CAN CBD AFFECT YOUR MOOD?

Remember being thirteen? All of the fun times you had standing next to that boy you crushed on in gym class? Crying when you and your bestie got in another note-passing-in-class fight? Or when your mom called you “Moody Judy” when you talked back to her? No? Just me? Whoops. Go to go!

It seems like those teenage years were full of hormones, gossip, and oh, did I mention hormones? Hormones can definitely affect our moods, amongst other factors. Nonetheless, we grew up, sprouted right out of those “lame” teenage years, and are fully thriving (or more like surviving) adulthood now. 

So what’s the 411? How can we get a mood boost without those groovy mood rings deciding our fate? Are there natural alternatives to feeling “energized”? Are cannabinoids really what they’re talked up to be? Can it really have an affect on our mood?

In today’s article, we’ll talk about all things cannabidiol, how far the research has come in the last 20 years on the benefits of cannabinoids, as well as how endocannabinoids can affect and may even boost your mood. 

Hang tight, things are about to get good!

MOOD DISORDERS: AN OVERVIEW

By definition, mood is a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion. Your mood can be the way you are feeling at a certain time. For instance, if you’re in a good mood, you may be feeling happy or cheerful. On the other hand, if you’re in a bad mood, you may be feeling angry or frustrated. Whether you’re in a good mood, bad mood, or somewhere in between, moods change and are perfectly normal. 

However, according to the Mayo Clinic, when your general emotional state or mood is distorted and interferes with your ability to function in daily living, there may be a mood disorder on the horizon. You may be extremely sad or depressed, you may have periods of depression with periods of excessive happiness. 

Mood disorders can cover a broad scope of disorders. For example, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to name a few, fall under the umbrella of mood disorders. 

Fortunately, for most individuals, mood disorders can be successfully managed and treated with a wide array of treatment options.

WHAT IS CANNABIDIOL 

The cannabis plant has been making major headway in the world of holistic and natural medicine for decades - with years and years of research backing the beautiful cannabinoid benefits such as aiding in anxiety relief, decreasing depression symptoms, reducing inflammation, improving sleep, relaxing muscles, and many more.

Let’s tackle the misconceptions in my favorite way possible: analogy style.

Not to get confused here with the hemp plant or marijuana plant, the cannabis plant can be described as more so an umbrella term. Under the cannabis plant umbrella, the marijuana and hemp plants reside. On the umbrella handle, we’ve got tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and 100+ more phytocannabinoids living and thriving from their mother plant, cannabis. 

In regards to today’s topic of mood, we’re more interested in diving into the world of CBD. It is one of the active compounds of the cannabis plant. It is the non-psychoactive part of the plant - it won’t get you “high” or “stoned”.

On the other hand, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is psychoactive, you may feel “stoned” or “high” after consumption. I’m sure you’re wondering, ‘how do they make you feel different but they come from the same plant’. Great question, but more on that in a minute!

There have been consistent findings in the last 5 to 10 years across clinical studies investigating cannabidiol and how it has been widely considered as safe, lacking toxicity, generally well-tolerated by humans and animals, non-intoxicating, and is non-addictive, with no reinforcing attributes, according to an article published in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).

HOW DOES CBD WORK IN OUR BODY

The motherload as I like to call it….our endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short. 

The ECS helps regulate homeostasis throughout each and every one of our bodies, aiding in an “all is right” balance. 

Our ECS has two main receptors: cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). Unlike THC, CBD binds indirectly to CB1 and CB2. Thus, you won’t feel the “high”. 

Evidence from recent studies have shown that CBD appears to have a significant influence on individuals’ mood and quality of life. More on these mood booster studies below!

CANNABIDIOL AND HEALTH

Improved mood, health, CBD, quality of life…..pickin’ up what I’m putting down? If you aren’t confidently saying yes yet, hang tight. The research below will tie everything together for us, with a big, bright red bow on top. Here comes the science!

First, let’s start with a wonderful, might I say foundational, article for cannabinoids published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 1974. Scientists aimed to investigate the effects of THC in man and how CBD may interfere.

40 healthy adult male volunteers were assigned to 1 of 8 different experimental groups. Those who were in the THC alone group demonstrated increased pulse rates, disturbed time tasks, and induced strong psychological reactions. On the other hand, those given cannabidiol (15, 30, 60 mg) + tetrahydrocannabinol (30 mg) together had decreased the anxiety component of THC effects, with subjects even reporting more pleasurable effects overall. 

CBD not only decreased the effects of THC, but also changed the type of psychological reactions induced by THC.

A 2016 mice study out of Spain investigated the antidepressant potential of cannabidiol on different neurotransmitters and receptors in the body. Researchers found that CBD exerted fast and maintained antidepressant-like effects after administration. This finding could represent a novel fast antidepressant drug, through both neurotransmitter signaling and receptor-dependent mechanisms. 

This study was the first to demonstrate that cannabidiol exerts rapid antidepressant-like effects after the first injection, with improved efficacy with repeated administration. 

Published in Current Pharmaceutical Design in 2012, researchers investigated the acute effects of a single, oral dose of THC and CBD in healthy individuals. This was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled trial. 

Though this study focused more closely on the physiological and psychological effects of THC, the findings are still definitely worth noting. Those who were administered with 10 mg of THC had marked acute behavioral and physiological effects, including anxiety, positive psychotic symptoms, physical and mental sedation, and increased heart rate. Whereas those who were administered with 600 mg of CBD or placebo, did not show any symptomatic, physiological variation, with researchers suggesting CBD as well-tolerated and safe. 

One single dose of cannabidiol showed no psycho-pathological symptoms one day, 1 week, and 3 weeks after use. 

A 2020 study evaluated the effects of cannabinoids on quality of life and opioid use in chronic pain patients. 97 patients completed this 8-week study. Over half of the chronic pain patients reduced or eliminated their opioid use within the 8 weeks after adding CBD-rich hemp extract to their regimens. 94% of users reported quality of life improvements.

94% of the patients who used CBD reported improvements in their quality of life.

 Published in 2019 in Epilepsy & Behavior, researchers aimed to analyze the quality of life in adults taking CBD for treatment-resistant epilepsy. All 43 participants in this study received CBD, starting at 5 mg/kg/day and gradually increased to 50 mg/kg/day, in 5 mg/kg/day increments over time. Researchers collected quality of life (QOL) data at baseline and after 1 year of continued CBD treatment. Researchers found that cannabidiol improved overall QOL and was associated with better mood. 

Cannabidiol may have beneficial effects on one’s quality of life and mood that are independent of treatment response.

IMPROVE YOUR MOOD WITH CANNABIDIOL

Now that you’ve got the research to support cannabidiol’s beautiful benefits of improved quality of life, antidepressant-like effects, and improved mood, you’re ready for implementation and application. 

You’ve been curious to try. You’ve been doing your research. Now here’s the home stretch. 

Whether you’re brand spankin’ new to the world of cannabinoids or you’re looking for a new product to really get you to the perfect sense of calm, here at Nanocraft CBD, we’ve got more than a handful of products that are sure to meet your needs. 

WHICH PRODUCT IS BEST FOR ME

Here, at Nanocraft CBD, we have a wide array of products for the athlete in all of us. Whether you're a gym rat, professional athlete, yogi, or something in between - all of our products are crafted with organically-grown phytocannabinoid-rich hemp, with you and your goals in mind.

Tincture oils, capsules, topicals, creams, waters, and powders? Yep!

Here are two of my go-to products on the daily. 

CBD OIL DAY FORMULA

I HIGHLY recommend this product. I use our CBD Day Formula in my morning coffee, every morning. Not only does this add a sweet minty flavor to my cup of already scrumptious jo, it also helps energize me for my busy day ahead with a mood-boost of confidence (seriously).

This product has a unique blend of broad-spectrum CBD, B-12, CoQ10, ashwagandha, and organic caffeine (just to name a few) to give you that natural boost and sense of health you’re looking for. 

