You pretty much have to have been living under a rock in the middle of Yemen to not know that CBD is taking the health and wellness market by storm.
The stigma that cannabis products are only used by pot smoking, tye dye wearing, video game playing hippies is on it’s way out. Celebrities, doctors, trainers, and big-name companies (Coke and Oreos to name drop a few) have been coming forth and expressing why they vouch for this alternative medicine.
The in’s and outs of cannabis can be very confusing and I am NO horticulturist but I can break down why CDB is all the craze and the benefits it has to offer.
First things first….
CBD is non-habit forming and will NOT get you high. The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that stereotypically results in a dramatic fit of giggles followed by downing a litre of ice cream and a bag of chips (sometimes mixed together) is THC. The ratio to CBD and THC varies through how growers breed the plant.
You can find THC in a similar form of products as CBD but offering a totally different experience.
CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, cousin of the cannabis plant, and is often combined with an oil such as olive, MCT or coconut oil or alcohol resulting in a tincture or dropper for oral use. You can also find CBD in gummy forms, lattes (see recipe below), body creams, makeup, vape pens, food products and more.
Why use CBD?
CDB has been used for thousands of years to help those with pain, anxiety, inflammation, and insomnia but only recently have scientists been conducting more thorough studies CBD and cannabis properties.
Here are some of the benefits associated with the use of CBD:
Helps relieve pain & inflammation
Controlled studies have found that the use of CBD helped significantly reduce pain, and muscle spasms, related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.
Many athletes have begun supplementing with CBD to support reducing inflammation and muscle soreness.
Anxiety and depression
So commonly prescription drugs are given to people who suffer from anxiety and depression. Problem with this is, they come with a whole whack of side effects these patients now have to deal with.
The use of CBD has said to be side effect free alternative for many people struggling with anxiety and depression. Even pets!
Please consult with your doctor before going off or writing off medications. Every person and their situation is different.
https://www.depressionalliance.org/cbd-oil/
Relieve symptoms of migraines and headaches
Although many studies are still being conducted on the use of CBD to treat migraines, most outcomes are already showing positive results. Those suffering from migraines reported a decrease in nausea, pain when using CBD. This is due to the anti-inflammatory and antiemetic properties found in CBD.
Pain medication can be extremely harmful to your stomach lining and gut bacteria which in turn, can affect your immune system. CBD has yet to show any long term side effects which could make it a great, healthy alternative for those who suffer from chronic migraines.
Insomnia
We’ve all been there. Laying in bed counting sheep, counting back from 100, deep breathing…all the techniques.
So what do you do?
Most would turn to sleep aids. Unfortunately, sleep aids can be extremely habit forming and can often bring multiple side effects with it.
Enter, CBD.
CBD reacts with the serotonin and GABA receptors in our brain promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety and quieting the mind. This allows you to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly and undisturbed throughout the evening.
Sleep aids like melatonin may make you fall asleep but if you are someone whose sleep suffers from anxiety, your stressful thoughts will be there waiting for you the next morning. CBD’s anti-anxiety properties have said to nurture and reduce anxiety more long term.
Taking CBD 20-30 minutes before bed may help you to relax into a deeper sleep without the side effects of sleep aids. And everyone knows, when you achieve more restful sleep, other areas in your life benefit as well.
Gut health & immune system
Have you ever noticed how your gut reacts when stressed or experiencing anxiety? It tightens up resulting in unfavorable digestion, diarrhea, stomach cramps or loss of appetite. Studies have shown CBD to be beneficial for many of these symptoms plus the relaxing effects noted above.
Overuse of medications such as antibiotics, steroids or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen can cause tiny holes in our gut causing undigested food particles to pass through the intestine wall making their way into our bloodstream. Our bodies then treat these particles like ‘foreign’ objects resulting in an autoimmune response causing inflammation. CBD is not only good for inflammation, but it has also been shown to prevent damage of the intestinal lining and aid in repairing it. This supports not only a healthy gut barrier but an overall supported immune system.
How much to take?
Just like alcohol, that depends on your weight and tolerance. Most recommendations say to start with 20-40 milligrams and either increase or decrease from there.
What to expect:
To be honest, not a ton. You may feel slightly more relaxed, perhaps more focused, muscles not as tight and anxiety not as high. It’s a very subtle experience.
My experience:
It saved my life when I came down with possibly the worst flu of my life this fall. It did wonders with the achy muscles that can accompany the flu and allowed me to sleep soundly.
Marc will supplement with it after a football game to help with muscle soreness and inflammation.
We use Cured Nutrition Mint flavored CBD oil.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
We visited a lot of cannabis shops asking a ton of questions and going with a store/brand we felt comfortable with. Start with a small dose and see how you feel.
Do you have any questions or comments about your CBD experience?
Comment below!
Xo
