CBD for Stress

New to CBD and suffering from chronic stress? This guide to CBD will help you understand how CBD’s relaxing properties can help reduce stress and anxiety. We also list the Best CBD Oils for Stress at the end of this article.

CBD for Stress – The Ultimate Guide

Whether its work, financial pressure, public speaking, family expectations or personal relationships, we all put our bodies and minds through a certain amount of stress on a daily basis.

According to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, an online poll undertaken by YouGov in 2018 across 4,619 participants, the largest known study of stress levels in the UK, suggests that in the past 12 months prior to the study, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope.

When you’re experiencing stress, your nervous system reacts with chemical releases, hormones prepare the brain for action as it draws more oxygen, muscles tighten, the heart beats harder, and breathing accelerates. The body also suppresses the immune, excretory, and reproductive systems.

Whilst stress is a normal reaction that comes from our evolutionary past, it is also known as the ‘silent killer‘. Not only can constant stress takes its toll on your body with headaches, sleeping problems or back and stomach pain becoming part of your daily life, but it can also become a very debilitating and life threatening disease as your immune system weakens.

Managing stress through good work-life balance and a healthy lifestyle should be a priority for everyone, yet it can be incredibly difficult to take some time to relax and calm your body and mind at the end of a long day or stressful moment. Ongoing physical and mental stress can cause or exacerbate several serious health problems, from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, to physical health issues such as high blood pressure, heart diseases and even strokes.

Choosing CBD, a popular product made from hemp extract (cannabis plant), is a natural and effective way to relax both your body and mind without the side effects of traditional stress medication.

In this article we discuss the benefits of CBD oil for stress based on research papers and peer-reviewed studies, which have focused on the link between CBD intake and both mental and physical stress. We explain how CBD oil for stress works and provide links to purchase high quality CBD products we’ve tried and tested.

Take our CBD Quiz

If after reading this guide you are still unsure about what products to choose, simply take our CBD Quiz which has been designed specifically to identify the product and strength that is best suited to your personal needs.

CBD has been proven to help reduce stress and calm both the body and mind, through its interaction with both the Hippocampus and the Amygdala.

CBD Unboxed

What is CBD?

Cannabis (or Marijuana) and hemp are the same plant and come from the Cannabaceae family. Both plants are filled with organic compounds known as “cannabinoids”. Hemp has over 112 different cannabinoids, all of which have their own health benefits.

The main two cannabinoids or compounds of the hemp plant are THC (also known as “Tetrahydrocannabinol”) and CBD (also known as “Cannabidiol”).

THC is the compound known to give cannabis smokers this feeling of “high” and is currently illegal in the UK.

CBD on the other hand, contains none of the psychoactive properties associated with THC (meaning it won’t get you “high”) and is completely legal in the UK. It is also non-addictive and has been suggested to have several medical benefits. Some of these benefits include reducing anxiety and depression, improving sleep and insomnia, reducing pain and inflammation, as well as helping with stress or neurological disorders.

These benefits are possible because CBD interacts with your “Endocannabinoid System” (ECS), which essentially monitors and regulate key functions of your body such as your heat level, your food intake, your hormone levels and so on. When your ECS detects that something is operating outside of what it considers to be its “normal range”, it activates to bring things back to its baseline. If you are exercising and become too hot, your ECS activates and makes you sweat to bring your temperature down. If you need more calories for your body to keep performing (for example running) but you aren’t feeding it, your ECS may start redirecting the energy available towards vital organs such as the heart and brain, leading to a drop in physical performance.

The term Endocannabinoid can be broken down into two parts:

  • Cannabinoid: which comes from Cannabis
  • Endo: which is short for “Endogenous” and means that it is naturally produced by your body.

So endocannabinoid simply means that your body naturally produces cannabinoids, and does so thanks to cannabinoid receptors present in the body, which fall under two categories:

CB1 Receptors

CB1 receptors, which are located in various regions of the body, with a large concentration in the brain and the nerves of the spinal cord, co-ordinate mood, emotion, appetite, and other functions.

