Which Cannabinoids Should You Be Consuming To Treat Anxiety?
These Powerhouse Molecules Can Help Fight The Sunday Scaries
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4% of the global population suffers from anxiety disorders. That translates to around 301 million people around the world, a large number no matter how you look at it.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition among all, yet it’s notoriously challenging to treat. It also comes in a range of forms: anxiety can be viewed as an umbrella term covering various types of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorders, social anxiety, panic disorders, agoraphobia, and much more. However, anxiety can be triggered by so many different causes: environmental, physical, genetic, biological, and psychological. This is just one reason why it’s so hard to treat.
Conventional treatments for anxiety include SSRI’s, SNRI’s, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, buspirone, and other pharmaceutical drugs. These can be recommended by psychiatrists to help curb the symptoms of anxiety, especially when it’s already too debilitating and takes over one’s life. Unfortunately, many of these pharmaceutical drugs come with unwanted side effects, if they even work.
Thankfully, marijuana has been shown to greatly help with anxiety. Thousands of people rely on weed in different forms to help deal with feelings of anxiety and panic. It must be said, that there are also those who feel that weed with high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) may cause some people to feel anxious, while it calms down other people. Some people though, do feel a great improvement in their moods when consuming low doses of THC.
But the most studied cannabinoid in marijuana for treating anxiety is CBD (cannabidiol), the non-psychoactive compound. There are dozens of studies showing that CBD is much more effective than THC when it comes to treating the Sunday Scaries because of the many incredible ways it works in the human body.
That’s not all: there are also other cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant that work effectively in mitigating the symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiolytic Cannabinoids
Research into cannabinoids is still very much into its infancy. That said, there are so many promising studies out there that point to the incredible therapeutic properties being discovered in various cannabinoids. A few cannabinoids such as these below have been found to be effective in treating stress and anxiety, so you may want to consider integrating them into your wellness routine.
CBG
Cannabigerol, or CBG, is one of those cannabinoids whose potent anti-anxiety properties have recently been discovered. It offers several other therapeutic benefits, such as improving focus and energy while relaxing the body. A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that half of the respondents successfully used CBG for medical reasons, particularly for treating anxiety.
Other reasons consumers used CBG were for treating chronic pain, insomnia, and depression. Additionally, research has shown that CBG does this by interacting with the CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which is why it can work so well for anxiety and other conditions.
Cannabigerol is only available in trace amounts within the marijuana plant. However, this non-psychoactive cannabinoid has also been isolated by cannabis product manufacturers, so consumers can now find a wide array of CBG products on the market. Many of them, such as gummies, are also combined with CBD for the ultimate in relaxation. Say goodbye to anxiety forever!
CBC
Cannabichromene (CBC) has shown tremendously surprising results in the few studies that have focused on it. One study even found that it could be 10 times more powerful than CBD when it comes to treating anxiety. Aside from that, CBC is also anti-inflammatory and has anti-tumor, antiviral, and pain killing properties.
Thanks to the entourage effect, CBC can be a potent natural anxiolytic for individuals who suffer from severe anxiety. It can work together with CBD and THC to boost one’s mood and reduce stress. As of now, it’s still one of the least studied cannabinoids, though what we know so far is promising.
Cannabichrome is commonly sold in oil form. It’s far less common compared to CBG, but if you see your local dispensary selling high CBC strains or CBC oils, give it a try!
CBN
Cannabinol (CBN) is more commonly used as a sleep aid, but it has mild psychoactive properties that can also benefit individuals with anxiety. The primary benefit of CBN is to promote mental balance, and it can also be a great relaxation aid.
Cannabinol is commonly found in cannabis. Oddly enough, more CBN is produced when you’ve left your weed out exposed to sunlight, air, or light. That’s why if you have some old, aged weed lying around, you might be surprised to find that it does have high levels of CBN. So don’t throw out that old weed: if you smoke it, you might not get as high but it could help you with anxiety.
Of course, if you prefer to get your dose of CBN in other ways, you’ll be glad to know that there are lots of CBN products out there. From oils to gummies and vapes, so you don’t have to wait for weed to get old.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, CBD and THC aren’t the only effective cannabinoids in the marijuana plant. These cannabinoids are just some of the known anxiolytic compounds in marijuana that are worth giving a try. Whether you’re looking to jazz up your wellness routine with new anti-anxiety products or need some more help relaxing, give these cannabinoids a shot!
MARIJUANA AND ANXIETY, READ ON..
