CBD is one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, known for its therapeutic properties. People are using it in different forms to treat health related issues and its users claim that it is doing wonders for their health issues. But lately, it has gained popularity as a treatment for mental health conditions as well. Before people were using it to heal conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress. But now its users have claimed that CBD can also be used as a solution for bipolar disorder.

So, this article explores the truth behind CBD for bipolar and how research supports it.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where the patient experiences a shift in mood, behavior, and energy levels. There are phases of emotional highs, called manic episodes, and emotional lows, known depressive episodes. Both these conditions change the behavior of the bipolar person and they react according to their mood swings. With high feelings, they feel ecstatic and overly excited. But emotional lows bring depression, loneliness, and sadness.

All bipolar patients don’t have the same pattern of mood swings and their behavior might be different from each other. There are certain medications and psychotherapy to treat and manage the symptoms of this disorder. Bipolar disorder is considered as a lifelong disorder, so people are curious to know if CBD can treat this mental health condition.

Does Research Support Bipolar and CBD?

There isn’t much research on the effects of CBD to treat various health conditions because of the ban on growth of marijuana. However, after the 2018 farm bill, low-THC hemp plants were legalized federally. That became the starting point of catalyzing research on CBD usage and effects.

But still there is not much research and information on how CBD can help treat bipolar disorder. A 2020 study supports that CBD and CBD-related compounds can help treat various psychotic conditions, like schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and social anxiety disorder. The same study also gave Grade C recommendation for bipolar disorder as well, which means that this recommendation is given in the light of limited studies and it needs more studies to support this claim.

Another study has highlighted the scarcity of clinical trials testing the impact of CBD on mood disorder as a primary disorder. However, some studies support its effect on mood disorders when studied as secondary disorders. All these studies show that CBD might have some role in treating bipolar disorder, but there is not much research based evidence available to support this claim. 

How CBD Functions in the Body?

The human body contains an endocannabinoid system, known to keep other systems running. The body naturally produces endocannabinoids that react with CB1 and CB2 receptors and help reduce certain ailments, like pain, insomnia, etc. 

CBD has different pharmacological properties due to which it reacts with several body systems, like serotonergic, glutamatergic, and endocannabinoid, etc. This interaction results in several neurobiological changes that help treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

Our body reacts to external cannabinoids found in CBD the same way it reacts after production of naturally produced endocannabinoids. These CBD cannabinoids create the same effects and regulate emotional responses, moods, and neuroprotection.

So, despite scarcity of research on the use of CBD for bipolar disorder treatment, it is observed that cannabidiol produces the similar body impact as generated with bipolar medication. It means that CBD does contain neuroprotective effects, so it might be effective in treating bipolar disorder. But more research is required in this area.

Conclusion

Protagonists of CBD claim various health benefits of CBD and they have been using it for some time. But unfortunately, besides statements of CBD users, there isn’t much research and clinical trials on the use of CBD usage to treat health conditions, significantly psychological issues. So, there is a huge space between claims and scientific evidence that should be narrowed by conducting more trials and scientific research.

We hope that after legalization of planting hemp plants for medical purposes, the researchers do more active research so that people can live happily with a solution that can cure their various health conditions — yes, it’s called CBD!

This is a sponsored post and Save On Cannabis has been paid for the placement of the content and did not author the content of the piece as well as does not necessarily share the opinion of the author. 

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