What is CBD?
CBD is a compound derived from the cannabis plant. It is not the same as the marajuana you smoke to get high. CBD is legal, safe and non-psychoactive, so you do not need to worry about negative psychological or legal consequences when using it.
Much research is being conducted into why CBD seems to be so good for us. A large body of evidence supports the claims that CBD can improve mood, sleep, pain management, energy levels, immunity, reproductive issues and the symptoms of many neurological disorders.
When buying CBD, it is crucial that you choose a reputable brand that provides third party lab testing, so that you can be sure about what you are using.
How Does CBD Help?
To understand how CBD works, you first must know about the endocannabinoid system. This is a system in every human being, involving the regulation of many functions including sleep, appetite, pain sensation, and immune responses.
Endocannabinoids are molecules made by your body and behave in a similar way to cannabinoids, but are made by the body. Two main endocannabinoids have been identified – anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Your body produces these in varying quantities as needed for a particular purpose, but sometimes might not produce enough. They bind with receptors in the body called CB1 and CB2.
The above listed endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor and the effects of this will depend on which receptor it is, and where it is located in the body. For example, when an endocannabinoid binds with a CB1 receptor in a spinal nerve, the result might be a reduction in pain. If an endocannabinoid binds to a CB2 receptor in your immune cells, the result might be a reduction in inflammation. But, if you are lacking in endocannabinoids, these positive effects might not be experienced.
When you take CBD, you work directly with your endocannabinoid system and essentially supplementing it. There are two main theories as to why and how this happens. Some say it works by preventing endocannabinoids from being broken down, allowing your body to use them for healing purposes instead. Others think that CBD binds to the receptors within the endocannabinoid system.
The research perseveres, but results so far are promising and are helping us to better understand how CBD works on the body.
What Happens After Using CBD For 30 Days?
When you first start taking CBD, it’s likely you won’t feel any different. You may even feel that taking CBD is a waste of time. Some people, anecdotally, suggest that in the first few days of taking CBD they feel calmer and less restless at night. According to Arthritis.org, some people report that, when CBD is applied topically, they feel a reduction in pain within 15-20 minutes.
So, there might be some immediate effects, but it depends largely on what you are using CBD for. Typically, your body has to adjust to the new cannabinoid in your system, and it will do so, but it may take some time.
Some evidence and anecdotal feedback suggests that, after 30 days, you could notice the following:
Increased Focus
If you suffer from brain fog, you could find that 30 days of CBD use will clear it right up. You might notice you have laser precision focus, higher alertness and better brain energy. As a result, you might be more productive, which can have a positive impact on your overall life and wellbeing.
Better Sleep
In a large study, 66% of new CBD users found they had better sleep within 30 days of taking CBD regularly. According to The Sleep Foundation, 80% of those surveyed reported lower anxiety levels after 30 days of CBD use, which then led to a better night’s sleep as a result. So, if you take CBD regularly, you can expect a better quality sleep within a month of using CBD.
Lower Anxiety
An interesting study has shown that CBD can help reduce anxiety in multiple ways, including inhibiting conditioned fear responses to certain stimuli, and lowering overall stress levels. Another study published in Nature supports this, with participants reporting lower anxiety at week 4 of taking CBD. A third study focused specifically on social anxiety, and found there was a significant improvement in anxiety levels amongst participants in week 4. Many other studies support those listed above, and so it is safe to say that CBD can probably help with anxiety when taken consistently for 30 days.
Less Pain
If you are using CBD for pain management, perhaps for unexplained pelvic pain, arthritic pain or nerve pain, then we have good news for you. Mountains of studies are supporting the hypothesis that CBD reduces pain perception. One study of 400 patients in New Zealand showed a significant reduction in reported pain levels amongst 70% of patients after 3 weeks of CBD use. The patients suffered from a wide range of conditions including fibromyalgia, migraines, osteoarthritis, neuropathic pain and rheumatoid arthritis. Many other studies have similar findings. Living with chronic pain can be utterly miserable, and can lead to other health problems like depression and insomnia. So, treating pain in this safe and natural way can also help increase quality of life in other areas. Given that CBD also seems to improve sleep, pain patients can expect a general enhanced wellness when using CBD.
Reduced Epilepsy Symptoms
CBD and its effects on epilepsy seizures has been widely studied and a keen area of interest for specialists in this area of medicine. Unfortunately, many people continue to have seizures despite taking anti-seizure medication. An interesting study involving 225 patients with epilepsy has shown that those given 20mg of CBD per day for 28 days saw a 41.9% decrease in seizures. Those given 10mg a day for 28 days saw a 37.2% reduction in seizures, and those in the placebo group saw the fewest reductions. This supports other research indicating that 30 days of CBD use could help to reduce the number of seizures experienced when taken at 20mg per day.
To summarise, 30 days of CBD use can have a multitude of health benefits but it really depends why you’re using CBD in the first place.
Check out our CBD range to get your CBD, and notice the difference within 30 days of regular use.
