Cannabinoids have a range of health benefits from improved sleep quality to reduced joint pain. However, if you’re a first-time user of cannabis-derived products, you probably don’t know how to incorporate them into your current health regime.
Not knowing how to use cannabinoids isn’t your fault.
We all grew up with synthetic painkillers like ibuprofen and joint relief medicine like Mentholatum creams, and heavy-handed drug laws kept most people away from more natural remedies like cannabis-based CBD oil.
But responsibly incorporating CBD into your health regime is a great way to boost your overall wellbeing and help you live a pain-free life.
CBD and Your Immune System
Your immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins which act as a defense against illnesses like viruses and diseases.
Due to the pandemic, immunity and the immune system have gained considerable media attention and may be at the forefront of your health-related thoughts.
Unfortunately, there is plenty of misinformation spread about immunity. Common immune system myths tend to trump up claims or stem from a misinterpretation of research.
For example, folks’ weight became a major cause of concern during Covid, as excess body fat does harm immunity.
While a sustainable approach to weight loss may work, harsh diets will actually weaken the body’s response to infection as the body will be under excess stress during an extreme caloric deficit.
Likewise, plenty of misinformation about CBD and the immune system has circulated the web in the past few years.
It’s important to recognize that CBD isn’t magic, and research shows that CBD use does not directly support your immune system. However, CBD can reduce your stress and make it easier to focus on other elements of your health regime which do promote immunity.
So, when using cannabinoids for immunity, remember that soft gels and oils alone are not enough to maintain a healthy immune system but that use of CBD can help bring down your stress levels and improve things like your sleep, diet, and exercise routine.
Sleep
Sleep is a critical part of everyone’s health. The CDC recommends that the average adult should get 7-9 hours per night for optimum recovery and wellbeing.
However, getting a good night’s sleep might feel impossible if you have a bad relationship with bedtime.
Fortunately, CBD can help with sleep. A literature review found that cannabinoids “may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia”, and evidence shows that CBD can help improve REM sleep.
This could improve your daytime focus, and help you avoid feelings of sleepiness during your waking hours.
However, incorporating cannabinoids into your sleep routine is more complicated than eating a few edibles or lighting up.
That same literature review suggested that THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) may impair sleep quality in the long term if used for sleep purposes.
The key is to speak with a CBD-literate medical professional about your sleep problems and ask them for advice. While physicians cannot prescribe CBD currently, they can recommend dosage and best practices.
This is important, as your insomnia may have a few different root causes which CBD may alleviate but not resolve.
Mental Health
The past few years have resembled a mental health crisis for millions of Americans.
Without realizing it, you may be suffering from a mental health condition if you lost your job, said goodbye to a loved one, or simply felt overwhelmed by the storm of breaking news and national emergencies that swept the country.
No prescription drug or cannabinoid can replace the work of a good therapist.
However, CBD can improve your emotional wellness and make it easier to see the silver lining. This is particularly important if you are dealing with excess stress.
Cannabidiol may help you reduce the symptoms of burnout, and give you a slight mental health boost you need to make a positive change in your life.
Before you start using CBD for mental health, it is worth consulting with a medical professional.
Occasional adverse effects may occur as a result of using CBD products, and your therapist should know if you’re using CBD in tandem with consultations.
This will help you avoid allergic reactions, and increase the efficacy of your overall treatment.
Cardio Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases like heart conditions cause 1 in 4 deaths in the USA. That means that poor heart health is the biggest killer of adults in the nation, and represents a serious health concern for everyone.
The best way to avoid heart disease and cardiovascular illness is to follow a healthy, active lifestyle. However, you may find that extreme pain is preventing you from working up a sweat.
For example, if you suffer from vein disease, then you’ll be familiar with the debilitating effects of varicose veins.
Varicose veins can make it feel impossible to move your body and take proactive steps to improve your heart health. But, recent research suggests that CBD may provide a therapeutic effect for those suffering from vein disease by improving blood flow and protecting against vascular damage.
So, if pain is preventing you from exercising, it may be worth using CBD to reduce inflammation and alleviate your symptoms.
Using CBD to mask pain is not optimal, but it can help you get back on track and start living a heart-healthier lifestyle.
Incorporating cannabinoids into your health regime may help you overcome ailments and reduce your overall stress.
When used responsibly, CBD can even help improve your sleep regime and spark a shift in mindset that boost your mental and physical wellbeing.
