There are lots of people that suffer from depression worldwide. Many of them reside right here in the U.S. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 11 million American citizens 18-years of age or older experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017 alone. The study also reports that this number represents 4.5-percent of the entire United States adult population. Thankfully, it is becoming more acceptable to discuss mental health in modern society.
Therefore, persons are talking about issues and seeking help to alleviate their symptoms. Doctors prescribe all kinds of medicines to deal with the ailment. Some of the most common drugs utilized for such purposes include Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, and Paxil, but there are others on the market too. Sometimes, for whatever reason, these prescriptions don’t work well for an individual. Thus, they are left looking for suitable alternatives to relieve their anxiety and depression.
If you are one of those people, you have come to the right place. This post is going to examine the benefits of using CBD oil to keep depression at bay. So, curious persons should stay put and read further. With any luck, the action will allow them to learn a thing or two and assist them in deciding if cannabis oil is a good fit for them or not.
Low Serotonin Levels Can Cause Depression
5-hydroxytryptamine, also more commonly known as serotonin, is a neurotransmitter that is classified as a hormone. It is primarily produced in two distinct places of the human body, the intestine, and the brain. This hormone regulates learning/memory, sleep, appetite, and mood. It contributes to a person having feelings of happiness and well-being. However, when one’s body is producing only low levels of serotonin, that is when depression kicks into full gear.
CBD Oil Can Help
Depending on what state a person lives in, they may need to obtain a prescription from a physician to get CBD oil. Meanwhile, in some other places, the substance can be purchased online or in person at local stores. Why would a consumer want to make this purchase? Well, CBD oil can act as a 5-HT1 receptor, which basically means, it can increase the production of serotonin by the body. Thus, the taker will see their mood shift from bad to good and be in an all-around better state of mind.
Not FDA Approved For Depression Just Yet
There are likely many other ailments that CBD oil can help with, but as of right now, there is only one FDA-approved drug that contains cannabidiol. It is named Epidiolex, and it is not for depression. Rather, it is used to treat seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome. There are also two approved drugs that contain synthetic versions of substances found in marijuana, but cannabis is not an actual ingredient in them.
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration website, the organization understands that patients are looking for treatment options for their unmet medical needs. They fully support members of the medical research community that want to study marijuana. So, as more and more researching is taking place, it is highly plausible to believe that there will be scientific findings that show cannabis and CBD oil are safe remedies for other ailments.
Until then, use the plant and substance responsibly. Also, abide by the laws where you live. After all, the last thing anybody wants is to get a fine or be put in jail. There are plenty of personal accounts, stating that CBD oil has helped people with their anxiety and depression though. It might be just what you need to boost your serotonin levels and get your head right. You won’t know unless you give it a try for yourself.
