CBD for mental health is something we’re hearing more about at the moment. 2020 has certainly taken its toll on many of us and unfortunately even more so for those of us suffering from any form of mental ill health. Even before Covid-19 arrived in our lives, around 1 in 4 people experience mental health issues each year with the most common disorders being anxiety and depression.
There are many factors that may contribute to the development of mental health illnesses. In some cases these may be genetic but, in others, psychological or social factors, experience of trauma and even employment status can be the primary cause. Probably all of us at some point during this extraordinary year have faced unexpected challenges, difficulties or, in many cases, grief so, although Covid-19 may be stealing the headlines, it is mental health that is perhaps just as widespread in 2020.
How does CBD help?
Our bodies have an Endocannabinoid System and naturally produce “feel good” molecules called endocannabinoids. The purpose of endocannabinoids and their receptors is to help the human body achieve homeostasis or a sense of equilibrium by regulating some of our key functions like sleep, mood, anxiety, stress and even appetite.
Whilst endocannabinoids are naturally produced in mammals, phytocannabinoids (which are found in plants) can also be introduced to the body. The best known non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid is CBD. So scientists believe that the benefits of using CBD are due to the fact that it helps to boost our bodies’ levels of cannabinoids. Essentially the fact that CBD is present in our bodies can mean an increased level of endocannabinoid signalling which, in turn, can help to keep our body in balance.
Research is still ongoing into CBD for mental ill health but there is growing anecdotal evidence that it may help. For example, try searching the internet for “does CBD help with anxiety” and you will get plenty of reports from individuals claiming it has helped. Furthermore, in a study in New Zealand during 2020, researchers evaluated the effects of CBD treatment in 72 adults with anxiety. Each participant received 25mg capsule of CBD once a day and after the first 2 months over 78% of participants reported improvement in anxiety symptoms. In the US, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals. Study subjects were observed as having lower behavioural signs of anxiety and their physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, also improved.
Here at Voyager we are not medical practitioners but we do advise our customers on the different types of CBD that are available (we sell a range of CBD oils and gummies) so, if you feel that 2020 is getting you down and you think that CBD can help, please get in touch.
