3 Incredible Ways CBD Reduces Anxiety (And Boosts Your Immune System!)

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, your anxiety levels are likely at an all-time high.

And you’re not alone. People all around the world right now are afraid of catching the virus, and they’re looking for easy ways to strengthen their immune systems.

In 2020, over 50% of consumers worldwide increased their consumption of supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. ^[1]

But there are tons of supplements available on the market that claim they can boost your immunity – how can you possibly know which one’s right for you?

Choosing from an endless number of options can be anxiety-inducing all on its own. And more anxiety is the LAST thing you need right now.

But what if there was a way you could “kill two birds with one stone”?

That is, knock out your anxiety, and enjoy a stronger immune system as a result?

Thankfully, CBD is an all-natural supplement that may help you do just that.

While scientists have known for a long time that supplementing with CBD can help calm your anxiety, it’s less common to hear about how this could strengthen your immune system.

Now more than ever, it’s important to understand how these two topics – anxiety and the immune system – go hand in hand.

Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress

Let’s talk about your body’s natural stress response for a second.

Imagine you’re walking through the woods at your favorite local park. It’s a beautiful day and the temperature is just right. You stroll along, your mind wandering pleasantly.

…And then you see it.

Just in front of you, right where you were about to step, is a coiled, vicious-looking snake.

This is an example of acute stress.

You know what happens next: you jolt upright, jump quickly backward, and, if you’re like me, turn around and run for your life!

That, my friend, is your body’s natural stress response.

Within a second of seeing the snake, your body sounds the alarm:

Your heart rate and blood pressure increase.
Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol course through your bloodstream.
You feel an instant surge of energy.

And in a fight-or-flight situation, that’s a wonderful thing! It sharpens your senses, speeds up your reaction time, and helps you run faster to escape the snake.

Then you’re safe, and your body can return to its normal state.

But most of us don’t have to worry about physical threats like snakes in our everyday lives. Our worries are about more ongoing, modern problems.

Work. Deadlines. Bills. Worldwide pandemics.

And problems like these don’t go away when we run.

At this point, we’ve entered the realm of chronic stress – which many people experience as anxiety.

Effects of Chronic Stress

When you’re stressed out on a long-term basis, your adrenaline and cortisol levels stay consistently elevated.

This has a hugely negative impact on your immune system.

Your body produces fewer white blood cells, which are key to fighting off illnesses and infections. As a result, you become more susceptible to the flu, the common cold, and, yes, even COVID-19. ^[2]

Prolonged anxiety also negatively affects your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS plays a major role in maintaining balance in your stress response, immune response, sleep, and mood. ^[3]

Now, you may be thinking:

“Okay, great – so lowering my stress levels will strengthen my immune system. But how the heck can I not be stressed?! Just look at everything going on in my life right now!!”

…Enter CBD.

How CBD Reduces Anxiety

Cannabidiol (more easily referred to as CBD) acts primarily on your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The key players in the ECS are called cannabinoids, which act by binding to receptors in your brain. There are two main types of cannabinoids: endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids.

Endocannabinoids: cannabinoids produced by your own body. An example of an endocannabinoid is anandamide, which plays a role in motivation and reward in your brain. ^[4]
Phytocannabinoids: cannabinoids produced by plants. Since CBD comes from the cannabis plant, it’s a phytocannabinoid.

Here are 3 ways the phytocannabinoid CBD works to stop your anxiety in its tracks:

1. CBD Increases Anandamide Levels

When you experience prolonged anxiety, the receptors in your ECS become impaired, and your levels of anandamide go way down. Since anandamide is associated with feelings of motivation and reward, this takes your existing anxiety and makes it even worse. ^[5]

It’s a vicious cycle:

…But now for the good news!

Research suggests that supplementing with CBD can slow the body’s breakdown of anandamide, leaving you with higher levels of this feel-good chemical – and lower levels of anxiety. ^[6]

(Psst… Want to experience this for yourself? Use code BLUEBERRY15 to get 15% OFF all Third Coast Organics CBD oil tinctures!)

2. CBD Supports Normal Serotonin Levels

If you suffer from anxiety, you’ve probably heard of serotonin. It’s a neurotransmitter and a natural mood stabilizer. Low levels of serotonin are associated with both anxiety and depression.

Thankfully, CBD can help with this.