CB2 Receptors

CB2 receptors are more commonly found in the immune system and are responsible for controlling inflammation and pain. CBD stimulates these receptors and induces the body to release serotonin.

Serotonin, or 5-HT, is a neurotransmitter that carries signals from one neuron to the other. CBD increases the level of serotonin, which, in return, helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation in the body and possibly reduces the cramping experienced during period pain.

Whilst there are very few differences between “Marijuana” and “Hemp”, the main difference is simply legal and linked to the level of THC that is present in the plant. So different parts of the cannabis plant are either defined as hemp or as cannabis / marijuana.

  • Hemp: hemp is the stalks, stems and sterilized seeds of cannabis sativa (“Cannabis Sativa” is the scientific Latin term that defines hemp, cannabis or marijuana plant species)
  • Cannabis and Marijuana: the leaves, flowers and viable seeds of cannabis sativa

The varieties of cannabis that are regulated, legal and available in the UK are those that produce less than 0.2 percent THC. And given the fact that most THC is in the flowers, CBD products are primarily made from hemp (stalks, stems and sterilized seeds of cannabis sativa) which contain very little THC and are safe to consume.

There has been a lot of interest in CBD from both the research and medical community over the last few years, due to its range of health applications – including but not limited to pain relief, fighting the side effects of cancer medications, alleviating insomnia, lowering stress levels, improving acne outbreaks, counteracting heat disease, or reducing seizures in patients with epilepsy

For all these reasons, CBD products are legal in the UK if they contain less than 0.2% THC and as long as they are advertised as a health supplement and not a medication.

Products containing CBD come in many different forms, with the most common including CBD oils, CBD gummies, CBD capsules, CBD vapes and CBD edibles. Some forms are more fast-acting than others, some have different flavours, some contain differing proportions of CBD extract, and so on, so the type you choose depends entirely upon your personal preferences and the condition you wish to treat.

Here’s what you need to know about using CBD for stress.

Mental Stress: What You Need to Know

Whilst feeling stressed out about specific events or situations that may be challenging or threatening is a normal and extremely common response, feeling constantly stressed to the point of being anxious can cause significant distress and may impact one’s ability to carry out their daily life.

According to MentalHealth.org.uk, stress can be defined as the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable.

This feeling of physical or emotional tension may last even after the “stressor” is removed, a stressor being anything causing stress in your life, be it work, people, specific situations or traumatic events.

According to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, an online poll undertaken by YouGov in 2018 across 4,619 participants, the largest known study of stress levels in the UK, suggests that in the past 12 months prior to the study, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope.

If extrapolated to the overall adult UK population, that’s over 37.5 million people feeling stressed in the UK.

What Causes Stress?

Stress is caused by different factors and whilst these tend to impact people differently, it is understood that most common causes of stress are money, work, health concerns, failure to get enough sleep and households chores.

  • Money or Debt: 22% cited debt as a stressor.
  • Work: In 2019, over 820,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 17.9 million working days lost.
  • Health Concerns: 36% of all adults who reported stress in the previous year cited either their own or a friend/relative’s long-term health condition as a factor.
  • Emails & Text Messages: For people who reported high levels of stress, 12% said that feeling like they need to respond to messages instantly was a stressor.
  • Social Pressure: 49% of 18-24 year olds who have experienced high levels of stress, felt that comparing themselves to others was a source of stress.
  • Appearance and Body Image: 36% of women who felt high levels of stress related this to their comfort with their appearance and body image, compared to 23% of men.
  • Housing: Housing worries are a key source of stress for younger people.
  • Success: Younger people have higher stress related to the pressure to succeed. 60% of 18-24 year olds and 41% of 25-34 year olds cited this

Who Suffers the Most from Stress?

