Relief & Recovery

CBD For Support: Would it Hurt to Try Hemp for Relief and Recovery?

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
• What is the Desire for Support and How Does it Work?
• CBD, Relief & Recovery: What Does the Research Say?
• Experimenting With CBD For Relief
• How to Take CBD Comfortably
• The Bottom Line
• FAQs

Summary

Introduction

We might describe the need for relief broadly as an unpleasant experience of hurt or discomfort. The sources of such unpleasantness are many and varied, and we may feel the need for balance at any given moment in life. These sensations sometimes correlate with a host of other undesirable challenges. The persistent need for stimulation or support can wreak havoc on a person’s lifestyle and relationships - causing even more suffering to amass.

There are some important questions about the need for relief that we must answer: for example, what is it? And how does it occur? Perhaps most importantly, how can we prevent it? In this article, we are going to focus on a substance that has been gaining increasing attention as a natural supplement that may potentially impact some signs of a desire for support: CBD (aka. cannabidiol).

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s a non-psychoactive compound (or ‘cannabinoid’) found in cannabis plants  - most notably in the subspecies of cannabis Sativa known as ‘hemp’. In nature, CBD extract is an oily substance trapped within the leaves, flowers, and stems of hemp plants. Manufacturers typically extract it using state-of-the-art CO2 extraction methods and later develop it into popular products such as CBD oil.

Due to its low THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content, CBD extract doesn’t get you “high”, and laws in the UK and many other countries deem it acceptable under strict conditions. Thanks to a new surge of interest in 2020, millions of British people are now reaching for hemp-derived wellness products in response to pandemic-size issues and the general times.

The latter item in this list is of particular interest to us now. According to Forbes, a significant proportion of CBD users are searching for relief and support. While there is limited evidence exploring these themes, you should be wary of any brands that attempt to promote CBD as a definitive “cure” or “treatment”.

Before we explore how CBD might potentially affect your desire for relief or recovery, it’s helpful to clarify how the need for support works. So, let’s take a moment to appreciate this from a scientific perspective.

What is the Desire for Support, and How Does it Work?

The need for support may result in signals that are the ‘messengers’ who alert our bodies of real or potential instances that require attention. Before they provoke us to say “ouch” (or words to that effect), such signals must travel through our extensive nerve fibres. Along the way, the signals bind with receptors in the spinal cord and eventually pass on to the brain to be interpreted and perceived.

If you accidentally touch a hot surface, your skin receptors will most likely send rapid electrical nerve impulses to the spinal cord (i.e., the central nervous system) via sensory neurons. These impulses are processed and registered as stimulation, or the need for relief. In these urgent moments, your stimulated nerves are usually short-circuited to answer and allow you to quickly pull your hand back to safety. Sounds pretty efficient, doesn’t it?

Why Do We Feel the Need for Assistance?

While some aspects of our perception of the need for support or relief are subjective, we can’t exactly ‘think ourselves out of it’. We might think of this desire as rather like blushing: we can never totally control it. You can be as calm and optimistic an individual as any, and even meditate twice a day, but if you live with certain long-term desires for support, the chances are that you may need to secure additional help.

When we have an experience of stimulation which requires relief, it often has a knock-on effect on how we feel in general. At a physiological level, the desire to be soothed is a tense experience that could even activate our ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

Research suggests that a prolonged desire to alleviate unpleasant stimulation may potentially impact our wellbeing by:

• Increasing our risk of sleep issues by keeping us awake at night

• Possibly highlighting other issues

Thankfully, we don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the need for relief before we build a management strategy.

CBD, Relief, and Recovery: What Does the Research Say?

CBD is experiencing a surge in popularity, and wellness companies have been quick to jump on the CBD bandwagon, incorporating this ingredient into everything from CBD snacks and chocolates to CBD bath bombs, lotions, and of course, CBD oils.

Investigating all of the different uses and potential effects associated with CBD is beyond the scope of this article, so let’s try to answer one question: can you use CBD for relief?

Experimenting With CBD For Relief

So far, we’ve reviewed some of the different ways that the desire for aid can be interpreted, categorised, and defined. We’ve also spotlighted some studies that have contemplated the possible significance of cannabidiol as a source of potential comfort. So, can you use CBD products as part of a broader self-care strategy the next time you’re experiencing a desire for relief? Below, we’ve summarised some of the reasons that might inspire you to experiment with using CBD the next time you’re craving support.

