{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/cbd/7","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3066-markdown","title":"DIY Recipe: Sweet & Fruity CBD-Infused Peach Crisp","slug":"diy-recipe-sweet-and-fruity-cbd-infused-peach-crisp","content":"It’s stone fruit season and delicious peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines and cherries are everywhere. These tasty fruits are ripe for the picking, and whether you’re shopping at the grocery store or gathering them from your own fruit trees, it’s easy to stock up on this flavorful bounty right now. \n\nSo, what can you do with all of the irresistible stone fruit in your life? \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_us/?utm_medium=copy_link/)\n\nIt’s simple: Make a stone fruit crisp. Crisps are similar in taste to a pie, with a sweet, juicy and fruity filling. But they’re so much easier to make, because you don’t have to fuss with rolling out a perfect pie crust. Just mix up your filling, add the topping and bake—the result is a gooey and delicious crisp that will satisfy any sweet tooth.\n\nWhen it comes to customizing the recipe, I leave it open what type of stone fruit to use, You can even mix it up and combine different stone fruits together. (Cherry and peach is a delicious combination, for example.) \n\nI chose a mix of white and yellow peaches for my crisp. Peaches are brimming with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like:\n\n* Vitamins A, C, E, K\n* Potassium\n* Manganese\n\nPeaches are also thought to have other health benefits such as:\n\n* Promoting healthy digestion\n* Boosting skin health\n* Helping regulate blood sugar\n* Decreasing allergy symptoms\n\nThis peach crisp also has all of the goodness of cannabidiol (CBD) baked right in. Just like peaches, CBD is also a good source of antioxidants, which help keep us healthy by combatting cellular decay. \n\nRELATED: [TAKING CBD TO BOOST YOUR BODY’S ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS](https://hellomd.com/articles/taking-cbd-to-boost-your-bodys-antioxidant-levels/)\n \n### Ingredients for CBD-Infused Peach Crisp:\nServes 8–10\nFor the filling:\n* 1/2 cup granulated sugar\n* 10 doses CBD oil*\n* 2 tbsp cornstarch\n* 6 cups peaches, sliced (or other fresh stone fruit you’d prefer to include, like plums or cherries)\n* 1 tbsp lime juice\n* 1 tbsp butter (to grease the baking dish)\n\nFor the topping:\n* 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats\n* 1 cup all-purpose flour\n* 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar\n* 1/2 tsp salt\n* 12 tbsp unsalted butter\n* 1 tsp vanilla extract \n\n*Everyone’s different when it comes to dosing, so use your best judgment based on your previous experiences with edibles. If you have a lower tolerance to CBD, use a smaller dose. If you aren’t sure about how much CBD to include, start low; a good starting dose is 5 mg.\n\n### How to Make CBD-infused Peach Crisp\n\n1. To get started, position a rack in the middle of your oven. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease your baking dish with butter. \n2. Slice your peaches into medium-sized slices. \n3. Make your filling: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and sugar until there are no lumps. \n4. Add the peaches, CBD tincture and lime juice, and toss the fruit gently in the mixture until coated. Add this mixture to your pre-greased baking dish. \n5. In a small saucepan, melt the butter on low heat, then remove it and let cool. \n6. Make your topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar and salt, and stir until thoroughly combined. Then, evenly drizzle the vanilla and the melted butter over the mix and stir thoroughly. \n7. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit mixture, allowing some large clumps to remain intact, but also keeping the crumble relatively even. \n8. Bake the crisp for 30–35 minutes, or until the fruit juices are bubbling at the edges, and the topping is firm and golden brown.  \n9. When the crisp is done, let it cool on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy. \n\nYou can also keep the crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to one week. Serve cold or warm it up in the oven on low for 20 minutes. \n\nPhoto credit: [Emily Earlenbaugh](https://www.instagram.com/emilyearlenbaugh/)\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/14b42/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg","srcSet":"/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/f836f/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 200w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/2244e/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 400w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/14b42/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 800w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/47498/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 1200w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/0e329/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 1600w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/c04d6/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.jpg 1673w","srcWebp":"/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/58556/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/61e93/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 200w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/1f5c5/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 400w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/58556/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 800w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/99238/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 1200w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/7c22d/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 1600w,\n/static/030548958446cf604b5a35eba775fc8d/f9eb3/0ecd80c1d234fc2475a20b94d9c53876.webp 1673w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3058-markdown","title":"Synthetic CBD: A Cheaper, Safer Epilepsy Medicine?","slug":"synthetic-cbd-a-cheaper-safer-epilepsy-medicine","content":"Epilepsy affects more than 65 million people around the globe. It’s a general term for a number of conditions that cause seizures, which are disturbances in the brain’s electrical signaling.  \n\nEpileptic seizures can be infrequent or nearly constant. And they can range from mild episodes that resemble a moment of inattention to severe grand mal seizures that need hospital treatment. \n\nAlthough epilepsy can take many forms, research shows that the cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) can be effective at reducing epileptic seizures. Unfortunately, there are legal and practical obstacles that make it hard for epilepsy patients to get their hands on the pure, high-quality CBD products that could help them.\n\nNow, though, this could change. In early 2019, [a team from the University of California, Davis announced that they’d developed a synthetic version of CBD](https://newatlas.com/synthetic-cbd-effective-seizures-study-uc-davis/59889). This synthetic CBD appears to ease epilepsy symptoms as does the natural version of the cannabinoid. \n\nWhat’s more, this synthetic CBD, called H2CBD, is purer than that of CBD from plant sources and far more cost-effective to produce. And because it doesn’t contain actual cannabis molecules, it bypasses legal restrictions on cannabis in many parts of the world. \n\nFor people with epilepsy, especially children, [H2CBD is a breakthrough](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44056-y) that could make CBD treatment more accessible—and economical—than ever before.\n\n### What Exactly Is Epilepsy & What Causes It? \n\nThere are actually [many different epilepsies](https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/what-epilepsy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI89eBnKTE4wIVA6rsCh0VYAEPEAAYASAAEgIPxPD_BwE#.XTNyYpNKhm8), but they’re all characterized by seizure activity in the brain. There are about 40 different kinds of seizures that cause a variety of symptoms, too, and some of these seizure types mimic other conditions like fainting or stroke.  \n\nGenerally, though, the causes of epilepsy can include:\n\n* Genetic tendencies passed through families or by changes in a person’s own genes\n* Structural problems in the brain, such as a tumor, stroke or other conditions that cause abnormal growths in the brain\n* Events such as a blow to the head\n* Exposure to toxins\n\nAll of these circumstances disrupt the electrical signaling among neurons in affected parts of the brain. A variety of factors can trigger seizures, like: \n\n* Flashing lights\n* Repeating patterns\n* Stress\n* Diet\n\nBut in many cases, the causes aren’t clear. And although most people associate epilepsy with the full-body grand mal seizure in which a person convulses and passes out, many seizures can be hard to recognize. Someone may simply stare into space for a brief moment or have a twitch in their hand. \n\nDepending on the cause, epilepsy sufferers can address their symptoms with:\n\n* Medications\n* Dietary regimens \n* Surgery \n\nBut for a considerable number of epilepsy patients, standard treatments simply don’t work. This is especially true for children who have forms of very severe epilepsy called Dravet’s syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. \n\nRELATED: [HOW HEMP CBD OIL CAN HELP KIDS WITH SEIZURES](https://hellomd.com/articles/how-hemp-cbd-oil-can-help-kids-with-seizures/)\n\n### The Problems With Plant-Derived CBD for Medical Use\n\nMany independent studies have shown that CBD is a powerful neuroprotectant that can help regulate brain signaling and promote resistance to seizure activity. \n\nIn particular, research revealed that CBD could reduce the number and intensity of epileptic seizures in children with Dravet’s and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. This led to the development of [Epidiolex, an FDA-approved medication](https://www.rxlist.com/epidiolex-drug.htm) whose active ingredient is CBD extracted from natural cannabis. \n\nBut Epidiolex isn’t available to everyone with epilepsy. Plus, [it comes with a list price of $32,500 per year](https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/epidiolex-launch-official-first-cbd-approved-by-fda-shelves-but-high-price-spurs-some). Most patients pay much less than this for the drug, of course, but the list price does reflect the costs of bringing medications like Epidiolex to market.\n\nDeveloping CBD products from natural hemp and cannabis sources can be slow and costly. Cultivating cannabis plants is a resource-intensive process that requires considerable amounts of:\n\n* Land\n* Water \n* Labor\n* Time  \n\nCBD extracted from natural plant sources can also contain impurities and toxins absorbed from soil or water, even with the best extraction technology available.  \n\nAnd in some areas, products containing natural cannabis of any kind are subject to restrictive laws on sales and use. All of these factors contribute to a growing interest in synthetic cannabinoids—chemical constructs that don’t contain natural plant extracts at all.\n\n### H2CBD: The Cannabis-Free CBD Solution\n\nIn February 2019, a UC Davis research team reported the successful production of a completely synthetic CBD analog. (For decades, researchers across the globe have been working to create synthetic versions—aka analogs—of cannabis compounds.) The result is a formulation called 8, 9-dihydrocannabidiol, or H2CBD, which the scientists created from relatively inexpensive, commercially available chemical sources. \n\nResearchers can also create synthetic CBD using new biosynthesis technologies that produce natural precursors to CBD. But these products do contain natural cannabis elements. \n\nSo, the UC Davis team aimed to create a true synthetic—a chemical stand-in that can mimic the effects of CBD on the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the network of cannabis receptors found in the body and brain. And it can do so  without the legal restrictions that affect natural cannabis extracts.\n\nThe result? A pure CBD analog that [works just like natural CBD to reduce seizure activity in early animal testing](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/synthetic-version-cbd-treats-seizures-rats/).  \n\nBecause H2CBD is entirely chemical based, it’s virtually free of toxins and impurities—and scientists can produce it faster and cheaper than naturally cultivated cannabis. Plus, since it doesn’t contain any cannabis molecules, it isn’t detectable on drug screenings.  \n\nSynthetic cannabinoid analogs are making it easier than ever to bring the benefits of CBD and other cannabis compounds to people coping with a multitude of health issues. With H2CBD, UC Davis researchers hope to make the healing properties of CBD available to people with all kinds of epilepsy.