I have a long tradition of talking about taboo topics on my blog and on Instagram Stories. Sooo, for this Weekend Wellness, I want to talk about something that helps me a lot: CBD! I was at dinner the other night with a group of strong, incredibly talented women and we started talking about it… and how there is often a stigma attached to usage. This immediately got me thinking that I should do a post and use my platform to share the benefits of CBD in the hopes of removing that stigma.
Most people have heard of about the chemical THC, which is the compound that gets people high, but there is another compound in cannabis called cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is non-psychoactive and it doesn’t get you high. While I was healing from my climbing accident, I used CBD to manage pain, but it also helps me on a regular basis with anxiety and insomnia. For example, I’ve struggled with insomnia for as long as I can remember, but recently started using Green Revolution’s Beauty Sleep Tincture and it’s helped me sleep through the night better than anything I’ve ever used.
Of course, this post isn’t medical advice because, well… I went to design school, not medical school! I’m not an expert and I am definitely not a medical professional… but let me tell you, CBD has been life changing for me. I hope these suggestions help you, but I would also love to know if CBD has worked for you or not!
The Benefits of CBD
CBD has effects of calming the mind and centering the body. It’s believed that CBD can benefit a wide variety of health issues like:
- Pain
- Appetite
- Mood
- Memory
- Sleep
- Immune system support
- Reduce inflammation
Where Does CBD Come From? Cannabis vs. Hemp
You’ve probably heard of a plant called cannabis. First off, cannabis, hemp and marijuana are not the same thing. Cannabis is a family of plants including marijuana and hemp. CBD comes from both marijuana and hemp.
So, what’s the difference between marijuana and hemp? Marijuana is abundant in psychoactive THC, which is what people smoke to get high, like in Dazed & Confused. Hemp is usually used for industrial products, but with the fast-growing popularity of CBD, hemp is also used to produce a wide variety of THC-free CBD products. The products in this post are made from hemp-derived CBD. I also use marijuana-derived CBD because it’s legal where I live in Washington state.
What is CBD?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. Currently there are over 110 known cannabinoids being studied for their wide variety of medicinal and psychoactive effects. Different cannabinoids have different chemical properties and different effects when they’re consumed.
The most popular and well-known cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), and Cannabinol (CBN). I know they sound like long, scary words, but I promise… they aren’t frightening at all!
CBD is THC’s non-psychoactive cousin that’s used medically all over the world. CBD on its own has calming effects. CBN is another cannabinoid that has been introduced to me because it’s in a sleeping tonic by Green Revolution that’s been helping me stay asleep (an issue I’ve had for years thanks to my insomnia). CBN on its own has sedative effects, which is why it works so well for me!
How does CBD work?
CBD use your body’s own endocannabinoid system (ECS) to keep the body in balance, which basically means that it has built-in receptors for cannabinoid compounds. The ECS is a vast network of cells that contributes to a variety of things such as: pain, mood, memory, immune system, anxiety, appetite, sleep… and a lot more.
CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. CBD oil is then used to create products like vapes, tinctures, lotions, and candy.
For CBD to work, your body must first absorb it. This means that it must find its way into your bloodstream. You can consume CBD in a number of forms including:
- Oil extracts — Oils can be applied topically, taken orally, or dissolved under the tongue. I love Green Revolution Beauty Sleep Tincture for sleep and Green Earth Medicinals CBD Sublingual drops.
- Topicals — CBD cannabis oils can be infused into topical creams and balms to apply directly to the skin to help with pain. My favorite CBD topical right now is Wildflower CBD Healing Stick. It helps so much when my leg feels achy from weather changes.
- Edibles — Edibles are foods cooked with cannabis-infused oil or butter. I’m really into Recess Infused Sparkling Water… it’s kinda like adult La Croix (and you know how much I love La Croix).
- Smoking or vaping — If you want to relieve immediate pain, smoking CBD-rich cannabis is the quickest way to reduce symptoms.
Does CBD Get You Stoned?
Nope! Only THC will get you high.
CBD is simply a supplement that’s been made available to the masses because it has a lot of benefits. CBD is similar to caffeine in the sense that some people are very sensitive to caffeine, while some people feel no effects from it. So basically what I’m saying this that CBD will work differently for every person. CBD derived from hemp contains little-to-no THC, but it does affect your mood.
My Favorite CBD Products
All CBD is not created equally. I look for CBD products that are derived from organically grown, USA hemp. Look for terms like “full spectrum” and “phytocannabinoid rich” on the label. That’s a sure sign that it’s what you want.
Currently, these are my favorite CBD products:
- Green Revolution Beauty Sleep Tincture
- Green Earth Medicinals CBD Sublingual drops
- Recess Infused Sparkling Water infused with Hemp Extra and Adaptogens
- Wildflower CBD Healing Stick
I’m always searching for more ways to incorporate wellness into my routine and CBD is definitely one of my favorites. I’d love to hear how CBD has affected you, too! Let me know in the comments.
P.S. you can find even more self care and wellness tips here, including:
