CBD FOR RELAXATION

CBD has calming effects that help consumers relax. It also relaxes by alleviating stressors like pain, anxiety, and depression. To benefit from CBD for relaxation, find the CBD dose and method of administering that works best for you.

It can be hard to find time to relax with so much going on. It could be a demanding job or family. Relaxing gives one time to reflect on your life and regenerate. This can be done by having a quality sleep or dealing with mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression. Managing stress can help one relax. CBD is a good remedy since it’s a naturally occurring compound and does not cause dependency. This article will explore how CBD helps you relax and how to take CBD for relaxation.

How CBD Helps You Relax

Soothing Stress and Depression

It can be hard to relax when you are stressed. Short-term stress is healthy because it indicates that your body adjusts to your environment. Prolonged stress may end up causing depression. CBD can help you manage stress and depression by altering serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for body functions like mood and stress. Low serotonin levels will lead to stress and depression, but higher levels mean you are in a good mood. According to Salese et al. (2018), CBD helped reduce depression symptoms like helplessness.

Helps in Reducing Anxiety

Anxiety is another cause of restlessness. Anxiety can cause breathing problems, fatigue, dizziness, and increased blood pressure; if these problems prolong, they may lead to stress and depression. Soothing anxiety can help you to relax with ease. Taking CBD helps soothe anxiety by altering serotonin levels; a lack of serotonin or low serotonin levels can cause anxiety.  Zuardi et al.  (2017) showed that CBD could improve anxiety-like and increased heart rate symptoms. CBD can be used on various forms of anxiety-like GAD and SAD.

Relieving Pain and Inflammation

Pain can also be a stressor; by creating discomfort, one loses the ability to stay relaxed. Taking CBD has been found to help in soothing pain and inflammation. CBD can be used for different kinds of pain like cancer pain, back pain, arthritis pain, and neuropathic pain, as shown by Überall (2020). CBD interacts with the ECS system to alter how long the cells respond by preventing neurotransmitters from breaking.

The responses create anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. With reduced pain and inflammation, you can be able to relax.

Helps in Improving Sleep Quality

Lack of sleep can lead to mental problems, low sex drive, and heart problems. These problems can increase anxiety, stress, and depression, making it even harder for you to relax. Quality sleep can help solve these problems. Quality sleep is achieved by at least 7 hours of sleep. Taking a nap can also help improve your sleep but not late afternoon. Taking CBD for sleep helps in preventing melatonin from breaking. According to Vissers et al. (2007), Melatonin is a hormone that controls the dark-light cycle, and it's highly secreted at night.

Treating Seizures

 Brunetti et al. (2020) reported that  Epidiolex, a form of CBD oil, was approved by the FDA in 2018 to treat two rare genetic seizures, Lennox-gastaut syndrome and dravet syndrome, for people aged 3 years and above.

How to Take CBD for Relaxation

CBD is not bioavailable; thus, it’s processed into various products like oils, tinctures, edibles, creams, capsules, and vapes. These products determine the method of administration to be used. The common methods are inhalation, ingestion, sublingual, and topical method.

Inhalation Method

The inhalation method involves taking CBD oil in vapes or smoking CBD concentrate or hemp plant leaves and flowers. The CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately in the lungs with oxygen. CBD can be felt after 15 minutes; this method is effective if you want a faster fix. Vaping is considered a better way of inhaling CBD than smoking; vaping does not emit any smoke; thus, it's discrete to use even at work. Smoking can cause lung diseases. The long-run effect of vaping is not known.

Ingestion Method

The CBD undergoes metabolism like food before being absorbed into the bloodstream in the ingestion method. Even if you have a faster metabolism, you will at least feel the CBD effect after 2 hours, but it can last in the body for up to 8 hours. This is the slowest method of taking CBD. This method involves taking CBD edibles like gummies and cookies; one can also take CBD capsules. You can ingest CBD oil by adding it to meals and drinks.

