CBD: An Answer to Anxiety?
There has been a lot of talk about CBD lately: is it safe? Is it good for us? When should we take it? Where do we find good-quality CBD products?
In this week’s blog and podcast, I spoke with Ret and Adriaan from NED to discuss how CBD is different to weed, how it can help reduce anxiety, CBD and children, how to take CBD safely, and more!
First things first, CBD oil is not the same as weed. Weed contains the active ingredient THC, which is what make people feel high when they ingest or smoke it. CBD, on the other hand, is one of the two major cannabinoids in the hemp plant, and only contains trace amounts of THC from the extraction process—it is the plant that gets you “well”, rather than high (it is non-psychotropic).
CBD is just one part of the hemp plant that has health benefits, which is why NED focuses on a full-spectrum hemp oil from sustainably-farmed, high quality hemp flowers that contain cannabidiol (CBD) and its accompanying phytocannabinoids. Focusing on the whole plant helps us better digest and use all the health benefits that the hemp plant offers by allowing the cannabinoids to bind to our extra-cellular receptors. These receptors are found throughout the body, and help absorb naturally-occurring endocannabinoids in the body, which are important when it comes to regulating pain, brain function and so on. As often happens in life, sometime these endocannabinoids don’t get produced, and we need to supplement with natural CBD products to put our bodily systems back into balance.
This balance helps with:
- Pain management. One of the main reasons many people choose to use CBD products is for pain-management. Many people will use CBD to help reduce pain after an intense workout, or for aching joints, menstrual pain, inflammatory bowel disease, post-surgery and so on by restoring balance and helping reduce inflammation throughout the brain and body.
- Mental health. If the endocannabinoid system is functioning well, it helps create homeostasis (or balance) throughout the brain and body at a base level. This helps, cumulatively, prevent inflammation in the brain, foggy thinking, emotional burnout, lack of cognitive fluency and so on. This is also the case with mental distress and anxiety; many people have found that CBD products help them calm down and think more clearly in stressful situations by harmonizing the mind and helping balance the many systems of the brain and body.
- Sleep. A number of people have found that taking CBD products on a regular basis can help balance chaotic thinking and calm them down before bed, which, in turn, promotes more restful sleeping patterns that will help them feel energized and ready to take on the day’s challenges.
Of course, restoring balance is not a quick-fix; it takes some time for homeostasis to be achieved, which is why I constantly emphasize that true mental self-care is a lifestyle. And this will also look different for everyone, so be careful of thinking that if you take CBD oil for a week you will feel great because you had friend who said it helped her immediately. As I discuss in my book Think and Eat Yourself Smart, everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for someone else, which is why you should always start with the smallest recommend dose of CBD and increase it only if you feel you need more and it is recommended by a healthcare professional, as too much CBD can have adverse effects on the brain and body. Regular blood tests and consultations with a medical professional can help you figure out how much CBD is best for your body type and lifestyle, and this is especially the case with children. Even though CBD became popular as a treatment for epilepsy in children, it is always best to consult with your physician to see what kind of CBD you should use and how much is best for you.
It is also important to remember that CBD is not a panacea: it is just one tool in your mental self-care toolkit, alongside detoxing the brain, eating well, spending time in nature, being honest with yourself, exercising regularly, learning and building the brain, and the many other mind-management lifestyle techniques I discuss in my products, blogs and podcasts.
For more on CBD and mental health, listen to this week’s podcast with Ned’s founders Ret and Adriaan. To learn more on NED and to get 15% off your order + FREE SHIPPING go to: http://www.helloned.com/drleaf and use code DRLEAF at checkout.
Disclaimer: always consult with physician, do appropriate lab tests, take all advice with a grain of salt as everyone is so different and our bodies are different. Always try educate yourself and constantly learn, safely test, and find a plan that works for you.
This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional.