Along with its wellness benefits such as insomnia and pain relief, CBD has also been shown to have calming properties which are effective in the treatment of anxiety. Anxiety disorder variants like panic disorder are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting approximately one-third of the population.
A common symptom of anxiety is panic attacks which are characterized by sudden periods of intense fear, usually lasting between 5 and 20 minutes. These brief periods of intense fear can cause distress - but fortunately, several studies have found that CBD has anxiolytic effects on conditions that involve anxiety.
Delta 9 CBD is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of anxiety symptoms. Keep reading to discover the significant effect CBD can have on anxiety, including the research into the benefits as well as different products to try for various symptoms.
CBD Benefits for Delta 9 THC Anxiety
A clinical trial was carried out to determine whether CBD decreases the anxiety associated with Delta-9 THC. The researchers wanted to see if the anxiolytic-like effects induced by delta 9 THC were generally blocked by CBD or if the anxiolytic effect was caused by a specific mechanism of action of CBD.
The trial involved a double-blind procedure, and healthy volunteers received varying amounts of CBD and delta 9 THC, as well as combinations of both. In addition, they were given a placebo and diazepam (a minor tranquilizer) so the effects produced could be compared.
The results verified that CBD is effective at reducing anxiety caused by delta 9 THC, and stress reactivity levels remained relatively unchanged. The researchers did not find a significant difference in pulse rates among healthy controls. They subsequently concluded that the anxiolytic effect was not caused by a general block of the effects of delta 9 THC but rather a specific effect that CBD produced.
Benefits of CBD for Emotional Processing
CBD has also been found to be effective in helping people process emotions such as anxiety and alleviate psychosocial stress. If a person is unable to process intense emotions, they may develop psychiatric symptoms such as a phobia. Processing of emotions refers to a person's ability to overcome stress, so specific feelings may disappear over the course of time.
Another clinical trial involved 15 healthy men who had smoked cannabis fifteen times or less during their lifetime. The purpose of the trial was to study the psychological and behavioral effects of the two main cannabinoids in cannabis sativa, CBD and delta 9 THC.
The men in the present study were required to have no drug, alcohol abuse, or dependence issues, and no personal or family history of psychiatric illness. Cannabis and other illicit drugs were tested using the Addiction Severity Index. The definition of drug abuse was small quantities taken frequently or large amounts occasionally.
On 3 different occasions, the normal subjects were studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging while viewing male and female faces, which evoked varying levels of anxiety. A total of 10 different faces were shown, each revealing a neutral expression, mild fear, or intense fear. Therefore, 30 different facial stimuli were presented, and each stimulus was shown twice for 2 seconds.
Before each occasion, they ingested 600mg CBD, 10mg of delta 9 THC, or a placebo, and participants were asked to abstain from any recreational drug use during the study. The main outcomes of the trial were measured by regional brain activity and electrodermal activity, also referred to as skin conductance responses (SCR). In addition, an objective and subjective rating of anxiety was measured by the researchers.
At the beginning of the study and at 1, 2, and 3-hour intervals after taking their drug treatments, ratings of the participants were collected using various scales, including the following:
- Visual Analogue Mood Scale
- Spielberger STAI
- Analogue Intoxication Scale
- Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
From the first rising data point (1 hour) to the final point (3 hours), the results showed that delta 9 increased anxiety in response to fearful faces. It also enhanced sedation, intoxication, and psychotic symptoms among participants in the study. In contrast, there was a tendency for participants to experience a reduction in anxiety following the use of CBD.
Also, the researchers found that CBD had an effect on blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow. It affected certain brain regions and reduced the force of blood-oxygenation levels in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area of the brain that is essential for thought processing.
Statistical analysis was used in the study to assess task performance and questionnaire responses by participants. Repeated measures revealed that CBD did not affect reaction times.
Anterior cingulate responses corresponded with changes in the skin conductance response among participants. The researchers found that CBD and delta 9 clearly had unique effects on the neural responses to fearful faces. Cannabidiol reduced anxiety in response to fearful faces, whereas THC drug treatment increased anxiety.
How Does CBD Treat Anxiety Disorders?
CBD improves relaxation by binding to receptors in the endocannabinoid system of the central nervous system. Like most psychoactive drugs, marijuana use influences the brain, and that includes the prefrontal cortex: the fear-processing part of the brain.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Through various tests, including physical tests such as the elevated plus maze, CBD has been used as a way of reducing various forms of anxiety (with steps to facilitate anatomical localization). Attempts have been made to compare drug conditions between individual eliciting stimulus and sources of autonomic arousal, with most results showing that anxiety can be lessened in various ways by using Delta-9.
An Overview of Delta 9 THC
Although there are a few different forms of THC in cannabis plants, the most abundant form is Delta 9 THC. This cannabinoid is responsible for marijuana intoxication and is considered to be an illicit substance. However, CBD products with a delta 9 THC level lower than 0.3% are in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill.
In general, most people tolerate delta 9 THC with little or no adverse effects. However, cannabis use has potential risks and can lead to various medical conditions, particularly smoking cannabis, as there is an increased risk of lung cancer. In addition, cannabis use on a regular basis can lead to a condition called cannabis use disorder, although this can be alleviated through common-sense cannabis-using habits.
