Can CBD Replace Antidepressants?
CBD has been gaining praise lately for its long list of medical benefits. People suffering from a variety of conditions have found relief through the use of CBD. Medical professionals and researchers suggest that CBD can be used to remedy symptoms of chornic pain, anxiety, inflammation, IBS, and more.
Formerly referred to as cannabidiol, CBD is the non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. Health and wellness influencers, medical professionals, scientists, and environmentalists are among a sample of the individuals who support the use of CBD.
In this post, we will discuss CBD and its potential to treat a variety of mood disorders. People suffering from depression, anxiety, or other disorders may find relief through the use of CBD. With mental health becoming more of a concern, it is important to know how CBD interacts and affects someones mental well being. It could be very possible for CBD to replace antidepressants and other traditional medication in the near future.
More people are seeking natural alternatives for just about everything in their lives. From food, to beauty products, packaging, and now possibly medication.
Helping People Naturally Is What CBD Is All About
According to Forbes, a variety of different people have been consuming CBD. The most common demographics include middle aged to senior citizens, to teenagers and even pets.
Teenagers Using CBD
Cory Gleichenhaus, a 42-year-old New Yorker, recently opened a CBD store in Delray Beach, FL, told Forbes his story on why he believes that CBD may be the best replacement for antidepressants. In addition to this, Cory stated that he thinks CBD has the ability to be a natural over the counter pain reliever, and may even replace over the counter painkillers such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
While visiting one of the CBD American Shaman stores in Missouri (With over 150 of these CBD stores across the country), he recalls two teenagers coming in and disclosing that they both used mood and behavior medications for the majority of their lives. Upon hearing this, Mr. Gleichenhaus suggested the use of CBD products.
One of the teenagers, a 15-year-old LaCrosse player from Las Vegas, Nevada, had been prescribed Zoloft to help reduce his anxiety; a result from the onset of his Tourette’s Syndrome. His mother weaned him off of Zoloft by replacing it with CBD. After doing so, she stated “I have never looked back.” She reported that the CBD worked much better to control her son’s Tourette’s tics, and “greatly reduced” his subsequent anxiety. Because of this, CBD allowed him to achieve a deeper REM sleep, something medical professionals associate as a result of the brain being “potentially purged of toxins.”
Seniors Using CBD
Gleichenhaus tells Forbes that his older customers coming into the CBD shop commonly seek relief from symptoms of Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Arthritis, and general pain that comes with old age.
Gleichenhaus states that his older customers are more skeptical when it comes to trying CBD, and frequently ask common questions regarding CBD’s legality and chemical makeup. One of the most common misconceptions is that CBD is a cannabis product. Although it is related to the cannabis plant, CBD is typically made out of hemp, and is non-psychoactive, so it cannot produce the “high” that is associated with smoking or ingesting cannabis. In addition to this, CBD is completely legal for use, as long as the THC (tetrahydrocannabidol, the psychoactive component found in marijuana) levels in products doesn’t exceed 0.3 percent.
Cory reminisced on the time when one of his first (older) customers came into his store. She was in her late 50s and had Parkinson’s disease. Gleichenhaus recalled that when she walked in, she could not control her head because of tremors from the disease. He gave her a stronger CBD product called “Equine” (900mg water-soluble CBD) a solution originally formulated for horses, because her tremors were so severe.
By the time the woman left the store, her head was shaking slightly, but the tremors had subsided significantly, to which Gleichenhaus commented, “We all know there is growing anecdotal evidence about the efficacy of CBD, but when you see it with your own eyes, it makes a lasting impact.”
People Using CBD To Prevent Drug Addiction
Another significant portion of Gleichenhaus’ clientele are people that want to stop the use of opioids. Gleichenhaus stated that helping these patients is very important to him, because he knew someone who had died from an opioid overdose.
In addition to this, Gleichenhaus recalled when he had surgery on his knee. He told Forbes that he filed a painkiller prescription awhile back. Although these prescription may have helped reduce pain, he said that he prefers to use a CBD salve on his sore knee to provide natural pain relief instead.On this subject, he told Forbes he forwent filling a painkiller prescription awhile back when he had surgery on his knee, and instead rubbing a CBD salve on his sore knee every morning to provide pain relief.
Gleichenhaus added that a lot of patients have been ditching prescription painkillers for CBD. CBD poses as a much more natural solution for pain relief because it has very little (if any) side effects. In addition to this, CBD is non-addictive, another important factor for those with severe or chronic pain.
Takeaways
- CBD has a variety of different uses, and can help with chronic pain, arthritis, inflammation, and much more
- Research indicates that CBD may be able to replace antidepressants and traditional medication for mood and behavioral disorders.
- CBD is non-psychoactive and will not produce the “high” that is associated with the consumption of cannabis.
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