The information in these pages are designed for both the general consumer, as well as, health and medical practitioners seeking to expand their working knowledge of cannabis and the potential of cannabinoid based therapies. While we work to ensure the information in these pages and resources is accurate and up to date, we do not make any claims as to the veracity or totality of the information contained herein. Research into cannabis as medicine is ongoing and our understanding of its many potential benefits continues to grow everyday. Our hope is that you will find this information beneficial and inspiring in your own search to better understand the potential of this incredible plant to increase overall health, vitality, and well-being. CBD products are not approved by the FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. We are restricted from making any claims about the efficacy of our specific CBD products to treat or cure any disease or medical conditions. You should always seek the advice of a physician before adding nutritional supplements to your diet. The following information is presented for educational purposes only. Healers Blend provides this information to provide an understanding of the potential applications of cannabidiol. Links to third party websites do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations by Healers Blend and none should be inferred.

Concerning CBD and Depression the questions asked regularly are:

How much CBD should I take for depression?
What is the best CBD oil for depression?
How does CBD work to effect depression?
What are the side effects of CBD?

In this FAQ, we will answer the above questions, and walk you through the basics of using Healers Blend CBD products. 

  1. The FDA Guidelines (legal stuff)
  2. Will CBD Help Depression? – The Current Research
  3. Finding Your Minimum Effective Dose – How Much CBD Do I Take And How Often?
  4. How To Determine Dosage Based On Type of Product
  5. CBD Side Effects and Drug Interactions

1. The FDA Guidelines Concerning The Use Of CBD For Depression Related Symptoms

(Let’s get the legal stuff out of the way first)

It is important to note that CBD products are not approved by FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. We are restricted from making any claims about the efficacy of our specific CBD products to treat or cure any disease or medical condition including depression or depression related symptoms.

None of the products or information made available to the public is intended to be a treatment protocol for any disease state, but rather are offered to provide information and choices regarding nutritional support for various health concerns. None of the information presented is intended to be an enticement to purchase and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. The FDA would want us to remind you: You should always seek the advice of a physician before adding nutritional supplements to your diet.

2. Will CBD Help with Depression? – What the Current Research Says 

In recent years, the endocannabinoid system has been largely implicated in both the pathogenesis of depression as well as the action of antidepressants. As a result, several advances have been made in order to determine its exact role in the etiology of depression and the practical actions of antidepressant drugs.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a neuroactive lipid signaling system widely distributed throughout the brain and other major organs. It has been shown to modulate numerous functions in our bodies. For instance, the ECS is heavily involved with emotional behavior, mood and stress responsiveness as shown by post mortem and other studies.

The growing evidence of reports now show that deficits in endocannabinoid signaling may be the cause of depressive and anxiogenic behavioral responses. Furthermore, there is proof that the increase of endocannabinoid signaling through external cannabinoids such as CBD can result to both anti-depressive and anxiolytic behavioral responses.

Some studies have shown that a deficiency in endocannabinoid signaling is enough to produce “depressive-like” characteristics at the preclinical level. These include changes in the reward system, emotional and cognitive behaviors, as well as biological changes such as impaired stress adaptation, reduced neurogenesis, etc. This signaling deficiency is also capable of inducing symptoms of depression in humans at a clinical level.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis, interacts with the endocannabinoid system to manifest anxiolytic-like properties in many behavioral tests. Nonetheless, CBD’s mechanism of action of to combat depression remains unclear.

One study aiming to establish how CBD works on depression administered acute and chronic doses to olfactory bulbectomy (OBX). The researchers used open field and sucrose preference behavioral tests as well as microdialysis and autoradiography of 5-HT1A receptor functionality studies to determine CBD’s effect. The pharmacological antagonism of the effects of CBD were also investigated. The results showed that CBD exhibits fast and sustained antidepressive-like effects. Moreover, it effected these changes differently, based on the emotional state of the model and the duration of the treatment. The scientists observed that both antidepressive-like effects and improved cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission brought about by CBD were inhibited by 5-HT1A receptor blockade. These results show that CBD could serve as a unique and fast antidepressant drug.

For more information on the studies relating to the use of CBD for depression, go to this page.

3. Finding Your Minimum Effective Dose: How Much CBD Do I Take And How Often? 

Due to FDA regulations we cannot give specific advice on how to use CBD for a particular condition such as depression or other depression related symptoms. Fortunately though, the process to find a minimum effective dose of CBD for any condition, is very simple. The key to finding the most effective dosage is by using what is called, a Stepwise Dosing procedure.

