CBD and GABA: Interaction and Benefits

Many natural supplements work as sleep aids. Natural supplements like CBD and GABA can also be used as a treatment for other conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, and high blood pressure. This article will focus on the interaction and benefits of CBD and GABA. It will review GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), its role in the central nervous system, and its health implications, and provide a detailed discussion on how CBD and GABA interact within the body, particularly how they modulate brain excitatory glutamate and affect serotonin receptors.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) is a neurotransmitter, which means it sends messages throughout the brain and nervous system. It reduces nerve cell communication, inhibiting the ability to receive, send, and create chemical messages.

Effectively, this means it slows down communication between your neurons by blocking certain signals within the central nervous system, reducing brain excitatory glutamate levels so that your brain activity is diminished. With reduced brain activity, you can enjoy a calming effect that alleviates stress, fear, or anxiety.

Your brain produces two types of GABA:

• GABA-A
• GABA-B

While they work differently, both bind to GABA receptor subtypes in your nerve cells to decrease responsiveness and, as a result, turn down or turn off communication so that you can feel calmer and more at ease, which is often achieved right before bed.

GABA can:

• Reduce stress
• Diminish anxiety
• Improve sleep quality

Several health conditions and mental health conditions can change the natural levels of GABA produced by the body, including the following:

• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders
• Depression
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Epilepsy
• Hypersomnia
• Huntington disease

People who struggle with these conditions may experience higher than normal levels of anxiety and stress, with poor sleep quality. GABA can help alleviate that stress and encourage better sleep.

So, what about CBD and GABA together? CBD has many similar effects in terms of calming anxiety and stress and helping with sleep. Studies have found that CBD is a highly effective treatment with minimal to no side effects for several mental health and physical health conditions.

Can I take GABA and CBD together?

Yes, there are many products today that offer a combination of GABA and CBD, which you can take together. There are several potential benefits associated with using the two in a single product, including the following:

Stress and anxiety reduction

The biggest benefit of taking these two together is that it decreases your stress and anxiety levels by slowing down communication in the brain, helping to boost mood, reduce chronic pain, and have an overall calming effect. CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system and serotonin receptors, while GABA modulates brain excitatory glutamate and slows down neurological activity. Together, they help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders and mood disorders.

Improved sleep quality

Your sleep quality is greatly enhanced when taking these two together because of their impact on your overall mood, muscle relaxation, and diminished neurological activity when it’s time to sleep. CBD interacts with glutamate and GABA pathways in the prefrontal cortex, further aiding sleep improvement.

Enhanced mood regulation

CBD has been known to enhance your mood, which can help with the treatment of mood disorders. There are several reasons it can do this, including reduced inflammation, which manages chronic pain; changes to your serotonin production, which can naturally boost your mood; better sleep quality, and by extension, higher energy, which can encourage better nutrition, better exercise, and mobility throughout the day, and subsequently improved sleep.

Neurological health

CBD and GABA can improve neurological health. While there are some concerns about the effect of CBD on memory and mental health, several studies have found it to be useful in treating or preventing neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, partly due to its role in modulating the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate pathways in the brain.

Pain management

CBD is highly regarded for its pain relief effects. CBD products have a direct impact on pain receptors as well as inflammation in the body, which is often the main culprit of aches and pains. It can also be used to treat nausea and vomiting. When used in conjunction with GABA, it can slow down communication between different nerve cells that manage your pain response, making it a viable way to deal with chronic pain, particularly before sleep.

Muscle relaxation

When GABA slows down communication in the brain, it helps your body relax. Muscle relaxation can be enhanced with CBD, which reduces physical stress, pain, and anxiety, making it easier to sleep. The combined effects on GABA receptor subtypes and the endocannabinoid system contribute to better overall relaxation.

There are several conditions and symptoms that can be alleviated or treated with the combination of CBD and GABA together. This includes:

• Insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety disorders
• Hypersomnia
• Depressive disorders
• Mood disorders

If you are interested in incorporating GABA and CBD together into your wellness regimen, there are a few things to consider.

1. Speak with your medical team

If you are already receiving any type of treatment, including therapy or prescription medication for a condition like an anxiety disorder or epilepsy, it is important that you speak with your medical team about incorporating CBD and GABA together. Your medical team can review any possible contraindications with other medications you are on and speak with you about the possibility of reducing dependence on other medications should the CBD and GABA work well enough to reduce your symptoms.

2. Start with low doses

Even if you aren’t taking medication for other issues, but you are struggling with the quality of your sleep under high stress, and you want to try GABA and CBD together, you should start with a very low dose. Be mindful that GABA suppresses the respiratory system, and taking too much can cause shallow breathing or risk not breathing at all.

3. Consider your needs

You also want to consider your needs when you are asking, “Can I take GABA and CBD together?” because the body naturally produces GABA, but high supplements over time could reduce natural GABA production. Alternating with other supplements like melatonin or incorporating coping strategies like yoga and meditation can help mitigate this risk.

Can you take CBD with GABA? Yes, you can. This is a useful treatment for insomnia, and it can also help with the overall reduction of stress and anxiety. Different combinations can help with mental health disorders or physical health maintenance. However, it’s important to make informed decisions based on your health needs and to consult with healthcare professionals before incorporating CBD and GABA product into your wellness routine.