Oh, Aleah. Here you go again getting all crunchy on us. Why, yes. Yes I am. Ready to learn? KGood. Because we’re about the dive into a subject that I really think could help a lot of people: studied benefits of CBD oil.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. There are over 200 chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. CBD is one of them. It is the second most prevalent active compound found in cannabis, behind THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, which we will not be discussing).
CBD, unlike THC, has no psychoactive properties that would give you a “high” once it is extracted from the hemp plant. There is no evidence it has any abuse or dependence potential (very important for me) and at the time of this posting, there is no evidence that it is associated with any serious side effects. That last part is very important. Think about all of the legal drugs on the market, especially the ones that might be prescribed for depressions or anxiety. Now think about all of the potential side effects listed… or rushed through really quickly at the end of a TV commercial. No contest. Not to mention most of those drugs are not naturally derived from a plant. It’s downright frightening once you really start looking into what big pharmaceutical companies have been trying and succeeding to push into our bodies for decades. But that’s a tale for another time.
How do you take CBD?
You can take it however you like. Some people prefer it in their coffee. I prefer to just place it under my tongue. I hold it there for about 2 minutes for maximum absorbency. It’s also good to take it near or with a meal because it’s fat soluble and that will help with absorption. Dosage will depend on the strength of the formula you purchase AND the quality. More on that in a little bit. I so like to add a few drops to my dandelion detox tea. Coffee is just something I like to keep unadulterated. It’s sacred! LOL
5 Everyday Benefits of CBD
1. Anxiety Relief
This is the main benefit for which I take CBD. Have you ever tried to work a day job at home while helping an elementary student virtual-learn and taking care of a 2 year old? Yeeeeeah. That’s a big ol’ cocktail for some gnarly anxiety. I practice breathing, I drink a lot of water, I pray, and I take CBD. It’s not an immediately relief, but within about 30 minutes I feel a calm come over me. So I take it every day… without fail. It has helped tremendously.
Prescription anxiety medications can be very addictive and they wreak havoc on your body especially when you try to wean off of them. I went down that road and once I was done with the very painful detox from that drug I was DONE. Never again. CBD can be a very effective natural alternative to these drugs for managing and lessening the symptoms of anxiety disorders. It has even been used to safely treat insomia in children suffering from PTSD. Studies suggest that taking CBD can have a positive effect on the brain’s serotonin receptors which control a lot about our mental health. (Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4)
2. Pain Relief
Marijuana itself has been used to treat pain as far back as 2900 B.C.
There have been many studies on the effects cannabis sativa can have on chronic pain and inflammation, mostly on adults and older people. Over time, these studies have shown that taking CBD can relieve joint pain, inflammation, muscle pain, spinal chord injuries, and most recently it’s been showing promise treating neuropathy pain. (Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4)
There is even a treatment for multiple sclerosis called Sativex that is a combination of CBD and THC that has shown promise for treating pain and inflammation from MS and rheumatoid arthritis. (Studies: 1, 2)
3. Sleep Management
One study showed that a dose of CBD helped patients fall asleep and was associated with increased sleep duration. Another study looked at increased cortisol levels at bedtime and throughout the night being associated with increased awakenings. They found that a dose of CBD could decrease your cortisol levels, thus paving the way for a better night’s sleep. Though all studies suggested that while a small (25mg, which is what I take) dose was optimal for addressing anxiety symptoms, sleep issues needed a much higher dose. (Studies: 1,2, 3)
Here’s where I reach for my black bottle of CBN Infused Full Spectrum CBD oil. CBN (another compound found in cannabis) has strong sedative properties which make it a great sleep aid! CBD can have a calming effect on your central nervous system. That paired with the fact the we’re helping to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, pain, and inflammation, a CBN infused CBD oil is going to be your most powerful sleep aid and your most powerful anti-inflammatory among CBD formulas.
4. Acne Reduction
Oh, acne. Did you have acne as a teen? Maybe you didn’t get acne until you were in your 30’s like I did. Either way we can all agree it’s the worst and can really affect your felt confidence no matter how hard you try to say you don’t care and it doesn’t bother you.
There are a lot of causes for acne including your DNA, bacteria, underlying inflammation and the overproduction of sebum.
It is suggested that CBD can help with acne because it has anti-inflammatory properties AND it can actually reduce the production of sebum (this one was new to me in my recent research). One study showed that those two things paired together actually prevented the activation of “pro-acne” agents. Another study focused on the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil being crucial in it’s ability to safely and naturally treat acne. (Studies: 1, 2)
5. Heart Health
CBD has been shown to have antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that take CBD oil can actually lower high blood pressure. After everything we’ve talked about above this makes sense, right?
One study tested men and showed that CBD reduced their resting blood pressure compared to placebo. That same study also stress-tested the men using things that would normally raise blood pressure and found that a single dose of CBD helped reduce the increase in blood pressure under stress. Another study on mice showed the decreasing the amount of oxidative stress using CBD prevented heart damage. (Studies: 1, 2)
Why did I choose Nuvita CBD?
So this answer is hella easy. I’ll just make a quick list.
- The formula is very strong. A little dosage amount of Nuvita does what several droppers-full of other brands would do. Because it’s so concentrated and the quality is so high a bottle will last me for a very long time.
- It’s organically grown right here in the USA in Colorado.
- USA grown and manufactured.
- You can see a third party certificate of analysis for every product they sell. They are completely transparent. The quality is high.
- EVERY SINGLE PURCHASE – a percentage is donated every single month to a charity or shelter to help the vulnerable get back on their feet and have things that they need. The abused, the trafficked, the hurting. Nuvita CBD is a mission first company.
How much CBD should I take?
This is dependent on SO much. Like how much you weigh, the strength of the CBD you’re taking, and what you are using it for (as mentioned above in the studies on using CBD for anxiety vs using it for sleep). My BEST advice is to start low, judge how you feel within 30 minutes and go from there. Nuvita has some great charts on their site based on the potency of their formulas that are super helpful. I’ll include them here:
Summary
As with anything potentially related to your health, consult with your doctor if you have medical questions or concerns. Each person is different! CBD oil benefits go well beyond the five things I’ve listed in this article, but what I wanted to focus on was things that it can help with every day. If you’re curious, I encourage you to research. I’ve linked a lot of medical studies throughout this as well you can go back and reference. I truly hope you found this helpful and informative and if there’s anything I can help with please do not hesitate to leave a comment below or shoot me a message! If you did find this useful I would love it if you’d share it with your friends and family or pin it! If you do happen to check out Nuvita, use code “aleah” at checkout for 10% off!
xoxo,
Aleah
