temporary discomfort.
It’s helpful to understand that cannabis is classified as a biphasic substance.
This means if you take too much, it could have the opposite effect of what you intended.
For example, if you take cannabis to help with a bout of nausea – too much could actually make you more nauseous.
However, the effects of a “cannabis overdose” are typically manageable so long as you maintain a calm mindset and get yourself to a comfortable environment.
Here are five possible side effects of a “cannabis overdose”:
1. Fatigue
Eating too much of an edible or inhaling too much cannabis can make you very sleepy.
In fact, if you accidentally overdose on the herb one of the primary side effects is sleep.
Reduced energy levels can take a toll on other parts of your life.
This is a good thing since sleeping off the effects of the herb can save you from some of the more uncomfortable traits of a cannabis overdose, like anxiety and paranoia.
2. Paranoia
Paranoia and anxiety are perhaps the most debilitating outcomes of a cannabis overdose.
While cannabis is non-toxic and will not cause serious or lasting harm, it’s not uncommon for consumers to think that the problem is more severe than the reality.
This is because excess THC can trigger anxiety and paranoia in some people.
In high doses, THC can trigger panic attacks.
During a panic attack, cannabis-induced or not, it is not uncommon for people think that they are dying or having a heart attack.
This can be very uncomfortable and frightening to some people.
Should this happen, it is important to safely get yourself to a calm and quiet place where you can rest and get some sleep.
It is also important to recognize that you may be having a panic attack.
Practicing some deep breathing and focusing on calming your thoughts can help you cope with the situation.
3. Rapid heartbeat
For some people, especially new consumers, cannabis can cause a rapid heartbeat.
These effects often go away with tolerance, though it is important for those with heart conditions to monitor their heart rate after consuming the herb.
This rapid heart beat can aggravate anxiety or perhaps stimulate a panic attack in some consumers.
Heart rate slows down significantly within one hour or so after inhaling the herb and returns to normal within two hours.
4. Decreased blood pressure
THC can cause a drop in blood pressure.
This is the reason why cannabis causes the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate and turn red.
With tolerance, the herb’s effect on blood pressure decreases.
However, taking a dose of cannabis that is too high can exaggerate this side effect.
5. Skewed movement
Some substances, like alcohol, can severely impair motor control such as your ability to walk and stand correctly.
A cannabis overdose can also skew your movement, though to nowhere near the same extent as other substances.
Slumping more and changes in your walking gait can occur.
The sensations of movement may also feel different than normal, which may cause you to move your body in odds ways.
The active compounds in cannabis also affect parts of the brain that influence motor control, which can make you feel less coordinated.
What to do if you have a cannabis overdose?
First of all, don’t panic.
The cannabis itself is not going to harm you.
You can try several different things to help you make it through this experience.
If you overdosed while inhaling cannabis, the misery will only last a few hours.
With edibles, several hours.
So what can you do? Here are a few ideas:
1. Have some CBD
CBD has a synergistic interaction with THC.
If you have any CBD-rich products available, they could help mitigate the THC-induced anxiety you may be experiencing.
2. Try black pepper
Try chewing on a few fresh black pepper balls.
Black pepper has a terpene called beta-caryophyllene, which can also help mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC.
3. Change your environment
This could include turning down any loud music, getting some fresh air, or just going to another room.
A change of environment can help distract from the effects of cannabis overdose.
If you do go outside or for a walk – please be very careful.
4. Focus on something you like
A picture book, a video game, your favorite movie or album … whatever it is … diverting your attention from any negative side effects will make a big difference.
What is the correct dosage of cannabis?
Properly dosing cannabis can be quite the chore.
Everyone responds to the herb differently.
Dosage will also be different for someone who is just starting out versus someone who consumes the plant regularly.
Dosage will also be quite different depending on how you would like to use cannabis.
Depending on your situation, you may actually find less is more with cannabis dosage.
