Mental health has become a hot burner topic in recent times, with a variety of campaigns and advocacy groups working to eliminate the stigma around it and make it easier to access treatment. Coincidentally, discoveries are constantly being made about the potency of cannabis-based products to help patients overcome their conditions.
CBD oils are the foremost set of cannabis-related products that have been identified as being beneficial for mental health. They are made from high-CBD, low-THC, which makes them different from products tagged as “medical marijuana”, which are usually produced from plants with very high THC content. Here are four of the ways CBD oils can boost your mental health:
1. Stress Alleviation
Stress is a major factor in many disorders, as a result of the way it pushes the body to go into “fight or flight mode” in which there is an increase in blood pressure accompanies by dilation of the pupils and heart rate acceleration. These effects occur due to increased production of the hormone cortisol, which provides energy to combat the stress factor. When a person is perpetually in this state though, it takes a toll on the body and mind.
The cannabinoids in CBD oils help with this by stimulating the body to produce more endocannabinoids and other hormones and enzymes which induce calmness and homeostasis among all the different organs and systems in the body.
2. Sleep Management
The benefits of optimal (in terms of time and quality) sleep cannot be overstated. Poor sleeping habits take a serious toll on a person’s physical and mental functions, preventing them from being able to function optimally for sustained periods of time and even affecting emotional responses, thereby putting crucial relationships at risk.
CBD oils trigger the release of enzymes that help to prevent insomnia and restore sleeping cycles to optimal patterns. The effect of this can be massive, especially if sleep disorders have been ongoing for a long time.
3. Increased Cognitive Function
A significant proportion of mental illnesses are caused by hormonal imbalances, many of which impact the nervous system. The cannabinoids in CBD oils interact with the central nervous system to promote optimal nerve function, neuron firing and interaction between various sectors of the nervous system.
The effect of this is that patients who take CBD oils for anxiety or other conditions are likely to experience greater mental clarity and rational thinking ability. This is especially important for those whose mental illnesses prevent them from functioning optimally at work or elsewhere.
4. Relief from Depression
People suffering from depression constantly have to rely on a cocktail of mood-stabilizing and antidepressant drugs, but recent research has shed some positive light on the therapeutic effects of CBD on depression.
One study by Spanish scientists found that “CBD could represent a novel fast antidepressant drug, via enhancing both serotonergic and glutamate cortical signaling through a 5-HT1A receptor-dependent mechanism.” This represents an exciting frontier of relief for people suffering from depression since CBD oils would combat depression but also act to prevent and help with other conditions.
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