Cognitive Enhancement or Sedation? Unraveling the Effects of CBD on the Brain

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The times of a strict ban on cannabis and its compounds are long gone; as the recent clinical findings have shown, it’s only the THC compound in marijuana that should be regulated and limited due to its psychoactive effects and ability to cause toxicity. This way, cannabidiol – another essential component of marijuana known for its therapeutic benefits and varied medicinal properties – has found a way to mass market and is readily available for people with various health issues.

One thing that may still confuse novice CBD consumers is the expectation of effects and proper dosing for achieving those effects. It’s broadly known that CBD acts as a stress relief remedy and painkiller. Thus, people often get a recommendation to consume CBD for sedation and relaxation, which is optimal for evening use. However, some CBD products are also marketed as energy boosters and wellness supplements, which suggests that CBD can also be a stimulating remedy for those whose energy is low or who feel weak and reactive in the morning. So, which effect will you get if you buy a bottle of CBD oil? Will you get the expected result, or can your outcomes be just the opposite of what you’re expecting? This article examines various CBD effects on brain and clarifies how you should take CBD to achieve sedation or cognitive enhancement.

Stimulation vs. Sedation: Which Effects to Expect From CBD?

The first thing you should remember about CBD is that it has various effects on the human organism. Thus, you can achieve a broad range of health outcomes, from sedation to pain relief to creativity and focus boost, by using CBD oil from one bottle. The secret to this versatility of effects is the dose; according to the findings of a 2012 study by Zhornitsky and Potvin, high doses of inhaled and orally or intravenously administered CBD are effective for treating social anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy.

Thus, it’s evident that high CBD doses cause mental sedation. Small doses of CBD, in their turn, are powerful energy boosters and focus stimulants. Thus, if you want to get a boosting effect and achieve pronounced cognitive enhancement, small CBD doses will work just right, while pain relief and sedation are attained with high CBD concentrations.

Research on the CBD’s Impact on the Human Brain

Now, let’s briefly cover the versatility of effects you can experience by taking CBD. This compound is actively researched today, with many aspects of its effect on the human organism already uncovered and many still remaining mysterious and under-researched. So, what does the clinical community know about CBD’s impact?

  • Anxiolytic properties. According to recent studies, the anxiolytic activity of CBD can advance modern PTSD treatment and give patients much-needed relief from PTSD symptoms. The effects are achieved through CBD’s unique impact on the brain – it couples with the neural circuitry triggering fear and defense mechanisms.
  • Antipsychotic effect. Researchers also found that CBD can exhibit antipsychotic properties in the human brain, which is valuable in the treatment of various psychotic disorders. CBD also modulates resting limbic activity in people with anxiety disorders and can affect the metabolite levels of patients with ASD.

  • Antidepressant effect. As modern clinical studies suggest, CBD reduces blood flows to the brain areas responsible for triggering anxiety (e.g., the hypothalamus), thus returning this area’s activity to normal and preventing hyperactivity. This way, CBD causes a broad antidepressant effect and soothes people’s nerves.
  • Brain cell protection. Counter to the stigma around cannabis as a brain-eroding drug, there’s actually plenty of clinical research with proven brain cell protection effects of CBD. In particular, CBD can hinder brain damage caused by inflammation. This is why it has acquired broad use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, promising great potential for brain cell protection from oxidative stress and permanent damage.
  • ECS activation. Interestingly, CBD doesn’t activate CB1 receptors, which means a lack of psychoactive properties. It only works with the CB2 receptor type in the human ECS, binding to them and reducing the harmful impact of THC on memory and anxiety levels (in case patients use cannabis in the original form, not an isolated CBD variant). Another aspect of CBD’s effects on the ECS is its ability to raise the level of anandamides in the human brain, thus participating in the production and regulation of serotonin and dopamine.
  • Inflammation and pain relief. Pronounced anti-inflammatory properties of CBD have made it a preferred option for many people suffering from chronic and acute pain, arthritis, bone and joint problems, etc. CBD can suppress the inflammation response in the immune cells, thus ensuring that pain signals enter the brain in a weaker form and cause less discomfort for the user.
  • Sedation. Finally, it’s vital to mention CBD’s sedative and relaxing properties that have paved its way into use before bedtime. CBD in high doses can cause potent relaxation and sleepiness, thus helping insomniacs improve sleep quality and duration. Ideally, CBD is combined with melatonin or CBN for these purposes to amplify the sedating effect and cause full-body relaxation for a good night’s sleep.

These findings show that CBD is generally universal in application and can work well for all kinds of purposes, whether you feel down in the morning or want to relax and unwind at the end of the day. So, proper planning and product choice can give you the desired effects and boost your health and wellness without letting you down.

Plan Your Dose and Administration Method Wisely

With these varied effects in mind, you should dedicate enough time to independent research and product choice. CBD acts differently in various administration forms and at different doses, so you risk having a sleepless night instead of relaxation if you, for instance, pick a low-dose CBD item or use CBD with CBG – a cannabinoid known for an energy boost, creativity, and focus.

Thus, it’s better to turn for advice to experts and consultants; they will match the product variety with your health needs and expectations from CBD use, ensuring that you reap maximum benefits from this cannabinoid without unpleasant surprises.