The Biphasic Effect: Why cannabis can BOTH cause and relieve anxiety
So..Biphasic..huh?
By now you’ve probably heard that cannabinoids, like THC or CBD, can decrease anxiety and stress. But what about that paranoid feeling some people get when they’re high? Reducing anxiety AND causing it?! How can cannabis do both? Those are literally opposite things!
This happens because cannabis compounds cause Biphasic effects. Since cannabis plays an important role in maintaining cellular balance in the human body, it also has the capacity to influence physiology in opposite directions depending on dose, individual body chemistry and other factors.
Just the right amount of the correct strain or product, and you’ve reduced your anxiety. Too much, too little, or the wrong combo of cannabinoids, and BOOP, you’re scared AF. This sort of mismatch could also be the difference between a blissful night of sleep or a long night of tossing and turning.
When it comes to cannabis, more isn’t always better. Sometime a higher dose will actually exacerbate the symptoms you’re trying to treat.
How to proceed…
Here are a few key take-aways as you search for the appropriate dose for your desired experience:
More isn’t always better. If a specific dose doesn’t achieve your desired results or stops working, try lowering the dose, rather than increasing or changing the strain. Sometimes, of course, a higher dose will in fact, be better. Don’t be scared to test.
Look at packaging. Ensure that you understand the cannabinoids and ratios in your products. Also take a look at what is listed as a “standard dose” and consider starting with a fraction of the standard.
Start Low, Go Slow. It is essential that you follow dosage recommendations and start any new cannabinoid-based product at micro-dose levels to test for sensitivity.
Listen to your body. “Each person should listen to his or her own body’s response to discover his or her own optimum delivery method, strains of cannabis and therapeutic window for dosing.” **
*The graph above is a replica of Figure 23 in CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis by Leonard Leinow + Juliana Birnbaum.
**Direct quote from CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis by Leonard Leinow + Juliana Birnbaum.
A bit more..
At our most recent Enlighten & Elevate event, we hosted an educational panel on cannabinoid-science and edibles. Watch one of our incredible panelists, Dr. Knox, speak a bit more about the nuances of dosing THC and CBD.
Dr. Jessica Knox is an esteemed pioneer in cannabinoid therapeutics. She counsels hundreds of patients monthly in the use of cannabis as medicine. A Harvard graduate who’s trained in preventative medicine, and also holds an MBA and a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Dr. Jessica takes a holistic approach to cannabis. She combines her training in traditional medicine with cannabis-related science and clinical data to empower her patients with useful information so they can ultimately take control of their health and lives.