Sublingual Method

The sublingual method is another faster method. It involves placing drops of oil or CBD oil spray in the sublingual layer and holding it for 60 seconds for absorption to take place. The capillaries and tissues absorb the CBD into the bloodstream. The effect of CBD can be felt after 30 minutes. If uncomfortable with the CBD oil taste, users can buy flavored CBD oils instead. One can also take CBD oil after eating so that the food flavors mask the CBD oil taste.

Topical Method

CBD topicals and creams are specifically made for external use. This method involves applying CBD oil to the affected area's skin and massaging it until the oil is absorbed. This method is effective when using CBD for pain and inflammation. Applying CBD oil directly to the affected area makes this method faster because CBD does not go through the bloodstream.  Apply  CBD oil on parts of your skin like the forehead and neck.

Is CBD Oil Good for Panic Attacks?

Many people mistake panic stack for panic disorder. Panic attacks and anxiety are two different mental disorders. Anxiety makes people feel like they are trapped in a cage they can’t come out of. This is often a tough burden on one mental health. Panic attacks roots in anxiety, and several factors trigger them. The feeling is real, hard to treat, and it debilitates emotions. Unfortunately, anti-anxiety drugs have tragic side effects on physical and mental health.

Another alternative with no side effects is CBD, which several scientists have proved. However, treating Panic attacks needs extensive research due to steering around a strong fear and not stressors.

Shannon et al. (2016) suggested that CBD may positively affect panic attack patients. It is also linked to various mental state disorders such as PTSD, OCD, GAD, SAD, and PT. The ability of CBD to curb anxiety and panic attacks results from its intersection with CB1 receptors and the 5-HT1A serotonin receptors in different brain areas. 

How To Use CBD Oil for Anxiety

There is no approved dosage for taking CBD oil to treat anxiety. Shannon et al. (2016) discovered that regularly taking 300 to 600 mg of CBD oil can reduce anxiety symptoms. They concluded after reading the results of fifty-seven people.

However, your dosage depends mainly on the CBD oil quality and the administration method. The method determines how quickly the medicinal effects will be absorbed in your blood and take effect.

Administering the CBD oil orally is the most effective method. It’s estimated that after taking the CBD oil orally, it will take half to two hours for the effects to show. However, the effects can be fastened by vaping CBD oil.

You can use it throughout the day for constant effects. You can include it in meals such as breakfast and consume it normally.

Conclusion

CBD can help you relax if you know what is stressing you. Taking CBD gives you a more calming effect than when taking marijuana. CBD is the best remedy for stress because it does not cause dependency like drugs like opioids. CBD can help you relax by alleviating stress and depression, soothing anxiety aiding sleep, and alleviating pain. You can try out the various methods of taking CBD to find out one that works best for you. CBD affects individuals differently; thus, if you are new to CBD, start with a lower dose and increase it gradually to the one you are comfortable with.

References

Brunetti, P., Faro, A. F. L., Pirani, F., Berretta, P., Pacifici, R., Pichini, S., & Busardò, F. P. (2020). Pharmacology And Legal Status Of Cannabidiol. Annali Dell'istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 56(3), 285-291.

Sales, A. J., Crestani, C. C., Guimarães, F. S., & Joca, S. R. (2018). Antidepressant-Like Effect Induced By Cannabidiol Is Dependent On Brain Serotonin Levels. Progress In Neuro-Psychopharmacology And Biological Psychiatry, 86, 255-261.

Überall, M. A. (2020). A Review Of Scientific Evidence For THC: CBD Oromucosal Spray (Nabiximols) In The Management Of Chronic Pain. Journal Of Pain Research, 13, 399.

Vissers, F. H., Knipschild, P. G., & Crebolder, H. F. (2007). Is Melatonin Helpful In Stopping The Long-Term Use Of Hypnotics? A Discontinuation Trial. Pharmacy World & Science, 29(6), 641-646.

Zuardi, A. W., Rodrigues, N. P., Silva, A. L., Bernardo, S. A., Hallak, J. E., Guimarães, F. S., & Crippa, J. A. (2017). Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve Of The Anxiolytic Effect Of Cannabidiol During Public Speaking In Real Life. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 259.