Anxiety has riddled our community for quite some time. It is estimated that anxiety affects 36% of our population and of that 36%, only 44% actually seek treatment. (Anxiety and Cannabis, 2023). There are a few different factors that play a key role in the development of anxiety, which includes chemical imbalances in our brain.
These chemical imbalances take place in our neurotransmitters, affecting our hormones, leading to the development and exacerbation of anxiety, which includes dopamine (reward and pleasure), serotonin (mood regulation), norepinephrine (involved in stress response), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain) (Anxiety Disorders, 2024). Symptoms include, but not limited to: feeling of panic, uneasiness, obsessive thoughts, irritable, restlessness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, cold/sweaty hands, dry mouth, nausea, numbness and tingling in hands or feet, and insomnia (Anxiety Disorders, 2024).
Current treatment includes antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, & tricyclic antidepressants), benzodiazepines (alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, & lorazepam), and even Beta-blockers (Anxiety Disorders, 2024). The problem with these medications is the dependence they create, altering the brain's chemistry and creating unwanted side effects. For example, SSRIs, a commonly prescribed medication for anxiety, creates withdrawal effects (similar to benzos), sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and weight gain (Moncreiff, 2019). The interesting part the study noted is that these antidepressants alter normal functioning of the brain’s chemistry, disrupting normal biological processes (Moncreiff, 2019). The study concluded the exact understanding of how these antidepressants work inside the brain remains unclear (Moncreiff, 2019).
With recent research, the endocannabinoid system has become a target receptor system as an alternative to treating anxiety. Exogenous cannabinoids such as CBD and THC were shown to interact with CB1, CB2 receptors, TRPV1 receptors, and other cellular mechanisms, producing anxiolytic effects. Studies show that we can downregulate over excited neurons, potentially addressing anxiety at a cellular level. The study concluded that CBD, when combined with THC (in lower amounts) was shown to help alleviate anxiety. THC has the potential to increase anxiety, which is why lower doses of THC are more effective and recommended along with CBD (Anxiety and Cannabis, 2023). It is interesting to note the study concluded that CBD was shown to alleviate anxiety for all dose ranges that were tested (Anxiety and Cannabis, 2023). The therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, when addressing anxiety, are enhanced when combining these cannabinoids (CBD and THC). This enhanced effect is known as the entourage effects, potentially giving cannabinoids much hope when it comes to improving how we face and treat anxiety. Other cannabinoids are currently being studied for their anxiolytic properties, as there is much more to learn and explore regarding cannabinoid therapy. The future looks promising.
One plant with seemingly endless uses. Now, That's what I call medicine!
Bee Well,
Brandon Farless
*This information is for educational purposes only. I am simply sharing information pertaining to these studies. No medical advice or claims are being made on my behalf.
References
1. Anxiety and cannabis: A review of recent research. Medical Cannabis Research Center. (2023, April 10). https://drexel.edu/cannabis-research/research/research-highlights/2023/April/anxiety_cannabis_fact_sheet/
2. Anxiety disorders. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 11). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9536-anxiety-disorders
3. Moncrieff J. (2019). Persistent adverse effects of antidepressants.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 29, e56. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000520
