What Does CBD Stand For?
A recent wave of CBD-infused products has flooded the market, from calming bath soaks to gummies and softgels that claim to ease anxiety. While many of these products aren’t approved by the FDA, they have been shown to provide a number of benefits -- including pain relief and improved mood.
Despite its widespread use, there is still a lot of research to be done on the pharmacology and effects of CBD. However, early research indicates that it may be effective in treating anxiety and pain.
The latest research suggests that CBD affects brain activity in a dose-dependent manner. This unique pattern of brain activity is characterized by activation in the prefrontal cortex and deactivation in the brainstem/cerebellum, specifically the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS).
These findings are supported by phMRI analysis in awake mice. The rostral-caudal axis of the fMRI signal showed an increase in positive BOLD in the olfactory bulb and prefrontal cortex while decreasing BOLD in the brainstem and cerebellum.
Researchers believe this suggests that CBD activates neural circuitry that’s already pre-wired to respond to stress. This can reduce heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety, lowering the risk of an over-reaction to an event.
Using this new research as a guide, CBD-derived drugs can be developed to target specific areas of the brain where these changes occur. This could lead to the development of therapeutics that alleviate anxiety and stress, as well as a variety of other disorders.