It’s no secret that we’re big science nerds here at Remedio. We strive to educate our community not only on the benefits of CBD, but also on the physiology behind those effects. In light of all the increased stress in the world right now, we’re bringing you a deep dive into the science behind anxiety & CBD-use.
What is anxiety, really?
You might be surprised to learn that there are 3x as many adults with anxiety disorders in the US than there are vegetarians. (1, 2) Anxiety comes in many varieties, but the unifying experience is an over-activation of the body’s “fight-or-flight” responses, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure and an inhibition of the digestive system. Humans developed these responses for protection, but for folks with anxiety, their “fight-or-flight” response can be triggered by non-threatening situations, everyday tasks or, say, a global pandemic. When this happens, there is a flurry of activity in the limbic and paralimbic areas of your brain, which are responsible for processing emotions. Chronic anxiety and depression are also associated with low levels of Serotonin, the chemical that helps moderate your mood. (3)
Enter: CBD
What we know is this: in numerous studies, patients with anxiety who were administered Cannabidiol (CBD) exhibited a decrease in limbic & paralimbic brain activity and reduced stress responses. (4) Patients in these studies who took CBD also showed increased levels of Serotonin, similar to the effect of anti-depressants like Zoloft and Prozac, which inhibit your neural cells’ ability to take up Serotonin from the rest of your brain. (5)
What we don’t know is exactly how CBD reacts with our nervous cells to inhibit the fight or flight response. They’re still studying it. But one thing is clear- CBD has the potential to be a major therapeutic player in our management of stress and every day we’re learning more. So, whether you’re taking advantage of the calming benefits of our organically-grown, batch-tested CBD oil or practicing another strategy to reduce stress and anxiety, we at Remedio have your back. And the rest of your body too.
Other tips & resources to reduce anxiety:
· Take deep breaths
· Meditate & Practice Mindfulness
· Eat these foods and avoid sugar (sugar can amplify the effects of anxiety (6))
· Exercise regularly
· Speak with a therapist
· Improve your sleep (CBD can also contribute to improved sleep (7). Check out our 900mg Rest Drops.)
