Depression can be a debilitating mental health issue, and it’s important to look at all the available options when it comes to managing the symptoms that come with it, from mild to severe. In this blog, we take a look at CBD oil for depression.
What is depression?
Some people still think that depression is simply ‘feeling a bit down’, but this is not the case. Although most people go through periods of feeling up and down, if you have depression, you can feel persistently sad for weeks or months.
It affects people in many different ways and has a variety of symptoms. These can include continuous low moods, feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, losing interest in things, experiencing fatigue and sleep issues, and losing your appetite or sex drive. It is also common for people experiencing depression to have anxiety symptoms.
Luckily, it is possible to treat depression, and most people opt for a combination of medication, talking therapy and lifestyle changes. How effective the treatment is will depend on the severity of your depression.
Although pharmaceutical drugs are often prescribed to treat depression, and can be necessary in some cases, for others they may cause unpleasant side effects. Some people may look to a natural alternative for treating depression, and one option could be CBD oil.
What is the current thinking on CBD oil for depression?
CBD oil, or cannabidiol, is made by extracting the compound CBD from the cannabis plant and diluting it with carrier oil. Although it comes from the cannabis plant, it does not cause a high unless it contains large quantities of the compound THC, which is also found in the cannabis plant.
Instead, CBD oil is thought to create a sense of balance within the mind and body through its regulatory effects. It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to prolong the impact of this regulation.
In terms of the current research on CBD oil for depression, studies involving animal models have been promising. A 2014 study concluded that CBD had antidepressant-like effects in animal models, while a 2018 review concurs with this and states that multiple studies have shown that “CBD has a complex pharmacology, with the ability to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems involved in depression”.
Researchers have called for more direct clinical research on humans to fully understand and verify the effects of CBD oil on depression.
How do you use CBD oil for depression?
Note: If you are currently taking medication for depression, it’s important not to stop suddenly. Anyone interested in using CBD oil for depression should speak to their doctor or a medical professional first.
If you are looking to use CBD oil for depression, we would recommend taking it orally through either oil drops or capsules.
With a standard bottle of CBD-olie, you simply place a few drops under your tongue and then swallow. Most people only need a few drops one or two times a day, and it’s best to start small and build up gradually. To feel the effects of CBD oil for depression, you should try to take it regularly.
If you want a quicker and more convenient way of taking CBD, capsules could be right for you. Each capsule contains a measured dose of CBD and you simply take it as you would any other pill or tablet. Our soft gel capsules, for example, contain 20mg of CBD per capsule and are easily digestible. They are easy to introduce into your daily routine with any other supplements or vitamins you take.
You should always check a product’s lab report before purchasing it. Here at Swiss Original Cannabis, you can download our lab reports on our individual product pages.
We hope this overview of using CBD oil for depression has been useful! For more articles like this, you can browse our blog.
