CBD Health & Wellness
By: Rachel Hudson
Shrubs of cannabis plants photographed at dawn
Source: Envato Elements
Therapist Rachel Hudson explores how CBD can improve your mental health.
Description: What is your go-to solution when you’ve hit rock bottom? Have you considered taking CBD to improve your mental health? Are you aware of the cannabinoid’s psychological benefits?
How do you overcome a difficult phase in your life? Do you curl up and succumb to the situation, or find ways to pick yourself up by your bootstraps? The latter is the best option, and there’s a solution that can boost you to feeling 100 percent.
The solution is CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis plants. Recently, research has demonstrated this plant-derived compound can boost your overall wellbeing.
But how? What are CBD’s benefits?
Let’s find out together.
Why Use CBD for Mental Health? What Is It?
Cannabidiol — better known as CBD — is one of the many compounds found in cannabis plants. CBD has medicinal properties; it’s anti-inflammatory, it’s a pain reliever, and it alleviates stress, to mention a few of its benefits.
Other noteworthy cannabis plant compounds include flavonoids, terpenes, and THC. Each has a reputable portfolio, but CBD is the star of this show.
So, is CBD suitable for achieving mental clarity?
How Does CBD Help You Achieve Mental Clarity?
CBD Oil in a tincture dropper
Source: Unsplash
CBD as an Anti-Stress, Anti-Anxiety, and Anti-Depressive Remedy
It’s virtually impossible to say you’re of clear mind if your brain is swamped with stress, anxiety, and depression. That said, CBD can create a conducive situation to clear your stress, anxiety, and depression away.
Here is how:
Cannabinoid molecules interact with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating bodily functions including hormone production.
When you’re stressed, the stress hormone cortisol is in significantly high quantities, thereby affecting your moods and emotions. A study in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse demonstrated that the cannabinoid receptor CB1 has an antagonist effect on cortisol.
Activation of the CB1 receptor through cannabinoids — such as THC and CBD — blocks the effects of cortisol. In turn, this reduces your stress levels.
In aiding the fight against depression and anxiety, a study in the Pain journal explains how CBD modulates serotonin receptor 5-HT1A, initiating happier thoughts and reducing pain.
The overall effect of increasing your serotonin levels is a more optimistic and cheerful mood rooting from a clearer mind. This is achieved by balancing the production of these natural chemicals in the body.
Since vaping or smoking CBD is the fastest delivery to the brain, getting the best hemp wraps to roll up a joint is your best bet.
CBD as a Pain Reliever
You can never be in a cloudless state of mind while you’re in pain. Many uncertain thoughts stream through your mind as you try to source ways to reduce your discomfort; luckily, CBD can help with this.
As mentioned above, CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has a role to play in soothing pain. Cannabinoid activation of the ECS reduces how the body perceives pain, thus, reducing inflammation and pain sensitivity.
CBD also increases anandamide levels in the blood, which numbs inflammatory pain through ECS mechanisms. Any pain sourcing from injury, a disease, muscle strain, or tendon breaking, CBD helps numb it all the same way.
CBD For Better Sleep
An excellent restful and relaxing night of sleep is essential for sharpening your mind and ensuring your well-being. On that note, past studies have shown people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders get immense help when they use CBD products to rest.
Regardless of what’s causing your lack of sleep, cannabinoids sweep in to sort out most of the major causes — be it stress, pain, medication, or mental health conditions.
CBD is Good for Your Skin
Hemp leaves and bar soap resting on a circular stone against a cool-green background
Source: Envato Elements
Let’s be real, some of us fight silent battles due to the way we look, particularly when it comes to our skin. Well, guess what helps?
If you guessed cannabinoids, then you’re right — they can help sort that, too.
CBD has commendable properties to regulate sebum production, which can be problematic to the skin when in excess or deficient.
When you have too much, you may have blackheads, whiteheads, oily skin, and clogged pores. When you have too little, you have brittle skin prone to sunburns, abrasions, and dry skin.
But with just a bit of CBD, you can have healthy and well-hydrated skin.
CBD also improves skin elasticity, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and other facial lines. With a smooth, healthy, and glowing face, you’ll exude confidence and radiate joy just like your skin. How you look will genuinely reflect how you feel.
Take Away
Each of the sections discussed above demonstrates how CBD can help one achieve a bright and gratified mindset. It sounds easy enough, but here’s the catch:
You need a specialist to guide you through your mental health so you can purchase products that suit your needs.
How and when to take CBD will depend on your evaluation. Once you get this covered, you can achieve a pleasant, fulfilling, and blithe life with a positive, wholesome, and clear consciousness.
About the Author
Rachel Hudson has more than five years of experience as a therapist. She regularly employs conventional medicine’s combined benefits with natural products like CBD for both pain relief and healing ability.
Having grown up with a mother who makes handmade skincare products, Ms. Hudson plans to launch a CBD-inspired product line to show how plant-based natural cosmetic products are viable for skin-related conditions. She loves to spend time with her husband and two labrador retrievers.
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