\n\nPhoto credit: Mitch M/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/14b42/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg","srcSet":"/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/f836f/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 200w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/2244e/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 400w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/14b42/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 800w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/47498/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 1200w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/0e329/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 1600w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/391cf/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.jpg 1772w","srcWebp":"/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/58556/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/61e93/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 200w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/1f5c5/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 400w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/58556/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 800w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/99238/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 1200w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/7c22d/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 1600w,\n/static/979e236184f66d6f7e44ed5feff90ac8/edb99/f6f8c9bd73ff264694a6b7a330f69329.webp 1772w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3057-markdown","title":"DIY Recipe: Grilled Salmon With CBD-Infused Quinoa Salad","slug":"diy-recipe-grilled-salmon-with-cbd-infused-quinoa-salad","content":"It’s by far the _hottest_ summer here in New York, where I live. And in this heat, I doubt any of us are in the mood to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to make something healthy. \n\nThese are the days that I look for simple and easy recipes to keep me fueled. In the summer, I usually gravitate towards meals that are light and refreshing—I’m sure I’m not the only one. \n\nEating healthy in the summer heat is just one of the reasons I think you’ll love this grilled salmon and quinoa salad infused with cannabidiol (CBD). If you’re trying to avoid red meat, consider salmon. Not only is it great due to its high nutritional value, but salmon is also the perfect fish to grill and cooks up pretty quickly. \n\nMeanwhile, quinoa is one of my go-to superfoods that’s so easy to prepare. Plus, I love the hint of nutty flavor that it has. (Side note: It also makes a good porridge ... just sayin’.) It also cooks faster than brown rice and most other grains do. This is why it’s my first choice of carbohydrate when I don’t want to spend a lot time in the kitchen.\n\nMeanwhile, incorporating just a few drops of your favorite [CBD tincture](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-tinctures-what-they-are-and-why-you-want-them/) into this recipe will help increase its nutritional profile. \n\nAs a cancer survivor, natural food chef and fitness specialist, I pay extra close attention to what I put in my body—and you should, too. Remember that when you’re considering which CBD tincture to buy, just as you do with food, read the labels. Make sure there’s nothing questionable in the ingredients list and if in doubt, don’t be afraid to contact the company to ask for lab test results so you know exactly what’s in your tincture.\n\nRELATED: [WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WHEN BUYING HEMP CBD OIL](https://hellomd.com/articles/what-to-watch-out-for-when-buying-hemp-cbd-oil/)\n\nBesides CBD, this recipe boasts a number of nutritional ingredients including:\n\n* **Quinoa:** An ancient grain originating in South America around 4,000 years ago, quinoa is high in protein, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Considered a superfood, quinoa is the perfect substitute for any other grain or carb.\n* **Salmon:** This widely available fish is high in omega 3s, which is beneficial for skin, nails, hair and most importantly, the brain. And [if you’re low in vitamin D, consider adding salmon](https://www.simpleeats.com/stay-healthy-chef-ts-top-sources-vitamin-d/) to your shopping list. Try to buy wild salmon, as opposed to farmed—aka Atlantic—salmon, whenever possible for a more nutrient-rich fish. \n* **Scallions:** A member of the onion family, scallions are low in calories, and contain tons of phytonutrients and potassium.\n\n### Ingredients for Grilled Salmon With CBD-Infused Quinoa Salad\n\nServes 4\n\n* 4 4-oz pieces of salmon\n* Avocado oil\n* Salt to taste\n* 2 cups quinoa (dry)*\n* 2 cups water\n* 2 green scallions, sliced thin\n* 1 red pepper, diced\n* 1 handful of arugula\n* 1 tbsp truffle oil\n* 1 lemon, juiced\n* 4 mL CBD tincture of your choice\n* Salt and pepper to taste\n\n*Leftover quinoa without dressing keeps well, refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container. So, feel free to make extra to have on hand for your next meal. Just make sure to cool completely before storing. \n\n### How to Make Grilled Salmon With CBD-Infused Quinoa Salad\n\n1. In a medium pot, add water and bring to a boil. Add the quinoa, cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the water is absorbed, about 15–20 minutes. \n2. While the quinoa is cooking, pre-heat the grill to medium heat.\n3. Salt each piece of salmon on both sides and rub it with avocado oil.\n4. Brush the grill grates with a little oil to prevent sticking. Place the salmon on the grill and cook for about 3–5 minutes while covered, depending on the size and thickness. It’s done when it flakes easily with a fork and is still pink in the middle.\n5. When the quinoa’s done, set aside off heat for another 5 minutes. Then uncover and fluff with fork. \n6. Whisk together the truffle oil, lemon juice, CBD, salt and pepper in a small jar or bowl.\n7. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, arugula, scallions, red peppers and oil mixture, and toss until the salad ingredients are fully combined. \n8. Add salt and pepper to taste.\n9. Top salad with the grilled salmon. Serve and enjoy.\n\nPhoto credit: [Tito Dudley aka. Chef T](https://www.instagram.com/officialcheft/)\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/14b42/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/f836f/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 200w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/2244e/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 400w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/14b42/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 800w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/47498/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/0e329/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 1600w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/391cf/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.jpg 1772w","srcWebp":"/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/58556/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/61e93/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 200w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/1f5c5/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 400w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/58556/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 800w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/99238/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 1200w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/7c22d/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 1600w,\n/static/928ab0ab62b80311f64f0a58e81fc1b7/edb99/a92c1c554f6069ec7f5480bff89f77f8.webp 1772w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3051-markdown","title":"Do I Need to Decarboxylate CBD Flower?","slug":"do-i-need-to-decarboxylate-cbd-flower","content":"You just bought your first cannabidiol (CBD) product. Unfortunately, you didn’t notice much, if any, beneficial effects. Does that mean CBD just doesn’t work for you?  \n\nThe problem may lie in how the manufacturer processed the product prior to you buying it. Because, for CBD to be optimally effective, decarboxylation must take place.\n\nRead on to learn what decarboxylation is, why it’s important when consuming CBD and how you can decarboxylate CBD-rich cannabis flower at home. \n\n### What Is Decarboxylation & Why Is It So Important? \n\nDecarboxylation, or decarbing, is a process that converts inactive components in the cannabis plant into active compounds. \n\nMost people talk about decarboxylation in terms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is because there’s actually no THC in fresh cannabis plants. Rather, there’s THC’s acidic precursor, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). But decarboxylating THCA turns it into THC, and this is important because THCA can’t produce the feelings of euphoria that THC can impart. So, a consumer hoping to achieve this effect from cannabis, but who doesn’t decarb their marijuana will be sorely disappointed. \n\nRELATED: [HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF NON-PSYCHOACTIVE THCA](https://hellomd.com/articles/how-to-make-the-most-of-non-psychoactive-thca/)\n\nThough many may not realize it, CBD works in the same way as THC does when it comes to decarboxylation. CBD actually starts life as cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and only converts to CBD after decarboxylation.\n\nDecarboxylation is carried out via two basic processes:\n\n* Time \n* Heat\n\nDecarbing is almost always a part of a CBD product’s manufacturing process, whether you buy CBD from an online outlet or a dispensary. But if you’re making your own CBD product at home, your first step should be to decarb your cannabis flower.\n\nAn experienced cannabis farmer knows that proper curing of cannabis is the first step in decarbing. Following harvest, farmers gently dry their plants, using stringent humidity and temperature control. Patient, slow curing results in maximum development of the plant’s beneficial cannabinoids. \n\nDecarbing also takes place when you heat cannabis flower. When you smoke or vape cannabis flower, the flame from your lighter or heat from your vaporizer take care of the decarbing. But if you’re making CBD edibles or your own oils, you can easily decarb your flower in the oven. \n\nIn terms of the pre-made CBD edibles you buy, manufacturers decarb dry flower prior to baking, using a separate, temperature-controlled process. Gentle heating of flowers is one of the most basic forms of decarboxylation. \n\n### What Is CBDA & How Is It Related to CBD? \n\nAs mentioned previously, raw cannabis and hemp contain CBDA, which is an acidic form of CBD. It’s structurally more difficult to pass through the body’s blood-brain barrier than CBD is. This is one reason manufacturers decarb CBD-rich cannabis. Decarboxylation converts CBDA to the much more accessible CBD, making it easier for the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to put CBD to work inside your body. \n\nThat said, CBDA has benefits of its own. The cannabinoid has been shown to help ease:\n\n* [Nausea](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3596650/) \n* Epilepsy\n* Inflammation\n* Pain\n\nYou can also use one of the decarboxylator devices made by Ardent, who make it convenient and simple to decarb cannabis flower. Use a [coupon for the Ardent NOVA and FX models](https://saveoncannabis.com/store/ardent-coupon-codes/) to save money.\n\nOne of the most exciting findings in the early studies of CBDA is some evidence that it takes far less CBDA than CBD to elicit beneficial effects, but more study is needed.\n\nIf you grow your own high-CBD cannabis plants and wish to take advantage of CBDA, you’re in luck. You can access raw CBDA from the leaves and even the stems of fresh, high CBD-strain cannabis. \n\nTo get the benefits of CBDA, try adding fresh leaves to a green smoothie, blend up the leaves and freeze them for future use as canna ice cubes or add fresh, pungent leaves to salad. \n\nRELATED: [DIY RECIPE: CBD-INFUSED POST-WORKOUT GREEN SMOOTHIE](https://hellomd.com/articles/diy-recipe-cbd-infused-post-workout-green-smoothie/)\n\nIf you want to experiment with CBDA and aren’t growing cannabis, look for CBD products that are labelled raw CBD.\n\n### How Do I Decarboxylate High-CBD Cannabis?\n\nFor most people growing CBD, decarbing is essential when making edibles or topical treatments, and is an affordable way to keep the home cannabis pharmacy stocked with quality products that you can trust. Start with cannabis strains that are known for their high-CBD content, such as:\n\n* [Charlotte’s Web](https://hellomd.com/strains/charlotte's-web/)\n* [ACDC](https://hellomd.ca/strains/acdc/)\n* Ringo’s Gift\n* [Sour Tsunami](https://hellomd.com/strains/sour-tsunami/)\n* [Harlequin](https://hellomd.com/strains/harlequin/)\n\nBasic decarboxylation is a relatively simple process that requires: \n\n* An oven\n* A baking sheet\n* Parchment paper (optional)\n* A timer\n\nCBD decarboxylates at a slightly higher temperature than THC does. Because most of the research into decarboxylation has been on THC, there are lively online debates about the ideal decarb temperature for CBD. Most folks agree though that [you can effectively decarb CBD at 240–300 degrees F](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/what-temperature-is-needed-to-decarboxylate-cbd/). Temperatures higher than 300 degrees F will degrade the CBD in your bud.