Times are tough – we get it. This year hasn’t been an easy one. If you feel the stress of this winter, finding ways to relax can benefit your well-being.
That’s why we created this guide sharing a few of our favorite ways to combat stress, including our go-to CBD products, like pure CBD tinctures, capsules, topicals, and edibles, for relaxation.
But first, let’s go over what exactly CBD is and how it can help the body relax.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main active ingredient found in a flowering hemp plant. A federally legal form of cannabis, CBD-rich hemp products have little to no THC content and do not produce the same psychoactive effects. As a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid, CBD works with the body’s endocannabinoid system to help regulate mood, sleep, discomfort, and more.
The endocannabinoid system relies on endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors to send messages throughout the body. Because CBD is chemically similar to the body’s endocannabinoids, it can work within the ECS to help maintain balance and support the body in responding to and adapting to stress.
When the body perceives stress, it produces higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. While this hormone is beneficial in the short term to help the body react to an immediate danger or challenge, chronic stress can negatively impact mental and physical wellbeing.
The constant release of cortisol can keep the body in a state of high alert that can lead to stress, tension, digestive issues, and other physical manifestations of stress, such as head and muscle tension.
And here is where CBD comes in. CBD can interact with endocannabinoids and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to aid in calming the mind, promoting restfulness, and easing tension throughout the body.
By working with the endocannabinoid system to support stress regulation, CBD can help decrease cortisol levels and shift the body into a state of relaxation.
What Are the Different Types of CBD?
While CBD is often marketed as a single cannabinoid, there are three forms of CBD you’ll find depending on the extraction method: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolated CBD.
Full-Spectrum CBD
Also known as whole plant extract, full-spectrum CBD oil contain all-natural and nourishing plant parts, including other cannabinoids like THC, CBG, and CBN. While the federally legal limit of THC content in hemp products (0.3%) isn’t enough to produce psychoactive effects, it does allow for the entourage effect.
The entourage effect takes place when the different components of the cannabis plant, including multiple cannabinoids, work together to enhance the wellness benefits of CBD.
Broad-Spectrum CBD
The extraction process for broad-spectrum CBD oil removes THC but keeps all other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids from the plant intact. You’ll still experience the entourage effect when using a broad-spectrum product, but it will be somewhat weaker than that of full-spectrum products due to the loss of THC.
CBD Isolate
While all three CBD spectrums go through an extraction and filtration process, CBD isolate is the only form in which the final product contains only CBD and is generally THC-free. All other compounds found in the cannabis plant–including THC–are removed.
Which Type of CBD is Best for Relaxation?
A full-spectrum product may be best if you aren’t sensitive to THC. The entourage effect will strengthen CBD’s calming benefits, and the low levels of THC can help soothe the mind without producing a high. However, if you are sensitive to THC or concerned about it showing up in a drug test, a broad-spectrum or isolated CBD product can still promote relaxation.
Relaxation is the goal, so choose whichever form of high-quality CBD you feel most comfortable with!
What CBD Products Will Help Me Relax?
When it comes to combating stress, here are some of our favorite high-quality CBD products:
CBD Bath Soak
If you’re feeling wired before bed, our Slumbering CBD Bath Soak can be just what you need to wash off a stressful day and shift into sleep mode.
By pairing CBD Isolate with pure flower oils and nourishing aloe leaf juice, the gentle-scented bath soak formula can nurture the skin while also working its way to derma-epidermal level CB receptors in tense muscles, helping to soothe discomfort inside and out.
You can lean deeper into relaxation by practicing deep breathing as you soak. Deep breathing sends increased oxygen levels to the brain that can calm the nervous system and lower stress.
Engaging in mindfulness as you breathe in the calming floral fragrance and feel the blue CBD-infused water wash over you can help lower your heart rate, relax your body, and prepare your mind for rest.
CBD Tea and Honey
Nothing says relaxation like cozying up with a steaming cup of herbal tea.
CBD teas are a wonderful and versatile way to enjoy CBD, especially because CBD can work synergistically with powerful plant compounds found in herbs popular in teas.
For instance, our Mellow Mint CBD tea combines dried CBD flowers with natural flavors like Oregon-grown organic mint, whose active ingredients are known to settle sour stomachs and soothe tension. You can enjoy this delightful caffeine-free elixir any time of the day.
And CBD honey can add an extra dollop of relaxation to any tea–or you can enjoy it by the spoonful! Our organic Wildflower CBD Honey provides all of the wellness benefits honey already has to offer. The calming CBD is an added perk to this naturally sweet treat!
It typically takes thirty minutes to an hour for consumable CBD products to kick in, so use this time to start to unwind. Set your phone away and instead call a friend, read a feel-good book, listen to music, or engage in some light yoga or stretching as you sip on your CBD tea.
CBD Smoking Blends
Getting enough sleep is an important way to reduce stress, as cortisol production drops during our resting hours. But the catch-22 is that stress makes it harder to fall and stay asleep, as nervous thoughts can keep the brain active deep into the night.
Luckily, CBD’s ability to calm the mind and relax the body can help support a better and deeper sleep.
Try our Relax Smoking Blend before bed to promote restfulness. This lucid dreaming blend uses small-batch hemp and Mugwort, Calea, and Wild Dagga to clear the mind and inspire a deep sense of oneness.
CBD Oil Rollers
These high-quality products are quick and convenient. CBD is paired with various essential oils, like orange and citrus, and carrier oil to benefit your body and mind in the fun and easy-to-use CBD rollers. Simply roll the quality CBD oil roller across your pressure points or rub it into the temples for the aromatherapy to kick in.
Our Unwind Roller is crafted with calming chamomile and soothing lavender to help promote full-body relaxation any time of night or day.
CBD Lotion
Stress can affect almost every part of the body, including the skin. If nervous thoughts make your skin crawl, try our Soothing CBD Body Butter. With this calming cream, your skincare routine can soothe your mind along with your skin.
Antioxidant-rich green tea helps protect your skin cells from stress-related damage, while primrose rejuvenates the skin, and CBD isolate helps provide a sense of calm throughout the body. Use as an everyday moisturizer or whenever you need to add an extra-relaxing element to a night of self-care.
CBD Gummies
Naturally sweet and soothing, our organic CBD honey drops can settle the mind while also supporting the immune system and tasting great. Made with real honey, these gummies are high in vitamin C and can be taken any time of day. Take one or two to clear the mind before an endorphins-boosting walk or at nighttime to help the body relax before bed.
The Bottom Line
These days, we can all use some added relaxation. The Brothers Apothecary has a wide range of CBD products to choose from that can help ease tension, calm the mind, promote rest, and help you unwind on even the most challenging days.
Sources
FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD) | FDA
Mindfulness exercises | Mayo Clinic
Jesse Richardson is the co-founder of The Brothers Apothecary. He's an avid tea drinker and the primary creator behind The Brothers' products. An undergraduate of UCLA for Political Science, Jesse currently studies Medicinal Plants at Cornell University and The International School of Herbal Arts & Sciences.
