CBD Products for Impulse Control. Impulsive behaviors are often linked with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD are all associated with the maladaptive impulsivity levels.
The thing about these impulsive behaviors is that even those people who don’t have any documented neurological or psychiatric disorder can suffer from its negative effects. Overeating, regular engagement in activities that involve high risks, and compulsive shopping and gambling can all result to excessive weight gain, physical injury, legal difficulties and serious financial loss.
This is why it is said that the use of CBD products for impulse control can lead to better executive planning that will help you evaluate and identify alternative actions, foresee the negative effects of poor chances and eventually direct your attention to reach the ideal results you want and expect.
The Role of CB2 and CB1 Receptors in Impulse Control
In general, two receptors make up the endocannabinoid system, namely CB2 and CB1; two forms of endogenous compounds responsible for activating the receptors, which are 2-arachidonoylglycerol and endocannabinoids N-arachidonoylethanolamide; and two forms of metabolic enzymes, namely monoacylglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydrolase that are responsible for controlling the breakdown and synthesis of the endocannabinoids.
For the past 10 years, research conducted in mice and rat together with some supportive evidence in users of cannabis has revealed that the CB2 and CB1 receptors found in the ventral tegmental area or the prefrontal cortex play crucial roles in the regulation of impulsive behaviors.
Studies revealed that cannabinoid that signal in these parts of the brain could help alter the activity of different neurotransmitter systems such as the GABA, glutamate and dopamine systems. A certain published study examined and looked into the actions of the two cannabinoid drugs affecting the CB2 receptor in a specific breed of mouse that shows high impulsivity levels.
The results revealed that the modulation of the CB2 receptor was able to reduce the mice’s impulsive behavior. Aside from that, chronic administration of drug has the tendency to change the genetic expression of the levels of CB2 in such a way that they have the resemblance to breeds with normal impulsivity levels.
On the other hand, overexpression and activation of CB1 receptors were associated to increased problems with impulse control that include eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Animal studies also showed that blocking the signaling of CB1 receptor can lead to improvements in the impulse control and alcohol or nicotine-seeking behavior.
CBD and Its Potential Effects on Impulse Control
So, will manipulation of ECS using CBD or cannabidiol as well as other phytocannabinoids help lessen the severity of the impulsive behaviors and encourage better impulse control? Considering the known polymorphisms in genes related to cannabinoid that affect impulse control disorders and impulsivityu and intern-individual differences in the responses to the administration of phytocannabinoid, more research and time will tell.
For this reason, it is an understatement to say that people are cautiously optimistic. Modulating the tone of the endocannabinoid system through nutrition, exercise, change in lifestyle and the use of CBD products for impulse control are all great tools to add to your wellness arsenal to address any impulsive behavior.
