For patients who don’t want to consume THC, CBD can be an helpful alternative because it offers relief without a high, according to Dr. Junella Chin.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound or cannabinoid in Cannabis considered to be the non-psychoactive part of the plant that has anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and anti-spasmodic effects on the human body and brain.
Dr. Chin is an osteopathic physician with clinics in New York and California who has been integrating medical Cannabis with treatments for children and families since 2001. She’s seen benefits in treating anxiety disorders with Cannabis and has used it for patients trying to wean off anti-anxiety (benzodiazepines like Xanax).
“Over the last decade, my patients have reported medical Cannabis working extremely well with ‘taking the edge off’ and ‘turning the volume down’ on their anxiety,” wrote Dr. Chin, who recently presented a grand rounds lecture that included the pharmokinetics of “benzos” compared to CBD. “It eases their anxiety in a way that allows them to function. They find that their racing thoughts and continuous ‘fight or flight’ response is no longer there. They simply feel more comfortable in their own skin again.”
CBD mediates a neurotransmitter
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