CBD – short for Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive botanical compound found in Cannabis & Hemp plants, and it is legal in the UK.
(🎧 Psst if you prefer to listen not read there is an audio reading of this blog post scroll to the bottom) 😃
CBDs botanical compounds closely resemble our natural ones called endocannabinoids. Our bodies naturally produce these in our ‘endocannabinoid system’ and when it’s working optimally we feel lovely and balanced, but quite often we might need a little extra help!
Our endocannabinoids systems job is to maintain ‘homeostasis’—biological stability and harmony. It communicates biochemically, helps regulate many things including: Mood, digestion, nerve function, muscle movement, immunity, blood circulation and probably more!
Even though we discovered the Endocannabinoid System over 20yrs ago its not widely know about and we are still discovering more about it all the time.
CBD is a natural therapeutic plant supplement, taken daily it can help support people who are stressed, burnt-out, have chronic pain, feeling anxious, low or out of balance.
Why take CBD?
CBD comes with some amazing therapeutic properties, its known to be: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, anti-anxiety, analgesic, antidepressant and neuroprotective.
I first learned about CBD when my partners mum needed palliative care for lung cancer, it was the one thing that she swore by to help reduce her anxiety and help her sleep. Then I started taking it to see if it would help with brain fog, anxiety, low perimenopause mood and my overactive ADHD mind!
People take CBD to:
- Ease pain and headaches/migraine
- Calm symptoms of IBS
- Reduce anxiety, social anxiety, depression, PTSD
- Protect Brain health (Dementia)
- Improve focus (ADHD), clear brain fog
- Better sleep
- Balance hormones (PMT, Perimeno, Menopause, Andropause)
- Ease muscle tension (Parkinson’s)
- With overall wellbeing
Green Edition
How does it work?
Pain & Headaches/Migraine
CBD reduces inflammation of damaged tissues, it communicates to the cells that make inflammation to slow down (this reduces the actual inflammation). It helps reduce the perception of the pain by diminishing signals sent to the brain through neurotransmitters, this may help people with Parkinson’s, MS, HIV, Shingles.
IBS
Our Endocannabinoid system is connected to our digestion, tests have shown that CBG (another compound that comes as part of whole plant CBD oils) can significantly reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. So can help reduce symptoms of IBS
Anxiety & Depression
CBD helps calm the nervous system, reducing cortisol production, helpings reduce anxiety and to balance the hormonal system. CBD is a Serotonin receptor, aiding higher serotonin levels which naturally make us feel happier. Recently it’s being used to help treat anxiety and other symptoms associated with PTSD.
Sleep
For some CBD can improve sleep quality, by reducing stress and helping calm the mind, allowing you to drift off. CBD can be especially helpful for disturbed sleep due to hormonal fluctuations – PMT, Perimenopause, Menopause & Andropause. (Personally I find if you want to take it for sleep try an Indica or Indica dominant hybrid, take early evening and stick to Sativa strains in the day for anxiety and focus).
Brain Health
CBD is rich in antioxidants which are anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective, supporting brain health and brain function. Recently it’s being trialled on people with Dementia & Parkinson’s to help slow down neuro damage and reduce anxiety.
Two major contributors to the breakdown of brain cells are oxidation and inflammation.
Colleen Quinn, Lab Cannamist
Which CBD will suit me?
SATIVA
Considered to be felt more in the mind, to aid concentration, calm anxiety, ease hormonal ‘brain fog’, and to calm racing thoughts and to help ADHD minds to focus. Sativa strains are more rejuvenating, can be used to stimulate appetite if needed during chemotherapy. Can reduce fatigue, can help relieve the perceived feeling of chronic pain by reducing pain receptors in the brain.
SATIVA – Ideally taken in the day but do remember CBD is very individual (just like you) in the way it works and some take this at night and love it.
INDICA
Considered to be felt more in the body, calming, eases tension, sedative for some, anti-depressive. Helps to calm the central nervous system, balance hormones, ease insomnia and to reduce feelings of stress, help calm the ‘tired but wired’ feeling of burn out.
