CBD for Depression? Which Cannabinoid is Best for Anxiety & Low Mood?
Many people feel stress or experience low mood, especially during the cold, dark, winter season. How do you know when a temporary low mood is turning into depression and what can you do to alleviate it? Here, we will look at depression symptoms, what causes depression, and answer your questions on potential natural remedies, lifestyle changes, and trying cannabinoids like CBD for depression.
What are depression symptoms?
Common depression symptoms include persistent sad, anxious or empty moods; loss of interest in activities; difficulty sleeping; changes in appetite and weight; restlessness and irritability. People with depression may also experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, digestive problems and trouble concentrating.
What causes depression?
Depression can have many causes, including medical conditions and life events such as the death of a loved one. While depression is not considered a normal part of aging, some elderly people may suffer depression due to physical or emotional changes that come with age. To make matters more complicated, depression can also be caused by medications or other drugs taken for depression-related symptoms.
Is alcohol a depressant?
Alcohol is technically a sedative, but it can also be a depressant. It can increase depression symptoms and make depression worse. It is important to talk to your doctor about any depression-related issues before using alcohol as a form of self-medication.
Is marijuana a depressant? / Is weed a depressant?
Marijuana and weed are very broad terms covering many different strains of cannabis and hemp. Delta-9-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis. Animal studies have found that low doses of delta-9-THC show potential for improving mood and may have anti-depressant-like effects. However, in some people and/or in large doses, THC can have the opposite effect and increase anxiety and paranoia. Marijuana and depression have especially been reported in adolescents and young adults who consume large amounts of THC. Due to its historic illegality, there is not enough definitive evidence for or against marijuana for depression symptoms. This is why one must be extremely cautious when considering cannabis for depression.
What about CBD for depression?
CBD oil and anxiety have been studied and CBD shows potential for improving stress resilience and promoting balance and calm. In fact, one animal study found CBD to offer the most antidepressant-like effects of all cannabinoids after THC and CBC cannabichromene. However, the FDA has only approved CBD as a drug for one form of epilepsy and does not back its use for anything else. More studies would be needed beforehand. CBD should not be used to diagnose, treat, mitigate or cure any disease.
How about CBN and CBC cannabinoids?
CBN cannabinoid (cannabinol) and CBC (cannabichromene) are rare cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp that may also offer stress relieving properties but have not been recognized as doing so by the FDA. CBN is believed to promote relaxation and sleep and one study found CBC to offer the most anti-depressant like effects of all non-psychoactive cannabinoids.
Can CBD oil cause anxiety?
We have not seen any documented cases of CBD causing anxiety on its own, but cannabinoids all effect people differently. CBD products vary widely and one should only purchase CBD oils and CBD gummies from a trusted company that shows clear third-party lab reports. CBD oil must contain less than 0.3% THC and be derived from hemp to be sold in the United States. People who are very sensitive to cannabinoids may still detect that extremely low amount of THC and should always start with a low dose and increase it very slowly, or take a CBD isolate or broad spectrum CBD as those do not contain any THC. Also, sometimes people may take Delta-8-THC (which is psychoactive) or another converted cannabinoid thinking it is CBD and have a bad reaction.
Can you mix CBD and antidepressants?
It is important to talk to your doctor before mixing CBD oil and antidepressants or any medications. This is because CBD may interact with certain medications, increasing or decreasing their effectiveness and potential side effects.
Where can I find cannabinoid studies?
Although research into CBD compounds and other cannabinoids is in its infancy, there are many rodent studies and some clinical trials on CBD for depression, anxiety and other mental ailments. However, none of these are definitive and as mentioned earlier, the FDA has not approved CBD for depression or any disease apart from one type of epilepsy. Some cannabinoids have been studied much more than others. For example, although CBDV cannabinoid (cannabidivarin) is not well known, it is currently being studied for potential uses of improving sociability and reducing irritability in people with autism spectrum disorder. For more on CBDV cannabinoid, CBD oil anxiety studies and more, visit the product pages on our website and scroll down to the “Scientific Studies” tab. There you will find links to pre-clinical and clinical research.
What else can I do to relieve depression symptoms?
There are many natural alternatives to medications that may relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. However, you should always talk to your doctor for a full assessment. Some natural remedies include: exercise, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy and spending time outside. Also making dietary changes to reduce unhealthy food with increased intake of greens like kale and spinach can help significantly. Furthermore, reducing caffeine intake will help balance moods. Lastly, getting adequate sleep is essential for mental health.
Overall cannabinoids have many potential wellness benefits with very little risk of negative side effects. If you would like to try to improve your mood with CBD and cannabinoids we recommend the following products:
THC Mood Gummies: These gummies contain a very low dose of Delta-9-THC as well as CBC and CBD. This combination is ideal for many people looking for a happy, relaxed feel.
CBC oil: CBC cannabinoid is believed to uplift one’s mood by raising levels of the brain’s “bliss” molecule, anandamide. This CBC oil tincture contains 500mg CBC in certified organic MCT coconut oil.
1:1 CBC:CBD oil blend: This tincture combines equal parts of CBC and CBD for the entourage effect.
Each cannabinoid is believed to offer different potential benefits. Explore our site to learn more. But, don’t forget to talk to your doctor if you think you may have a medical condition or are already taking medications and want to try a cannabinoid product. Never replace a prescription medication with any supplement or natural remedy as this could be dangerous to your health.