Hemp CBD and the “Gloomy Feeling”
Historical facts about the use of cannabis show that it was used, among other things, to alleviate various emotional tensions. Today, numerous studies confirm the validity of this use. CBD from cannabis shows a beneficial effect on well-being even in cases where this is already quite advanced, such as anxiety or depression. Let's look at some of the research results.
The calming potential of cannabidiol
According to the evidence so far, CBD shows numerous potentials (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, neuroregenerative, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antiepileptic, etc.), including effects that are important for managing mild emotional tension or even more severe psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. This means that cannabidiol also has antipsychotic and anxiolytic potential in addition to the aforementioned. Many people therefore use CBD preparations both to manage everyday tension and the associated mild mood disorders, as well as to manage the more severe mood problems mentioned above.
Evidence of antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects of CBD in animals
Review of studies on the effects of cannabidiol on anxiety and depression (2014)
The study Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa (De Mello Schier, AR et al.) reviewed studies that tested the effects of CBD in animal models of depression and anxiety. CBD showed both anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Many of the studies attribute these effects to CBD's effects on 5-HT1A neuroreceptors (CBD's effects on serotonin receptors).
Research on the impact of occasional and long-term CBD use on depression (2015)
Research into the effects of intermittent and long-term CBD administration in mice reveals that CBD could be a novel rapid antidepressant drug that works by enhancing serotonergic and glutamate cortical signaling through a mechanism dependent on the 5-HT1A receptor (Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors. Raquel Linge at al.).
Determining the potential of cannabidiol as a fast-acting antidepressant (2018)
The researchers were motivated to study this, among other things, by the current state of antidepressants. These are said to take quite a while to have a relatively small therapeutic effect. Therefore, they studied in male rats whether CBD can induce a rapid and sustained antidepressant effect after a single administration and whether the effect is associated with changes in synaptic proteins/function. The results show, among other things, that CBD induces a rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effect. These effects may be associated with rapid changes in synaptic plasticity in the mPFC by activating the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. The data support a promising therapeutic profile for CBD as a new rapid-acting antidepressant drug (Cannabidiol Induces Rapid and Sustained Antidepressant-Like Effects Through Increased BDNF Signaling and Synaptogenesis in the Prefrontal Cortex. Sales, AJ et al.).
Evidence of antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects of CBD in humans
Research on the effects of CBD on anxiety in humans (2010, 2011)
Researchers have investigated whether CBD can have anxiolytic effects in people with pathological anxiety. They found that CBD reduces anxiety in patients with generalized social anxiety disorder by affecting the limbic and paralimbic parts of the brain (Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Crippa, JA et al).
CBD can also be expected to have a calming effect on anxiety that arises in social situations. Researchers tested people with social anxiety by simulating a public speaking situation and found that CBD reduced their anxiety (Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients. Bergamaschi, MM et al).
CBD as a potential drug for the treatment of anxiety disorders (2015)
A review of the evidence (from preclinical studies, experimental human studies, clinical and epidemiological studies) reveals, among other things, that CBD could be a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Esther M. Blessing et al.).
Clinical trials are underway to investigate the effectiveness of CBD in anxiety disorders and depression (2017, 2018)
Due to the positive results of the initial studies, CBD is already being tested in various randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials on people with psychological problems, such as anxiety disorders (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03549819). The effectiveness of CBD compared to placebo in depression is also being tested (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03310593).
Text: Adriana Dolinar, Dr. Vet. Med., President Associations for the Awakening of the Whole Man and external collaborator of the project Together for the Health of Man and Nature and the information center – Zadravje.net.