Stepwise Dosing is a process by which you first establish a baseline dosage, then adjust the dosage incrementally over a set period of time (typically 3 days) until you find your effective dose.

It is important to recognize that everyone responds a little differently to CBD so there is no set dose for everyone or every condition. By following a stepwise dosing procedure you can find the most effective dosage of CBD for you.

 The Stepwise Dosing Procedure

Start Low and Go Slow : The first step to finding your minimum effective dose is to establish a baseline dosage. Since many people report good results with CBD at low doses, we suggest you start with a minimal dose and slowly increase the dosage until you find results. Start with a small baseline dosage between 2-5mg, 2X or 3x daily (6-10mg total).

  1. Maintain your baseline dosage for 7 days taking note of how the CBD interacts with your body.
  2. After the initial 7 days of your baseline CBD dosage, if you are not receiving the benefit you need, then increase the daily dosage by 1-2mg every 3 days until you find the dosage that works best for you.
  3. Once you have determined your minimum effective dose you may wish to decrease your dosage by one step to see if you can maintain the benefits at a slightly lower dosage.

Important Note: Typically, people decide to try CBD because of a specific condition, only to find it helps other areas of their body as well. Remember, your endocannabinoid system runs throughout the entire body at a cellular and sub-cellular level. CBD is a whole-body compound. When you start taking CBD for the first time, pay attention to everything going on in your body. Do not be surprised if you find various benefits from your dosage. 

About Sleep: Often times, certain conditions or side-effects from medication can create insomnia. Sleep is essential to the bodies healing and recovery process. If sleep deprivation is an issue, you may want to consider weighting your dosage heavier at night to assist with a more sound sleep.

Establishing A Baseline Dosage Based On Weight

If you feel you need a higher dosage as a starting point we have created the following chart to assist you. This chart is submitted as a suggestive guide only and is not meant to take the place of a qualified physician.

CBD Oil Dosing By Weight
CBD Oil Dosing By Weight

4. How To Determine Dosage Based On A Specific Product

Dosing With Sublingual CBD Oils

Once you have established a minimum effective dose using the stepwise dosing procedure, the following chart will help you determine which sublingual oil potency will best meet your daily dosage requirement. To find the best product match for your dosage simply match your daily dosage to the row on the chart labeled “30 Day Supply in Bottle”. For example: If you need 15mg CBD daily then according to the chart you would need a 450mg product. The chart also acts as a guide to how to use the glass dropper to measure out CBD in milligrams.

CBD Oil Measurement Guide

5. Possible Side Effects Of CBD And Drug Interaction

There are multiple studies demonstrating the effectiveness of CBD in treating various conditions. Most of these studies conclude that CBD (cannabidiol) is safe and virtually free of side effects.

A review on the Safety and side effects of cannabidiol by the NCBI for example suggests that controlled CBD (cannabidiol) administration is safe and non-toxic in humans and animals. It also does not induce changes in food intake; nor does it affect physiological parameters like heart rate, body temperature or blood pressure. Also, according to this review paper, “high doses up to 1,500 mg/day of CBD are reportedly well tolerated in humans.”

There are very few known side effects of CBD, these are mostly minor but you should be informed before taking CBD:

  1. Inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism -CBD and other plant cannabinoids can potentially interact with some pharmaceuticals by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P450, a family of liver enzymes. This key enzyme group is responsible for metabolizing some of the drugs we consume. At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize certain compounds. A 2013 report on a clinical trial using GW Pharmaceutical’s Sativex, found no interactions with CYP enzymes when approximately 40mg of CBD were administered.
    GRAPEFRUIT WARNING: If your medication has a grapefruit consumption warning label then you should not take CBD without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist to see if CBD will inhibit the efficacy of your medication.
  2. Dry mouth- Some people have reported an unpleasant dry sensation in the mouth.
  3. Increased tremor with Parkinson’s at high CBD dosages- There are studies showing the potential of CBD to help alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, there have been reports of CBD increasing tremors when taken at very high dosages. Reducing intake to a smaller dosage will typically eliminate increased tremors.
  4. Lightheadedness- In cases where extremely high dosages of CBD are being taken some people have reported temporary lightheadedness.
  5. Drowsiness- Higher dosages of CBD may cause of drowsiness. If you are affected this way, you should not operate machinery or drive a vehicle. Conversely, due to its bi-phasic nature, micro-doses of CBD act as a wake-inducing agent.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking CBD if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.