As a very general and unofficial guide, here is how psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is typically dosed:
Microdose: 2.5-5 milligrams THC
Standard dose: 5-10 milligrams THC
High dose: 15-20 milligrams THC
In certain medical situations, people may require much higher doses.
Novice consumers are often recommended to stick to low doses of the compound when first starting out.
This means opting for about five milligrams of THC (or less) or taking just a small inhalation or two from a vaporizer or smoking device.
Those who decide to continue to use cannabis over time will develop a tolerance to the herb.
Prior to developing a tolerance, a higher dose of THC, say 15 milligrams or so, may feel like an overdose to a cannabis beginner.
If you desire or require a higher dose, you can slowly work your way up over several days or weeks.
You can also work your way down the dosage ladder if you feel you’re taking more than you need.
This process of adjusting your dosage over time is called titration.
This same dosage may feel like a moderate dose to an experienced consumer.
Tolerance allows you to consume more cannabis without feeling the negative effects associated with consuming too high of a cannabis dose before the body is ready.
However, even experienced consumers with some tolerance to cannabis can feel the effects of an overdose when they consume higher than normal amounts of cannabis.
How to minimize negative experiences with cannabis
Even though cannabis has a remarkable safety profile, the plant still requires respect.
Being mindful of dosage amount is important, and there are a few other factors to consider:
1. Avoid overdoing it on a regular basis
Some people love the effects of cannabis and enjoy large doses.
Nothing wrong with that.
However, if you’re “overdosing” on cannabis regularly – not only will it jack up your tolerance, but it may also take a toll on aspects of your life including motivation and productivity.
Yes, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
Experienced consumers are often surprised by the increased benefits they notice when consuming LESS cannabis.
2. Set and setting
This is important for any psychoactive experience.
Set refers to your general mindset, and setting refers to your immediate environment.
Consuming cannabis in a crowded place or before a board meeting may not be so helpful for everyone.
3. Be crystal clear on intent
Why are you using cannabis in the first place?
Is it helping you with a medical condition?
Maybe to relax and unwind at the end of the day?
People turn to this plan for countless reasons, and it can add a lot of value to your relationship with cannabis if you know exactly why you’re using it.
For beginners, it will take some practice and experimenting to find how cannabis helps them best.
How Cannabidiol (CBD) Works for Treating Anxiety →
How Cannabidiol (CBD) Works for Treating Anxiety
by Jeremy Kossen at www.leafly.com
While we don’t normally think of anxiety as desirable, it’s actually a critical adaptive response that can help us cope with threats to our (or a loved one’s) safety and welfare. These responses help us recognize and avert potential threats; they can also help motivate us to take action to better our situation (work harder, pay bills, improve relationships, etc.). However, when we don’t manage these natural responses effectively, they can become maladaptive and impact our work and relationships. This can lead to clinically diagnosable anxiety-related disorders. We’ve all heard the saying, “stress kills.” It’s true!
Anxiety-related disorders affect a huge segment of our population—40 million adults (18%) in the United States age 18 and older. In response, Big Pharma has developed numerous drugs to treat anxiety-related disorders, from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft to tranquilizers (the most popular class being benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax).
While these drugs can be effective for many patients, some don’t respond favorably. Certain patients don’t see much improvement, or they can’t tolerate the side effects. Moreover, tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax can be highly addictive. Clearly, alternative treatments are warranted. Could cannabidiol (CBD), the most prominent non-intoxicating constituent in cannabis, provide a viable alternative for currently available anxiety medications? Quite possibly!
In recent years, CBD has generated a tremendous amount of interest among consumers, clinicians, and scientists. Why? Not only does evidence suggest CBD counteracts many of THC’s adverse effects, but numerous animal studies and accumulating evidence from human experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies suggest CBD has powerful anti-anxiety properties. Administered acutely (“as needed”), it appears safe, well-tolerated, and may be beneficial to treat a number of anxiety-related disorders, including:
Panic disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social phobia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Mild to moderate depression
How Does CBD Work?