Not everyone is impacted by stress in the same way or respond to the same stressors identically, with 30% of older people reporting never feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope in the past year against only 7% for young adults, suggesting that 93% of them suffer from stress.

Some situations may be more stressful for some people and each category has developed its own coping mechanism.

  • Women: 42% of women believe they are too stressed, with money being the most common cause of stress. To cope with stress, women are more likely to watch television.
  • Men: 36% of men believe they are too stressed, with work being the most common cause of stress. Men are most likely to seek relief through going for a walk.
  • Students: Students between 18-24 struggle with stress for over 12 days of every month on average and 69% of them worry about its impact on their health. Money is the primary stressor for 18-24 years old.

Health Consequences of Chronic Stress

For most people, stress remains under control. They learn to manage their stress better by having a better handle on external pressures, to reduce the number of stressful occurrences in their life or by developing their emotional resilience, so they are better equipped to cope with difficult situations which may cause stress.

Rather worryingly though, stress has both behavioural and psychological effects including:

  • Food consumption: 46% reported that they ate too much or ate unhealthily due to stress.
  • Alcohol and cigarette consumption: 29% reported that they started drinking or increased their drinking, and 16% reported that they started smoking or increased their smoking.
  • Depression and Anxiety: 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious
  • Loneliness: 37% of adults who reported feeling stressed reported feeling lonely as a result

From Stress to Chronic Stress

Whilst stress isn’t a psychiatric diagnosis most health care professionals agree on the fact that it is closely linked to mental health in two ways:

Stress can cause mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, in turn making existing problems worse

Mental health problems can cause stress as it may be more difficult to cope with day-to-day life when suffering from mental health issues, which in turn can be an extra source of stress.

Chronic stress is a real threat to your health and it is important to understand what some of the common symptoms of chronic stress are. These incudes:

  • Feeling of dread
  • Feeling of being on-edge
  • Churning feeling in your stomach
  • Feeling light-headed or dizzy
  • Pins and needles
  • Headaches, backache or other aches and pains
  • Faster breathing
  • A fast, thumping or irregular heartbeat
  • Sweating or hot flushes
  • Grinding your teeth, especially at night
  • Nausea (feeling sick)
  • Needing the toilet more or less often
  • Feeling helpless
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Digestive problems or changes in appetite
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in your sex drive
  • Nervousness

If you observe these symptoms on a recurring basis, you may be affected by chronic stress. But do remember that symptoms vary from person to person and what really matters is whether or not stress is getting in the way of your day-to-day life.

Health Consequences of Chronic Stress

As per the health consequences, chronic stress can lead to many serious health problems if not managed properly. Some of these include heart disease, high blood pressure, burnout, depression, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia, skin irritation, respiratory infections, diabetes, obesity, weak immune system, autoimmune diseases or insomnia.

Side Effects of Stress & Anxiety Medication

Since stress is a common reaction to things happening in our day-to-day life, it isn’t qualified as a mental health problem and as such there is no specific medication for stress. However, there are several over the counter and prescription medications which are often used as a way to reduce some of the symptoms of stress.

However, these are only short-term solutions and have known side-effects. These tend to include.

Sleeping pills

One of the consequences of stress is insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns, resulting in a person not feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep.

This could become a vicious cycle as the less refreshed you feel, the most likely it is that you will feel overwhelmed by stress which in turn will make it more difficult for you to sleep, and so on.

