We all have our low days, but not everyone can pull out of the tailspin. Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide.
If you’re one of the millions suffering from depression and you’re looking for something different than just talk therapy or prescription medications then CBD is definitely worth a try.
CBD is a new field but we’re constantly learning about all the new benefits that it can provide.
Let’s take a closer look at how CBD oil may be able to help with depression.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder that causes a continually depressed mood, which effects the way you think and act.
Allowed to persist, depression can manifest in to a number of other health complications, or result in suicide.
In the U.S. it is the number one cause of disability.
In Japan, depression is the leading cause for their horribly high suicide rate of nearly 70 lives lost, per day.
And according to studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Britain is number 7 out of the 10 most depressed nations in the Western world.
Anti-depressants are chemical based drugs that alter the brain chemistry in ways that have been found to cause a wide variety of side-effects.
Many medications available on the market today list that a common side-effect in teens and young adults is actually an increase in suicidal thoughts and actions.
It is easy to see why people are eagerly seeking a natural, holistic alternative to prescription medications to help treat depression.
How Can CBD Oil Help Treat Depression?
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is found in the cannabis plant, alongside THC.
Unlike its counterpart, CBD does not cause any of the intoxicating effects associated with using marijuana.
The fact that CBD does not get you high, is particularly important when treating mental health issues, like Depression or Anxiety, as too much THC can actually cause your depressive or anxious thoughts to increase!
In a study conducted all the way back in 2014, the National Institutes of Health concluded that CBD oil does in fact work as a natural treatment alternative for both anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs, but…
Due to marijuana still being illegal in most places, this information cannot really be utilized by doctors and it would be counter intuitive for the pharmaceutical companies to publicize it.
Here’s a quote right from the study, it has a bit of medical jargon, but I will explain…
“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a constituent non-psychotomimetic of Cannabis sativa with great psychiatric potential, including uses as an antidepressant-like and anxiolytic compound.”
So what that means is CBD extracted from sativa strains of marijuana acted to combat both depression and anxiety in their testing.
Twitter user @JordyGleason has definitely been noticing a difference with CBD oil.
If you struggle with depression/anxiety, I highly suggest trying CBD oil. I started using it instead of getting on antidepressants and I am so grateful that I went the natural way! I use CBD infinite but there’s lots of companies out there. Read about it. CBD is the future y’all
— Jordy Gleason (@JordyyGleason) July 7, 2018
How To Use CBD Oil For Depression
CBD oil can usually be found packaged in a small glass bottle with a dropper.
In this tincture-like form, you can easily drop your desired amount right under your tongue or in to your favorite beverage.
I’d recommend starting with half a dropper, 2-3 times per day and see how you feel after 1 hour of using it.
Don’t forget to keep a diary of how much you took and how it made you feel so that you can figure out the right dosage for you.
@LoreleiEllen has a great recipe idea for CBD mint hot cocoa!
How about double-chocolate hot chocolate mint w/whipped cream + @NaturesUltra Cool Mint CBD Oil. Would be our healthy hot drink‼️Cuz chocolate+CBD Oil are both medicinal. Boom💥🍫☕️💥#CBDLife #Chocolate✨gif obvi in Utah not San Diego😎 pic.twitter.com/uVmlfxpYoY
— Lorelei (@LoreleiEllen) November 29, 2018
For a topical option, try rubbing a CBD salve on your temples or right where your neck meets the base of your skull.
Pro Tip: Massaging your temples causes a relaxing effect, even without the salve.
CBD oil can also be loaded in to a vape pen, allowing you the quickest access to its benefits.
Vapes come in every shape, size and experience level. You can pick up a disposable cartridge just to try or get a tabletop rig to set up at home.
Try out a couple options until you find what works best for you!
Depression is unique to each person and CBD oil allows you the freedom to meet your exact needs, rather than just taking the same pill they give to everyone else.
So there you have it – CBD oil doesn’t only treat Depression, but Anxiety, too!
Let’s hope that as the wave of legalization continues, the benefits of CBD oil will finally be realized and made available to everyone!