DOES CBD TOPICAL HELP IN ANXIETY?

  There has been little information about the effectiveness of CBD as a topical but many consumers say that it works successfully in relieving different ailments. It helps in treating skin diseases, managing pain, and reducing anxiety in different people. This is due to its increased popularity which led to so many studies to determine how it can be used in treating anxiety.

 What is Topical CBD?

CBD is a cannabinoid that is non-intoxicating and it’s mainly found in cannabis plants. Topical CBD can be defined as any balm, cream, or lotion with CBD infuses and they can be used in treating skin infections through direct application on the skin. Koivisto et al. (2022) suggested that CBD can also reduce intense pain or sharp pain as well as reduce the itchy sensations and cold. Also, other researchers suggest that topical CBD may also be used in reducing joint pains by being absorbed in the skin. They can also be used by people who suffer from anxiety as a way of dealing with it.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the feeling of nervousness, worry, fear, or that sense of uneasiness about what to happen or what might happen later on. When we talk about fear, is that feeling or emotion we feel when threatened so anxiety is always anticipated by any trouble, danger, or threat. Anxiety can also be defined as a natural body response to stress.  Anxiety can be experienced during the first day of your school, during your first interview, your first speech in front of so many people which can make most people feel nervous and fearful.

Anxiety can develop to become an anxiety disorder if it persists for more than six months and starts interfering with your life. Although it's normal to feel anxious about something, it might also be unpleasant but it can motivate you in working hard. There is a difference between ordinary anxiety and anxiety disorder because ordinary anxiety does not interfere with your normal life. After all, it comes and goes which is very okay but anxiety disorder stays with you all the time which makes it very hard for a person to go on with his or her life normally.

Types of anxiety disorders

Panic disorder: this is the kind of anxiety where one experiences recurring unexpected panic attacks at different times. This kind of anxiety disorder interferes with the person’s way of life because the person is not aware of the next panic attack.

Phobia: this kind of anxiety disorder is associated with one fearing specific places, activities, situations, or specific objects. For example, some people have water phobia and they are no longer comfortable whenever they are closer to large waters.

Illness anxiety disorder: this anxiety disorder involves people who are always worried about their health.

Symptoms of anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety are very different from one person to another depending on the person's experiences. You might experience symptoms like; increased heart rate, rapid breathing, difficulty in falling asleep' feeling out of control, restlessness, and panic attacks. Fear and worry can describe the anxiety symptoms very well.

Does Topical CBD help in anxiety?

Topical CBD is used in treating anxiety. The human body has different receptors such as the CB1 receptor which is found in Central Nervous System and the CB2 receptor, which is found in the Peripheral Nervous System, CBD is believed to interact with those two receptors and alter serotonin signals in a way that is not fully understood. Nordquist& Oreland (2010) reported that Serotonin plays a very important role in one's mental health. When a person has a low level of serotonin, then they are associated with anxiety.

Blessing et al.  (2015) discovered that CBD can be used in treating anxiety by some people instead of using SSRI. National institute on drug abuse says that for the treatment of anxiety, CBD can be used in reducing anxiety when it comes to a generalized anxiety disorder. This was a result of the study above which showed the lower behavioral signs of anxiety after using Topical CBD. Bergamaschi et al. (2011) showed the effect of CBD on people with anxiety. They were given an oral dose which comprised 400 mg of CBD and they confirmed having an overall reduced anxiety level. Larsen& Shahinas (2020) discovered that CBD can be used in treating anxiety symptoms such as replaying bad memories and nightmares.

CBD cream for anxiety

It is very important to use CBD cream for treating anxiety because it kicks in very fast and one should expect the result of feeling more relaxed in just 5- 10 minutes after using it than when using CBD oil which takes 10-20 minutes under the tongue. Another importance of CBD cream is that it’s very affordable.

CBD oil for anxiety

CBD oil is used by taking some drops of it under the tongue. It can also be done by mixing it in food or applying it to your skin which may take time to kick compared to CBD cream but it still plays its role.

CBD Dosage

It's always advisable to talk to your doctor if you are planning on trying CBD oil for your anxiety treatment to help you in figuring out the right starting dose.  According to Dancel (2019), 300 mg of CBD administered 90 minutes before the speech played a greater role in reducing the speaker's anxiety. The Members of the placebo group study who received 150 and 600 mg of CBD showed little benefits.

CBD Side Effects

CBD is considered safe but it may interact with the other medications the person is undergoing or dietary supplements one is taking. One is warned against using CBD while using blood thinners with grapefruit warnings because both grapes and CBD interact with enzymes which are very important in drug metabolism.  According to Devinsky et al. (2018), CBD side effects may include; a change in appetite, fatigue, change in weight, and diarrhea.

Conclusion

Topical CBD cream is very important because it is used in treating different sicknesses such as skin infections and dealing with anxiety. Anxiety is that feeling of fear and being emotionally disturbed about what will happen next. Symptoms of anxiety include; increased heart rate, rapid breathing, difficulty in falling asleep' feeling out of control, and restless and panic attacks Although CBD can be used in treating anxiety; some authors did not find some evidence to support this statement. This means that more human tests are required to be done to explain how CBD works, the ideal dosage of it, and its side effects.

References

Bergamaschi, M. M., Queiroz, R. H. C., Chagas, M. H. N., De Oliveira, D. C. G., De Martinis, B. S., Kapczinski, F., ... & Crippa, J. A. S. (2011). Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naive social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(6), 1219-1226.

Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.

Dancel, E. (2019). Treating acute pain without overusing opioids.

Devinsky, O., Verducci, C., Thiele, E. A., Laux, L. C., Patel, A. D., Filloux, F., ... & Friedman, D. (2018). Open-label use of highly purified CBD (Epidiolex®) in patients with CDKL5 deficiency disorder and Aicardi, Dup15q, and Doose syndromes. Epilepsy & Behavior, 86, 131-137.

Koivisto, A. P., Belvisi, M. G., Gaudet, R., & Szallasi, A. (2022). Advances in TRP channel drug discovery: From target validation to clinical studies. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 21(1), 41-59.

Larsen, C., & Shahinas, J. (2020). Dosage, efficacy and safety of cannabidiol administration in adults: a systematic review of human trials. Journal of clinical medicine research, 12(3), 129.

Nordquist, N., & Oreland, L. (2010). Serotonin, genetic variability, behaviour, and psychiatric disorders-a review. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 115(1), 2-10.