Whilst medications such as benzodiazepines or ‘Z’ drugs such as Zaleplon, Zolpidem and Zopiclone act as a sedative by increasing the level of a brain chemical called Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) which in turn reduces the brain activity in areas of the brain responsible for emotions and rational thoughts, may be prescribed to help a patient sleep, they cannot be taken for more than 1 to 3 weeks and often have several side effects including:

  • Dependence and withdrawal symptoms
  • Sleep-walking, sleep-driving or sleep-eating
  • Violent behaviour (whilst asleep)
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Diarrhoea and nausea
  • Drowsiness during the day
  • Allergic reaction
  • Memory problems

There are also a certain number of contraindications, meaning that you should not take them if you already take certain drugs or suffer from specific conditions, including sleep-related breathing problems (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea), neuromuscular weakness (e.g. myasthenia gravis) and during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Minor tranquillisers

Minor tranquillisers work in a similar fashion to sleeping pills in that they are sedatives, which means that they slow your body and brain’s functions, including your heartbeat, breathing and thought process.

The most prescribed minor tranquillisers in the UK are from the benzodiazepines family. The most well-known brands being:

  • Valium – the generic name of Valium is Diazepam
  • Ativan – the generic name of Ativan is Lorazepam
  • Mogadon – the generic name pf Mogadon is Nitrazepam
  • Normison – the generic name of Normison is Temazepam
  • Rohypnol – the generic name of Rohypnol is Flunitrazepam

Not only have some of these minor tranquilisers have become street drugs (e.g. Normison has become a substitute for Heroin and Rohypnol is commonly known as the “date rape” drug), but they also have short and long term side effects including:

  • Dependence and withdrawal symptoms
  • Memory loss
  • Mental confusion
  • Stomach and digestive disorders
  • Aggressive behaviours
  • Depression

Antidepressants

When stress becomes too much and turns into mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders, the use of antidepressants to correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which are responsible for changes in mood and behaviour is commonplace. These generally fall under one of two categories:

  • SNRIs: Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, also known as SNRIs, are used to treat major depression and associated mood disorders. They work by raising the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters in the brain that play a key role in stabilizing mood.
  • SSRIs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also referred to as SSRIs, are also used to treat depression and are one of the main antidepressants prescribed today. SSRIs work by blocking the absorption of serotonin in the brain to facilitate the sending and receiving of messages by brain cells which results in better and more stable mood. SSRIs tend to have fewer side effects than other antidepressants and are therefore a popular medication to treat patients suffering from depression.

Not only do these antidepressants have a substantial time lag to induce therapeutic response, meaning that several weeks of treatment are necessary to generate a positive response, but their overall efficacy also remains quite low with a third of patients not responding to the treatment itself. More worryingly though, they come with a long list of side effects which shouldn’t be ignored:

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation or diarrhoea
  • Weight loss
  • Low sodium
  • Skin issues such as rashes
  • Dry mouth
  • Excessive sweating
  • Muscle issues such as tremors
  • Low sex drive and sexual dysfunction
  • Insomnia
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation and abnormal thinking

In children and teenagers, there also seems to be a link between antidepressants and suicidal thoughts.

According to a recent analysis of short-term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants carried out in the US, including SSRIs, in children and teenagers, suffering from major depressive disorder, known as MDD, the average risk of suicide during the first few months of treatment was 4%, twice the risk of the placebo group which stood at 2%.

The second aspect to consider when looking at antidepressants is the fact that patients taking SNRIS or SSRIs can become addicted to them. This addiction is mainly linked to the physical dependence an individual may develop regarding the drug, meaning that they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and tremors if they were to suddenly stop taking the drug.

Start With a Balanced Lifestyle

Before looking at how CBD could help you feel more relaxed, it’s important to first identify what the “stressors” in your life are and to address those by building a more balanced lifestyle.

Here are a few recommended steps to help you feel more relaxed on a day-to-day basis. A combination of all these steps will help you drastically reduce the amount of stress you feel:

  • Eat Healthy: eating healthy foods and staying away from refined sugar can help your overall mood and reduce your stress levels.
  • Exercise Daily: Exercise is proven to help with stress. Just a short walk can improve your mood dramatically.
  • Avoid Alcohol: Whilst drinking may sound like a great mechanism to deal with stress, as alcohol is a sedative and a depressant that affects the central nervous system. But reaching out for the bottle may not be the solution long term as you can build a tolerance to the de-stressing effects of alcohol which will lead to increased alcohol consumption over-time, ultimately leading to both physical and mental consequences.
  • Meditation or Breathing Exercises: Take time to meditate, work on breathing exercises or simply to think about your life. By using these simple techniques, you will more easily recognize when you are stressed and will be better equipped to deal with your feelings.
  • Sleep: Sleep helps your body and mind relax. Be sure to get 8 hours sleep each night and to be in bed as early as possible to allow your body and mind to repair and process information whilst you sleep, which is essential to better manage your stress.