\n\nTo decarboxylate CBD:\n\n* Use an oven thermometer to confirm the temperature of your oven and adjust the temperature accordingly.\n* Break buds into small, dime-sized pieces and spread on your cookie sheet. Use parchment paper if desired.\n* Place buds in the oven. Set your timer for 30 minutes.\n* Turn your flower with a spatula every 10 minutes or so.\n* When flowers are fragrant and toasted, they’re decarboxylated.\n* Let cool before storing or continue preparing your favorite cannabis recipe.\n\nRemember that, as with any herb, toasted cannabis has a distinct odor that people may detect beyond your kitchen.\n\n### How Can I Tell if the CBD Product I Bought Has Been Decarbed? \n\nNearly every CBD product for sale has already been decarboxylated, with the exception of products that are identified as raw.\n\nOne very simple way to determine if your CBD product has been decarbed is to look at the label. As we discussed earlier, CBDA is more predominant in raw cannabis. If your product has a high CBD level and a low CBDA level, you know it’s been decarbed. \n\nAnd as always, check labels for testing information, which should ideally include the percentage of primary cannabinoids in each serving and verify the absence of molds and pesticides.\n\nPhoto credit: 420MediaCo/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/14b42/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/f836f/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 200w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/2244e/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 400w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/14b42/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 800w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/47498/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/0e329/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 1600w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/391cf/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.jpg 1772w","srcWebp":"/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/58556/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/61e93/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 200w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/1f5c5/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 400w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/58556/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 800w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/99238/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 1200w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/7c22d/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 1600w,\n/static/43a852cd5403d71d70bede593ac21a8e/edb99/69329968f2953dfdf7dfaf2c3907abe8.webp 1772w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3045-markdown","title":"How CBD Can Help Relieve Diarrhea & Restore Gut Health","slug":"how-cbd-can-help-relieve-diarrhea-and-restore-gut-health","content":"Whether you’re struck with a stomach bug, coping with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or dealing with the side effects of a new medication, diarrhea can be uncomfortable, awful—and sometimes dangerous. \n\nAmerican adults have an estimated 99 million episodes of diarrhea per year. Most of these situations resolve themselves in a few days with the help of over-the-counter medications. But diarrhea can also lead to serious complications and even death, especially among young children and adults with chronic health problems.  \n\nBecause [many different health issues can cause diarrhea](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352241), treatment options can vary widely. But some research suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help. This abundant cannabis compound can work with the body’s own systems to help relieve the symptoms of diarrhea and restore balance in the complex biome of the gut.\n\nRELATED: [USING CBD TO HELP EASE DIGESTIVE ISSUES](https://hellomd.com/articles/using-cbd-to-help-ease-digestive-issues/)\n\n### What Causes Diarrhea?\n\nDiarrhea is usually defined as an episode of three or more loose or liquid bowel movements in a single day, or longer. But diarrhea isn’t a disease in itself. It’s a symptom of many different health conditions, including:\n\n* IBS, a condition that’s characterized by alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea, along with other gastrointestinal discomfort\n* Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause irritation and inflammation in the tissues of the bowel\n* Infections by bacteria, parasites or viruses, such as E.coli, salmonella or giardia\n* Cancer of the bowel or colon\n* Hyperthyroid disease \n\nDiarrhea can also be brought on by:\n\n* Sensitivities to foods and food additives, such as dairy products, sweeteners or certain vitamins\n* Parasites found in water or contaminated foods\n* Reactions to medications, particularly certain kinds of antibiotics\n* Hormone changes during menstruation or menopause\n* Psychological factors such as anxiety or fear\n\nAs far as what goes on physically during a bout of diarrhea, there are a few things that could be happening in the body: \n\n* The release of too much liquid into the bowels, called osmotic diarrhea\n* Irregular bowel motility, which causes food to move too quickly through the intestines\n* Inflammation of the mucosal lining of the intestines due to infections, inflammatory bowel disease or other health conditions\n* Structural defects created by surgery or diseases, such as cancer\n\nOther symptoms such as cramping, bloating and nausea can also accompany diarrhea. And more serious symptoms can also appear, such as fever and weight loss.\n\nDepending on the cause, diarrhea can resolve itself within a day or two without medical intervention. But it can also become chronic, as in conditions like IBS or Crohn’s disease. \n\nDiarrhea can also be life threatening. Severe diarrhea can cause:\n\n* Dehydration\n* Electrolyte imbalances\n* The risk of kidney failure, seizures and death \n\nBacterial infections and parasites causing diarrhea are a major health problem in developing countries, where it accounts for high mortality rates among children. \n\n### How Do People Typically Treat Diarrhea? \n\nBecause there are so many different causes of diarrhea, treatments can range from simple over-the-counter medications like Loperamide or Pedialyte to replace lost electrolytes to hospitalization with intravenous fluids to combat dehydration.  \n\nOther treatments target the condition causing the diarrhea, such as antibiotics for a bacterial infection or antidepressants for irritable bowel syndrome. \n\nBut research suggests that CBD may work on both levels to provide relief from diarrhea. \n\n### How Can CBD Help Ease Diarrhea?\n\nCBD interacts with the body’s natural system of cannabinoid receptors as well as other essential subsystems to support overall bowel health and restore balance in the biome of the gut. The system of cannabinoid receptors is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). [The ECS is a widespread network of receptors](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997031) that appears to affect the activity of just about every cell in the body. \n\nCannabinoid-like chemicals that the body produces naturally as well as cannabinoids that come from outside sources, particularly the cannabis plant, activate the ECS receptors. \n\nCannabinoid compounds from cannabis are so similar to natural cannabinoids that they can activate ECS receptors throughout the body and brain in virtually identical ways as our natural cannabinoids do. This explains why cannabis compounds can be useful in helping ease such a wide range of health conditions.  \n\nCBD is one of the most closely studied cannabis compounds, and an extensive body of research reveals that it can affect both ECS receptors themselves and other processes essential for human health. \n\nAmong its many documented health benefits, CBD may help:\n\n* Reduce inflammation \n* Relieve pain\n* Fight bacterial infections\n* Protect neural connectivity in the brain\n* Support immune system functioning\n* Relieve anxiety and depression\n* Support muscle and nerve functions\n* Encourage the production of natural cannabinoids, particularly anandamid\n\nBecause CBD has such wide-ranging effects on the body’s nerves and tissues, it can help relieve some conditions that contribute to diarrhea. For example, CBD can [reduce anxiety and support healthy connections between the gut and the brain](https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection), thereby helping relieve symptoms of IBS. And because CBD is an anti-inflammatory, it can help reduce the irritation and pain of bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis. \n\nSome research also indicates that CBD can directly affect the processes within the bowel that cause diarrhea. CBD may help smooth out muscle contractions in the gut, which improves bowel motility and helps food move normally through the digestive system. CBD may also be able to regulate fluid secretion in the gastrointestinal tract, so that less liquid is released into the bowel.  \n\nThe natural endocannabinoid anandamide plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis, or balance, among the body’s many subsystems, including motility in the GI tract. In addition to its own abilities to modulate muscle movements, CBD can boost the body’s available supply of anandamide. This also helps keep bowel contractions smooth and regular, so that food and liquids can process normally through the system.\n\n### Tips on Consuming CBD for Diarrhea\n\nCBD may help relieve diarrhea, but [in some forms CBD can also trigger a bout of the condition](https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/answers-to-the-top-questions-about-cannabis-extract). Consuming large amounts of CBD tinctures or edibles may cause diarrhea and other kinds of digestive distress. So, it’s wise to start your CBD consumption slowly and build up to your desired dose, especially if you have any sensitivities to cannabis.  \n\nCBD may also be more effective in managing chronic conditions that can cause diarrhea than during an acute diarrhea episode. And if you’re taking another medication and want to add CBD to the mix, check with your doctor to be sure there aren’t any potential problems.\n\nDiarrhea can have many causes, and finding the right treatment can be a challenge. But the many healing benefits of CBD may help reduce the discomfort of this common condition and restore balance to the digestive system.\n\nPhoto credit: Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/14b42/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg","srcSet":"/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/f836f/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 200w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/2244e/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 400w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/14b42/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 800w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/47498/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 1200w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/0e329/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 1600w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/ffa36/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.jpg 1773w","srcWebp":"/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/58556/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/61e93/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 200w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/1f5c5/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 400w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/58556/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 800w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/99238/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 1200w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/7c22d/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 1600w,\n/static/102958a52079194fa5ea4beeee67eca8/d1528/d9ee67f5388da3f9c0b31140052cdd03.webp 1773w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3043-markdown","title":"CBD, Somatic Sexology & Holistic Health With Julianne Vaccaro","slug":"cbd-somatic-sexology-and-holistic-health-with-julianne-vaccaro","content":"Julianne Vaccaro is a holistic health and life coach, somatic sexologist and podcaster. For over seven years, she’s been helping women reach their goals by having them look within themselves. Her program dubbed [Goddess Reclamation](https://mailchi.mp/a2161a070457/goddessreclamation) is all about helping women realize their feminine power through self-reflection, mindfulness, healthy eating practices and pleasure. \n\n“Each male, each female has a struggle with body image and how we're supposed to be in the world. I think that females can struggle with it a little bit more,” she says.\n\n“There's more of an expectation of the way that we should look and the way that we should eat and the way that we should be that makes [overcoming] the negative self-talk even harder.”