CBD May Impact How We Interpret Signals Through the ECS

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the part of our central nervous system that monitors our vitals and relays different cell signals throughout our bodies. It’s essential to normal regulatory processes such as breathing, hydration and sleeping - as well as the sudden responses that the need for relief can trigger.

The ECS contains components known as ‘endocannabinoid receptors’. When activated by the desire for support, these receptors bind with the ‘endocannabinoids’ that our bodies naturally produce - working to address the site of interest and neutralise the need for recovery. So far, the inner workings of the ECS are a mystery, but it remains a cutting-edge research topic.

You Might Want to Explore CBD For Support and More

Whether you’re faced with trekking up the stairs after a punishing workout or performing some physio exercises, CBD may potentially be a welcome addition to your health routine for you to consider. While it’s normal to experience some need for assistance on your fitness journey, there’s nothing stopping you from taking proactive self-care measures and seeking natural supplements. Could CBD be one of them?

How to Take CBD Comfortably

Now that we’ve reviewed some of the factors that may motivate you to explore the possibilities of CBD for the desire to be supported or stimulated, let’s explore the practicalities of CBD consumption. If you’re new to cannabis-derived wellness, the very act of trying this substance may feel a little out of your comfort zone. However, there are plenty of ways to ease into the CBD world.

Your Simple Guide to CBD Dosage

While most describe CBD as a low-risk and well-tolerated substance, it is wise to avoid incorrect dosing. If you’re experimenting with CBD as a potential comfort for support or relief, the last thing you want to do is end up with any possible side effects! We recommend starting with minimal CBD doses and monitoring your progress over a few weeks before increasing your intake.

Popular CBD Products

The need for assistance and support always brings urgency, along with the need to make prompt and helpful decisions. With this in mind, let’s review some popular CBD consumption methods - focussing on their convenience and the amount of time you may need to allow before noticing any potential effects.

1. CBD Vape Fluid

Inhaling vapour as part of an e-cigarette apparatus may potentially be the swiftest way for you to consume CBD extract. In some cases, you might find yourself feeling any potential CBD benefits in as little as ten minutes. This is a popular choice among people who practice vaping in their everyday lives. If you don’t vape, attempting to do so in a moment of desire for relief or stimulation may still serve you well. But don’t worry - there are plenty of other options.

2. CBD Oils and Tinctures

Quick and straightforward to dispense, CBD oil is a crowd-pleasing product. It’s designed for sublingual consumption. This means that you place a few drops under your tongue and hold them there for up to 60 seconds - which should enable your oral membranes to make contact with the extract relatively directly. You may start to notice any potential effects in as little as 15 minutes. If you often experience difficulty when swallowing, the CBD oil method is a fantastic alternative to tablets and capsules.

3. CBD Gummies and Other Edibles

Delicious foods and drinks can be a real pick-me-up - especially if you’re someone who takes comfort in sweets, snacks and tasty beverages. CBD-infused edibles involve the process of consuming satisfying treats; a process that the vast majority of us enjoy. As we know, eating pleasant foods can trigger a pleasure response in our brains - releasing hormones that may potentially influence our desire for relief. If you’re on a strict diet or dealing with a desperate need for assistance, you may prefer to take daily food supplements in the form of CBD capsules. CBD edibles may potentially take up to an hour to be absorbed.

4. CBD Cream and Other Topical Products

If you’re experiencing other needs for stimulation or soothing support, CBD topicals may be an excellent method of consumption. Simply apply a CBD-infused skin product to your targeted body area (avoiding contact with sensitive or broken skin), and wait for any potential absorption to take place. This process may take up to an hour, but many CBD-infused muscle balms also contain ingredients that create instant sensations, like smelling great - such as menthol or ginger.

The Bottom Line

While limited, the research that is available to us today opens up a world of possibilities for CBD and symptoms of the need for relief. But as with all supplements, CBD’s future needs to be nurtured and cultivated with care. While CBD products have sky-rocketed to popularity, regulations and quality control measures are not always equipped to handle the demand. To avoid any unnecessary disappointments, we recommend that you only go for premium CBD products that have been tested by third parties. It’s also important to look for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that summarises the exact chemistry of your product.

The day when scientists will have uncovered all of the potential of CBD is still somewhere in the future. Waiting can come with its own need for assistance, but if we manage to ensure quality research and production, it is only a matter of time before CBD becomes even more famous. In the meantime, make sure to keep yourself informed. This article has barely scratched the surface of the complex world of CBD and cannabinoids–if you crave more, please read on and dig deeper into our Alphagreen Academy features.