We are living through a time where for many of us, our mental health is more at-risk than ever. As the world continues to move further into an uncertain state, it can be difficult to find the light amid a deeply traumatic paradigm. As we face so many challenges with COVID-19 and the climate crisis looming, anxiety rates are higher than ever before. According to Beyond Blue, "17.0% of Australians aged 16 to 85 have experienced an anxiety and/or affective disorder in the past 12 months. This is equivalent to 3.2 million people today.". With this in mind, many of us are seeking therapeutics to provide relief, which is when CBD comes into the equation.

CBD and Mental Wellbeing

The topic of mental wellbeing is, as mentioned, a growing challenge for our society. Thankfully, there is much more support for treatment with plant-based medicine like CBD oil in recent years. Cannabis has been used in a medicinal capacity for centuries. In ancient times, it was used to treat rheumatic pain and malaria, or taken with wine as anaesthesia during surgery. For decades, the World Health Organisation’s committee has offered a long list of conditions that CBD may benefit, with epilepsy being one of the most notable. Research studies on both animals and humans have shown that CBD may help lower feelings of isolation and reduce the and reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is reported that CBD can calm the brain and support the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain that is vital for healthy emotion and memory.

Where can you get CBD oil?

Nicholas Morley of Greenlight Health - an alternative healing consultancy that advocates the use of whole plant extracts - began his journey with cannabis medicine as a personal one. Seeking it out to treat his own depression and chronic pain, Morley admits it’s an area that still needs some navigating since, despite progressions made to legalise recreational Cannabis, CBD oil is still categorised as a Schedule 4 drug under Australian law and can only be prescribed by a doctor.Unfortunately, the quality of the these prescription products often only contain CBD isolate and are not full spectrum whole plant hemp oil.

Morley and his team offer advice and consult on medicinal cannabis-based therapies; they help to guide people towards the most effective products available, while aiming to support each person's symptoms individually.“We show people there is a way to come off all those toxic pharmaceuticals and just work with nature. That’s our ethos.” he says.

How does it work?

“What’s been discovered is that all mammals are born with receptors for cannabinoids, so they’ve discovered right through the human body, we are basically born to receive this medicine. It is a part of our DNA. What has been discovered is that by taking the right amount of cannabinoids, in the right form, it helps the body obtain optimum balance, known as homeostasis. This is a pathway to improved health and vitality. In this way, CBD is helping the body to heal itself." Morley explains. “It’s like an accelerator and a super fuel and helps you deal with pain and depression better.”.

According to Morley, the key to understanding medical cannabis is understanding the difference between CBD and THC, since in some cases, there is a concern with patients not wanting to feel the effects synonymous with cannabis.

“THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two of the active compounds found in the cannabis plant. THC is the psychoactive component which produces the ‘high’ while non-intoxicating CBD on the other hand has proven its ability to reduce anxiety, psychosis, nausea and seizures,” he says.

“Given that these two compounds have very different effects, it is important to make the distinction between the potential benefits of CBD and the use of THC, and to be educated on what form might work best for you individually, especially when looking at treatments for mental health conditions.”

Like anything, CBD works differently for everyone, and it's important to consider your condition and get professional advice when starting out.