\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_us/?utm_medium=copy_link/)\n\nBy combining her background in integrative nutrition, somatic sexology and personal life experiences, Julianne helps her clients become more comfortable in their own skin. She uses lots of tools, including cannabidiol (CBD), to help women be the best versions of themselves—inside and out. \n\n### Let’s start out with the basics: Why did you get into holistic health coaching? \n\nI started my journey about seven years ago—almost eight now—and started out for a lot of negative reasons. I was really wanting to just fix myself and fix my body, because I felt very broken around my body image and in my self-confidence and just my whole relationship to myself.\n\nI started out being a holistic health coach. I went to a program for that, and I went super extreme and was raw vegan for about three years. I was eating super clean, super healthy, was really active. And I ended up getting adrenal fatigue super severely. \n\nSo that led me down a path to healing the adrenal fatigue and recognizing how important it is to really listen to a diet that works for you and following your own specific protocol. I introduced meat back into my diet and that really showed me how you can eat as healthy as you want, but if there are other pieces of your life that aren’t in alignment, you can come down with something like adrenal fatigue or have all these other symptoms. \n\nAt the time, I was in a relationship that wasn't for me and although everything looked seemingly healthy and happy and perfect, there were all these other things going on in the inside that led me down that path. \n\nAnd then I got into the physical side of things and started teaching yoga and started teaching boxing. I taught for about five or six years and with personal training throughout that whole time and was really focusing more so on the physical in addition to the health.\n\nThen I discovered bodybuilding and took a hard turn into the aesthetics and really destroyed my body from the inside out. I lost a lot of the holistic practices that I had and totally messed up my gut, my hormones, the relationship I had with food. I developed even more of a disordered eating pattern and habit—bingeing, emotional eating. \n\nAnd when I finally decided to stop competing, I had to heal my body from the inside out. I had to heal my amenorrhea—I had lost my period for almost a year. I balanced up my gut and really worked on the relationship that I had with food, myself and my body.\n\nThat led me down a path of spiritual and personal development. It led me into somatics and sexological work. And that was kind of like the glue that holds it all together, I'd say. \n\n### Let’s jump back to the holistic health coaching program that you went through. How did it impact your coaching style and philosophy? \n\nI went to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I'm not sure how much the program’s changed, [since I was in school], but back then it was very much based off of dietary theories. Really looking at every area of who you are and taking that holistic approach that I very much practice now. Looking at the mindset, looking at your emotional well-being and looking at your relationships and your passions and how they relate to your overall health and well-being. \n\nIn addition to that, [the school] encouraged a lot of “bio individuality”—so, following an eating routine that really works for you specifically. It was almost like we were given all of these different dietary theories and all of this education, and then it was like, OK, “now go figure it out for yourself.”\n\nI definitely practice not teaching all the dietary theories, but instead really giving an educational system to my clients so they're able to strengthen their own intuition and get in touch with themselves and their bodies.\n\n### What types of people normally undergo your coaching program? \n\nA lot of the women who come through the program are wanting to live out their purpose. I find that I attract a lot of leaders and women who are wanting to be at the forefront, but recognize that the way they view themselves and their relationship with food are really holding them back. \n\n### Why did you decide to get into health coaching as opposed to another health-oriented career? \n\nMy mom at the time when I enrolled in health coaching school had just been diagnosed with celiac disease, and she had been misdiagnosed for about two years. She was having really severe gut issues, and they couldn't figure out why. And all of the celiac testing and all of the food sensitivity tests were coming back negative. She wasn't getting an answer; she wasn't getting any clarity. \n\nI think at the time that was kind of helping me make the decision that health was where I wanted to go. But I was also enrolled in a dietetics program. I was going to go to the University of Tampa to become a registered dietitian and strongly decided against it, because I really wanted to be able to coach.\n\nAnd I really wanted to take that holistic approach and look at all of these other areas. Mindset, personal development and spirituality were really big passions of mine—even at that time, and I wanted [my work] to embody all of that.\n\n![Holistic health coach Julianne Vaccaro](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-79239e8c-c4cc-4c12-978a-b42720a0d4ce/original.png)\n\n### Your coaching style seems to center a lot around food. Can you talk about why that is? \n\nI think that [food] ties into a lot of why I went the route that I did, because I always knew that it was never about the food. And I always recognized that all of my struggles, while food was the controlling variable for me, that wasn't the driving force.\n\nA lot of the women come [into my program] with a really negative mindset. They hate their relationship with their body and food. But it's never about the food. \n\nMy approach with food and anything else that's happening with the students that go through my programs is really getting to the root cause of it and giving them back their power. \n\nFood may be the catalyst and may be what you're going after, but there are usually some other things that are going on underneath the surface. If it's extreme cravings, there's multiple levels to it.\n\nHow is your gut health? What are your hormones like? If your gut health seems to really be suffering, then your cravings are going to be really strong. And if your hormones are out of balance, well then you might feel hungrier. So, it's all of these moving pieces.\n\n### Why do you think food is such a main sticking point for so many of your clients? \n\nI think that it's the most easily controlled—or perceived to be controlled. And so then we try to control food, but then food ends up controlling us. And then we end up in this awful cycle of restriction and bingeing and over-eating, and then it creates this negative self-talk.\n\nAnd I don't think it's only pertinent to women. Each male, each female has a struggle with body image and how we're supposed to be in the world. I think that females can struggle with it a little bit more. There's more of an expectation of the way that we should look and the way that we should eat and the way that we should be that makes the negative self-talk even harder.\n\nIn addition to that, I believe that the sexological component is really important. Another common theme [in my work] is the disconnect to our bodies and a lack of safety in our bodies. It's from whatever stories and traumas that we've had growing up, but also societal pressures. It creates this disconnect in our bodies, this lack of safety. And so, we're turning to food, because we're also extremely lacking pleasure and sensuality.\n\n### Let’s talk about your work in somatic sexology. Can you explain what that is and why you got into it? \n\nI'm in a program currently to be a practitioner of somatic sexological work. And I came across the work from my own journey, because I felt like I had done so much personal and spiritual development, but I still didn't feel like I was where I could be.\n\nI felt like my body was holding on to a lot of trauma and wounds and stories. It was like I was all the way over here, yet my body was kind of in the background holding on and being anchored down to the past.\n\nAnd so that led me into a somatic healing journey for myself to really release a lot of my own trauma and abuse. I also was involved in some abusive relationships that were traumatic on myself and my experience. \n\nMy journey was always very tied to the physical, my physical body. And so, it made sense that I needed bodywork to also clear that out.\n\nSomatic sexological work is a combination of somatics, so moving emotion and energy through the body. But then incorporating the sexological piece where you're bringing in pleasure and really healing the wounds that you've just opened through the somatic process with pleasure and connecting spirituality to that and bringing that into your body.\n\n### And what does somatic sexology look like in practice? \n\nI would say that it's very particular to the individual who’s interested in the program, because \neveryone's body responds differently. A typical session is three hours. You're on a table, there are two practitioners working with you the whole time. \n\nGenerally speaking, it's going to be a male and a female, because they're representing the masculine and the feminine. There'll be times throughout the session where you need to use both energies, and both energies are super important to complete that memory, whether it be the male practitioner coming in and holding space or acting as your father or a past partner. But then also the feminine coming in and doing that same thing or nurturing you and holding that space. \n\n[Sessions involve] really pressing into the body, looking for those trigger points where there's memory and energy stored. Using breath, sound and movement, you're able to move through those memories and move through those traumas.\n\nAnd those traumas look super different for everybody. It might look like screaming; it might look like shaking, like wailing, crying—whatever you need to really release and to clear that out.\n\n### What have you personally noticed after going through somatic sexology sessions?  \n\nIt changed the way that I view and operate in every area of my life. I feel that I was led to this work, and this is where I'm supposed to be. It ignited my own deeper awakening and purpose. It really just shifted every piece of me. \n\nIt dissolved all of the noise in my head, the blocks that really held me back from being fully me. I feel extremely self-expressed and authentic in all of myself. \n\n### Do you see yourself incorporating what you’ve learned into your current health coaching practice? \n\nI feel that it's already a big part of the program that I have now. Again, the pleasure component is so important even when it comes to food and these struggles that we have in our body as women, and so I find it hard to separate the two.\n\nI have a couple of different programs that I run now, and I will be doing the somatic sexological work in person. I also teach a lot of my clients in my current program too, to go through the process on their own and learn how to somatically release for themselves as things come up and how to really use their body. \n\n’Cause that's the power of the feminine.\n\n![Somatic sexologist Julianne Vaccaro](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-bc19e632-c1f4-4305-80d6-12852014e213/original.png)\n\n### One of the programs that you offer is called Goddess Reclamation. Can you walk me through that program? What can a client expect going in? \n\nGoddess Reclamation is an extreme mind, body, soul approach. Because to make those big transformational shifts, you need to look at every level of who you are: mental, spiritual, emotional, physical, social—all of you matters. And all of you makes up how you show up into the world every single day. \n\nWe start out with phase one, which is called Foundations. And within Foundations, we’re getting really clear on what limiting beliefs are present: old stories, subconscious programming that's really keeping you in the cycle of where you're at, whether it be negative self-talk or feeling like you're not enough. And we dissolve those stories to really allow you to step into your authenticity, find your voice and move towards your absolute potential. \n\nYou're also learning how to start to understand how your body works, which leads into phase two, which is called Body Blueprint. Just like we did in phase one, which was shining a light on all of the old stuff to dissolve it, to create the new, we do the same thing on a physical level.