At Kaya, we’re all about wellness - offering it and talking about it. So let’s talk about CBD and Adaptogenic plants.

 

Firstly, what exactly is CBD?

 

Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is available both online, in health stores and on the high-street. It’s completely legal, and though it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, it does not cause a ‘high’. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, CBD ‘exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.’

They also state that to date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.

It’s also important to note that CBD is completely legal as long as it contains less than 1mg of THC - the compound that gets you ‘high’.

So you get all of the benefits from CBD - which includes a reduction in mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder; as well as targeting inflammatory pain such as menstrual pain and gastrointestinal pain.

 

And, what are Adaptogenic plants?

 

Adaptogens are non-toxic plants that help the body to resist stressors of all kinds, such as chemical, physical, or biological. Adaptogens have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions, and they’ve made a huge comeback in this day and age.

Together, CBD and adaptogens can soothe stress - which, in the times of Covid, is very much needed.

CBD and adaptogens make sense together because they both function in a similar way. They can both help the body to fight stressors and sway you from the collapse of burnout. Both CBD and adaptogens help to mitigate responses to everyday stressors, which in turn helps you to look after your own well-being.

Each product on their own has their own benefits, but putting them together is like creating a herbal power couple.

CBD manages to fight stress and targets pain by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate lots of bodily functions. It also has links to our immune system, which can also be impacted by stress.

Ever feel so stressed that you become super run-down and heavily fatigued? Yeah, CBD can help with that.

And, some adaptogens are believed to also affect the endocannabinoid system (ECS), though for the most part they have more of an effect on the adrenal system, which also plays a major role in the body’s stress response - for instance, severe anxiety might signal an adrenal response causing your body to go into what is known as ‘fight or flight mode’.

Together, CBD and adaptogenic plants can become an amazing team in helping to fight all of the above, in a more natural way than taking chemical medication. That’s, of course, not to say that you should put down your prescription or avoid listening to your GP; but it is to say that there are other routes to go down if you struggle with stress and anxiety.

Adding adaptogens into your daily routine when mixed with CBD can have amazing effects. For instance, if you’re fighting your anxiety by taking CBD, adding adaptogens could help to further reduce that stress, without unwanted side effects that too much chemical medication can cause.

CBD and adaptogens are generally thought to be safe - but it’s always important to do your own research and to listen to your GP if you are experiencing severe anxiety disorders. CBD is not, and never will be, a cure for acute mental illness, but it can be something to help you look after your own well-being while fighting everyday, non-acute daily stressors.

And that’s nothing but a good thing.