CBD Oil Benefits and Mental Health

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A massive contributor to the popularity of CBD in the UK is its potential for mental health benefits.

Roughly 1 in 4 people in the UK struggle with some type of mental health issue each year, and while some seek out help, many others don’t or aren’t able to. While of course, certain mental health conditions require specific treatment plans, a lot of people are looking for more natural ways to relax and cope with things like anxiety. But does CBD actually work for mental health?

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO)  agree that CBD, aka cannabidiol, is safe for human consumption and could help treat lots of health conditions including anxiety, schizophrenia and chronic stress. Here’s a breakdown of how CBD may boost your mental health and help your overall health and wellness.

CBD May Help with Anxiety

Pretty much everyone on the planet has experienced anxiety at one time or another. For those who have experienced anxiety, you know it’s uncomfortable, distracting, and for some, it can be completely debilitating. It’s become part of our culture to pop a pill and call it a day, but many of people living with or experiencing anxiety are looking for more natural ways to relax their bodies and mind. That’s where CBD comes in.

Unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, CBD does not get you high. While THC may actually increase anxiety in higher doses, CBD does the opposite.

A recent study  found that CBD lowers anxiety at all doses tested. Participants of another CBD study also reported decreased anxiety levels and improvements in sleep compared to those who didn’t take CBD. We’re discovering more every day about the science behind CBD and anxiety and how much it could help!

CBD Reduces Stress and Helps with Relaxation

How CBD actually functions in our bodies has to do with what’s called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Scientists are still exploring this, but basically, CBD impacts us by interacting with the ECS – which is naturally occurring in the body that helps regulate things like mood and sleep.

Okay. But what does this have to do with CBD and stress? When we’re stressed, our brains trigger a release of hormones that puts the body in a state of high alert. Especially with everything happening in the world today, stress levels are at an all-time high, which means for many of us, our bodies are reacting as if we’re in constant danger — even if that’s not the case. You might have guessed (or experienced yourself) that this isn’t exactly healthy for us. Being flooded with stress hormones day in and day out is pretty nerve-racking for both the body and the mind.

CBD has powerful antioxidants that induce relaxation, which naturally counters stress levels and gives our bodies a chance to relax and recuperate. Researchers think that the antioxidants found in CBD reduce inflammation, which also helps your body relax by decreasing anxiety and stress.

Amphora's Peace formulation  is an excellent option to release stress, as it helps you feel calm and relaxed. Peace is made with all organic ingredients and terpenes, which are natural elements found in plants that give them their smell and taste and have medicinal benefits all on their own.

CBD May Help with Feelings of Isolation

Human beings are social creatures, and in the scientific community, it’s common knowledge that being isolated from other people can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, news stories have reported  a massive spike in demand for CBD products in the UK. In just the first four months of 2020 alone, research found that more than £150 million were spent on CBD products.

There’s a lot of promising evidence that shows CBD can alleviate symptoms of isolation, like stress and anxiety, which in turn may mitigate feelings of loss and loneliness.

CBD May Reduce the Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

As we talked about earlier, CBD works with the ECS to keep your body balanced. The ECS also stimulates the part of our brain responsible for mood, emotion and memory.

Several animal studies have found that CBD reduces anxiety related to specific mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other generalized anxiety disorders. 

Where Can I Find the Best CBD Products?

There are tons of CBD products out there marketed for mental health. Keeping in mind that CBD is not a substitute for medical treatment, CBD is an excellent alternative in supplementing your overall wellness.

That being said, you still have to be careful about what you buy. Because the rules and regulations around CBD are so complex, many companies are able to get away with selling "CBD-infused products” that may not contain any CBD at all. At Amphora, we carry only top-quality organic CBD products with naturally derived ingredients. All of our products are broad-spectrum and distillate with no THC, which means you get all of the benefits of the whole cannabis plant and not just CBD. We also list all of our certificate of analysis (COA) on our website. A COA shows you that our products have been tested by a third-party and include the ingredients listed on the label.

Mental health is just as important as your physical health and should be at the top of your mind. CBD is an excellent addition to your mental health wellness routine, but there are also lots of resources available to help with mental health. The National Health Service has a full list of resources here.  Hopefully, CBD is something that can help you live your best life with better overall mental health.