\n\nAnd that’s all through gut health education. So, you're learning what foods work for you, what foods don't, what supplements might be beneficial for you, what supplements are not. \n\nAnd it's so important to have that education and awareness, because what worked for you a couple of years ago isn't going to work now, and what works now isn't going to work in a few years. The key is to open up communication with your body so that all you need is your body to help guide you and always bring you back into that alignment and that balance. \n\nPhase three is called Holistic Healing, where we're focusing on stress management. Stress is a really big piece that plays into the program, because so much of what we struggle with is a result of stress, and we don't even realize it. You learn how to support your body in the best way possible on every single level, whether it be food, medicinal mushrooms, adaptogens, daily detox practices, soul food practices, how to stay and be in alignment as life throws you curve balls. \n\nPhase four is called Intuitive Integration, where you become the master of intuitive eating for yourself. You're also learning to balance the internal masculine, feminine energies within and learning about seasonal eating, organic foods, organic vs. conventional, what's really most important for you.\n\nAnd then also more holistic supplementation, super foods, vitamins, things like that. And then, also disordered eating patterns, triggers and things of that nature.\n\nAnd then the last and final phase is called Creations, where you’re really connecting the mind and body and incorporating that sensuality, sexuality component. So, learning how to tap into your feminine powers, connect to your yoni, use your yoni to manifest and step into the life that you desire and dream of. \n\n### Throughout your coaching you advise your clients on a lot things—from coping strategies to food and supplements, including CBD. How have you seen people change once they started to add CBD to their daily regimen? \n\nIt's helped them with insomnia, with their sleep. It's helped them with inflammation in their joints. The top benefit I see is with anxiety and depression. A lot of my clients who come into the program perhaps are on antidepressants or antianxiety medications, and by the time they're done with the program, they're off it. A lot of them perhaps are transitioning off [those meds] using CBD or they've started CBD when they're on their medication and then transitioning off of it and are no longer needing it. \n\nRELATED: [WHY TAKING CBD DAILY CAN HELP REDUCE YOUR ANXIETY](https://hellomd.com/articles/why-taking-cbd-daily-can-help-reduce-your-anxiety/)\n\n### And how do you incorporate CBD into your own life? \n\nI really like to take it when I'm getting my period as well to help with things like that and just regulating. So I personally don't use any kind of over-the-counter medication. I don't use any kind of painkillers or anything like that.\n\nAnd so CBD is definitely my go-to if I'm ever having a headache or feeling just a little bit fatigued or I'm wanting to relax or something like that. I'll use different combinations for different things and experiment with it that way.\n\n### As someone who’s been in the wellness space for a long time, what do you make of the popularity of CBD products? \n\nI think it's really powerful, and I feel that it's important. Having [CBD] be more mainstream, I feel has brought awareness to a lot of more alternative natural remedies and cures for a lot of the ailments that are present in so many people's lives.\n\nCBD has just been this powerful product that's opened the eyes of so many in the public, and I feel that so many other alternative medicines are now being able to become more mainstream.\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://www.hellolift.com/products) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://www.hellolift.com/answers) and our community will answer.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/14b42/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/f836f/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 200w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/2244e/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 400w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/14b42/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 800w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/47498/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/0e329/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 1600w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/2fb21/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.jpg 3020w","srcWebp":"/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/58556/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/61e93/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 200w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/1f5c5/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 400w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/58556/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 800w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/99238/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 1200w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/7c22d/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 1600w,\n/static/9728963b64a3d09bde1a6d95de9e5533/03b46/17acfd629cf27cf801c2d637a24aa13f.webp 3020w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3040-markdown","title":"How Much CBD Is Enough to Help Your Pet?","slug":"how-much-cbd-is-enough-to-help-your-pet","content":"A few years ago, the idea of giving your dog a little bit of cannabidiol (CBD) would’ve garnered a few laughs and raised eyebrows. These days, pet CBD products are all the rage—and there’s good reason: Many pet parents have found that this powerful cannabinoid can ease separation anxiety and pain, and even improve digestive health. \n\nGiven that CBD has similar effects in humans, its efficacy in pets comes as no surprise. And just like in humans, finding the right dose of CBD for your pet can be a challenge. \n\nMost CBD pet products come with recommended dosages based on the animal’s body weight. And while it’s important to take the manufacturer’s suggestions into consideration, remember that just like humans, every pet is different.  \n\n### Just Like Humans, Every Mammal Has Its Own Endocannabinoid Tone \n\nWithin all mammals is a network of receptors called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD can influence this system to bring about a host of therapeutic effects and promote overall good health. \n\nThe ECS has many components: \n\n* Cannabinoid receptors\n* Endocannabinoids, which are substances made by the body that attach to cannabinoid receptors \n* Enzymes, which breakdown endocannabinoids \n\nEndocannabinoid tone is a term for the state of your ECS—it’s a reflection of how all of these components interact to bring about balance within the body. This tone also includes the levels of endocannabinoids in your body, the rate at which they’re made and broken down, as well as the density of ECS receptors in your brain.\n\nThe ECS works to keep your body in a balanced state, so when it falters, a whole host of problems can occur. \n\nLow endocannabinoid tone is often associated with a lower pain threshold, as well as problems with:\n\n* Mood\n* Sleep \n* Digestion\n\nOn the flip side, a high endocannabinoid tone tends to be related to conditions like obesity and diabetes. \n\nEndocannabinoid tone doesn’t necessarily correlate with weight. This is why you should take a number of things into consideration when figuring out your pet’s CBD dose—especially if you’re not getting the results that you want with the suggested dosing on the package. \n\n### How Much CBD Should You Give Your Pet?\n\nMost manufacturers of CBD pet products tend to recommend anywhere from 1–3 mg of CBD per pound of body weight as a baseline dosage. This isn’t wrong—remember there isn’t one correct answer at this point. But there are other factors that you should consider when trying to figure out your pet’s CBD dosage, like: \n\n* The issue you’re trying to address\n* Consumption method \n\nThese things can play a factor in how much CBD is best for your pet’s needs.\n\nWe’re still not sure what amounts of CBD are best for specific conditions, but research is currently underway. Studies have looked at CBD’s efficacy in dogs for conditions like:\n\n* [Osteoporosis](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full#T2) \n* [Epilepsy](https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.254.11.1301?journalCode=javma)\n\nThese studies used high doses—closer to 1 mg of CBD per pound of body weight multiple times a day—which was much more than what’s normally recommended on product packaging. Though they were small, these randomized, double-blind trials showed that CBD could be effective in managing these conditions. \n\nRELATED: [5 WAYS CBD CAN IMPROVE YOUR SENIOR PET’S LIFE](https://hellomd.com/articles/5-ways-cbd-can-improve-your-senior-pets-life/)\n\n### CBD Consumption Method Matters for Animals, Too\n\nPet parents should also consider how they’re giving their pet CBD. Generally, edibles, like treats, tend to have lower bioavailability than tinctures. Bioavailability describes the amount of CBD that’s available for the body to use. \n\nIn humans, edibles are thought to have a bioavailability of around 4–12% of the original dose of CBD, whereas tinctures have a bioavailability of around 50–75%. \n\nIf your pet prefers taking CBD in treat form and you’re not seeing much of an improvement in their condition, you may want to consider upping their dosage because of the low bioavailability of edibles. \n\nJust like in humans, finding the right dose for your pet may take some time and will depend on their individual endocannabinoid tone as well as other factors. A Chihuahua with anxiety may need more CBD than a Great Dane who’s suffering from itchy skin. \n\nJust like with people, the best way to figure out your pet’s dose is to start low and go slow. If you’re not noticing any improvements in your pet with the first initial doses of CBD, don’t be afraid to gradually increase the dose—despite the recommended dosing chart on the side of the package. \n\nPhoto credit: Branislav Nenin/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/14b42/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg","srcSet":"/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/f836f/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 200w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/2244e/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 400w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/14b42/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 800w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/47498/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 1200w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/0e329/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 1600w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/7ca54/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.jpg 1769w","srcWebp":"/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/58556/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/61e93/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 200w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/1f5c5/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 400w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/58556/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 800w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/99238/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 1200w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/7c22d/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 1600w,\n/static/168403e7ae8358a641ea05e6ee6a8d3e/3fb9c/90a91c93c9e77edb179b7d18db11e9fc.webp 1769w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3036-markdown","title":"3 CBD Products to Help You Relieve Your Insomnia","slug":"3-cbd-products-to-help-you-relieve-your-insomnia","content":"Insomnia—trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or feeling tired after waking—afflicts millions of Americans. It can make it hard to get through day-to-day tasks and, in its chronic form, can make life almost unbearable.\n\nUnfortunately, pharmaceutical remedies for insomnia, such as sleeping pills, have many side effects, including:\n\n* Dizziness\n* Constipation\n* Diarrhea\n\nPlus, sleeping pills can be highly addictive. Luckily, there’s an alternative: cannabidiol (CBD). \n\nLet’s take a look at what insomnia is and how CBD products may help you get the sleep you need.\n\n### Acute vs. Chronic Insomnia\n\nIt’s important to understand that there are two types of insomnia: \n\n* Acute \n* Chronic \n\nAcute insomnia is typically short term.  A temporary change in a person’s life usually causes it. Typical causes include: \n\n* Medications \n* Job loss\n* Divorce\n* Financial problems\n* Jet lag \n\nBecause so many different events and conditions can cause acute insomnia, it’s not surprising that about [75% of Americans who experience insomnia suffer from its acute form](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180605154114.htm).\n\nRELATED: [4 WAYS YOU CAN USE CBD TO BEAT INSOMNIA](https://hellomd.com/articles/4-ways-you-can-use-cbd-to-beat-insomnia/)\n\nWhile acute insomnia is serious, it usually goes away after the resolution of the primary cause of the sleeplessness. Far more serious is chronic insomnia, which can last for months and even years. \n\nChronic insomnia is defined as suffering from at least three nights of difficulty falling or staying asleep each week for at least three consecutive months. \n\nChronic insomnia is less prevalent than acute insomnia is. It’s estimated that about 25% of insomnia sufferers deal with its chronic form. However, because it’s so long-lasting, chronic insomnia has far more potential to completely upend the lives of those who suffer from it.