Compare the Best CBD Oil As Mood Stabilizer 2022

How CBD May Help With Mood Stability

Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, is a plant-based cannabinoid derived from cannabis plants. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD does not have psychoactive activity. 

Most importantly, CBD has purported anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), antipsychotic, and neuroprotective properties⁽¹⁾. 

Aside from CBD’s therapeutic potential, its activity in the ECS (endocannabinoid system) may further elucidate how the compound may help with mood stability and the medical conditions associated with it. 

The ECS is responsible for maintaining bodily balance. Both CBD and THC interact with the ECS’ cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) present throughout the body⁽²⁾. 

The cannabinoid receptors are a G-protein coupled receptor family with potential roles in the modulation of signaling pathways linked to numerous medical conditions⁽³⁾. 

A study from the Journal of Neural Transmission linked the depressive period of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression with a low density of CB1 receptors in the brain⁽⁴⁾. 

Bipolar disorder (manic depression) causes extreme mood swings characterized by emotional highs and lows. Meanwhile, schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which individuals have a distorted view of reality. 

CB1 receptors are found within the pain pathways of the brain and spinal cord, where they may affect CBD-induced anxiety relief⁽⁵⁾. 

A study showed that CBD may help with anxiety disorders⁽⁶⁾. Anxiety disorders can affect one’s mood and often occur with depression⁽⁷⁾. 

Aside from possessing an anti-anxiety effect, CBD may interact with the serotonin receptor⁽⁸⁾. 

The serotonin receptor is activated by serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety⁽⁹⁾. 

Benefits of Using CBD for Mood Stability

A study from the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research mentioned that CBD may be a microglial stabilizer, similar to lithium, which can help with mood stabilization and depression⁽¹⁰⁾. 

Microglia refers to a neuronal support cell in the central nervous system that can orchestrate a potent inflammatory response⁽¹¹⁾. 

A 2020 study suggested that inflammation may be a treatment target in mood disorders⁽¹²⁾. 

Lithium is known for significantly reducing suicidal behavior and is recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties⁽¹³⁾. 

CBD also has purported anti-inflammatory properties⁽¹⁴⁾. In addition, the non-psychoactive compound is found to be relatively safe⁽¹⁵⁾. 

A 2021 preclinical research from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences suggested that CBD may have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties that may help with anxiety and mood disorders⁽¹⁶⁾. 

Meanwhile, a comparative study from the Psychological Medicine journal suggested that cannabis use may help improve neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia⁽¹⁷⁾. 

According to the NIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health), cannabis involves all products derived from Cannabis sativa plants⁽¹⁸⁾.  

 Although the Psychological Medicine journal study does not focus on CBD, researchers who want to explore CBD’s effect on neurocognition may find the results useful. 

Neurocognition is the process of assessing and linking information. 

Symptoms of bipolar disorder include manic episodes⁽¹⁹⁾.  

A study from the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs hypothesized that cannabis may be a potential mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder⁽²⁰⁾. 

Some individuals with bipolar disorder used cannabis to help with mania, depression, or both and claimed that it is more effective than conventional drugs⁽²¹⁾. 

Mood disorders are often caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and stressful life changes(22). CBD has shown promise in improving stress response⁽²³⁾. 

Although the results of the studies seem promising, more longitudinal research is recommended to determine the benefits of using CBD for mood stability. 

How to Use CBD for Mood Stability Safely

CBD is considered a promising agent in treating mood disorders and anxiety⁽²⁴⁾. Cannabidiol also has a favorable safety profile⁽²⁵⁾. 

If you are considering using CBD for mood stability, below are two commonly used CBD delivery methods you may try:

Inhaling CBD using vape pens is the fastest way to benefit from the effects of the compound⁽²⁶⁾. The onset time of CBD via the inhalation route is between 2 to 15 minutes⁽²⁷⁾.  

Nonetheless, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) warn people against the use of THC-containing e-cigarettes or any vaping products, mainly from informal sources, like dealers, family and friends, and non-commercial sources⁽²⁸⁾. 

Most lung injury cases in the U.S. are associated with vaping⁽²⁹⁾. Hence, you have to be extra cautious when choosing this delivery method.

The other commonly used CBD delivery method is sublingual (under the tongue) administration. Such a process provides rapid effects without exposing the lungs to tar and heat⁽³⁰⁾.

