Does CBD Oil Help with Depression?

CBD has become quite a phenomenon in the health and wellness industry.  Almost everyone in America is busy researching or experimenting with CBD these days. Of course, they would, for this chemical compound is known for healing the human body in many ways. The legality of CBD, along with the many health benefits that it promises to bring, brought about all of the breakthroughs in the usage of cannabis.

With people finding relief in problems, such as anxiety, chronic pain, and inflammation, there is no doubt that CBD has many therapeutic qualities. Like in the case of depression, which is also known as the silent killer, CBD has given extraordinary results. Depression is very common among many individuals today. The onset of such can be minor for others. Unfortunately, there are also those that suffer depression to a greater extent.

For patients that suffer long-term and severe depression, the most common recourse is through the use of over-the-counter antidepressants. Unfortunately, these medicines only treat depression at surface level. More so, these medicines have harmful effects on the body in the long run.

With CBD oil, patients that suffer from depression have a more natural recourse. It’s also free of side effects and any unnecessary chemicals that do your body harm. Plus, it’s also great for those with an aversion to pills or capsules since there are now various CBD products out in the market that offer a wide variety of modes of usage.

If this interests you, then go on, read this article and thank us later!

Let’s start with understanding depression

Depression has become a common mental ailment these days. People are so taken by stress and life problems that many of them don’t even know they are suffering with it.

Depression is a state of mind, where people feel numb in emotions and stuck in life. It is believed that depression is the result of chemical imbalance in the brain. Some people also say that this is a myth created by pharmaceutical companies to increase their sales. Whether it’s true or not, the happy hormone called serotonin definitely has some contribution in healing depression.

Depression is also said to have connected with inflammation, past traumas, chronic stress, social isolation, stress, and other life problems. Since there are so many reasons that induce depression, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the solutions to beat depression can also be many.

While medicines, therapy, meditation and yoga are a few ways to cope with this mental illness, CBD oil is the new and organic way to treat depression.  Let’s find more about it.

What is CBD?

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike other compounds of this plant, CBD is non-psychoactive in nature for the reason that it contains only 0.3% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is another cannabinoid responsible for giving you the high or creating alterations in brain. Thus, CBD doesn’t have any intoxicating effects on humans or animals. This can help soothe any doubts that you might have as to whether or not long-term use of CBD oil might lead to addiction or intoxication. With the absence of THC, the answer is no.

CBD oil is made from CBD and Mct, and is one of the many CBD-infused products available in the market.  Finding the CBD oil for you requires a bit of research and trial, but once you get your hands on the one that suits you the best, you will thank yourself.

Now, that we know enough about CBD and depression, let’s take our attention to ways in which CBD can help in treating depression.

How does CBD oil help in depression?

There have been studies regarding the positive effects of CBD on animals struggling with depression and anxiety. Since these researches were not conducted on human beings, they are still not accepted conclusively.

Let’s have a look at some of them-

In a 2014 animal study, it was revealed that CBD interacted with the brain receptors in such a way that it induced anti-anxiety and antidepressant-like effects. This statistic, therefore, also answers the query as to whether or not CBD oil can be used for depression’s sidekick, anxiety. These two generally occur together and patients who suffer from such would like to know whether CBD oil can help treat both.

Anxiety is linked with low serotonin levels in the body. So, with the positive effect that CBD has on serotonin receptors, it’s safe to conclude that patients who suffer from anxiety, alongside their depression, can benefit from CBD as well.

Similarly, in 2018, a study carried out by the National Institute of Health, U.S, concluded that CBD does have anti-stress characteristics which help in treating anxiety and depression.

More recently, a 2019 study, done on animals, contended that CBD has rapid and sustained antidepressant like effects on the brain.

There are very limited studies and researches done on the effects of CBD oil in humans. While we still have a long way to go to carry out conclusive research in the area, people are waiting no longer to self-medicate themselves with the miraculous CBD oil. However, for those that have become CBD loyalists, they’ve sworn by the positive changes that CBD oil has done for them.

Why choose CBD oil for depression?

Serotonin is the hormone responsible for making you happy.  Low level of serotonin leads to depression and anxiety. The main job of antidepressants is to increase serotonin level in your brain. The same thing is done by CBD oil, when it interacts with your endocannabinoid system and encourages cannabinoids to achieve homeostasis. Basically, CBD oil works with brain receptors to achieve a balance in serotonin levels.

Also, when you take antidepressants to treat depression, there can be side effects of the pills, such as, drowsiness, laziness, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia. CBD oil is a great alternative for that. It is also inexpensive, natural, and easy to take. Even so, it is advisable to consult a medical practitioner before starting your CBD treatment.

The main difference between both chemical anti-depressants and CBD oil is that CBD oil has little to no side effects at all. This is, of course, given the condition that the CBD oil you’re buying is of superior quality. That way, you’re guaranteed that the CBD oil product isn’t laden with added chemicals or synthetic products. It’s safer to use in the long run than dependency on antidepressants.

Conclusion

CBD is not your first-line treatment for depression. While it aids in dealing with depression and alleviates the disease, it cannot be solely relied on, especially, if you are having suicidal thoughts. It is strongly recommended to see a therapist and get on traditional medicines to deal with the disease. In any case, CBD can help you deal well with depression in long term. This also doesn’t mean that you cannot recover from depression. You can always create new neurons, even without CBD or any other treatment. All you have to do is focus on your brain, break the mental trap, and create new connections.