\n\n### How CBD Helps People With Insomnia Find Relief\n\nFortunately, CBD may be able to help people who suffer from insomnia. One study looked at people with anxiety or sleep problems and CBD. Researchers found that anxiety decreased in 79% of participants, and [sleep quality improved in 66% of participants. And this was after only one month of taking CBD](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/). \n\nScientists believe that CBD helps calm the nervous system, thus helping people relax, feel better, and be more able to fall and stay asleep.\n\nRELATED: [5 CBD PRODUCTS FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP](https://hellomd.com/articles/5-cbd-products-for-a-good-nights-sleep/)\n\nResearchers also think that acute and chronic insomnia sufferers have found success with CBD, because the cannabinoid has been shown relieve symptoms associated with:\n\n* Stress\n* Anxiety\n* Depression \n* Chronic pain \n\nAnother benefit of consuming CBD to relieve insomnia is that it won’t make you feel high like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can. And, unlike sleeping pills, CBD is nonaddictive and doesn’t have the same nasty side effects as the sleeping pills do.\n\nSo, if you’re thinking about trying CBD to help relieve your insomnia, you may want to give one of the following CBD products a try.\n\n### 1. Be Calm CBD Capsules by Plant People May Help if Your Insomnia Is Stress- & Anxiety-Related\n\n![Plant People Be Calm Capsules](https://www.plantpeople.co/products/cbd-capsules-calm?variant=33619998244909/) \n\n[Be Calm Capsules by Plant People](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5cf05899268a3619699d7965/be-calm) have an impressive array of ingredients designed specifically to help calm symptoms and issues that play a significant role in insomnia, like: \n\n* Anxiety\n* Nervousness\n* Stress\n\nAlong with high-performance CBD, this product features adaptogenic and nervine herbs to help:\n\n* Create a better responses to stress\n* Support your nervous system \n* Promote brain repair and recovery\n\nSome of these calming and therapeutic ingredients include:\n\n* Albizia bark and flower extract, which can help promote sleep and fight depression\n* Ashwagandha extract, which has been shown to improve symptoms related to stress\n* Holy basil and L-theanine, which early research suggests are both effective at relieving stress and anxiety\n\nTaken together, these ingredients make Plant People’s Be Calm capsules a powerful sleep aid for those suffering from acute or chronic insomnia linked to anxiety and stress.\n\n### 2. Basic Jane Relieve Cream Can Address Pain-Related Insomnia\n\n![Basic Jane Relieve Cream](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-9919633a-6318-46fb-9e5d-6e98bf96902d/original.png)\n\nNot all insomnia is linked to stress and anxiety. Chronic and acute pain are also common causes of insomnia.This makes finding relief fromthese types of pain important if you want to get a good night’s sleep. \n\nFolks frequently turn to CBD to help relieve chronic pain and studies have shown that [CBD is an effective treatment for pain and inflammation](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476) that arises from arthritis and neuropathy.\n\nRELATED: [3 POPULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT CBD & CHRONIC PAIN ANSWERED](https://hellomd.com/articles/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-chronic-pain-answered/)\n\nIf your insomnia is linked to pain, then you may want to try [Basic Jane’s Relieve Cream](https://basicjane.com/products/relieve-pain-cream/). In addition to CBD, this topical includes a mixture of:\n\n* Menthol\n* Peppermint\n* Aloe\n\nTogether, they provide cooling, anti-inflammatory pain relief so that you can rest more easily at night.\n\n### 3. Tinctures Like Juna’s Nude Are a Versatile Way to Use CBD to Beat Insomnia\n\n![Juna Nude tincture](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-1175dec9-7d4d-488b-92ad-09f0f023338f/original.png)\n\nTinctures are an excellent way to gett the CBD you need to promote better sleep. You can add a product like [the Nude tincture from Juna](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b57ae4502f1740001523014/nude) to your favorite foods and drinks, or you can take it sublingually (under the tongue) straight from the dropper.  \nNude contains full-spectrum CBD, so you’ll get all of the benefits of the hemp plant’s other cannabinoids and terpenes. \n\nIf you’re picky about what you put in your body, you’ll be happy to hear that this tincture is free of:\n\n* Chemicals\n* Herbicides\n* GMOs\n* Gluten\n* Sugar \n\nBecause you can dispense tinctures using a dropper, you can also have more control over how much CBD you take. This allows you to experiment with different dosage levels in order to find the amount that works best to relieve your insomnia.\n\nPhoto credits: Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com (main image), [Plant People](https://www.instagram.com/plantpeople/) (Plant People image), [Basic Jane](https://www.instagram.com/basic_jane_co/) (Basic Jane image), [Juna](https://www.instagram.com/juna.world/) (Juna image)\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/14b42/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/f836f/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 200w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/2244e/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 400w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/14b42/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 800w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/47498/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/0e329/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 1600w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/391cf/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.jpg 1772w","srcWebp":"/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/58556/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/61e93/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 200w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/1f5c5/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 400w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/58556/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 800w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/99238/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 1200w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/7c22d/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 1600w,\n/static/137b0e9d9e82828bb5d83c0d21876a85/edb99/eff3bdaac495264758cb53acfc8904c8.webp 1772w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3033-markdown","title":"Why Taking CBD Daily Can Help Reduce Your Anxiety","slug":"why-taking-cbd-daily-can-help-reduce-your-anxiety","content":"Lifestyle writer Kelsey Clark recalls her first experience with trying cannabidiol (CBD) to combat her anxiety: “[Thirty minutes later, I was surprised by how subtle the effect was](https://www.mydomaine.com/what-is-cbd-oil). While I expected a hazy nodding-off effect similar to melatonin's, the oil simply relaxed my body ever so slightly.\n\n“My heart stopped pounding against my chest, my legs stopped kicking beneath my sheets, my mind stopped racing. I wasn't sure if it was the oil or the late hour, but eventually, physical relaxation gave way to mental relaxation, and I drifted off to sleep.”\n\nKelsey had been hesitant to take cannabis for her anxiety, because of the plant’s tendency to put her mind into overdrive and plunge it into paranoia. But upon learning that CBD doesn’t make consumers feel high like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can, she experimented with taking CBD oil daily for a week.\n\nShe found that the CBD helped her:\n\n* Sleep better\n* Focus more at work\n* Made her less anxious \n\n“While normally I'd be slightly tripped up by little things like an overly crowded subway car or a full inbox at work, the CBD oil seems to have taken the edge off of my anxiety a bit. I've found it easier to recognize the irrationality of these thoughts and actually let them go,” said Kelsey, adding: \n\n“In some ways, I feel more like myself.” \n\nLet’s take a look at why CBD helped lower Kelsey’s anxiety and why regular doses of CBD may be the key to feeling calm and relaxed long-term. \n\n### How CBD Works in the Body\n\nKelsey is one of an increasing number of people turning to CBD products to ease anxiety—a condition that more than 40 million Americans face. \n\nRanging from mild to severe, anxiety disorders can include:\n\n* Panic disorder\n* Generalized anxiety disorder\n* Agoraphobia\n* Specific phobia\n* Social anxiety disorder\n* PTSD\n* Obsessive-compulsive disorder\n* Separation anxiety disorder\n\nIn general terms, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a system of receptors found in most places in the body. The ECS helps regulate a wide variety of conditions and body processes like:\n\n* Epilepsy\n* Pain perception\n* Alzheimer’s disease\n* Anxiety\n\nRELATED: [UNDERSTANDING HOW CBD CAN CALM YOUR ANXIETY](https://hellomd.com/articles/understanding-how-cbd-can-calm-your-anxiety/)\n\n### The Science Behind How CBD Can Help Ease Anxiety\n\nSome scientists believe that CBD works well at reducing anxiety, because of the way it interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain; lack of serotonin may be a principle cause of anxiety and depression. \n\nAnd CBD may act similarly to prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain. This makes serotonin more available in the synaptic space (the space between neurons in the brain), increasing serotonin signaling.\n\nAnother way CBD helps some folks feel calm is because CBD blocks an enzyme called FAAH, or fatty acid amide hydrolase, which lowers the neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid called anandamide. Anandamide is also known as the bliss molecule, because it imparts feelings of pleasure.\n\nSo, CBD helps boost levels of anandamide, because it blocks FAAH, an enzyme that breaks it down. This also means that besides lowering anxiety, CBD can help:\n\n* Relieve pain \n* Promote calm\n* Help induce sleep  \n\n### Why Taking CBD Every Day Can Help Lower Anxiety Levels \n\nIf you’re looking for immediate relief from an anxiety attack, then vaping CBD oil may be a good idea, because the effects kick in almost immediately. However, if you want to maintain a steady flow of relief throughout the day, or even day to day, then ingesting CBD sublingually or orally at regular intervals may be better. \n\nAnd this makes sense. Researchers now think that many health problems arise from a cannabinoid deficiency leading to an unbalanced ECS. They believe that taking cannabinoids like CBD daily, as you would a multivitamin, can help balance your ECS for optimal health.\n\nSo, while a few puffs from a CBD vape pen may provide immediate anxiety relief, if a more long-term solution is what you’re after, then allowing CBD to build up in your system is the way to go. This will help you achieve a balanced ECS, also known as homeostasis. \n\n### How to Find Your Optimal CBD Dose\n\nAs far as the correct CBD dosage goes, this can vary from person to person, depending on:\n\n* Body type \n* Additional health conditions or concerns\n* Consumption method \n\nTo determine what dose of CBD works best for you, it’s a good idea to begin with the lowest amount possible and increase it until you find the relief you need. \n\nIf you’re new to cannabis, you’ll want to start with a low dose of around 2.5–5 mg. If you take CBD regularly, then you may have to go to 25 mg or higher.