The capillaries under the tongue and within the mouth absorb CBD into the bloodstream before the compound is swallowed⁽³¹⁾.  

If you choose to take CBD under the tongue, you will feel its effects within 15 to 30 minutes, and they may last from 2 to 4 hours⁽³²⁾. 

Most CBD oil products come with calibrated dropper. You can use it to dispense the oil straight to your mouth.  

Still, it is best to talk with a doctor experienced in cannabis use to determine the right CBD delivery method for mood stability.  

CBD Dosage for Mood Stability

The FDA does not recognize CBD as a form of mood stabilizer. Thus, there is no standard CBD dosage for mood stability. 

However, in a randomized controlled trial, researchers administered 600 mg of CBD and a placebo to patients with (SAD) social anxiety disorder⁽³³⁾. The participants who received CBD experienced significantly less social anxiety than those given a placebo. 

Meanwhile, a study from Frontiers in Immunology mentioned that CBD may only increase prolactin levels at doses greater than 120mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight⁽³⁴⁾. This study used a rat model.  

Prolactin modulates anxiety and depressive-like behaviors⁽³⁵⁾. 

Depression is a mood disorder⁽³⁶⁾. Meanwhile, anxiety disorders can result from severe stress that changes the chemical balance that controls one’s mood⁽³⁷⁾. 

Still, consult a healthcare provider versed in cannabis use to determine the accurate dosage for your condition.  

How Long Does CBD Take to Help With Mood Stability?

How long CBD takes to help with mood stability usually depends on several factors, including the delivery method, individual body weight, and the type of CBD.

For instance, if you take CBD via the inhalation route, you will feel its effects within 2 to 15 minutes⁽³⁸⁾. However, vaping may damage your lungs⁽³⁹⁾.

On the other hand, the onset time of CBD via the sublingual route is between 15 and 30 minutes⁽⁴⁰⁾.    

How Long Will CBD Help With Mood Stability?

How long CBD’s effects will last after the compound starts to help with mood stability depends on cannabidiol’s bioavailability and half-life.

Bioavailability is the extent to which a particular substance becomes entirely available to its intended biological destinations. 

Meanwhile, half-life refers to the length of time required for the concentration of a specific drug to decrease by 50% of its starting dose. 

About 94% to 97% of a substance will have been eliminated after four to five half-lives⁽⁴¹⁾. 

A systematic review mentioned that CBD’s bioavailability following smoking is 31%, with a half-life of 31 hours⁽⁴²⁾. 

Meanwhile, CBD’s bioavailability via the sublingual route is between 6% and 20%⁽⁴³⁾. In addition, CBD is reported to have a half-life between 1.4 and 10.9 hours following oromucosal spray use⁽⁴⁴⁾. 

How to Choose CBD for Mood Stability

Various CBD brands in the market promise to offer the best CBD oil for mood stability. Below are a few pertinent factors to consider that may help you sort through products to find the best CBD product for your overall wellness:

1. Hemp Extracts

A full-spectrum CBD oil contains all compounds of the cannabis plant, including CBD and other cannabinoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes.

This CBD variant also has less than 0.3% THC. Furthermore, full-spectrum CBD oil produces the entourage effect due to the presence of all cannabis compounds.

The entourage effect is a concept where the biologically active compounds of cannabis work better when administered together.

Flavonoids are active compounds present in cannabis that may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral actions⁽⁴⁵⁾.

Meanwhile, terpenes are the components of essential oils responsible for the aroma of cannabis⁽⁴⁶⁾.

Broad-spectrum CBD oil also contains all of the natural compounds of cannabis. However, this CBD variant is THC-free. Lastly, CBD isolates are made from pure CBD.

2. Source of Hemp 

For high-quality hemp-derived CBD products, it is necessary to identify the source of hemp. 

Some CBD products may contain pesticides, heavy metals, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These substances may put your health at risk. 

Therefore, make sure to choose a CBD brand that provides sufficient information on the hemp used. You should go for organic hemp or non-GMO CBD products manufactured by reputable companies.

Legitimate producers grow hemp in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, state laws, and tribal plans.

Home-grown hemp is subject to the quality-control procedures of the USDA.

3. Extraction Methods 

Different extraction methods are utilized in manufacturing CBD oil and hemp extracts. These processes include steam distillation, natural solvent extraction, ethanol extraction, and carbon dioxide or CO2 extraction. 