CBD exerts several actions in the brain that explain why it could be effective in treating anxiety. Before we dive in, it’s important to note that most research describing how CBD works is preclinical and based on animal studies. As the saying goes, “mice are not men” — and, results from animal studies don’t always neatly transfer to human therapies. However, preclinical studies provide insights that move us in the right direction:
5-HT1A agonist: 5-HT1A is a subtype of the serotonin receptor, which is important because anxiety and depression can sometimes be treated with medications that target the serotonin system. This is why drug companies developed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft. SSRIs work by blocking reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, which increases availability of serotonin in the synaptic space. This helps brain cells transmit more serotonin signals, which can reduce anxiety and boost mood in certain cases (although the full biological basis for this is more complicated and not fully understood).
Similar to SSRIs, CBD may boost signaling through serotonin receptors. In an animal study, Spanish researchers found that CBD enhances 5-HT1A transmission and may affect serotonin faster than SSRIs. Researchers noted:
“The fast onset of antidepressant action of CBD and the simultaneous anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect would solve some of the main limitations of current antidepressant therapies.”
Hippocampal neurogenesis: The hippocampus is a major brain area, and plays a critical role in a variety of brain functions. It’s most famous for its role in memory formation and cognition. Brain scans of patients suffering from depression or anxiety often show a smaller hippocampus, and successful treatment of depression is associated with the birth of new neurons (neurogenesis) in the hippocampus.
An animal study using mice found repeated administration of CBD may help the hippocampus regenerate neurons, which could be useful for treating anxiety or depression. Research shows both SSRIs and CBD may promote neurogenesis. This is significant, because evidence suggests that severely impaired neuronal plasticity may influence suicidal behavior. Future research comparing CBD and SSRIs effect on neurogenesis could open up promising new avenues in how we understand depression and how to most effectively treat it.
How Can CBD Help Anxiety?
Building on the foundation of animal studies, human studies are starting to provide evidence to demonstrate that CBD can improve many commonly reported anxiety-disorder symptoms, including acute stress and anxiety.
Human Studies Show How CBD Reduces Anxiety
Brazilian researchers conducted a small double-blind study of patients afflicted with generalized social anxiety. After consuming CBD, participants reported a significant decrease in anxiety. Researchers validated patients’ subjective reports by performing brain scans showing cerebral blood flow patterns consistent with an anti-anxiety effect.
In another small study, researchers had patients suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder perform a simulated public speaking test. Participants reported significantly less anxiety, findings supported by objective anxiety indicators like heart rate and blood pressure.
Researchers concluded, “[CBD] significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in their speech performance,” whereas the placebo group experienced “higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, [and] discomfort.”
Final Thoughts
Evidence from animal studies have begun to characterize the details of how CBD acts in the brain, and human studies of patients with and without anxiety disorders are starting to validate CBD’s efficacy as an anti-anxiety treatment. Given the huge social and financial costs of anxiety disorders in the U.S., CBD has the potential to play a significant role in treating a myriad of anxiety-related disorders.
While more research, including large randomized-control trials (RCTs), is clearly warranted to examine the long-term effects and potential for CBD, its demonstrated efficacy and highly favorable safety profile (particularly when compared to currently available drugs) make it a viable alternative or adjunct to currently available pharmaceuticals.
References
Blessing EM, Steenkamp MM, Manzanares J, Marmar CR. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015;12(4):825-36. PDF
Malberg JE, Eisch AJ, Nestler EJ, Duman RS. Chronic antidepressant treatment increases neurogenesis in adult rat hippocampus. J Neurosci. 2000;20(24):9104-10. PDF
Zlebnik NE, Cheer JF. Beyond the CB1 Receptor: Is Cannabidiol the Answer for Disorders of Motivation?. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2016;39:1-17. PDF