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CBD against stress - fight stress with cannabidiol

Published: 18.04.2023 (Updated: 17.07.2023)
Reading time: Min.
Dr. Harald Stephan
Dr. rer. medic. Harald Stephan
Health expert

CBD against stress - The most important things at a glance

  1. Stress is a state of alarm in the body that is triggered by stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline in the event of danger.
  2. Stopping the alarm is the task of the body's own messenger substances such as endocannabinoids.
  3. Chronic stress is unhealthy; shutting down can be gently and naturally supported by phytocannabinoids from hemp.
  4. The most important of these is cannabidiol (CBD), which, unlike THC, is completely legal and does not make you high.
  5. CBD oil and CBD flowers ensure that a vicious circle of more and more stress, anxiety and insomnia does not develop.

Was that beyond the pale again today at work? We've seen enough of that. CBD against stress is an alternative that is attracting more and more attention. A simple and natural remedy sounds more tempting than swallowing tranquillisers - especially since psychotropic drugs have considerable side effects. Many patients have had positive experiences with cannabidiol against chronic stress. What is CBD oil for stress all about and what does CBD really do?

What is stress anyway?

Inand of itself, stress is not a bad thing - it is healthy to get your circulation going and work up a sweat every now and then. In the Stone Age, this was important in the fight for survival: if a hungry sabre-toothed tiger came around the corner, the body switched to running away or fighting.

The sympathetic nervous system sounds the alarm when we are under stress. It increases breathing and blood flow and mobilises all available reserves. Supplied with plenty of oxygen and sugar, the muscles are fully ready for action. In one fell swoop, you are so awake. Hormones are responsible for all this, especially stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol.

At the same time, the parasympathetic nervous system is immobilised. This part of the autonomic nervous system is the counterpart - the human body needs it for the rather calm phases. For example, when one has the leisure for digestion or reproduction. When running away or fighting, having to go to the toilet would be a hindrance.

Good stress, bad stress

A little positive stress, healthy eustress, keeps the body going. It prevents us from becoming fat and lazy. Distress is problematic - it damages our health. This negative stress occurs when the strain of work and family life becomes a permanent condition.

Chronic stress means being on red alert all day - no human being can withstand that for long and it was not intended by nature. Sabre-toothed tiger? At least he'll rest when he's full. The boss and colleagues are worthy successors and ensure that the negative stress never ends.

Positive stress keeps us going, but negative stress is extremely unhealthy.
Gehirn-Netzwerk; Neuronen; Stresslösen mit CBD

How does CBD work for stress?

Restoring calm to the activated sympathetic nervous system is one of the tasks of endocannabinoids. Neurotransmitters such as AEA and 2-AG bind to the receptors of cells. Together they form the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays an important role in metabolism.

Taking CBD works against stress by mimicking these messengers and pushing the right buttons in several other processes. What else the phytocannabinoid from the hemp plant does is far from all clear. More and more CBD studies are taking a closer look at these processes and clarifying how CBD helps.

Note: CBD is a phytocannabinoid from hemp that works similarly to the endocannabinoids that the human body naturally produces as neurotransmitters.

CBD against stress and the difference to THC

Stress can swim - drowning it in alcohol does not work. Other drugs are equally nonsensical. They seem to make things easier in the short term, but in the long run they put a strain on health and lead to addiction. This also applies to CBD's relative, THC, which is also extracted from hemp. It has a psychotropic effect and causes euphoria and hallucinations.

Does cannabidiol also cause a high? Practically not. Many people have had good experiences with CBD for stress. It is limited to said buttons, which one needs to relax. Desirable effect on the side: At the same time, it helps against the consequences of stress.

CBD against stress = CBD against anxiety + CBD against insomnia

CBD against stress is only one side of the coin. It disrupts many functions in the human body, including the immune system. One of the reasons why CBD can help against inflammation and infections.

The consequences for the psyche are also important. Problems at work, caring for sick relatives and even constantly playing taxi for the children leave their mark.

In the evening, you are exhausted but can't fall asleep. Instead, you plan the day ahead and think about what could go wrong. The mental cinema about the safety of the workplace, the next presentation or sick children prevent you from falling asleep and even more so from sleeping through the night.

This causes more and more negative stress. Just when everything seems to be getting desperate again, CBD can be used to combat anxiety, insomnia and all that stress. This is exactly what is meant by this formula.

Anxiety, depression and sleep disorders are consequences of chronic stress, which only increases as a result. Therefore, CBD not only helps against stress, but also helps to break this vicious circle. This should be done in good time, otherwise there is even the threat of burnout.
Kind liegt im Bett und schläft; CBD gegen Ängste und Depressionen

Can CBD trigger panic attacks?

Panic attacks are not a desired effect when taking CBD oil, but the exact opposite. CBD stimulates rather than calms panic attacks, but less frequently than the related THC, and only if used incorrectly. The dosage of CBD plays an important role. Therefore, the recommended dosage for CBD oil and all CBD products should be adhered to.

How fast does CBD work?

CBD does not work quite as quickly as the body switches on the alarm with the release of hormones. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are on call and only need to be distributed with the blood. A human body is flooded with them in a fraction of a second, the stress hormones live up to their name and trigger stress.

CBD oil first has to get from the mouth to the place of its effect. This takes a little longer. Chronic stress only works like a switch when it is turned on. Once it is active, a desired effect occurs only after a time delay when cannabidiol is taken.

Conclusion: CBD as a natural alternative against stress

Chronic stress occurs when a human body is thrown off balance by the stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. CBD helps back to a healthy state by supporting the endocannabinoid system.

Lucky Hemp's high quality CBD oils and CBD flowers may be able to help you too. Many customers have had positive experiences with CBD for stress.
Sources
  • CBD for stress and anxiety disorders(studies)
  • CBD for sleep disorders(studies)
  • Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature(studies)
Dr. Harald Stephan
Dr. rer. medic. Harald Stephan
Graduate Biologist, Medical Information Processing Officer and Doctor of Health Sciences
About the author

After studying in Saarbrücken, Dr Harald Stephan worked in research and teaching at the Universities of Marburg and Bochum as well as at the University Hospital in Essen before becoming a self-employed publicist in 2016. He sees acquiring and passing on knowledge as his life's work.

In addition to his publications on cell biology and tumour research in renowned specialist journals, hundreds of his articles on health topics can be found on the internet. In them, he explains the causes of diseases, laboratory values, diagnoses as well as traditional and novel therapy options.