Have you tried CBD yet?
CBD is finally getting its moment in the spotlight in the health and wellness world. I absolutely love it and use it all the time. But it’s also still very misunderstood—so let’s talk about it!
I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression my entire life. CBD is like a warm, soothing blanket that helps take the edge off when my anxiety in particular spins out of control. CBD creates a calming effect mentally and reduces inflammation in your body. It’s like the ultimate chill pill for both your mind and body—a potential alternative to anxiety meds and a great tool to help your body recover.
CBD stands for cannabidiol. And yes, cannabidiol is one of the active ingredients of cannabis, aka marijuana, aka weed. BUT it is not the component that gets you high—that’s active ingredient #1, THC. CBD is the beautiful healing part of the marijuana plant that has numerous health benefits and is prominent in medical marijuana.
So, to reiterate: NO, it won’t get you high.
Also, CBD on its own is derived from the HEMP plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant, so it’s not even around the THC. Not that there’s anything wrong with THC—I’m a huge fan of weed for all of its mental and physical benefits, which I plan to get into in a future post. But you just can’t beat CBD for ultimate anxiety and muscle tension relief, and it’s safe for almost everyone to take, so I had to bring it up with you guys.
Bonus: you also cannot get addicted to CBD! According to a report from the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
If you haven’t tried it, it’s time!
Because CBD is not marijuana, you can legally order it online anywhere in the U.S. But some states do still have some restrictions on it, and the federal government still (unfortunately) lumps it in with marijuana, so servicemen and women can’t have it or risk popping on a drug test. Which is a tragedy because our military needs far more mental health help, but that’s another rant. The good news is that times are changing rapidly and it will soon be 100% legal (along with weed one day!).
This post is NOT sponsored, btw. But if you’re looking, I recommend trying the Sunday Scaries Vegan AF CBD gummies.
Sunday Scaries is my personal favorite CBD brand, but there are lots out there to choose from, and more keep emerging every day. I encourage you to always do research and choose what works for you! But here’s an excerpt from Sunday Scaries’ website that helps explain some of the reasons I love this brand:
Unlike some of our competitors who get a lot of their hemp from China and other overseas sources with loose regulatory requirements, our broad spectrum hemp is sourced directly from farms in the USA. Our hemp is grown in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill so these farms are regulated by the states’ Agriculture Departments. This requires our hemp to be pesticide free.
(Side Note: In case you didn’t know, the term “Sunday Scaries” refers to the feeling of dread and anxiety that most people experience on Sunday evenings as they realize they have to go back to work Monday morning. I can relate to this from back in the days when I worked as a television writer’s assistant. But it’s so important to also realize that gut feeling is our intuition calling us to change our lives and find work that fulfills us! Don’t settle!)
Ways to take CBD:
- Orally: The most effective and healthful method. One option is to place drops of CBD oil under your tongue (aka sublingual). Leef Organics is my favorite for drops! Or, you can take it in edible form, like the Sunday Scaries gummies. They’re yummy and also contain vitamins B13 (which vegans have to take as a supplement) and D3 (which almost everyone is deficient in). It can take about 30 minutes to up to 2 hours to feel the effects of edibles, so go slowly. You also may not feel the effects as strongly the first few times you take CBD, as it has to build up in your body. On the other hand, sublingual drops absorb much more quickly than edibles, since they bypass the digestive tract, so that’s a better option for faster relief.
- Topically: You can also apply CBD directly to your skin to help target areas of tension/soreness/pain. The CBD will soak into the area to help reduce inflammation and promote healing. A 2015 study done on rats found that CBD gel applied to the skin greatly reduced joint swelling. This is great news if you have arthritis, or want to prevent it and other ailments!
- Smoking/Vaping: Vaping is definitely preferable to smoking, but make sure you know exactly what’s in what you choose to smoke. I don’t typically want to inhale all the chemicals in most vape cartridges, so I choose to stick with the oral method. However, inhaling is a much faster method and will provide relief in 10 minutes or less.
I find that the physical effects of CBD are pretty subtle, but everyone responds differently, so be sure to try it out at the end of the day when you’re done with your responsibilities to see how it affects you. It doesn’t make me drowsy or tired at all, just overall more relaxed and loose.
Benefits of CBD:
How does CBD work, exactly? Let’s get nerdy (here’s a great scientific article if you want even more). Our bodies have something called the Endocannabinoid System, or ECS. It runs throughout your entire body. The ECS regulates our mood, brain function, immune response, sleep, inflammation, stress, and pain. So, like, our entire wellbeing.
CBD essentially flips the switch to ON for your ECS. It does this by activating one of the system’s receptors, CB2. This helps the body send signals back to the brain that all is well, which can promote healing and help you transition into a state of peace.
To get specific, CBD can:
- stabilize mood
- reduce stress
- improve sleep
- provide feeling of calm
- improve brain function
- improve immune system
- reduce inflammation
- reduce pain
But wait, there’s more! This excerpt from Daddy Burt Hemp Co. explains:
In addition to CBD’s other effects on the endocannabinoid system, it also positively impacts the uptake and flow of chemicals in the brain. One of the most well-documented effects is CBD’s impact on serotonin.
CBD has been shown to act on and stimulate serotonin pathways in the brain. Increased serotonin levels can help provide relief for anxiety, depression, and migraine symptoms.
Research on CBD has also demonstrated an impact on the ‘glial cells’ in the brain. Glial cells provide support to the neurons in the brain. If glial cells become overactive for any reason, they can lead to hypersensitive responses to different stimuli, such as pain or light. CBD helps regulate the activity of glial cells, bringing them back to a normal level.
This stuff may just be magic.
As a yoga and meditation teacher, I of course recommend that you use CBD as a tool to help boost other healing-promoting actions, as well.
Practice self-care while you let the CBD take its effects, and your body will respond that much better. I recommend:
- meditating for at least 5 minutes
- lying on an acupressure mat
- practicing yoga
- taking a hot bath with Epsom salts
- getting a massage
- anything else that you find relaxing.
Remember to breathe deeply and send yourself loving thoughts to help encourage your body to switch off its Flight or Fight response and return to a state of calm clarity.
By the way, CBD is great for dogs, too! I give Pet Releaf CBD to my corgi to help with his anxiety, and it works like magic! It was actually initially recommended to me by my veterinarian, but of course if you have any concerns please talk to yours before giving it to your furry friend. But it can really help if your dog has any high/nervous energy!
The holiday season is upon us—CBD is a great stress-reliever to have on deck.
The holidays can be super joyful for some, and incredibly stressful for others. There’s often a lot of family time and thinking about the past. Try to mindfully protect your energy with difficult family members, and be kind to yourself if you find yourself being triggered. Taking CBD always calms my nerves and helps me process difficult encounters with greater ease!
I’m wishing you all a very stress-free second-half of November. My birthday is coming up (November 27, Sagittarius what’s up!) so I plan on treating myself to some CBD and a massage. Let me know what you think if you give CBD a shot! I hope you find it as helpful as I have.
» Song Vibes «
Do you love CBD? Have any questions about it before you try? Let me know in the Comments below!
xo,
Amy
📸: Matthew Hanley
This post is not sponsored, but there are affiliate links throughout this post. I genuinely love this CBD and know you will, too. Thanks for supporting the blog!