Research shows that part of the reason CBD alleviates feelings of anxiety is because of the way it interacts with receptors in the brain to support normal serotonin levels. ^[7]

3. CBD Increases Activity in the Limbic System

Okay, I realize this is sounding pretty science-y. But hang in there – this one’s a doozie!

Let me break it down into simple terms.

The limbic system is a part of the brain that plays an important role in our mental and emotional functions every day. It’s “fundamental to how we think, feel, and respond to the world around us” (Pressman, 2019).

In a study looking at the effects of CBD on anxiety, people with social anxiety disorder were given a dose of CBD oil by mouth.

(Speaking of CBD oil, did I mention that you can get yours from Third Coast Organics for 15% OFF right now? Well, you can – just use code BLUEBERRY15 at checkout!)

After taking CBD, each person gave an individual report of his or her feelings of anxiety.

And then, in case that wasn’t enough, the researchers took a brain scan of each participant so that they could see exactly how the CBD was working its magic.

What they found was pretty dad-gum amazing.

Not only did the people who received CBD report that their anxiety symptoms had gotten significantly better – their brain scans actually showed it.

In the images from the brain scans, researchers were able to see increased activity in the limbic systems of participants who had received a dose of CBD oil.

And as for the participants who received a placebo instead of CBD?

They reported no significant change in their anxiety symptoms, and their brain scans showed no change in limbic system activity. ^[9]

According to the study, “these results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety… and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic brain areas” (Crippa, 2011).

Take A Stand For Your Health. Fight Back Against Anxiety With CBD.

Even though not all stressors can be avoided, regularly supplementing with CBD is an easy, all-natural way to help moderate your body’s physical response to stress – leaving you both happier AND healthier.

If you want to experience the anxiety-reducing benefits of CBD for yourself, use code BLUEBERRY15 at checkout to get 15% OFF any Third Coast Organics CBD oil tinctures!

And if you have friends or family members who struggle with anxiety, do them a favor and share this article on Facebook. You just might change their lives.

All Third Coast Organics products are made with the highest-quality CBD available. They’re also third-party tested for potency, so you can rest assured that what you see is what you get.

At a time when stress levels are through the roof and people are scrambling to strengthen their immune systems, it’s crucial to recognize that lower stress = stronger immunity.

CBD can help get you there.

Completely new to CBD? Check out this great TED Talk that addresses common misconceptions about CBD, as well as its promising therapeutic potential: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBLmGBlEnMY

Your turn! Have you used CBD to treat your own anxiety? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.

Thomas Allred is a freelance writer and licensed Physical Therapist Assistant with a BA in psychology from Texas A&M University. He developed a keen interest in CBD during a 10-year struggle with uncontrolled epilepsy. When he’s not writing, Thomas enjoys cooking, playing guitar very badly, and exploring Austin with his wife and dog. Find him online at www.thomasallredwriting.com.

References

Research and Markets. (2020, September 16). Global Immune Health Supplements Market Outlook and Forecast Report 2020-2025 with COVID-19 Impact Insights. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-immune-health-supplements-market-outlook-and-forecast-report-2020-2025-with-covid-19-impact-insights-301132334.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2017, March 1). What Happens When Your Immune System Gets Stressed Out? Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-your-immune-system-gets-stressed-out/
Morena, M., Patel, S., Bains, J. S., & Hill, M. N. (2016). Neurobiological Interactions Between Stress and the Endocannabinoid System. Neuropsychopharmacology: official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 41 (1), 80–102. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.166
Scherma, M., Masia, P., Satta, V. et al. (2019). Brain Activity of Anandamide: A Rewarding Bliss? Acta Pharmacol Sin, 40, 309–323. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-018-0075-x
Hill, M. N. et al. (2008). Serum Endocannabinoid Content Is Altered in Females With Depressive Disorders: A Preliminary Report. Pharmacopsychiatry, 41 (2), 48-53.
Bedse, G. et al. (2018). Therapeutic Endocannabinoid Augmentation for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Comparative Profiling of FAAH, MAGL, and Dual Inhibitors. Translational psychiatry, 8 (1), 92.
Crippa, J. A., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., & Zuardi, A. W. (2018). Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age. Frontiers in immunology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02009
Pressman, P. (2019). The functions of the limbic system. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-limbic-system-2488579
Crippa, J.A. et al. (2011). Neural Basis of Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder: A Preliminary Report. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25, 121-130.