Is CBD oil good for depression symptoms?

CBD oil is available as a supplement and natural remedy for health conditions that involve chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression. Research on its effectiveness in humans is limited, though.

This article discusses CBD oil and what research says about its potential benefits for depression symptoms.

What is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol is a non-addictive compound in the cannabis sativa plant. It is different from another cannabis ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes feelings of sedation and euphoria.

CBD oil is extracted from hemp, a part of the cannabis plant that contains more cannabidiol but less than 0.3% THC. This is why taking CBD oil will not cause you to experience a “high” or any psychoactive effects.

If you are interested in using CBD oil, you may want to study your state laws on the safety and legality of these products.

What does CBD do to your body?

CBD oil seems to stimulate the endocannabinoid system, helping restore neurotransmitter balance.

Your body’s endocannabinoid system contains cannabinoid neurotransmitters, receptors, and enzymes that send and receive messages throughout your central and peripheral nervous systems.

Everyone has an endocannabinoid system, even if you do not consume any form of cannabis.

Experts are still studying this complex communication network, but they have found it is involved in essential body functions, and it responds to both THC and CBD compounds.

Research suggests the endocannabinoid system plays a role in the following:

• appetite
• digestion
• mood regulation
• memory
• inflammatory processes
• pain modulation
• metabolism
• stress response
• reproduction and fertility
• motor functions
• cell growth
• cardiovascular health

When the system is not functioning as it should, dysregulation of natural cannabinoids may affect some or all of these biological processes, including how you feel.

Some experts suggest that CBD oil may help improve this cannabinoid dysregulation by introducing cannabinoid compounds into the network without promoting dependence.

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Is CBD an effective treatment for depression?

CBD oil is not a formal treatment for any type of depression, and there is limited evidence in humans that validates it as an effective therapy for depression.

Still, some clinical trials and animal research suggest the use of CBD oil could help some people with depression and other mood disorders. More research is needed.

Cannabis and depression

Even though older studies have found that cannabis users tend to report fewer incidents of depressed mood than non-users, research has often associated cannabis use with a slightly higher chance of developing symptoms of depression.

However, these studies typically look at the recreational use of cannabis, which involves ingesting and smoking parts of the cannabis plant that contain both CBD and THC. No evidence exists that links isolated CBD to a higher probability of having depression.

CBD oil and depression

There is limited research on the effects of CBD oil in humans. Most studies have been conducted in vitro or in animals like rodents.

Based on what they know about cannabidiol, some experts hypothesize that compounds like CBD oil, which promote activity within the endocannabinoid system, may work as antidepressants in people who have a dysregulation of natural cannabinoids.

Animal research from 2014 suggests cannabidiol interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and hormone involved in mood regulation and the ability to experience pleasure and joy. This would explain, in theory, how CBD may help regulate serotonin levels and therefore have a positive effect on mood in people with depression.

A 2015 study in animals reinforces these findings. Researchers found that CBD improved levels of serotonin and glutamate in the brain of rodents. Glutamate is another neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and cognitive functions. Research has indicated that glutamate levels are typically low in people with depression.

People with stress-induced depression may also benefit from CBD, as a 2018 review suggests the compound has anti-stress benefits.

A 2019 study with rodents points to the fast and sustained effect CBD has on mood, which shows promise for its use as a fast-acting depression drug. This would be an advantage over traditional depression medications, which typically take a while to show results.

More research on humans and CBD oil is needed to determine if cannabidiol may be beneficial for people who live with symptoms of depression and other mood disorders.

Treatment for depression

Depression treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and the type of depression you live with.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common type of psychotherapy to manage depression symptoms.

In some cases, your healthcare professional may also recommend medications like duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), sertraline (Zoloft), and bupropion (Wellbutrin).

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Summary

CBD oil may hold promise as a therapeutic option for people with depression. Research on humans is limited, however, and existing animal studies have not looked specifically at CBD oil uses and benefits for mood disorders.

If you are exploring alternative ways to manage depression symptoms, consider discussing your ideas and concerns with your health professional. They may guide you toward alternative treatments and advise you on how to change or discontinue your medication. It is important that you do not stop taking your antidepressant drug without the supervision of a doctor.