People are creatures of habit. We all have our own little patterns that, whether big or small, healthy or unhealthy, form the routines that shape our daily lives. And when it comes to your well-being and living a healthy lifestyle, a structured and organized routine or a CBD may promote better health and wellness.
Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) exploded onto the health and wellness scene. It’s likely you’ve been hearing about the many benefits of CBD through celebrity testimonials, magazine and news articles, wellness practitioners, and retailers. Wellness and CBD goes hand in hand. Integrating CBD into your daily routine can be a simple yet very effective way to enhance overall wellness.
What Is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of many chemical compounds found in cannabis. Over the past few years, it has taken the world by storm, becoming one of the most popular supplements to hit the wellness scene pretty much ever.
Most people are familiar with THC, the chemical compound in marijuana that is responsible for that infamous altered state of consciousness that most people associate with cannabis.
CBD does not contain psychoactive properties. In short, CBD doesn’t get you high. It is, however, associated with some serious therapeutic potential.
While CBD was virtually unheard of less than a decade ago, today it’s a household name. Everyone is talking about the positive effects of CBD and its unprecedented capacity to support wellness and a healthy life.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD is what’s known as a cannabinoid. To date, there have been more than 100 cannabinoids identified in cannabis, along with some 400 other beneficial chemical compounds.
What makes CBD so promising isn’t necessarily the cannabinoid itself but instead how it interacts with various receptors found throughout the body. CBD interacts harmoniously with the endocannabinoid system. Present in all mammals, the endocannabinoid system has a substantial effect on several physiological processes in the human body.
Some experts even say that the endocannabinoid system is one of the most important physiological systems that exist.
What Is The Endocannabinoid System?
By 1995, cannabis research had led to the discovery of two cannabinoid receptors that are present in thousands of animals species, humans included. What’s the significance of these receptors that are so abundant throughout the animal kingdom?
Through countless clinical trials and endless hours of research, researchers began to piece together what they’d discovered. These cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 and CB2, play an integral role in a signaling system that was completely unknown at the time. They looked at the relationship between the endogenous cannabinoids found in the body (anandamide and 2-AG), cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), and the cannabinoids found in cannabis (THC and CBD).
What they found would forever change the way the world considered cannabis.
They discovered that the endocannabinoid system is fundamental in the body’s goal to maintain homeostasis, or a state of balance maintained by the body’s physiological processes. When the endocannabinoid system is functioning as it should, we tend to thrive. Stress levels are kept in check, we sleep well and our immune function is in tip-top shape.
When the endocannabinoid system isn’t functioning properly, we experience the opposite. Stress, anxiety, and trouble sleeping can all be attributed to an endocannabinoid system that is out of whack.
One way to bring the endocannabinoid system back into balance is by introducing cannabinoids to the body. Cannabinoids have the unique ability to support the endocannabinoid system, which is why they have gained so much popularity in recent years.
Wellness and CBD
When it comes to wellness, it’s important to consider the whole body as a system with multiple dimensions of well-being. The National Wellness Institute identifies the following six dimensions of wellness: emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical health, social and spiritual well being.
We experience optimal wellness when these dimensions are in balance. The multidimensional biological system within your body responsible for keeping this balanced state of well-being is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is the connection between Wellness and CBD. CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, naturally supports the ECS and helps it perform at its best.
How Does The Endocannabinoid System(Es) Help To Achieve Wellness Through CBD?
The ECS is responsible for sending signals to the body that regulate a broad range of vital functions every day. The system’s primary function is to maintain bodily homeostasis — biological harmony in response to changes in the environment.
When Your ECS Is Thrown Out Of Balance, It May Disrupt The Proper Functioning Of:
- Digestive processes
- Sleep patterns
- Pain regulation
- Mood checks and balances
- Immune responses
Consequently, many conditions that occur in both the brain and the body may be linked to an ECS that isn’t balanced. CBD helps ensure that your entire system is running at optimal capacity.
Benefits Of CBD for Wellness
- Pain Management
This is one way to show the relationship between Wellness and CBD. Cannabidiol is widely regarded as an effective product that might help manage day to day aches and also chronic pain due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties.
In fact, CBD might also be considered for reducing the monthly pain and discomfort caused by menstrual cramps. It can be taken internally or topically applied to affected areas of the body.
- Anxiety, Sleep, and Depression
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? Anxiety relief is here at last. Studies have shown that CBD may help relieve anxiety by reducing stress levels, decreasing an elevated heart rate, and improving the symptoms of PTSD. It also might help to induce relaxation and sleep in those suffering from insomnia.
- Heart Health
CBD research has shown several benefits for the heart and circulatory system. High blood pressure is linked to higher risks of a plethora of health conditions, including strokes and heart attacks. Various researchers have suggested that the stress and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD could be directly responsible for its ability to help lower blood pressure due to its powerful antioxidant and stress-reducing properties.
- Brain Health and Treating Neurological Disorders
Recent research has shown positive results using CBD oil to benefit brain health. Some of its actions may help to prevent free radical damage and reduce inflammation which could be very protective to the cells in the brain.
- It Might Help With Acne
Recent scientific studies have shown that some CBD oil may help treat acne partly due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, and anti-aging properties.