CBD CURCUMIN SOFTGELS

The great thing about our CBD Softgels is that they are convenient, easy to take, with an exact dose guaranteed each time. When you try our 25 mg CBD capsules with curcumin, not only are you reaping the benefits of cannabidiol but also curcumin, as an all-natural, anti-inflammatory compound, helping our bodies fight off invaders and repair damage. 

THE MOOD MOVEMENT: 4 TIPS FOR A QUICK BOOST

1. SMILE

Even if you have to force it. Try and practice smiling when talking to people. Or compliment others, they’ll most likely smile, leaving you smiling back.

Related article:

CBD and Mental Health: Food for Thought

2. BE MINDFUL

This one may not be as easy, but mindfulness is about being in the present. Force yourself to think positive and appreciate what is around you.

Related articles: 

Meditation and CBD: The Calming Combo

CBD and Stress: The Recipe to Relaxation

3. MAKE A CBD ROUTINE

Just how you take your multivitamin every morning, take your CBD too. You’d be surprised with how easy it can be once you implement it into your daily routine. You’ll be reaping the benefits before you know it. 

4. GET MOVING

Whether that looks like exercising, walking, lifting heavy weights, or doing yoga, movement moves you - physically and mentally. The endorphin release after you exercise is one you’ll get addicted to, no doubt!

Related articles: 

CBD Oil and Exercise: Movement that Matters

Muscle Recovery and Cannabidiol: The Healing Benefits

MOOD AND CBD OIL: FINAL THOUGHTS

Well, didn’t that boost your research mood!

Cannabidiol has come quite a ways since the 1970s. This magical herb is even getting some much deserved recognition from medical experts, researchers, and users alike. From helping reduce depression-like symptoms, to reducing acute and chronic pain, to improving and bettering your mood, this non-psychoactive cannabinoid is raising eyebrows around the globe, from here to everywhere.

The research on CBD oil and mood is merely just a break on the ice’s surface. But nonetheless, the ice is still sturdy enough to skate on. Meaning, further research is warranted, but the current research is holding wonderful promise to the therapeutic effects of CBD oil. 

Until next time, let the good vibes in, improve your mood naturally, and give cannabidiol a running start to boost ya noggin’!

Au revoir!

*DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for educational purposes only. It does not exploit or provide medical advice of any kind. Therefore, any reliance you place on the information below is strictly at your own risk. Please check with your medical provider before starting or changing a CBD routine.

 

Kirsten Thornhill, MS

Nanocraft Sciences

Content Writer | Exercise Physiologist

 Kirsten Thornhill was born and raised in a small farm town in Northern California. Kirsten graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from Point Loma Nazarene University. She is very passionate about human physiology and the metabolic and nutritional adaptations that occur during exercise in active individuals and athletes. Kirsten has specialized in teaching clinical and practical exercise and rehabilitation applications. She enjoys educating and informing people on the importance of lifetime movement, holistic and lifestyle medicine, and health research and development. Her passion for alternative medicine enables her to strive when promoting health and education. 

Sources:

Alexandre de Souza Crippa J, Zuardi AW, et al. Effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on regional cerebral blood flow. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003.

Capano A, Weaver R, Burkman E. Evaluation of the effects of CBD hemp extract on opioid use and quality of life indicators in chronic pain patients: A prospective cohort study. Postgraduate Medicine. 2020. 

Gaston TE, Szaflarski M, et al. Quality of life in adults enrolled in an open-label study of cannabidiol (CBD) for treatment-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2019. 

Karniol IG, Shirakawa I, Kasinski N, et al. Cannabidiol interferes with the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol in man. European Journal of Pharmacology. 1974. 

Linge R, Jimenez-Sanchez L, et al. Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2016.

Martin-Santos R, Crippa AJ, Bhattacharyya S, et al. Acute effects of a single, oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) administration in healthy volunteers. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2012.

Schoedel KA, Szeto I, Senik B, et al. Abuse potential assessment of cannabidiol (CBD) in recreational polydrug users: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2018. 

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• #cbdoil
• #hemp