Wellness

But its somewhat abstract and holistic nature doesn’t make wellness any less important or real. On the contrary, wellness encompasses quality sleep, stress management, and physical and emotional wellbeing under its umbrella, they are the pillars wellness is balanced on. Remove even a single one, and the whole thing collapses.

And you can’t talk about CBD without talking about balance and holistic wellness. CBD, by default, helps the mind and body return naturally and seamlessly to their inherent state of balance and harmony on every level.

How CBD Interacts With Us

CBD is thought to interact with our CB1 and CB2 receptors, the signal towers of our endocannabinoid system, which is a communication network that permeates our bodies and regulates some of the most important physiological and psychological processes occurring in them, including mood, sleep, inflammation, and more. In short, the endocannabinoid system maintains our inner environment stable and balanced, even when external factors disrupt its harmony.

CBD is thought to mimic the action of our body’s neurotransmitters, called endocannabinoids, which are dispatched by CB1 and CB2 receptors to help with sleep, soothe the mind and alleviate stress, ease inflammation, and more.

When external factors that disrupt the inner balance are too force majeure – like an injury, for example – for the endocannabinoid system to handle on its own, and/or when you suffer from a condition, known as endocannabinoid deficiency, taking CBD is thought to help you get back to normal.

CBD for Wellness

CBD is not a panacea, a magic cure, or a cheat code, but it is thought to be a trusted ally on the road to holistic wellness, every step along the way. Here are the main steps.

CBD for Sleep

CBD has been gaining traction as a sleep aid because of its relaxing properties that don’t interfere with the sleep-wake cycles or cause the grogginess, brain fog, and tolerance that prescription medications are known for.

Moreover, it is thought that CBD can prolong the stage of deep sleep, where the deepest rest and recovery occur. CBD has also shown promise with insomniacs, bringing their symptoms down significantly.

CBD for Pain

The anecdotal evidence and research on CBD’s analgesic properties are growing. CBD is thought to be a strong remedy for inflammation, migraines, chronic pain, arthritis and other inflammation-based ailments, nerve pain, muscle soreness, and more.

CBD for Stress

CBD has also been thought to aid with relaxation, including for people for whom relaxation is an ever-elusive concept.

Again, both anecdotal evidence points to CBD’s anxiolytic activity, which carries through across the full gamut of stress and anxiety disorders, including PTSD, OCD, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder.

CBD for Beauty

Many people might find the presence of CBD and beauty in the same sentence strange, but some of the cannabinoid’s signature traits translate into tangible visual benefits, namely its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation is one of your skin’s arch-nemeses. It’s the root cause of redness, irritation, acne, and even conditions like psoriasis and eczema. This makes CBD a strong ally in the fight for healthy and beautiful skin.

Oxidative stress, on the other hand, is basically aging. Both time in itself, as well as everything that comes along with it, like exposure to air pollutions, cigarettes, alcohol, etc, subject our skin to oxidative stress.

Antioxidants like CBD are a direct counterforce to these processes, helping our skin remain youthful for longer.

Best CBD Product Types for Wellness

CBD product types are characterized by their way of CBD delivery and the nature of the extract itself. Let’s start with the latter.

Full-Spectrum CBD

These products’ contents span the full chemical spectrum of the hemp plant, including trace amounts of THC. The full spectrum works like an orchestra – like band members, the plethora of cannabinoids work in concert to produce a richer, synergetic impact, known in the cannabis field as the entourage effect, considered the X factor of cannabinoid magic.

Considering that wellness is a complex, multifaceted concept, full-spectrum CBD might arguably be the most suitable and well-rounded option.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

The difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum is the complete lack of THC in the latter.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is pretty much what it sounds like – pure CBD concentrate, the purest money can buy (99%). For some, a solo performance by their favourite artist can be more powerful than a whole band.

CBD Delivery Methods

The next product categories are characterized by their way of delivering CBD to the body. This is not a mere technicality – on the contrary, the delivery method affects CBD’s bioavailability – its absorption rate into the body – and time of onset, both major factors in its efficacy in fulfilling specific needs.

CBD Oils and Tinctures for Wellness

These are either oils or distilled alcohol, serving as CBD carriers. They’re usually applied either with a spray or a dropper, under the tongue, where they’re held for a minute before swallowed.

The area under the tongue is rich in capillaries, which soak up the oil and insert it directly into the bloodstream. This way, CBD bypasses the liver and its third-pass metabolism, which not only delays the onset, but also takes a serious cut, something like an entry fee, leaving much less CBD for you. In other words, oils and tinctures are one of the most cost- and time-effective ways to consume CBD.

CBD Capsules and Edibles for Wellness

These have lower bioavailability and a slower onset than oils because they go through the gut and liver and respectively the third-pass metabolism. However, they have the benefit of user-friendliness and convenience, as you can easily carry them around and pop them discretely in your mouth while keeping track of the exact dosage you’ve consumed. Moreover, gummies come in all sorts of nice flavours.

These two attributes make CBD edibles a more digestible and seamless option for people who need a quick fix on the go and/or have a hard time tolerating weird, bitter tastes that are characteristic of oils and tinctures.

CBD Vapes for Wellness

Vaping produces the fastest onset – practically instant – but its bioavailability isn’t the greatest. CBD vapes are optimal for situations and needs that require instant effects, such as waking up in the middle of the night, sharp pain, or a break from work.

CBD Creams for Wellness

CBD creams fall into two major categories, depending on what they treat – skin conditions or pain.

CBD creams for pain are a great way to target a specific area of the body as opposed to treating holistic ailments.

CBD creams for skin conditions like inflammation, acne, psoriasis, and more, are the best way to harness the cannabinoid’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as they relate to skin health.

Things to remember when choosing your CBD wellness product

N.B. Consult your doctor if you have any medical conditions that could be a variable in the equation.

CBD for Wellness Essentials