One of the most frequently utilized CBD extraction methods is the CO2 extraction technique, using carbon dioxide as the solvent⁽⁴⁷⁾.

4. Third-Party Lab Testing

Consumers must verify whether a CBD brand enlists the services of a third-party laboratory. The company must provide its clients with lab reports or COAs (certificates of analysis) of all their products.

The documents mentioned should be readily accessible on the brand’s official website. When all pertinent information is posted online, customers can compare the values specified on the laboratory report with the figures on the product label. 

Comparing reports allows consumers to verify a brand’s claims regarding the concentration, potency, and effects of CBD.

5. Types of CBD Products 

Most CBD-derived products available in the market are:

• CBD vapes
• CBD oils and CBD tinctures 
• Edibles, like CBD gummies and capsules
• Topicals, like CBD creams, salves, and lotions

The type of CBD products you choose will depend on your lifestyle preferences, specific conditions, and expected effects.

6. Carrier Oils   

Usually, coconut oil and hempseed oil are used as carrier oils. 

The terms hempseed oil and hemp oil are often used interchangeably. However, they are not the same. 

CBD oil, sometimes called hemp oil, is a form of essential oil obtained from the flowers and leaves of hemp plants. Hempseed oil, meanwhile, is extracted from the pressed seeds of hemp plants. 

Hempseed oil does not have CBD. However, it is rich in nutrients and fatty acids⁽⁴⁸⁾.

7. Brand Reputation

Although many CBD brands are dedicated to offering only high-quality CBD products to their customers, researching the CBD company to verify if it is a trusted brand is crucial. 

Therefore, read customer reviews to get more insights into the manufacturer and its products. 

Since most people have different opinions and experiences of a product, understanding the overall impression given by other customers may help you with your decision-making. 

Risks and Side Effects of Using CBD for Mood Stability

Generally, commonly reported side effects of using CBD include⁽⁴⁹⁾:

• Drowsiness
• Low blood pressure
• Dry mouth 

Another cause for concern is possible drug interactions. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers are recommended for moderate to severe depression⁽⁵⁰⁾. 

CBD is a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6, an enzyme that metabolizes various antidepressants⁽⁵¹⁾. Hence, CBD may increase serum concentrations of antidepressants like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)⁽⁵²⁾.  

Is CBD Safe for Mood Stability?

Aside from potential risks and side effects, another cause for concern is the lack of regulation of CBD products marketed as supplements⁽⁵³⁾. 

The FDA only has limited scientific data about CBD’s safety⁽⁵⁴⁾. Still, the agency is committed to constantly updating the public as it learns more about the compound.

CBD’s safety profile has been established in numerous ways⁽⁵⁵⁾. Nevertheless, further clinical trials are needed to ensure that the pharmaceutical compound is well-tested. 

Legality of CBD

Under federal law, cannabis (sometimes called marijuana) remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act⁽⁵⁶⁾. 

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA said that substances listed in the Schedule I drugs category have a high abuse potential with no accepted medical use⁽⁵⁷⁾. 

Meanwhile, most states with medical marijuana laws have a patient registry to protect individuals against arrest for having a certain amount of cannabis-derived products for personal medicinal use⁽⁵⁸⁾. 

Still, rules and regulations regarding medical cannabis may be confusing. Hence, consumers should familiarize themselves with various state laws. 

For instance, Colorado permits recreational and medical marijuana use. The local government decriminalized the use of marijuana by passing Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution in November 2012⁽⁵⁹⁾.

In Texas, the local government passed laws in June 2019 to create an industrial hemp program⁽⁶⁰⁾. 

Under House Bill 1325, the Texas Department of State Health Services is in charge of issuing licenses to people who want to manufacture or sell consumable hemp-derived products in the Lone Star State. 

Meanwhile, in October 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill No. 45 into law⁽⁶¹⁾. 

The bill allowed the inclusion of hemp and cannabinoids, extracts, or hemp derivatives in dietary supplements, food and beverages, cosmetics, and processed pet food provided that they contain less than 0.3% THC⁽⁶²⁾.

On the other hand, in Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act No. 52. The bill allowed the distribution and retail sale of “low-THC hemp extract,” defined as a product derived from Cannabis sativa L. that meets industrial hemp’s definition⁽⁶³⁾. 

The Farm Bill indicates that Cannabis sativa L. and other derivatives of cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content on a dry weight basis are deemed legal under federal law⁽⁶⁴⁾.