Whilst these simple recommendations will generally have a positive impact on your stress level, using CBD products in conjunction with those techniques can prove beneficial.

CBD Can Reduce Your Stress

Although people have been using herbal remedies for sleep, anxiety, or pain for centuries, it wasn’t until the last few years that hemp’s legal status changed to allow more users and additional studies. Cannabidiol, the scientific name for CBD, on the other hand is a naturally occurring compound coming from the hemp plant that helps people fight stress and anxiety disorders.

There is extensive research on the effectiveness of CBD oil when used to treat stress and anxiety since CBD has broad therapeutic properties across a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, stemming from diverse central nervous system actions.

In recent years, CBD has attracted increasing interest as a potential anxiolytic treatment (to treat stress and anxiety).

CBD Relaxing Properties

CBD is believed to interact with specific receptors, specifically the CB1R and CB2R.

CB1 receptors co-ordinate mood, emotion, appetite, and other functions. While CB2 receptors are responsible for controlling inflammation and pain. CBD stimulates these receptors and induces the body to release serotonin.

Serotonin, or 5-HT, is a neurotransmitter that carries signals from one neuron to the other. CBD increases the level of serotonin, which, in return, helps relieve stress and other medical conditions.

Whilst more research needs to be carried out to determine the impact of CBD on stress and anxiety disorders, a number of studies have already been carried out on the matter.

According to a double-bind 2010 study, subjects were either given 400mg of CBD or a placebo.

The results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety in SAD (social anxiety disorder) and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas. Similar results were observed in another study conducted almost a year later.

A 2014 study shows that CBD acts similarly to ant-depressants and helps relieve stress in general.

Another study in 2018 saw CBD help with pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. According to the same study, the researchers claim to have just scratched the surface. The true potential of CBD oil is still unknown.

CBD Interacts With the Hippocampus & Amygdala

When it comes to stress and anxiety-related disorders, it is important to understand the crucial role brain chemistry plays, especially in relation to the hippocampus and the amygdala.

  • Hippocampus: The hippocampus is a complex part of the brain that plays a major role in cognitive and emotional functions. There is increasing evidence showing that adult hippocampal neurogenesis – the process by which the hippocampus regenerates thanks to neural stem cells producing new neurons – helps reduce stress and anxiety by boosting the endocrine response. Put it simply, people with attenuated (reduced) hippocampal neurogenesis are more likely to develop anxiety-related behaviours.
  • Amygdala: The amygdala is a collection of cells near the base of the brain (there is one in each side of the brain) that is part of the brain’s limbic system. It is the area of the brain where emotions are given meaning and remembered. Research has shown that people who suffer from depression will experience a hyper-active amygdala.

CBD helps to ease the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression by regulating the functions of the hippocampus and the amygdala, and therefore their effects on how our brain processes potentially anxiety ridden information or situations.

CBD Increases Cerebral Blood Flow

CBD has been proven to increase cerebral blood flow to areas of the brain associated with memory processing, specifically the hippocampus. The findings identify a potential mechanism for the use of CBD to treat disorders associated with altered memory processing, including Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, and schizophrenia.

Put it simply, a single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) helped increase blood flow to the hippocampus, an important area of the brain associated with memory and emotion, which means that CBD has been proven by several scientists and medical professionals to help smooth the cognitive processes of this part of the brain.

