As we bid farewell to the warmth of summer and welcome the crisp embrace of fall and winter, it's natural to feel a touch of stress creeping in. Whether you're a parent juggling a hectic family schedule, navigating the challenges of a fast-paced career, or just seeking a splash of solace as the daylight hours get shorter, one thing remains constant – the need for effective stress relief. Luckily, CBD oil may offer a natural approach to stress relief, so join us as we explore CBD for stress below. Learn how CBD works with your body to help you find a tranquil transition into the fall and winter months.
How CBD Works
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound found in the hemp plant. Unlike its more famous cousin, THC, CBD doesn't get you high. Instead, it offers a wide range of therapeutic benefits without the intoxicating effects.
It works by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS.) Your ECS is a complex cell-signaling system in the body that maintains balance and homeostasis. More or less, it manages a lot of natural bodily processes, including inflammation responses, immune system function, mood, and a few others, for the purpose of keeping everything inside working at its best.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors throughout the ECS, found everywhere from your skin to your central nervous system. Evidence suggests that CBD plays a role in keeping the ECS balanced by interacting with these receptors, which could affect your mood and help you manage stress.
CBD for Stress: What Does the Science Say?
Since CBD interacts with the ECS, it has its hands on a few different factors that contribute to stress. We're going to explore a few studies below, but it's important to keep in mind that, while promising, this research is still catching up to years of cannabis embargo. CBD isn't intended to cure anything, but between anecdotal evidence and emerging scientific studies, CBD might be helpful for combatting stress.
For starters, anxiety often accompanies stress— and CBD has gained attention for its potential to soothe anxiety-related symptoms.¹ Evidence suggests that CBD may encourage the ECS to produce more anandamide, which is a naturally occurring chemical associated with euphoria— which may ultimately boost happiness.²
To take it a step further, some evidence suggests that CBD may also modulate serotonin receptors.³ Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation. By modulating these receptors, CBD may help the ECS balance serotonin levels, which might contribute to a more stable and relaxed emotional state.
Some studies suggest that CBD may also reduce amygdala activity, the brain's fear and stress center.⁴ This reduction might help soothe feelings of excessive worry and anxiety. Some studies suggest that CBD might help by working with the ECS, which might indirectly affect the endocrine system responsible for hormone regulation.⁵
Your hormones can also play a big role in how stressed you feel on a daily basis. Cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone" because its levels rise in response to stress.⁶ Chronic stress can lead to dysregulated cortisol levels, contributing to anxiety and other stress-related symptoms. CBD may influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, integral to the stress response, which might help maintain a balanced cortisol level.
Positive Side Effects Stress Relief With CBD
There are a lot of things that contribute to stress, from your environment and daily tasks to your physical well-being.⁷ While the research on CBD's direct effects on stress is scant, some research suggests that CBD may support other areas of wellness that could contribute to the root causes of stress.
For starters, anxiety— a major contributor to stress, is a target of CBD's positive side effects. CBD may influence the ECS, which helps target serotonin receptors and the amygdala. CBD and the ECS may collectively work to calm excessive worry and anxious thoughts. By inducing a sense of inner calm and relaxation, CBD may soothe the anxiety that often accompanies stressful situations, which can help people confront challenges with a more composed mindset.⁸
On the other hand, chronic pain and inflammation can cause physical discomfort and emotional distress.⁹ Research suggests that CBD may reduce inflammation through interactions with ECS receptors.¹⁰ In short, CBD may modulate pain perception while lowering inflammatory responses.¹¹ As pain subsides and inflammation decreases, the burden of stress on both body and mind may be alleviated, leading to a more relaxed and comfortable state.
Finally, inflammation and anxiety can both contribute to sleep problems.¹² Sleep deprivation, a common consequence of stress, can create a cycle where stress disrupts sleep, and sleep deprivation exacerbates stress. One of the positive side effects of CBD is its ability to enhance sleep quality. By interacting with the ECS and promoting mental relaxation alongside physical relief, CBD may help people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed. This improved sleep pattern directly reduces stress and fortifies the body's resilience to daily stressors.
