In recent years, CBD has become more and more popular among people of all ages. And with good reason. There’s no doubt that each and every one of us strives for a more balanced lifestyle, and anything that helps us to achieve this is quickly adopted into our daily routines.
Especially nowadays as the home office life means that “work-life-balance” is increasingly skewed towards the “work” part, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally.
A downward spiral
When we feel unbalanced, we often also feel unwell. This can be due to a variety of reasons: stress at work, arguments with our partner, or physical complaints such as persistent back pain or headaches due to many hours in front of the screen… These are just some of the symptoms that we’re all facing.
And once we feel unwell, the stresses mount; pressure to not take sick leave, fears of longer term illness, pressures on our relationships all lead us to feel more stressed, and more likely to get sick.
Of course, the quickest solution is to reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever, but increased awareness of wellness topics means that the trend is shifting more and more toward “herbal alternatives.”
And that’s where CBD comes into play.
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is a non-psychotropic component of the cannabis sativa plant, which means that it does not induce a state of intoxication when consumed (unlike THC). Instead, CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a system made up of many small receptors in our bodies, and provides a balanced state.
So, can CBD also help increase our overall well-being, whether physical or mental?
Stress, anxiety and depression
Especially in the last few months of the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear how many people are suffering from the strict contact restrictions, limited freedom of movement and social isolation.
So it’s no wonder that more and more people report suffering from depression and anxiety. The CDC has responded to this and even launched its own “Mental Health” advice site.
Controlled clinical studies are yet to be conducted, but a large retrospective case series at a psychiatric clinic states that CBD may help with anxiety-related disorders.
In some pre-clinical studies, CBD has even been demonstrated to have antidepressant properties.
Improved sleep
Whether or not CBD can improve sleep in the long-term still has to be conclusively evaluated. As CBD contributes to a more balanced feeling and the activation of certain endocannabinoids, research now focuses on its impact on sleep patterns.
Studies that have been conducted among CBD users both in the UK and the US showed that many CBD users reported an improvement in their sleep patterns. Not only did participants experience fewer interruptions to their sleep, but also reported an improvement in their sleep quality.
This and other studies like it show promising early insights that CBD could be an option for people looking to improve their sleep habits the natural way.
Balance (homeostasis)
As mentioned above, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (the ECS). The ECS consists of receptors, enzymes and endocannabinoids – small molecules produced by the human’s body. All of these play an important role in maintaining a healthy balance within our bodies.
Research is still in its infancy, however early results suggest that the ECS regulates a variety of body functions including mood, appetite and sleep.
This therefore means that an imbalance in the ECS can lead to a lack of sleep, mood swings (even anxiety) and fluctuating appetite.
When all processes run smoothly, our body achieves homeostasis, or body balance. If your body is not fully balanced (for example due to an injury), the ECS kicks into action in order to regain and maintain this inner balance.
Wrap up
When taking CBD, routine and regularity are crucial. The effects of CBD are only felt by following a regular intake pattern.
When we feel more secure and confident in our bodies and minds, we tend to be less anxious or stressed out, and our overall wellbeing improves. So how about taking a step back and establishing a new routine this spring?
Staying focused on the little things you achieve throughout the day and treating yourself with something good is important to maintain a well balanced life – because you deserve to feel good about yourself, everyday!