A Buyer’s Guide for Best CBD Oil for Anxiety in the UK
Seeing how CBD is a relatively new thing for UK consumers, we set out to create a full, comprehensive buyer’s guide to answer all your CBD queries and more!
What Is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a natural compound found in the marijuana plant. Once extracted, it is most often mixed with a carrier oil for better absorption and taste (there are also CBD capsules for anxiety for all those that cannot stand the natural, earthy taste of CBD).
In addition, CBD is perfectly safe as it does not contain any psychoactive properties (those that make you feel “high”). Instead, it has soothing and relaxing properties on the body, making it ideal for treating stress and anxiety.
How Does CBD Work?
In short, our bodies have two types of receptors — CB1 and CB2. The former are responsible for the central nervous system and govern functions such as mood, pain, and memory, whereas the latter are found in the peripheral nervous system and are responsible for inflammation (among other things).
Now, CBD helps improve your overall mood and well-being by binding to these CB1 and CB2 receptors, activating them, and thus providing the above-mentioned benefits.
When it comes to CBD for anxiety, in particular, the CBD influences the receptors that are in charge of the fight or flight response, thus effectively mimicking the effects of the hormone serotonin, and calming and soothing the body as a result.
Is CBD Oil Good for Anxiety?
Absolutely! One of the main reasons for its growing popularity is the treatment of stress- and anxiety-related issues; particularly due to its soothing and relaxing effects. There’s even strong anecdotal evidence that it can help treat more severe psychological disorders, such as PTSD and depression. Thus, making it an ideal, natural alternative for pain medication and similar opiates.
THC
When looking for the best CBD for anxiety, you’ll often find that these items also contain THC — the psychoactive compound found in the plant that produces the infamous “high.”
The reason being, small quantities of THC won’t get you “high” (below 0.3%) and will, in fact, provide additional benefits — the so-called entourage effect of full-spectrum oils. Hence, THC is not necessarily a bad thing. Better yet, it can even help boost the effects of CBD for social anxiety and depression, for instance.
This is why experts consider this the “sweet spot” as the combination of THC and CBD helps relieve anxiety and other issues without getting you high.
CBD and Other Medication
Drug interactions are a serious cause for concern, and the same rules apply to CBD as well.
When you are looking for CBD oil in the UK for anxiety you should always consult your pharmacist or physician on all the possible interactions with your current medication.
For instance, CBD interacts with the CYP450 liver enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of most medications. In some cases, this can actually help enhance the potency of a drug, whereas in others it can considerably slow down the entire process, thus prolonging the stay of some drugs in the body and causing potential harm.
For one, CBD pills for anxiety are known to interact with most antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, heard medication, and macrolide antibiotics.
Hence, we reiterate — always consult your doctor first prior to using CBD, especially if you are using some other medications!
Third-Party Lab Testing
The best CBD oil for depression and anxiety undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it is safe for human consumption and doesn’t pose a threat for the user. Lab tests are usually done for harmful pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other unwanted materials that can be found inside the plant.
What’s more, independent lab tests are also essential for getting unbiased lab results showing the exact amount of CBD, THC, terpenes, flavonoids, etc.
In a nutshell, the best UK CBD oil for anxiety has to be safe for consumption to provide health benefits, otherwise, it’ll do more harm than good.
How Long Does It Take for CBD Oil to Work for Anxiety?
CBD oil will work differently for each individual as no two people’s CBD tolerance levels are exactly the same. For some, these products may help alleviate anxiety and stress within only a few hours of consumption, whereas for others, it may take even a few days to start feeling any kind of improvement. Though, generally speaking, users should see some improvement within two to three weeks of regular usage.
On the other hand, there’s no regulated CBD dosage or RDA as in the case of conventional drugs. Moreover, the rate at which CBD is absorbed in your body will also play a role.
The method of administration will also determine how long it will take to alleviate the symptoms. Edibles, for instance, take the longest to “activate” but will persist for longer (up to eight hours).
Is It Legal?
Given its bad reputation, it’s only natural that there are still some doubts on whether or not using CBD oil for social anxiety is actually legal in the UK.
Short version — yes, both possession and sale of CBD are perfectly legal within the UK.
Long version — there are strict regulations that govern the exact concentration of various substances, such as THC (1mg), within the products in order to be compliant with current law. For instance, CBD products coming from outside the UK have to be properly labelled and must have the accompanying third-party lab test results as proof that they do, in fact, meet the criteria regarding the levels of the controlled substances in them.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our top CBD oil for anxiety in the UK review. Hopefully, this comprehensive guide helped you learn more about this compound and its many benefits. We sincerely hope you find what you’re looking for from the list above. Stay safe and don’t forget to take your daily supplements!
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