That said, CBD might create a ripple effect of improved well-being by effectively addressing a few of the root causes of stress. Better rest, reduced inflammation, and anxiety reduction work synergistically to nurture a more balanced and stress-resilient state — in short, a better you. As CBD becomes a part of your daily wellness routine, you may discover that stress-free living with CBD is a holistic approach that not only relieves stress but also enhances the overall quality of life, empowering you to thrive, especially during the fall and winter months when stress levels tend to peak.
Practical Tips for Managing Stress With CBD
If you're ready to start incorporating CBD into your daily wellness routine to help you manage your hectic lifestyle, these five tips can help you get started.
Use Full-Spectrum CBD
There are a lot of full-spectrum CBD benefits to consider. Full-spectrum CBD is derived from the whole hemp plant and contains the entire natural levels of other cannabinoids and terpenes. Evidence suggests that these compounds work together through the Entourage Effect to boost each other’s stress-relieving effects. This dynamic synergy complements CBD's calming effects and addresses a wide range of stress-related factors, from anxiety and pain to sleep disruption and inflammation. By opting for full-spectrum CBD products over isolated CBD, you can maximize CBD's entourage effect and stress-relieving potential on its own.
Take Five
In our fast-paced lives, taking some daily "me time" is essential for your mental well-being. Consider dedicating an hour to indulge in self-care. Work, play, and rest are all equally important for mental health and wellness, so take some time to do something you enjoy and do something that relaxes and rejuvenates you.¹³ For example, you can run a warm bath infused with CBD massage oil to soothe your body and relax your mind. Alternatively, add a few drops of full-spectrum CBD oil with CBG to your evening tea and drink it while you enjoy your favorite hobby or activity. These practices may create a calming ritual that helps you unwind and prepare for a restorative night's sleep.
Do a Sleep Reset:
Sleep plays a massive role in managing stress levels. Our biological clock and circadian rhythm are closely tied to hormone regulation, so a healthy sleep cycle reduces stress and supports mental well-being. Consider incorporating CBD into your daily routine by taking a CBD sleep gummy both in the morning and at night. This balanced approach may help regulate your sleep patterns, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready to face the day while promoting relaxation and tranquility at night. If your sleep is upset by travel, try CBD + Melatonin capsules as a way to reboot the body’s clock.
Protect Your Body:
As the weather turns colder and the days grow shorter, it's crucial to give your body some TLC. CBD lotion is a versatile companion for the changing seasons. Not only can it soothe dry, chapped skin, but it may also provide relief to sore muscles by reducing inflammation. This dual benefit can be a game-changer, helping you get the rest you need for optimal mental health. Less pain and improved sleep can significantly enhance your ability to manage stress during the fall and winter months.
Make CBD a Habit:
Incorporating CBD into your daily routine might provide ongoing support for stress relief. Evidence suggests that nightly routines and daily rituals can be mentally soothing and stress-relieving.¹⁴ CBD helps promote balance within the endocannabinoid system (ECS) when used consistently, contributing to overall well-being. Consider making CBD a habit with CBD capsules, whether it's part of your morning routine to face the day with calm or a nightly ritual to ensure restful sleep. Remember that the cumulative benefits of CBD are often most effective when taken daily, supporting your ECS in maintaining equilibrium and helping you navigate your busy schedule with ease.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, stress works hard, but you work harder. While CBD won't make you feel intoxicated or magically wash away stress or anxiety, adding it to your daily wellness routine may make you feel better equipped to roll with the punches. CBD's versatile properties address root causes like sleep deprivation, pain, inflammation, and anxiety. By effectively tackling these issues, CBD fosters a balanced, stress-resilient state, enhancing overall well-being.
At Lazarus Naturals, our line of full-spectrum CBD products is made with a high-potency formula and other functional stress-relieving ingredients to provide a potent, natural remedy for stress that works as hard as you do. If you're ready to feel your best, start by incorporating CBD into your daily routine, and remember to embrace self-care, optimize your sleep, and make stress relief a habit.
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Sources:
¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/
² https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10121552/
³ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6319597/
⁴ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657360/
⁵ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30618031/
⁶ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8704602/
⁷ https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/stress
⁸ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/
⁹ https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=the-stress-pain-connection-88-p11008
¹⁰ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023045/
¹¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6277878/
¹² https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar4054
¹³ https://www.bodybackup.co.uk/work-rest-play-mental-health/