According to Dr Michael Bloomfield from UCL: “Cannabidiol is one of the main constituents of cannabis and is gaining interest for its therapeutic potential. There is evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety as well as improve memory function. Additionally, CBD changes how the brain processes emotional memories, which could help to explain its reputed therapeutic effects in PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.”

These finding have been backed by double blind studies where on different occasions, separated by at least a week, each participant was given a 600mg of oral CBD or a placebo. The doses came in identical capsules, so participants did not know which one they were taking on which occasion.

Researchers measured blood flow to the hippocampus using ‘arterial spin labelling’ – an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scanning technique which measures changes in the blood oxygen levels.

CBD significantly increased blood flow in the hippocampus, however CBD did not cause significant differences in blood flow in other regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), of which the hippocampus is a significant component.

In the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain used for planning and decision making, CBD caused a significant increase in blood flow in the orbitofrontal cortex.

This supports the view that CBD has region-specific blood flow effects in the human brain, which would help with conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety.

In a double-blind study in Brazil, 57 participants received either CBD oil or a placebo 90 minutes before they underwent a simulated public speaking event. The researchers found that a 300-mg dose of CBD was the most effective at significantly reducing anxiety during the event.

Since one of the buy-products of CBD consumption is an increased blood flow in the hippocampus as well as in the orbitofrontal cortex, researchers assume that CBD essentially helps repair damage in both these areas caused by the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

And seeing as sleep deprivation is largely related to depression and anxiety issues; CBD therefore has well known benefits when it comes to insomnia also.

CBD Can Improve Your Sleep

Most people suffering from chronic stress tend to feel overwhelmed during the day and may even struggle to sleep at night. So how can CBD help?

There is extensive research on the effectiveness of CBD oil to treat insomnia and improve sleep.

CBD works with the human body to increase calm, decrease stress, and lower anxiety levels. These responses indirectly improve your sleep. In the 1990s, researchers confirmed the body has an endocannabinoid system or ECS. Researchers have only found a link between the cannabinoids found in hemp with the ECS, making it an unusual reaction.

The ECS is a complex cell-signalling system consisting of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes. Scientists believe it plays many roles, including maintaining balance in the body. When it comes to sleep, the ECS helps regulate sleep and sleep cycles. Also, relating to sleep, a potential function is boosting anandamide to reduce depression and anxiety.

The cannabinoid receptors interact with endocannabinoids and cannabinoids. The CB1 is located in the nervous system and brain. Additionally, the CB2 is found mostly in the immune system and most organs.

A recent surge in scientific publications has found preclinical and clinical evidence documenting value for CBD in some neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Evidence points toward a calming effect for CBD in the central nervous system.

In 2019, a large case series was published in the Permanente Journal about CBD’s calming effects on the central nervous system. The studies showed patients taking CBD saw lower anxiety levels, experienced less stress, and slept better at night. Additionally, most participants experienced no or few side effects.

So through its pain relief and calming effect, CBD may help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.

CBD: The ‘Entourage Effect’

Now that you know that CBD can help you relax, it is important to understand the concept of ‘entourage effect’.

The entourage effect is the theory that while each botanical compound has a unique role or benefit, its behaviour may change when the presence of another compound is present.

For example, it would be more effective and quicker to produce a play with a team of actors rather than one actor playing all the parts. When each actor has a specific role to focus on, they can learn their lines and direction and support their fellow actors. But one actor alone will take a lot longer to learn all the lines for the various parts they have to play.

This is similar to the entourage effect. Essentially, everyone knows their role, but their performance can be enhanced by comradery.

But how is this applied to CBD?

CBD Entourage

We know that CBD products stimulate the endocannabinoid system and make it work more efficiently. But different CBD products affect the ECS differently, depending on their formulation. As previously, discussed there are 3 types of CBD formulation:

  • Full-spectrum: No additional extraction, contains all the natural ingredients of the hemp plant, including CBD, THC, terpenes and flavonoids.
  • Broad-spectrum: All traces of THC are removed from the oil. Every other ingredient remains.
  • CBD Isolate: The oil only contains CBD, everything else is removed.

