Feeling Stressed? Look to CBD for an All-Natural Solution
By Elitia Barnes
HOW CBD CAN HELP YOU STAY BALANCED
If you’re feeling stressed out, you’re not alone. From how you connect with family and friends, to your diet and workouts, life is probably a little different these days. The world is reeling from the impact of Covid-19. Economic unknowns, mass demonstrations and the stress of an election year are all shaping our daily lives. So it’s no wonder that a growing number of people are turning to nature for support. CBD is a nature-made remedy that works holistically with your body to help reduce the impact of emotional and physical stressors. A daily dose of CBD can help relieve anxiety and restore balance in your life.
WHAT IS CBD?
Whether you already use CBD products, or are thinking of adding CBD to your self-care routine for the first time, it’s hard to ignore CBD’s growing popularity. You may have heard about the growing number of people taking CBD for anxiety relief. Or maybe you’re curious about how using all-natural CBD for sleep can help you enjoy more rest. Recently, CBD has gained widespread recognition as studies continue to unpack its wide ranging medicinal and therapeutic benefits. But what exactly is CBD? Does CBD oil contain THC? And how can CBD help to ease your stress and anxiety?
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is one of the many natural cannabinoids that make up the hemp plant. Industrialized hemp is a variety of the Cannabis Sativa L. plant that doesn’t produce flowers containing THC. Hemp derived CBD offers you all the wonderful benefits of nature’s cannabinoids, without the psychoactive “high” experience.
CBD is able to work naturally with your body to help you navigate stressful situations that might normally trigger your fight or flight mode. When you experience high levels of stress or anxiety, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Constant stress can lead to higher levels of cortisol in the body, which can negatively impact your ability to focus, sleep and even weaken your immune system. With so many stressful things to be worried about, it’s more important than ever to find healthy ways to de-stress and relax.
HOW DOES CBD WORK WITH THE BODY?
Did you know your body also produces cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids? “Endo” means from inside the body. Endocannabinoids are signaling molecules involved in regulating your stress, mood, sleep, metabolism and other internal processes. Your Endocannabinoid system (ECS) runs through your entire body and is specifically designed to help you manage stress. Your ECS initiates changes in your body to respond to your internal and external environment. Do you ever feel stressed before giving a work presentation? Or maybe just turning on the news these days is enough to make your head start to spin? That’s when your Endocannabinoid system kicks in, sending endocannabinoids to the areas of your body and nervous systems that are out of balance. Endocannabinoids bind with your cannabinoid receptors which are located throughout the body in your brain, muscles, bones, skin and other body tissues to return the body into balance (homeostasis). When you start to feel stress, endocannabinoids increase to counteract the effect of stress hormones like cortisol, helping to reduce your stress and anxiety.
CBD is a plant cannabinoid that’s able to interact with your own endocannabinoid receptors to help manage your stress throughout your day. CBD works by inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzymes from breaking down the stress-fighting neurotransmitter, Anandamide. Anandamide (“ananda” meaning “joy” in ancient Sanskrit) is directly tied to your feelings of happiness and bliss. Studies have found increased levels of anandamide is connected to less stress and anxiety.
WHY ARE TERPENES IMPORTANT?
You’ve probably heard the saying “stop and smell the roses,” as a reminder to take a break and relax. Aromas play a big part in many self-care routines, from essential oils and candles, to bath bombs. It turns out, the calming smell of lavender is more than just a nice scent. That fresh zing of a lemon peel or the soothing smell of blooming flowers are the result of terpenes. Terpenes are natural compounds that create a plant’s unique smell and taste.
What do terpenes have to do with CBD? Terpenes and cannabinoids are like peanut butter and jelly, or Lennon and McCartney - they work best together. Terpenes and CBD compliment each other, working holistically to give you richer benefits.
Specific terpenes found in hemp enhance relaxation and help counteract the effects of stress. The terpene caryophyllene is even able to bind to your body’s endocannabinoid receptors and has been shown to help to ease inflammation and anxiety.
Hemp derived CBD is cultivated with care and attention to the terpene profile. High quality whole plant CBD products harness the power of terpenes to give you the full spectrum of benefits.
Have you ever made chamomile tea to help you relax before bed? The calming effect of camomile is tied to the terpene bisabolol. Bisabolol also has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Combining whole plant CBD with other plant terpenes like bisabolol, boosts the overall therapeutic properties of a product.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CBD PRODUCTS
From CBD vape pens to mints, there are a variety of ways to incorporate CBD into your daily life. But what is the best CBD oil? And how do you know which products are right for you?
Think of hemp CBD products like you would fruits and veggies, or anything else you put into your body. The more natural, the better. Everything that goes into the cultivation and processing of hemp derived CBD impacts the quality of a product. Whole plant CBD oil gives you the rich and powerful benefits of pure CBD and terpenes, the way nature intended.
Synthetically manufactured CBD doesn’t have the complete entourage of beneficial properties that appear in naturally derived CBD cannabinoids and terpenes. Poorly regulated synthesized CBD is composed of lab-created chemicals that are potentially harmful to the body. Avoiding carrier oils and fillers that may not be safe to inhale and ensure your safety by looking for independent 3rd party testing on products.
FEEL THE BENEFITS OF CBD
It’s tempting to fall back on old habits for comfort. Things like junk food or alcohol may feel satisfying at first, but their short burst of dopamine doesn't last. True self-care means keeping yourself healthy and in balance. Experience the healing power of nature with full spectrum CBD and regain a sense of calm in the midst of a stress filled world. Look for quality products you can trust that use all natural CBD. Companies like ECO Therapy give you award winning, all-natural CBD products free from pesticides, microbiological contaminants and mycotoxins. Give yourself a break from stress and anxiety with a daily dose of nature.
