Today, CBD oil is now receiving widespread attention as a safe alternative to drugs such as Xanax and Klonopin for treating anxiety symptoms. This has coincided with the widespread legalization and acceptance of cannabis and different cannabis products for both recreational and medical use.
This has led to some confusion about which is the best CBD oil for anxiety, as there are now thousands of different CBD oil products on the market. CBD oils intended for recreational use may also have a significant amount of THC and other cannabis compounds while those for medical use tend to be much purer, with very little THC or other psychoactive ingredients included.
If you’re interested in using CBD oil for anxiety, you may want to use oil formulations that are specifically created for medical use. These will allow you to have CBD’s anxiety-fighting effects without the psychoactive effects of THC and other cannabinoids that may make it difficult to work, drive, or use heavy machinery.
That isn’t to say that you cannot also use CBD oils intended for recreational use for easing anxiety symptoms. However, you should understand the risks involved in using products in an off-label manner.
Purity
CBD oils intended for medical use tend to have a high percentage of CBD, anywhere from 90% to excess of 99%. Even extremely high purity oils will contain trace amounts of other cannabis compounds such as THC, though these amounts are unlikely to cause any highs or other psychoactive effects.
Other ingredients that may be present in medical-grade CBD for anxiety include fatty acids, chlorophyll, plant fibers, terpenes, and flavonoids among others. While not directly responsible for the healing effects of CBD, they can contribute to the flavor profile of the oils when consumed orally or vaporized.
Common CBD oil methods
CBD oil for anxiety can be taken in a variety of ways.
Vaping
Vaping is fast becoming the most popular way of consuming CBD oil due to its ability to act quickly on the body’s endocannabinoid system. Vaping allows patients to feel the anxiety-soothing effects of CBD with a matter of seconds, rather than hours as would be the case with edibles, another popular consumption method. The dosage can also be finely controlled when vaping, as is the vapor temperature and volume, which can be beneficial for the patient’s enjoyment.
Edibles
Both medical-grade and recreational CBD oils are easily incorporated into a very wide range of food products. CBD gummies, for instance, are now a highly popular product for anxiety control, as they come in controlled dosages and a fun form factor. Making edibles is also a popular pastime, and preparing your own can be relaxing and have its own anxiety-fighting benefits as well.
One issue with edibles though, is that they are a rather slow way to release CBD into your endocannabinoid system, needing to go through your liver before entering your blood and your brain’s endocannabinoid receptors. Depending on your metabolism, effects can take anywhere from thirty minutes to a couple of hours. This makes getting an overly high dose of CBD a risk, though this is generally not a health or safety issue. If the CBD oil you use has high amounts of THC, however, it can present a mild problem if you were not expecting a high.
Tinctures
CBD tinctures are a mix of CBD oil and alcohol that can be topically applied and consumed by placing a few drops under the tongue. These can act within a few minutes and are popular with a few patients taking CBD for anxiety. However, they’re not always pleasant for everyone, as many patients find them irritating and many patients prefer other methods. But if the negative effects don’t apply to you, you might find tinctures to be the most convenient way to use CBD oil to treat your anxiety.
Conclusion
Please seek the advice of a medical professional and avoid self-treatment for anxiety symptoms when possible. This will help ensure that your CBD oil-based treatments are more effective and better suited for your current lifestyle.
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