My Experience with CBD
A few weeks ago, I posted about my nutritional supplement regimen on IG stories and received an overwhelming amount of questions regarding the addition of CBD to my routine. In the past few years we have heard so much about CBD in the media, it will soon be a $22 million dollar industry and can be found anywhere from gas stations to your local supermarket. In this post, I will outline what CBD is along with the benefits I’ve derived from adding it to my routine.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this post are my own. The efficacy of these products and along with my testimonial have not been confirmed by FDA- approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. This is not sponsored or endorsed by the brands mentioned in this post.
First, what is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in the flower of cannabis, a plant which we all may know, has an impressive history as a medicine going back thousands of years. CBD is one of more than a hundred “phytocannabinoids,” which are unique to cannabis and endow the plant with its robust therapeutic profile. A common correlation is that CBD, being derived from cannabis, will make you feel “stoned” or intoxicated. However, CBD only contains trace amounts of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which-is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives the high sensation.
So, why do you take it?
After hearing about it in the media and its potential benefits I began supplementing it out of pure curiosity. As someone who suffers from chronic neck pain, migraines, anxiety, and restlessness, I was looking for a natural approach to battling aliments without prescription drugs. Since taking CBD I have seen noticeable difference in being able to manage and temporarily relieve pain as well as regulate anxiety along with getting a more restful and complete sleep. Fun fact: Humans have a series of receptors in their body called the Endocannabinoid System (or ECS for short).
Our bodies naturally create molecular compounds called endocannabinoids that interact with these receptors by turning them on or off to help manage things like sleep, mood, pain regulation, and inflammation. The ECS directly affects the female reproductive system and its entire job is to maintain balance in our body by constantly regulating these receptors.
As we get older, and we experience stress, our bodies stop creating as many of these endocannabinoids, which means our system stops functioning as well. How do we replenish those lost endocannabinoids to get the body back in balance? You guessed it–with CBD!
This is why CBD is thought to be so effective in so many areas. When we use CBD, we are replicating what our body already naturally creates with a plant substance that does a similar job. Our bodies are already built to accept these phytocannabinoids as though they were made in our own bodies!
How do I take CBD?
CBD is available in several different forms, the most common are oils, topical creams/lotions, pills, edibles and vaping. I have found the most immediate benefit from oil tinctures as the oil tends to enter and leave my system sooner, these have helped me in cases of restlessness and anxiousness as well as battling migraines. In addition, Brian and I have benefitted from using the topical cream to relieve activity related pain. Brian, who is in the gym six days a week, swears by the cream for easily irritated spots like his neck and lower back.
From my experience CBD works best when I take it daily. I like to think of it like a vitamin — Consistency is key! As far as dosage, it's recommended that you start off with a low dose and work your way up to find what works for you. After evaluating different brands, I really like Equilibria and their approach at finding the appropriate dosage for their customers. You can schedule an appointment with one of their dosage specialists to discuss your current lifestyle, what medications you’re on to make sure they don’t interfere and where to start dosage wise.
How do you choose high quality CBD?
Just like beauty products, all CBD is not created equal when it comes to quality, efficacy, and safety. Because it's not regulated by the FDA, new brands pop up every day with untested products and zero disclosure as to where they are sourced from- yikes!
As the CBD craze grows and the product can be found in every formulation from pet products to food, it is important that just like with any other supplement you do your research to make sure the product is right for you. When looking for high quality CBD it is important to make sure the product is third party tested, free from metals and pesticides as well as making sure it is from a brand that is full-spectrum, and single-sourced (not companies that buy from multiple farms).
A few brands I have tried are Winged CBD, SOUL CBD, Love Wellness and Equilibria. Over the past few months I’ve been consistently taking Equilibria and am so impressed with their resources and commitment to education (which is why I feel comfortable enough to share this post). Even though Equilibria is formulated for women, Brian uses the cream when he is sore or the drops to help get to sleep.
Equilibria is different because of their dedication to producing the highest quality, ethically sourced, fully traceable, third-party tested CBD products. They own their own farm and supply chain, and oversee the production in-house from start to finish, following all the strict farming practices that a medical hemp farm would use—even though they don’t have to!
WHY equilibria?
Two reasons why you will get the MOST out of Equilibria products:
1. Their product is derived from the hemp FLOWER only. This is the purest source of CBD. Other brands also use stalks, stems, and leaves from the plant–but this is much lower grade and therefore results in a less quality product! Their formula is proprietary–meaning no other brand can replicate it.
2. EVERY EQ customer is assigned to a dosage specialist who has a professional background in cannabis. (Think of her as your dosage COUNSELOR). She works with you one on one to understand your goals, and helps come up with a customized routine. Everyone's bodies and needs are different–so there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" CBD routine!
Anything else?
There is still a lot we are learning about CBD. According to the World Health Organization, CBD is a safe non -habit forming product. Typically, it is very uncommon for CBD to show up on a drug tests, however since everyone's body is different there is no way to know for sure. If you’re worried, you can grab an over-the-counter THC test at your local pharmacy to find out for sure.
Again, I am only speaking from my experience and how CBD has benefited me. Like any supplement, it is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. Consult your doctor before you begin CBD for any medical issues you may be experiencing. When beginning a CBD regimen you may not see immediate results and even up to 3 months to experience its full benefits.
Where to start once you get your first box:
The EQ dosage team recommends starting with a 10mg softgel every morning after breakfast and 10mg (one full dropper/1mL) of Daily Drops in the evening. Remember, consistency is key! Finding the right dose for you can take some time, this is why Equilibria has a team of dosage specialists to help come up with the right routine! Make sure to set up a dosage consultation to find the right dose and regimen for you!
CBD may be right for you if…
If you wake up at night and can’t go back to sleep because your mind is racing
If your brain won’t turn off and prevents you from falling asleep
If your patience level with your kids is negative zero and you’re pulling your hair out
If you are really sick of Zoom calls
If that looming work presentation makes your anxiety spike
If your period cramps are THE WORST
If you look at the time every day thinking, “is it time for wine yet?!” but it’s only 3pm
Leave any questions below!
This post is not sponsored or endorsed by Equilibria but I did tell them I was going to write this post, so they were kind enough to offer 15% off to my community with code “caralynmirand” if you’d like to try it out for yourself. xx CMK
PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN KELL