\n\n### How to Increase CBD Absorption in Your System\n\nWhile you may know how much CBD is in a product, the amount that your body absorbs depends on many factors, including your consumption method. \n\nRELATED: [3 MODERN ADVANCES THAT MAKE CBD MORE EFFECTIVE](https://hellomd.com/articles/3-modern-advances-that-make-cbd-more-effective/)\n\nTo increase absorption, here are some tricks: \n\n* **If you’re vaping CBD oil:** Use the vaporizer for the first part of the inhalation, and then finish the inhalation with a full breath of fresh air to help drive the vapor deeply into your lungs. \n* **If you’re eating CBD edibles:** Make sure your CBD edibles contain some fats. And if they don’t, then eat something fatty with your CBD. Since CBD is fat soluble, fats may increase absorption by as much as threefold. \n* **If you’re taking CBD oil sublingually:** Put the CBD oil under your tongue, or against your cheek to get it into your system even faster than just swallowing it right off the bat. Try to hold the liquid in your mouth for at least 60 seconds or longer. \n\nExperiment with CBD doses and consumption methods until you find the ones that work best for you. \n\nPhoto credit: mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/14b42/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg","srcSet":"/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/f836f/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 200w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/2244e/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 400w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/14b42/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 800w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/47498/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 1200w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/0e329/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 1600w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/03c8d/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.jpg 1735w","srcWebp":"/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/58556/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/61e93/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 200w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/1f5c5/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 400w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/58556/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 800w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/99238/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 1200w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/7c22d/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 1600w,\n/static/078c373ddcf7a45dc794a9c059cfdcdd/8fe81/a42510c8414f1be446bc73c10193dc68.webp 1735w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3032-markdown","title":"4 Top CBD Topicals for Summer Skin Care","slug":"4-top-cbd-topicals-for-summer-skin-care","content":"With summertime in full swing, your skin is likely getting a lot more exposure to the elements—sun, wind, you name it. After all, with the warmer weather, we’re all probably spending a lot more time outdoors.\n\nWhat does this mean? Well, for one, skin cancer is on the rise with rates of melanoma cases having tripled since the 1970s, according to the National Cancer Institute. Hopefully, you’re:\n\n* Wearing protective gear like a hat and UV-blocking sunglasses\n* Staying in the shade as much as possible\n* Using a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ that you’re reapplying often\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_us/?utm_medium=copy_link/)\n\nBut what do you do after spending a little too much time in the sun or a chlorinated pool? Maybe you slather on aloe vera gel or moisturizer to help soothe your dry, red or irritated skin.\n\nThat’s all well and good, but here’s a suggestion: Add a cannabidiol (CBD) topical to your post-sun, skin care routine. Why? Because CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can go a long way to helping fight sun damage and calm inflamed skin.\n\nRELATED: [CBD FOR YOUTHFUL GLOWING SKIN](https://hellomd.com/articles/cbd-for-youthful-glowing-skin/)\n\nHere’s a shortlist of some of our go-to hydrating and healing CBD topicals, which we keep at the ready après sun.\n\n### 1. Pure Ratios’ CBD Topical Salve\n\n![Pure Ratios CBD Topical Salve](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-4b0ff8ec-0a34-4fa8-9605-8606d4139ff4/original.png)\n\nPure Ratios’ founders are natural health practitioners who take an herbalist’s approach to developing their products. So it’s no wonder that the [CBD Topical Salve by Pure Ratios](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b57979c02f1740001522ea9/cbd-topical-salve) comes packed with phytonutrients—from frankincense and turmeric to arnica and elderflower. All of these ingredients work together with CBD to help reduce swelling and soreness, while speeding your skin’s recovery following a sunburn.\n\nThis salve, which contains 300 mg of the cannabinoid, can fit easily in a purse, beach bag or backpack. Take it with you wherever you go, and apply directly to dry, puffy or flakey skin.\n\n\n### 2. Plant People’s CBD Plant Balm\n\n![Plant People CBD Plant Balm](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-7f4d98f5-0432-404e-a10f-1d0f1383e2f9/original.png)\n\nColorado-based Plant People has developed a full-spectrum CBD topical chock full of cannabinoids and terpenes intended to soothe aches and pains as well as promote circulation and healing in the skin itself. \n\nContaining 400 mg of organic, sun-grown hemp CBD, [Plant People’s Plant Balm](https://www.plantpeople.co/products/cbd-infused-topical-balm?variant=33620000473133/) can provide near-instant relief. Gently rub a pea-sized amount into the affected area.\n\nBonus: Plant People plants a tree for every product it sells. How cool is that?\n\n### 3.  Vertly’s CBD Relief Lotion\n\n![Vertly CBD Relief Lotion](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-af1b169b-89af-401a-af88-a55383eff0d6/original.png)\n\nMade with vitamins, nourishing shea butter and 150 mg of full-spectrum CBD, the [Relief Lotion by Vertly](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5ba2a9de1669df4c6daec804/relief-lotion) can and should replace your post-shower moisturizer. Peppermint and aloe vera help cool and rejuvenate the skin, while subtle scents of lavender and citrus calm and uplift your spirits.\n\nDon’t be fooled by the pretty packaging. Vertly is serious about helping folks heal; it sources only organically grown ingredients including its CBD, which is tested in small batches to ensure a safe and potent product.\n\n### 4. Elixinol’s CBD Hemp Balm\n\n![Elixinol CBD Hemp Balm](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-eca64a90-23c6-4ea8-a7da-696ca21e3a01/original.png)\n\nWhole-plant CBD, copaiba and calendula along with a number of other botanicals make the [Elixinol CBD Hemp Balm](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b57ac2d02f1740001522fe7/cbd-hemp-balm) an all-natural product that helps support healthy, glowing skin. One 4 oz tube contains 125 mg of CBD extracted from 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado.\n\nElixinol’s CBD balm absorbs quickly to help moisturize and soothe raw, inflamed skin. Massage thoroughly into the areas that need the most TLC.\n\nPhoto credits: haveseen/Shutterstock.com (main image); [Pure Ratios CBD](https://www.instagram.com/p/BylA8PEBVCa/) (Pure Ratios image); [Plant People](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw26g6MhZRR/) (Plant People image); [Vertly](https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQMlqtBXik/) (Vertly image); [Elixinol](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt6qYBblzZ9/) (Elixinol image)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana/) index of articles. And if you have questions about cannabis, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMFAv/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBAv/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAABRplTNjF8Qv/EABsQAAMAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMTERIh/9oACAEBAAEFApmUajUyWu2NecH/xAAZEQEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAISIVH/2gAIAQMBAT8BvUTUwez/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIS/9oACAECAQE/AZto2f/EABwQAAIBBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQRAREjEycf/aAAgBAQAGPwJpmjkzfpeIp//EABoQAAIDAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESFBURD/2gAIAQEAAT8hUIu+Epp2sH0CWSaEzaunj//aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQv/8A/8QAGBEBAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARgfD/2gAIAQMBAT8QNCwm7oX/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARH/2gAIAQIBAT8QtVt//8QAGxAAAgMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREAIVFBMaH/2gAIAQEAAT8QLIkrJZyEhnYi6jExcZsQL9aiuCawHfsXJ//Z","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/14b42/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg","srcSet":"/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/f836f/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 200w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/2244e/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 400w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/14b42/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 800w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/47498/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 1200w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/0e329/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 1600w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/474ef/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.jpg 3444w","srcWebp":"/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/58556/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/61e93/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 200w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/1f5c5/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 400w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/58556/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 800w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/99238/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 1200w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/7c22d/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 1600w,\n/static/06268d62e2001eba7578cb9a61587813/330a1/4fc7d6f64eb758881fde08d87b420156.webp 3444w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3029-markdown","title":"4 CBD Products to Take on Your Next Flight ","slug":"4-cbd-products-to-take-on-your-next-flight","content":"Maybe you heard the news that broke over Memorial Day weekend: The Transportation Security Administration [(TSA) announced that it would allow certain CBD products through its security screenings](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/medical-marijuana). But don’t rejoice just yet—there are stipulations to this new rule.\n\nHere’s the official blurb from the TSA’s website:\n\n“Marijuana and certain cannabis infused products, including some cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law except for products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA. (See the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-334.)”\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_us/?utm_medium=copy_link/)\n\nThe announcement only covers hemp-derived CBD products that contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or [drugs approved by the FDA (read: Epidiolex)](https://www.hellolift.com/health-wellness/5b5b62b1a1805500087db9cd/how-hemp-cbd-oil-can-help-kids-with-seizures). So, if you’ve got a high-CBD tincture with an 8:1 CBD-to-THC ratio, you could still technically be busted for that.\n\nAnd of course, all marijuana products remain illegal at the federal level. So if you’re caught with them at a checkpoint, TSA is required to report it. \n\nBut the question remains: If you have a high-CBD product that contains more than 0.3% THC, other than looking at the label, how are TSA officers supposed to know? And what’s to stop a person from taking a product whose labeling states that it has less than 0.3% THC and replacing the contents with a product that’s high in THC?\n\nThe reality is that there isn’t a way to know without testing the actual product—and we all know that TSA doesn’t have time for that. On its website, TSA states that its main objective is security, not the enforcement of drug laws. But its agents are still required to alert authorities if they find federally prohibited materials in your luggage.\n\nIf you take CBD to manage a certain condition and don’t want to get held up at a security checkpoint because you have CBD products on you, the best course of action is to make sure that your products are compliant with TSA rules. In other words, you’re transporting items that are 0.3% THC or less—even if there’s technically no way to be sure that CBD products are what they say they are without testing. \n\nTo help you prep for your next trip, we’ve rounded up a few travel-friendly products that meet TSA’s new guidelines. And they can all be shipped directly to your door via [our shop](https://www.hellolift.com/products). \n\n### 1. Plant People’s Be Calm Capsules\n\n![Plant People Be Calm Capsules](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-eb8c223e-0846-4aad-b1ed-01e8f60c7533/original.png)\n \nIf you’re anxiety-prone, especially on flights, take [Plant People’s Be Calm capsules](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5cf05899268a3619699d7965/be-calm) with you on your journey. Each capsule contains 15 mg of CBD along with a blend of adaptogenic herbs that can help improve your mental state and manage your body’s stress response.  \n\n### 2. Pure Ratios’ CBD Hemp Vape Cartridge \n\n![Pure Ratios CBD Hemp Vape Cartridge](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-052f788a-5828-4bb8-a21b-f2f0be3f1c0a/original.png)\n\nWhenever you take a vape pen on flights, there’s always a chance that it’ll leak due to elevation changes. It’s no one’s fault—vape pen technology simply hasn’t gotten there yet. However, this shouldn’t stop you from bringing a pen on flights, especially if you’re managing a condition and vaping is your preferred method of administration. \n\nWhile you won’t be able to vape on the plane, we recommend that you pack [Pure Ratios’ CBD Hemp Vape Cartridge](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b985b85d4b1b9f913c11e51/cbd-hemp-vape-cartridge) in your carry-on. It comes in its own container. So if a bit of oil manages to trickle out, it’ll be contained and easy to clean. \n\n### 3. Holistic Hound’s CBD Dog Treats\n\n![Holistic Hound CBD Dog Treats](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-c950cab3-930b-4014-b248-03a0d8df487a/original.png)\n\nIf your pup is tagging along on your plane ride, bringing a little CBD is a must. CBD can calm your pooch’s nerves, helping them chill out and pass the time. Holistic Hound’s treats come in [3 mg](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b57a1f302f1740001522f34/cbd-dog-treats-3-mg) or [7.5 mg](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5b57a30002f1740001522f46/cbd-dog-treats-75-mg) doses, and you can choose from either a chicken- or lamb-based treat. \n\nRELATED: [4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR PET HEMP CBD](https://hellomd.com/articles/4-reasons-why-you-should-give-your-pet-hemp-cbd/)\n\n### 4. Humble Flower's Relief Balm \n\n![Humble Flower Co. Relief Balm](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-5ab36eea-ca9c-43b7-87d4-7933812bcd0d/original.png)\n\nThe [Relief Balm by Humble Flower Co.](https://www.hellolift.com/products/5cc37478947aec3f9bf374e6/relief-balm) is ideal for travelers who need high-CBD topicals to manage aches and pains. And it’s also a great option for those whose muscles tend to cramp during long flights. Each jar contains 200 mg of CBD, arnica extract and a blend of clary sage, lavender and rosemary essential oils—all in a TSA-friendly 2 oz container. \n\nPhoto credits: illpaxphotomatic/Shutterstock.com (main image), [Plant People](https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNLtyAB7-i/) (Plant People image), [Pure Ratios CBD](https://www.instagram.com/p/BxhkBwKBAVK/) (Pure Ratios image), [Pamela Hadfield](https://www.instagram.com/p/Brlha7TBqdE/) (Holistic Hound image), [Humble Flower Co.](https://www.instagram.com/p/Btv6EYuhIoh/) (Humble Flower Co. image)\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://www.hellolift.com/products) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://www.hellolift.com/answers) and our community will answer.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/14b42/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/f836f/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 200w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/2244e/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 400w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/14b42/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 800w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/47498/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/0e329/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 1600w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/6995d/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.jpg 3637w","srcWebp":"/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/58556/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/61e93/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 200w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/1f5c5/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 400w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/58556/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 800w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/99238/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 1200w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/7c22d/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 1600w,\n/static/3f6fa8bd703a046b7f8e84584fa9e60e/2a59d/eed93dfac6db3f9f0bc33718fa54fb30.webp 3637w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3026-markdown","title":"What Happens When You Mix Alcohol With CBD?","slug":"what-happens-when-you-mix-alcohol-with-cbd","content":"Whether you’re enjoying a [cocktail infused with cannabidiol (CBD) at a trendy bar](https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/cbd-cocktails) or nibbling on your favorite CBD-infused edible at home with a glass of wine, CBD and alcohol can seem like a perfect match.  \n\nBut is it really a good idea to mix CBD and alcohol? Although research on the subject is skimpy, a few recent studies reveal some surprising—and contradictory—[effects from combining CBD with alcoholic beverages](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/j5npp7/what-happens-when-you-mix-alcohol-and-cbd) of all kinds. \n\nWhile some health professionals don’t recommend the combination because it may increase sedation, others point to research that suggests CBD may help protect the liver and brain from alcohol’s negative effects. \n\n### CBD Regulates Systems & Promotes Health\n\nCBD is one of the two most abundant compounds in the _Cannabis sativa_ plant, right alongside tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that’s responsible for the high folks experience when consuming it. \n\nThough both cannabinoids act on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors found on cells throughout the body and brain, CBD—unlike THC—doesn’t make consumers feel high. \n\nThe ECS responds both to cannabinoid-like chemicals that are naturally produced by the body itself, and to cannabinoids from outside sources, mainly from the cannabis plant. \n\nThe ECS plays a major role in keeping many of the body’s subsystems in balance, a state called homeostasis. CBD supports processes that contribute to homeostasis, such as:\n\n* Immune responses\n* Circadian rhythms\n* Signaling among neurons within the brain \n\nFor all of these reasons, CBD can help relieve the symptoms of a variety of health conditions. A large body of research from around the world documents the benefits of CBD for helping with:\n\n* Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy\n* Chronic pain\n* Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression\n\nRELATED: [HOW HEMP CBD CAN HELP KIDS WITH SEIZURES](https://www.hellolift.com/health-wellness/5b5b62b1a1805500087db9cd/how-hemp-cbd-oil-can-help-kids-with-seizures)\n\nThe cannabinoid’s calming, relaxing effects come from [CBD’s ability to support major mood-regulating processes](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-and-alcohol) in the brain. CBD can boost the brain’s production of the natural cannabinoid anandamide, which reduces anxiety and promotes positive feelings. \n\nCBD can also inhibit processes that interfere with production of a mood-boosting chemical called GABA. And it can damp down the effects of glutamate, a very abundant excitatory chemical that can cause heightened anxiety and agitation.\n\n### Alcohol Is a Feel-Good Toxin\n\nFor many people, alcohol also causes feelings of calm and relaxation. Taken in moderation, it can:\n\n* Loosen inhibitions\n* Ease social anxiety\n* Help people unwind after a long day\n\nBut alcohol can also do significant damage to the body and brain when used in excess or over long periods of time. Because alcohol can release inhibitions, it can also contribute to episodes of anger and rage. \n\nUnlike the cannabis-friendly ECS, the human body doesn’t have an alcohol receptor system. [When the body metabolizes alcohol, it produces toxins](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959903/), including acetaldehyde and a form of ethanol. \n\nThese toxins can destroy brain cells and damage the liver, causing conditions like cirrhosis and liver steatosis, or fatty liver syndrome. \n\nSo, what happens when [CBD and alcohol meet each other](https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/mixing-cbd-alcohol/) in the body and brain?\n\n### CBD & Alcohol Can Enhance Each Other’s Effects\n\nFolks who love CBD-infused alcoholic drinks say that while the combination promotes a more noticeable feeling of relaxation and enjoyment, the effects of CBD aren’t particularly outstanding.  \n\nBut some studies suggest that CBD and alcohol together can intensify the effects of both substances. In this way, some people can feel extremely sedated or have somewhat more impairment in cognitive and motor skills.\n\nIn general, though, these studies indicate that taking CBD with alcohol may affect people much like alcohol alone does. But these effects also depend on a number of factors, such as:\n\n* A person’s tolerance for CBD and alcohol\n* How much they ingest at a given time \n\n### CBD Can Protect the Body Against Alcohol’s Harmful Effects\n\nAlthough not much research has been done specifically on CBD-alcohol interactions, the benefits of CBD as a neuroprotectant and anti-inflammatory are well documented. And these qualities can help  protect the body and brain from alcohol’s toxic effects.  \n\nCBD can be a potent protector of the brain’s complex and delicate neural networks. So much so, in fact, that CBD can help the brain heal from major trauma and stroke.  Some research suggests that it could do the same when taken with alcohol to reduce the damage alcohol can do to the brain’s neural pathways.  \n\nCBD is also a powerful anti-inflammatory that can protect cells from oxidation and other damaging processes. In this way, some researchers have found that [CBD can also help protect the liver from damage](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10924-8) that heavy alcohol consumption can cause.\n\n### CBD Can Lower Blood Alcohol Levels\n\nResearchers who compared the effects of CBD plus alcohol to the effects of alcohol alone made a surprising discovery: Even though study subjects in both groups showed about the same effects, the blood alcohol levels of those who took CBD with alcohol were significantly lower than those who had ingested alcohol alone.  \n\nAlthough the reason isn’t clear, it appears that CBD is able to lower levels of alcohol in the bloodstream—or to boost the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol.\n\n### Should You Mix CBD & Alcohol?\n\nCBD-infused alcoholic beverages are the latest, hottest trend in CBD consumables. Folks say adding a few drops of a CBD tincture to their favorite drinks simply add an interesting twist. \n\nBut if you haven’t tried these drinks, or you haven’t combined CBD with alcohol in some other way before, it’s wise to proceed with caution and keep your consumption low until it’s clear how the combination affects you.\n\nCBD-infused drinks aside, the way you consume other forms of CBD with alcohol also influences how this combination could affect you. CBD can typically interact with alcohol if the two are taken within four to eight hours of each other. \n\nCBD edibles deliver their effects more slowly, because the digestive system must process them. But CBD oils and tinctures work more quickly. So far, science hasn’t explored whether topically applied CBD products may interact with alcohol. \n\nAlcoholic beverages can vary in their alcohol content, too. For example, spirits like whiskey or vodka typically contain more alcohol than beers and wines do, and this can also affect the way different drinks interact with CBD.  \n\nResearch reveals that mixing CBD with alcohol can bring some unexpected benefits. But it’s still wise to:\n\n* Start slowly\n* Know your limits\n* Consume both CBD and alcohol as responsibly as you can\n\nPhoto credit: Canna Obscura/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://www.hellolift.com/products) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://www.hellolift.com/answers) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/14b42/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg","srcSet":"/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/f836f/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 200w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/2244e/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 400w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/14b42/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 800w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/47498/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 1200w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/0e329/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 1600w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/ffa36/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.jpg 1773w","srcWebp":"/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/58556/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/61e93/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 200w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/1f5c5/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 400w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/58556/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 800w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/99238/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 1200w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/7c22d/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 1600w,\n/static/a6cb3af7d8e094565820a5300e1c6ded/d1528/963f0b6463f1ed9d7edbe84cf0f437de.webp 1773w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":72,"numPages":20,"currentPage":7,"id":5084,"name":"CBD","slug":"cbd","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}