CBD in Psychological and Psychosomatic Therapy
- Enrico Fonte
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Disclaimer
The topic of CBD today is heavily influenced by market trends and major economic interests. Many available studies are funded by companies in the sector and are not always independent. It’s therefore essential to read any claim about its effects with a critical mindset.
CBD is often marketed as “natural” or “safe,” but that does not mean it is risk-free or suitable for everyone.Anyone considering taking it — especially if already undergoing medical or psychiatric treatment — should consult their physician before starting.
The information in this article is educational and does not replace personalized medical or psychotherapeutic advice.
Bodymind Premise: First the Work on Body and Mind, Then Supplements
Within the process of psychophysical growth, CBD can make sense only after successfully completing a cycle of Bodymind psychosomatic coaching.
Before turning to substances or supplements, it is essential that a person has already explored the bodily and practical causes of their dysregulation — that is, states of tension, stress, or overactivation of the nervous system.
This foundational work includes breathing, sleep, nutrition, movement, energetic boundaries, circadian rhythm, and posture.
Bodymind psychosomatic coaching helps the person discover which vagal activation techniques (that is, stimulation of the vagus nerve, responsible for the body’s rest-and-digest response) work best for them.
There is no single formula: what calms one body may not work for another.Every organism has its own sensitivity and history, which is why the process requires time, attention, and patience. Some people find balance through deep breathing or body-centered meditation, others through fluid movement or conscious touch.
We are more than eight billion human beings on this planet, each with a unique physiology and emotional biography — the path to self-regulation is always personal.
Only when this foundation is solid does the use of supplements like CBD make sense as a secondary support tool, useful for facilitating regulation or amplifying the effects of practices already integrated.
When It Can Be Helpful
CBD may support therapeutic work when a person struggles to calm down even after achieving cognitive and emotional awareness. It can be a temporary aid for those living in a constant state of nervous system hyperactivation, where the body remains on alert even after danger has passed.
Research shows benefits for anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychosomatic chronic pain¹. In these cases, CBD appears to act on the nervous system by modulating amygdala activity (the brain region that regulates fear) and strengthening the parasympathetic system, responsible for relaxation and regeneration.
For obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), scientific evidence is still limited, but early studies suggest an indirect effect on emotional regulation and impulsivity².
How to Use It in Integrated Therapeutic Practice
The Bodymind approach does not aim to prescribe but to integrate: CBD only makes sense when it is part of a structured therapeutic or coaching process.
The ideal process includes four stages:
Initial assessment – understanding the person’s general state, other medications, and the level of bodily stress or dysregulation.
Informed awareness – clarifying that CBD is not a recognized medication for anxiety or depression but a potential aid for calming the nervous system.
Coherence with the Bodymind path – CBD does not replace bodywork or psychotherapy but can deepen it by enhancing relaxation and concentration.
Ongoing monitoring – observing and recording changes in sleep, emotional tone, pain, and overall vitality every 4–6 weeks.
During this period, it’s useful to continue practicing the vagal self-regulation techniques learned in psychosomatic coaching — such as slow breathing, gentle stretching, toning, conscious touch, or moments of stillness. CBD can support these practices but does not replace them: its deepest effect appears when the body has already learned to recognize calm as a safe state.
Suggested Quantities and Dosages
Clinical studies report anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects at daily doses of 25–50 mg of CBD³.In cases of insomnia, evening doses between 25 and 150 mg improve subjective sleep quality⁴.
For chronic or psychosomatic pain, responses vary between 50 and 200 mg, but benefits do not always increase with higher doses: nervous system regulation is a matter of balance, not quantity.
For a 5% oil (500 mg in 10 ml), each drop contains about 2.5 mg of CBD; 10 drops equal roughly 25 mg. It is advised to start with low doses and increase slowly, observing the body’s response. Each organism reacts differently — hence the need for attention, slowness, and professional supervision.
Functional Conditions Where It Helps
The most convincing evidence concerns:
Anxiety disorders (generalized, social, post-traumatic);
Stress-related insomnia and nighttime awakenings;
Chronic muscle-tension pain and fibromyalgia;
Psychosomatic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, neck or lower back pain.
There is still no solid evidence for depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What Matters in Practice
Product quality is fundamental. It must be certified with a laboratory analysis (COA) confirming the declared amount of CBD and contain less than 0.2% THC. Be aware of drug interactions: CBD can interfere with antidepressants, anxiolytics, or antiepileptics, altering their blood concentrations.
CBD works best when the body is already in a calm state or after vagal practices (such as deep breathing or self-massage). If the body is still in alert mode, its effect may be reduced.
In a Bodymind setting, CBD can serve as an integration facilitator — for instance, after a myofascial release session, breathing work, or somatic meditation — to strengthen parasympathetic activation and support a sense of safety.
What Science Still Doesn’t Know
Research is promising, but many open questions remain:
What is the minimal effective long-term dose?
Does tolerance or dependence develop with prolonged use?
How does CBD interact with body-based therapies and emotional memory processes?
In psychosomatic pain, does it act more on the nervous system or on the emotional experience of pain?
Almost all studies last less than three months and involve small samples, so conclusions must be considered preliminary.
Bodymind Conclusion
CBD is not a shortcut but can be a co-regulation ally for those who have already learned to listen to their body. It does not heal suffering by itself, but it can help calm the nervous system, creating space for psychological and relational transformation.
In Bodymind language, it’s like turning down the body’s background noise so that the mind and heart can communicate more clearly.
Scientific References
1. Crippa JAS et al., Front Pharmacol. 2018; 9:148.
2. Kayser RR et al., J Cannabis Res. 2020; 2(1):4.
3. Linares IM et al., Braz J Psychiatry 2019; 41(1):9–14.
4. Suraev AS et al., J Clin Sleep Med. 2023; 19(6):1111–1120.
5. Häuser W et al., Pain 2022; 163(7):e708–e716.
6. Devinsky O et al., N Engl J Med 2017; 376:2011–2020.
7. Stout SM & Cimino NM, Ann Pharmacother. 2014; 48(4):515–528.
8. Bonn-Miller MO et al., JAMA 2017; 318(17):1708–1709.
Explanatory Notes
Vagal system or vagus nerve: The main nerve of the parasympathetic system, involved in relaxation, digestion, and heart rate regulation. Naturally stimulating it (through breathing, singing, touch, or movement) helps the body recover from stress.
Hyperactivation: A state of continuous alertness in which the nervous system remains “on guard” even without real threat.
Parasympathetic system: The branch of the autonomic nervous system that promotes calm, healing, and digestion.
Amygdala: Brain region that processes intense emotions such as fear and anger.
Dysregulation: Temporary inability of the nervous system to balance activation and relaxation.
COA (Certificate of Analysis): Independent laboratory document certifying a product’s composition.
Phytocannabinoids: Natural substances from the cannabis plant that interact with the human endocannabinoid system.