TOP 5 FAQS FOR CBD AND DEPRESSION
CBD products have blown up on the natural and holistic health markets. It used to come predominantly in the form of oils and tinctures, but now you can find them in gummies, lotions, pastes, vapes, and more.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a molecule that is derived from the hemp and marijuana plants. While hemp and marijuana are related, they are not the same. Hemp does not contain the psychoactive (and typically illegal) compound THC. Both plants, though, contain many beneficial compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more.
CBD works with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system which helps your body maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis is the process by which your body maintains balance across a wide variety of systems, including hormones, appetite, temperature, and more.
For this reason, CBD can benefit a whole host of symptoms, including pain, sleep, and mood. In fact, many people consume CBD for their anxiety and depression.
Interested in learning more about CBD for depression? Check out some of the most frequently asked questions.
CBD is a health supplement that helps support your body to maintain balance. One of the areas CBD can have that effect is in your brain’s serotonin receptors. Serotonin is neurotransmitter responsible for mood. When balanced, it helps people to feel calm and happy. When people experience depression and anxiety, their serotonin levels are often out of balance.
Studies have shown that CBD works similarly to antidepressant and antianxiety medications. However, because it works with your body’s naturally occurring systems, CBD is less habit-forming and has fewer negative side effects compared to prescription drugs.
CBD works to support your body’s systems which means you can take it at almost any time. Many people consume CBD as a preventative measure. CBD supports your body in many ways, including with sleep, pain management, appetite, and mood. For this reason, it can be taken before you ever experience symptoms of depression.
You can also start taking CBD once you start to experience depression and anxiety. Because it works to support your body’s serotonin levels, CBD can help to balance those hormones while also elevating your mood and supporting your body in a number of other ways.
There are a lot of products on the market that can help with depression. Choosing the right product depends on a number of factors, including personal taste and how quickly you want the product to take effect.
For example, there are CBD products called tinctures and pastes which contain incredibly high levels of CBD such as Be Hempy’s 20% CBD Paste. It can be ingested as is or combined with food such as coffee, teas, or smoothies. Some people don’t like the taste of CBD tinctures, which is why products such as Be Hempy’s Supercanna CBD drops exist—they have all the health benefits of CBD without the resin taste.>
CBD can also come in other consumable forms such as capsules. For example, Be Hempy’s Stressocanna is a CBD capsule that contains dried hemp buds, golden root, ashwagandha, and other vitamins and minerals to support your mood and overall health.
The short answer is—it depends. A number of factors effect how quickly CBD works for depression, including the product you’re using, your body composition, and dosage.
Some products have higher concentrations of CBD which means they can potentially work with your body faster. CBD tinctures and pastes contain high concentrations of CBD and are easily ingested in your body. Gummies and other consumables, however, take a little longer to absorb which means you won’t experience the health effects as quickly.
Tinctures and pastes are also easier to experiment with dosage. We suggest starting with the lowest dosage and seeing how you feel over a week or two. From there, you can slowly increase the dose and work your way up over a few weeks or months until you find an ideal dosage for you depression symptoms.
It is important that if you are taking antidepressant or antianxiety medication, you consult your doctor about any other medication or health supplements you take. This ensures there are no negative interactions with your medication.
However, CBD is generally safe to take with your antidepressant. In fact, CBD can help to boost the effects of the antidepressant as well as work in other areas of your body to help you sleep better, improve inflammation, and manage pain. Addressing these issues holistically will help to support your body’s health and can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.