Hemp oil has long been touted for its potential anxiolytic or anti-stress effects and studies suggest that it may play a variety of sedative and anti-stress roles in the body. 

Hemp naturally contains bioactive compounds derived from the hemp flower. Well known for its impressive array of health benefits hemp oil may help to alleviate the symptoms of stress with few or no side effects. 

In light of the past several months, most of us are feeling some level of stress right now.

As many of us are learning about social equality and maybe even speaking up for the first time. Others who have been doing so for years are feeling the cumulative effects of fighting for civil liberties and being on the pinnacle of achieving justice. Many of us are also experiencing concern over loved ones catching COVID-19, jobs, businesses, the economy, and the various tumultuous events of 2020. Throughout the world stress levels are high, but we’re all in this together. With a little support from each other and the hemp plant we may be able to weather the storm by offsetting some of the inevitable stress-induced damage to our minds and bodies.

Clinical and preclinical studies have shown the therapeutic potential of hemp oil for stress, or the feeling of unease we experience when confronted with chronic or acute stressors. Stress can range from mildly uncomfortable to completely debilitating, especially in the form of full-spectrum hemp oil which provides additional benefits associated with the entourage effect, has been shown to play an anxiolytic, or anti-stress, role in the body. 

What is Stress?

At its most basic, stress is a survival instinct that characterizes our body’s natural reaction to acute stress. As an adaptive response, stress helps us act when we anticipate a potential threat. Facing an approaching grizzly bear, for instance, will set off alarms in our bodies, triggering a “fight-or-flight” response, which in turn leads us to a heightened physical state that’s marked by an elevated heart rate and increased alertness. This enhanced state of awareness is what will hopefully lead our bodies and minds to act quickly and survive the threat.

Almost any acute or chronic stressor can trigger stress. Even things we normally love, like puppies who have suddenly escaped your clutches and are bounding towards a busy street. Happy situations can go from calm and pleasant to scary and stressful in the blink of an eye. When stress occurs in the context of life or death situations, like those involving puppies and oncoming traffic, the neurochemical processes set off by its experience are not only normal but potentially necessary for survival. 

In the modern world, stress tends to pop up under the most mundane circumstances, like thinking about our to-do lists, driving in traffic, buying a new house, speaking in public, and networking at events full of strangers. And while one might argue that stranger danger remains a legitimate threat, fight or flight induced sweating is unlikely to help us survive a meet and greet with potential clients. When the experience of stress begins to limit our ability to feel good, be productive, and function at peak capacity in our everyday lives, it may be time for an intervention.

That’s where full-spectrum Hemp oil may help.

In one study, Hemp oil decreased defensive behaviors evoked by predator exposure in mice. So, if you’re walking down dark alleys at night or hiking through Glacier National Park where predator threats have real potential, it may be wise to lay off the hemp oil. In these cases, stress might be the tipping point between stopping in your tracks and walking into the path of two charging grizzlies. So, keep your wits about you, your bear spray on hand, and your fight or flight response geared up.

If, on the other hand, you’re feeling unnecessarily hyped up and nervous at your office job, you can likely enjoy the benefits of full-spectrum hemp oil without any negative consequences. A great natural alternative to meds, full-spectrum Hemp oil is a research-backed herbal cure that has been shown to help support homeostasis in our bodies.

Whether or not full-spectrum Hemp oil is right for you and how much of it you need to consume to feel its positive effects without feeling sleepy and lethargic largely depends on your unique biological composition.

Everyone is different and only by experimenting can you really know if hemp oil will help alleviate your symptoms.