CBD Oil as a Mood Stabilizer

Mood swings and disorders vary in intensity from mildly frustrating to absolutely debilitating. They can be caused by temporary hormone changes or lifelong mental health struggles. Over 20 million American adults suffer from some type of mood disorder, and the majority has experienced difficulty in receiving effective and tolerable treatment.

The issue with treating mood disorders is that you’re dealing with brain chemistry. Anything you change will have an effect on something else, and sometimes those secondary changes are catastrophic. Imagine treating manic episodes with something that can cause suicidal thoughts or diabetes.

CBD oil, or cannabidiol, is an oil derived from the hemp plant. It doesn’t make you “high,” because it doesn’t contain THC, which is another cannabinoid found in marijuana. CBD oil is non-psychoactive, but it does cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver surprisingly effective mental and physical health benefits.

In your brain and immune system, there are groups of naturally-occurring receptors called the endocannabinoid system. The name isn’t a coincidence. This system was named after the plant that led to its discovery. The mood stabilizing effects of CBD are related mostly with the CB1 receptors in your brain, though there are CB receptors throughout your body.

The goal of your endocannabinoid system is to maintain a stable internal environment, or homeostasis, despite a fluctuating external environment. CBD oil doesn’t activate these receptors like THC would, but instead interacts with the receptors, increasing the amount of anandamide in the brain.

Anandamide is a lipid that regulates your serotonin and dopamine levels, among other vital chemical levels. This is where the mood stabilization happens. The ability to regulate and balance these massively influential compounds is directly related to your ability to regulate your own moods.

The best part about this method of stabilization is that it doesn’t bring you up or down. It doesn’t make you manic or numb. It simply allows your body to regain a level of control over your emotional state so that you can experience appropriate emotional responses to your environment without the debilitating side effects.

Common side effects of other mood stabilizing drugs include itching and rash, excessive thirst, frequent urination, tremor, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, heart palpitation, blackouts, vision changes, seizures, auditory and visual hallucinations, loss of coordination and swelling of the face, tongue and lower body.

Lithium is a common mood stabilizer used for bipolar patients. It can cause all of the side effects listed above plus uncontrollable hand movements, weight changes, excessive saliva, loss of the ability to taste, acne, hair loss, discomfort associated with cold temperatures, depression and pain.

Each frequently-prescribed mood stabilizer comes with its own similar list of outrageous side effects. The side effects associated with CBD oil, however, are decreased hepatic metabolism, dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness and drowsiness.

You should always speak to your doctor before starting a new supplement or treatment, but you might be a good candidate for CBD oil mood stabilization if you’re not taking any other prescription or non-prescription drugs or suffering from low blood pressure.