INDICA – Ideally taken in the late afternoon to evenings (avoid taking right before bed until you know how you respond) to reduce feeling ‘wired’ at bedtime. Do remember CBD is very individual (just like you) in the way it works and some take this in the day and love it.
To help your mind to focus try a Sativa. Or if you want a more calming ‘body’ vibe try an Indica or Indica dominant Hybrid.
Suzie, Soothe-me
Full Spectrum or Isolate?!
Full spectrum means ‘from the whole plant’ so as well as Cannabinoids (CBD) this oil will include all the other therapeutic components of the plant such as: terpenes, essential vitamins, protein, flavonoids and essential fatty acids – Omega 3,6 and 9 available from the plant.
When all these botanical compounds work together in synergy it is known as the “entourage effect”. The thinking behind the entourage effect is that CBD will perform better when taken as a whole plant extract rather than an isolated cannabinoid.
That’s not to say that there are no benefits to CBD isolates! In fact these are ideal if you have a sensitivity to any of the other compounds. CBD isolate will have been separated from the rest of the compounds in the cannabis plant, so is considered a more pure version of CBD.
“Everyone has an individual reaction to CBD, you might feel effects quickly, or for some it can take a few weeks before you feel the benefits of taking CBD regularly”
Application & Dose
Take the oil drops ‘sublingually’ under your tongue, hold there for about 30 secs, ideally after eating. For dosage use the rule ‘start low and go slow’. your endocannabinoid system is as unique as you are, as will be your response to this medicinal plant.
Essential oils & CBD
It is important to remember that CBD is a relatively new discovery and we are learning about it all the time. As an essential oils therapist became am very interested in working with combining CBD and essential oils especially for their synergistic, therapeutic effects to learn how I can further enhance the wellbeing of clients.
Based on all this and my personal experiences of using CBD, I decided that I wanted to learn how to use CBD oil with my clients, so I recently completed and qualified in – Labcannammist Pro Digital Course – online training and practical learning with the incredible Colleen Quinn of Labcannamist!
Research implies that the combined use of essential oils and cannabinoids may be a potential novel therapy for the treatment of neurodegeneration, and associated symptoms’.
Dr Ethan Russo
Very VERY Brief History!
The Cannabis sativa plant has its origins as a medicinal plant for thousands of years.
It was commonly used in a variety of cultures by 500 B.C. and early uses of cannabis were largely medicinal. It was used to treat conditions like inflammation, malaria, gout, depression, nausea, and as an anaesthetic.
To learn more you might enjoy this brilliant cultural history netflix documentary on cannabis called The Grass is Greener
Soothe-me
Collaborates with
CBD Brothers…
“I have been taking CBD Brothers Purple Edition CBD after evening meals myself for 4 years now. It’s been a total game changer for me, I started taking it to help with ease insomnia, for mild IBS issues and low mood due to perimenopause hormonal fluctuation. It’s also helped to lessen feelings of anxiety and taking it regularly has reduced inflammation in my ankle tendons, now they don’t feel so stiff and achy in the mornings.
Being dyslexic (and on the ADHD spectrum), I get LOTS of ideas, ALL the time, so I have always found staying on task very hard. To get into deep focus work is difficult, so now I use the Blue Edition CBD for these times. It stills my racing mind, dulling the chatter so I can concentrate better, without making me feeling sleepy”.
Suzie, of Soothe-me
CBD Brothers say…
“All of our oils are extracted using CO2, under low heat and low pressure conditions. Our CBD rich Oil contains the full spectrum of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids as well as essential fatty acids- Omega 3,6 and 9 available from the plant.
All of our Cannabis and Hemp is grown ethically, using growing processes without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilisers, on small artisan farms across Europe
We are the first supplement company in the UK to be given a license to grow full spectrum cannabis, on the beautiful Isle of Guernsey.”
Listen to an audio of this post
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Disclaimer
This information here is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This information should be used only under supervision of your qualified health practitioner.