Your Super Short Introduction to CBD

CBD is a supplement that’s received more and more publicity over the past five years. CBD - short for cannabidiol - is an extract of cannabis, or hemp plants, that has numerous health benefits. While it can’t get you high, CBD can help you relax and unwind.

CBD comes in a wide variety of forms: tinctures, oils, edibles, capsules, pills, and - our personal favorite - CBD gummies. Similar to gummy vitamins, these gummies offer us the healing, relaxing power of CBD.

Here’s what you need to know about relaxing with CBD gummies

CBD works by affecting your endocannabinoid system. This system exists in all mammals, from rats to dogs to humans. Our endocannabinoid system makes its own cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds that are also found in cannabis and hemp plants. One of the more well-known cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp plants is CBD.

Our endocannabinoid system affects everything in our bodies, including the skin, heart, digestive system, salivary glands, joints, and brain. So, it should be no surprise that CBD can affect our mood and our ability to relax.

CBD gummies may reduce anxiety

What keeps you from relaxing? For most people, it’s anxiety.

That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, racing thoughts, and difficulty breathing are some of the common effects of anxiety. Whether you have a full-blown anxiety disorder, or simply feel stressed from time to time, this anxiety can be overwhelming.
The good news is that CBD might soothe anxiety. One 2019 study involved giving CBD to 54 subjects before a public speaking test. It found that 300mg of CBD significantly reduced anxiety during the speech.

CBD can also help people with specific anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interestingly, a case study showed that CBD treated pediatric insomnia and anxiety in a child with PTSD. In another study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2010, researchers looked at people with social anxiety disorder. It found that CBD improved the symptoms of social anxiety disorder by improving brain function.

A 2019 study looked at the effect of CBD on both sleep and anxiety. The study looked at 72 subjects, some of whom experienced anxiety and some of whom struggled with insomnia. The subjects were given 25 milligrams of CBD every day for a few months. It seemed to be effective: after one month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep.
What’s more is that a 2018 review suggested that CBD could lower your overall stress levels as well as improve certain mental illnesses and brain conditions. So, whether you’ve had a tough day at work or need to unwind after an exam, CBD gummies could be a great way to relax.

CBD gummies might soothe pain

Another common issue that could prevent you from relaxing is pain. CBD’s ability to soothe inflammation and pain is well-documented, making it perfect for someone with chronic pain or an injury who needs to unwind.

Research shows that CBD is an effective anti-inflammatory, which means it helps to reduce the swelling related to painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
There are also a lot of studies that show how CBD reduces pain. A 2018 review of studies that was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology looked at the way CBD affects people with painful conditions. The study specifically looked at cancer-related pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain, and it found that CBD is a very effective analgesic.

Because of this, CBD is popular among people with chronic pain, severe menstrual cramps, cancer-related pain, and injuries. So if you’re struggling to rest or sleep because of pain, try CBD gummies.

CBD gummies could lift your mood.

Many people report that CBD increases their overall feeling of happiness and lifts their mood after a tough day.

Beyond the anxiety-reducing effects of CBD, it might also soothe depression. It’s said that CBD can increase serotonin, the “happiness hormone” that reduces depression and enables us to feel pleasure. Rat studies that were conducted in 2009, 2012, and 2019 showed that CBD could reduce depression in rats.
It seems that CBD changes the actual functioning of the brain so that it interacts with serotonin better, enabling the brain to use serotonin properly in order to lift the mood. While the link between CBD and depression hasn’t been studied in humans, this research is promising.

In the future, CBD will undoubtedly be studied for its anti-depressive properties. But for now, many people swear by it as a mood-lifting, happiness-inducing supplement.
CBD gummies could help you sleep
Sometimes you don’t just need to relax - you need to have a nap. After all, its difficult to relax if you’re feeling irritable from a lack of sleep.

Many people use CBD to improve the quality and quantity of their sleep. Because CBD is an anti-anxiety and anti-pain supplement, it helps many people sleep if anxiety and pain is keeping them awake.

As mentioned earlier, a 2019 study in the Permanante Journal found that CBD was effective for both sleep disorders and anxiety, although the researchers note that more studies are needed before we understand the link between CBD and sleep. Another 2014 study shows that CBD can help you stay awake during the day, indicating that it can reduce daytime grogginess in people with insomnia. Grogginess is a common symptom of insomnia and other sleep disorders.

There is also a 2017 review that suggests that CBD can reduce daytime sleepiness as well as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a disorder that causes somebody to act out their dreams. This disorder is common among people with Parkinson’s disease.
Beyond that, there isn’t enough research that looks at the effects of CBD on sleep. However, over the next few years, it’s bound to be something that more researchers look at. But for now, many people regularly use CBD to help them overcome anxiety.

How to Relax with CBD Gummies

So you know CBD gummies can be a great way to relax - but how do you use it?

Firstly, it’s important to remember that every single person is different. Every person’s body metabolizes supplements in a different way, and the way CBD affects you depends on your weight, health, diet, and individual biology.

What dosage of CBD should you use to relax? Start with a lower dose and gradually increase it over time. Of course, CBD gummies usually come in one dose - but if you’d like a higher dose, start with one gummy, then have one and a half, and then have two. Most studies indicate that CBD reduces anxiety up until around 300 milligrams; any more than that can cause you to become more anxious. However, lower doses (5 milligrams to 10 milligrams) could certainly work for you.

The time you take the CBD gummies is up to you. If you want to relax at night, take it after work or a few hours before you sleep. This way, you get to calm down and unwind as you have supper, shower, read, or spend time with your family or friends before bed. The CBD gummies are also great to take in the evening if you need help falling asleep.
It’s helped many people, and it might work for you too.
That said, many people take CBD gummies in the morning to keep them calm and focused throughout the workday. It ultimately depends on your own preferences as well as the way your body responds to CBD. Some people might find that CBD makes them sleepy, while others find that it makes them productive.

How long does CBD take to work? It’s hard to say. CBD is not like an antihistamine or ibuprofen that makes a notable difference within a few hours. Often people feel that CBD becomes more and more effective over the period of a week or a few weeks. So, if CBD doesn’t immediately work for you, keep using it - the effects might follow a little later.

Overall, CBD is considered to be a safe supplement, and there are relatively few side effects of CBD when you take the correct dosage. Some side effects include digestive issues, vomiting, and fatigue.

That said, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before using CBD. This is especially important if you’re on chronic medication, including medication that carries a “grapefruit warning.” A CBD-friendly doctor might also be able to recommend a good brand of CBD gummies as well as the dosage.

If you’re looking for a way to calm down and unwind, consider using CBD gummies to relax.