Ashley Grace
Feeling sad or emotional when things are not going your way is part and parcel of life. Usually, people find the strength to overcome those feelings. However, when it lasts longer and you feel that there is no hope at all it can soon turn into depression. It is termed as a mood disorder and cause feelings of anger, sadness, or loss. If left untreated, it can start to interfere in the daily activities of a person. Depression affects the mind and body as well. Hence, it is important to find a solution to this at the earliest possible. One of the best solutions today has been the use of CBD as the cannabidiol helps overcome depression.,/p>
Let’s first understand what causes depression, as that helps in understanding how to solve the issue on hand.
What causes Depression?
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Depression is thought to occur because of serotonin deficiency, but it is still not clear if that is the only cause. It is also linked to imbalances in other neurotransmitters besides serotonin. Further, it has been found that this disorder may be linked to conditions like inflammation or structural changes in the brain due to chronic stress or trauma. Some of the other causes for a person feeling depressed includes:
- Social isolation
- Chronic stress or stressful events like the death of a dear one
- Physical illness
- Genetics
- Emotional disorders
- Post-trauma
There is no single miracle medicine for depression as there are many causes that lead to a person getting into depression. Moreover, treatment for this should be highly individualized and be a multi-treatment approach that provides better results.
Neuroregeneration using CBD
SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a drug classification which is used as antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety. These can increase the serotonin levels but the improvement in mood can take a long time. When a person suffers from depression a specific region in the brain called the hippocampus shrinks. This region is responsible for handling emotions, memory and learning functions.
Part of the reason people can recover from this disorder is that this part of the brain can recover. New connections and neurons can grow through a process called neurogenesis or neuroregeneration. The reason SSRI’s work is that they aid in the neural regeneration but takes weeks for neurons to heal and grow. But recent research shows that apart from antidepressants, there are many supplements and lifestyle choices that can aid in neurogenesis.
Cannabidiol or CBD was recently approved by the FDA for treating epileptic seizures. CBD protects the neurons and the connections in the hippocampus and in the same area as the brain atrophy in people with depression. Rich in CBD, hemp tea is seen as a herbal alternative to SSRIs as it also helps in reducing the healing time.
Where to buy CBD Hemp Tea?
It is widely available today. There are many specialty shops and cafes that offer it. It also comes in convenient ready to drink options too. Experts from https://www.leafleaf.us/ explain when choosing the hemp tea, you also have the option to choose flavors to suit your preferences. Additionally, you should be careful when buying hemp tea for the first time. A reputable brand that has got its product tested by a third-party lab is considered trustworthy.
How consuming CBD Helps
As per scientists, CBD can help in regeneration through the following ways:
Increases Endocannabinoids:
These are present and used throughout the body and brain and helps in regulating appetite, inflammation, and memory. The impact of CBD on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is complex to explain but put simply, it can increase the endocannabinoid levels in the brain.
Improves Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF):
Studies conducted on rodents indicate that CBD can improve the BNDF levels in the hippocampus and also reduce depression symptoms. The BNDF is a protein that aids in making new neurons and connections and helps in the survival of existing neurons.
Activates Serotonin receptors:
It aids in activating a serotonin receptor called 5-HT1A just like the antidepressants. These receptors control many neurotransmitters which increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus area.
Stimulates Communication through PPAR:
PPAR is a receptor that communicates with the DNA to produce anti-inflammatory and neuron protecting compounds. Consuming CBD as hemp tea binds to PPAR and stimulates the communication for neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Preliminary evidence that CBD can aid in treating Depression
Preliminary evidence presented so far shows great promise that CBD can aid in treating depression even though the results of human trials are still awaited.
Experimental evidence:
Experiments conducted on rodents show that CBD helps in providing relief from depression. A study done on rats and mice found that a single dose of CBD had an antidepressant effect that lasted for up to 7 days. Also, when it was combined with SSRIs it became more effective. Clinical trials are being held to find out how effective it is at relieving anxiety which is a major cause for depression.
Comparing Antidepressants with CBD
- CBD appears to have an edge over the antidepressants as it has more benefits. It can treat symptoms of depression effectively. Antidepressants take longer to show results and it can take weeks to start working but CBD acts fast and also has a sustained effect.
- Compared to antidepressant medications, CBD has fewer side effects. Antidepressant medications cause insomnia, mood swings, and sexual dysfunction.
It is difficult to live with depression but treatment can help in improving the quality of life. While CBD offers many benefits compared to antidepressant medications, it is not advised as a replacement. Most of the time, rather than a single solution a combination of treatments works best. Hemp tea is one such popular remedy that offers a range of benefits including treating symptoms of depression. It has proven to be a safe compound, but if you are already taking other medications review it with your physician before using it.
