Some mental health practitioners are turning to what fairly can be classified as nontraditional treatment protocols to assist in the care and treatment of their patients. Understanding this reality, many people wonder whether mental health practitioners recommend the use of cannabidiol or CBD oil in the course of treating their patients. The quick answer is that there are mental health practitioners who do recommend CBD oil for some patients. Specifically, some mental health practitioners recommend the use of CBD to patients that suffer from anxiety and PTSD.
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What is Cannabidiol or CBD?
Scientifically and medically, cannabidiol or CBD is defined as aa phytocannabinoid. A phytocannabinoid is a chemical found in cannabis. CBD was discovered in 1940. At this time, there are 113 identified cannabinoids in a cannabis plant. CBD accounts for up to 40% of the extract from a cannabis plant.
Clinical research is ongoing as to the impact CBD has on a variety of conditions including anxiety, movement disorders, pain, and cognition. Because the research is ongoing, there aren’t definitive conclusions about the impact CBD has on these and other conditions.
These studies have included not only the use of CBD to address the symptoms of anxiety but also PTSD and certain types of psychosis. Although somewhat limited, the research today indicates that CBD can have a beneficial impact on the symptoms associated with these mental health conditions.
Where is CBD Oil Obtained?
In most instances, CBD oil is obtained from the hemp plant. In states where medical marijuana is legal, CBD oil may be obtained from the marijuana plant. With that said, CBD oil contains a mere trace of TCH at best. TCH is the ingredient in marijuana that causes a person to “feel high.” Because there is nothing but a trace of TCH in CBD oil, a person who uses this substance is not going to experience the “high” associated with ingesting marijuana.
Is CBD Oil Legal Everywhere?
CBD oil derived from the hemp plant is legally everywhere in the United States. CBD oil derived from the marijuana plant lawfully can be used in those states in which medical marijuana has been legalized.
Is CBD Oil Safe?
A common question concerns the safety of CBD Oil. The fact is that CBD oil is regarded as “exceedingly safe,” according to Psychology Today. There has been a considerable amount of research about the safety of CBD, research that has been ongoing since the 1960s. In fact, CBD is deemed so safe that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA has approved the use of CBD for the treatment of epilepsy in children.
If you’re interested in trying CBD oil to aid in controlling the symptoms of anxiety or PTSD, you should consult with a professional. This particularly is the case if you’re currently taking a medication or medications. You should never take another substance, natural or otherwise, when already on medication without first consulting with your mental health practitioner or your primary care physician. You need to make sure that the use of CBD oil won’t have some sort of negative impact on the medications you may be taking currently.