Depression is an exhausting mental health condition that leads to feelings of hopelessness and an inability to enjoy life. It's one of the most common mental disorders affecting almost 280 million people worldwide.
Left untreated, depression can interfere with your ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy the activities that once brought you pleasure. As a result, you may feel disconnected, lost, or even like life is not worth living. It's challenging enough to deal with day-to-day life when you're struggling with depression, so trying to find an effective therapy may feel utterly overwhelming.
Thankfully, there are treatments available for depression, including pharmacological medications, psychotherapy, and natural remedies.
For many, antidepressants are the first line of defense against this crippling condition. Although they may help you feel better eventually, these medications come with a host of potential side effects, including weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and gastrointestinal issues.
For these reasons, many people with depression are interested in finding natural alternatives to mainstream options. Some of the most promising come from the hemp plant, including CBD and its parent compound, CBDa.
CBD for depression
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating compound found in hemp. Studies show that CBD has antidepressant-like effects in animal model studies. It appears to work by affecting the brain's neurotransmitters, including serotonin, a mood stabilizer.
Furthermore, a recent study with almost 400 participants assessed CBD for depression and other issues. They were prescribed CBD for mental health issues, cancer, and neurological problems. After 3 three weeks of use, all participants experienced an improved quality of life. Those using CBD for anxiety and depression also reported improved daily functioning and reduced anxiety symptoms.
CBD vs. CBDa
CBD is a well-known compound found in hemp that's received considerable attention for its potential health benefits. However, CBD isn't the only powerful hemp substance with therapeutic potential.
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) is a lesser-known cannabinoid found in raw, living hemp plants. It's the acidic precursor of CBD. When exposed to heat, it loses its acid molecule and becomes CBD.
Think of CBDa as the powerhouse parent compound to CBD. It's superior because it comes from the living, breathing hemp plant that's exactly as nature designed. But unfortunately, we know less about this miracle compound because the mass-production and processing of hemp results in the loss of CBDa.
CBDa encompasses and surpasses the benefits of CBD. It appears to be a potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant, and antidepressant.
Living hemp contains hundreds of beneficial compounds and cannabinoids that synergize to produce 'the entourage effect.' Regrettably, many of these raw, plant-powered benefits are lost when hemp is broken down to create CBD.
The best CBDa oil transcends the benefits of CBD and is more potent in some applications. For example, it can effectively reduce nausea at levels 1000 less than an effective dose of CBD. It's also more effective than CBD at activating 5-HT1A receptors which bind with serotonin, a primary mood-stabilizer. This effect is highly relevant to depression treatment.
Additionally, CBDa is more water-soluble, meaning that your body can absorb and use it more efficiently.
Choosing the best CBDa oil for depression
Although hemp products like CBD and CBDa have great potential for treating depression, not all hemp-derived products are created equal.
The primary difference between CBD and CBDa is that the overwhelming majority of CBD products on the market have been processed using extreme temperatures and other detrimental processes to extract cannabinoids from the once-living hemp plant. This damages the exquisite balance of natural cannabinoid acids and the fundamental medicinal properties of the plant.
Furthermore, cheap, poorly made CBD products containing few active ingredients are flooding the shelves. Sadly, the CBD market is largely unregulated and is very much the wild west of the natural product industry. Consequently, people can buy products with little CBD and no meaningful therapeutic effect at the expense of their health and wellbeing.
It's critical to consider how hemp is grown and treated before it reaches the bottle. Large swathes of hemp are cultivated in nutrient-deficient soils on industrial farms using harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals. The beautiful hemp plants are exposed to airborne pollutants and smog-like black dust. They are then subject to intensive, large-scale extraction processes that use harsh chemicals, heat, and pressure to break down the plant into a liquid state. Even organic hemp isn't free from this process.
To make matters worse, many CBD companies aren't transparent about their methods and don't provide batch-specific testing results to show the cannabinoid content of their products. This lack of regulation and transparency makes it difficult for consumers to know what they're buying and whether it will be effective.
At Nesas hemp, we're on a mission to create a new industry standard. It's called "Beyond Organic" because we have never settled for traditional organic certification. Instead, we strive to exceed these standards in dozens of ways in the journey from seed to shelf. So, when looking for the best CBDa oil, choose Beyond Organic. You're safe in the knowledge that our products are completely natural, highly effective, and third-party lab tested for potency and purity.