One of the above formulations has been proven to give better results in reducing pain, inflammation and many other symptoms. Which one of these formulations do you think stimulates the ECS best?

Would it be the most natural substance (full-spectrum), the one with any psychoactive ingredients (broad-spectrum) or the purest form of CBD (isolate)?

According to the entourage effect, it is the full-spectrum CBD because it keeps all the natural components of the hemp plant, which include:

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

The theory of the entourage effect was first introduced by Dr Ethan B. Russo. He thinks that cannabinoids such as CBD and THC work with terpenes (aromatic component) to produce a “synergy.”

In his study “Taming THC: Potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects” (2010) Dr Ethan B Russo suggests:

  • The terpene pinene, which gives the scent of pine, may help counteract compromised memory caused by THC.
  • CBD and terpene limonene, which gives a citrus scent, might work together to alleviate anxiety.
  • A combination of CBD and terpene caryophyllene, offering a pepper smell, may be beneficial in the treatment of addiction.

The possibility of “synergy” of endless but have not yet been categorically proven. For more information read his other study “The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No “Strain, No Gain” published in 2019.

Omega-3, Antioxidants and Nutrients

In addition to CBD, THC and terpenes, full-spectrum CBD oil also contains Omega-3, which is vital to the ECS. Omega-3 is used to maintain the receptor CB1, which regulate pain and memory.

It also aids the absorption of external cannabinoids, as well as making endocannabinoids internally.

Other nutrients and antioxidants have also been discovered in full-spectrum CBD oil, for example, Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble compound that can prevent cataract formation, postpone the appearance of wrinkles and grey hair, boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation.

As you can see CBD oil when first extracted from the hemp plant has a huge list of ingredients. All of them seem to play a part in helping our bodies. We may not know exactly what they all do. But as time passes and research continues, we can learn more.

Is CBD Legal in the UK?

CBD oil, like any other natural remedy, has been used throughout the ages for its medicinal properties. It was evidenced to have been used in ancient societies with the first recorded case in 2727 B.C in China. It was used to treat anything from poor memory and malaria to gout. It has since been used throughout the world to treat various ailments from anxiety to insomnia and menstrual pains.

Throughout the 1940s, there was extensive research into isolating the CBD compound from the other 100+ compounds found within the marijuana plant, due to its lack of psychoactive effects.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s when the US legally recognised the medicinal worth of CBD oil, and it was decriminalised in Oregon. There was a large emphasis on the clear distinction between the CBD compound and the THC compound within the marijuana plant.

The UK followed suit in 2016, making it legal to buy CBD oil to help treat a multitude of health issues, including but not limited to:

  • Depression and anxiety disorders (PTSD, OCD, panic disorder or substance/addiction disorders)
  • Chronic pain and inflammation
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart issues
  • Helps to reduce blood pressure and oxidative stress
  • Diabetes
  • Fight bacteria
  • Insomnia and sleep related issues
  • Helps with symptoms of schizophrenia,
  • Skin conditions (psoriasis/eczema)
  • Alzheimer’s disease

In a study conducted by the Centre for Medical Cannabis, their results showed that one in six adults in the UK had tried CBD oil, proving that it is one of the fastest-growing, contemporary, well-being products on the market.

Figures also show that the rates of people using CBD oil were higher amongst the under 55 age range. Also, figures were higher amongst females, with 62% of them using CBD to treat anxiety related issues.

How to Take CBD for Stress?

There are a few ways to take CBD to help reduce your stress as well as relax both your mind and body. Choosing a method is often a personal preference. The most common are tinctures, gummies, capsules and vapes.

CBD Tinctures

CBD oil is the most common way of getting your daily dose of CBD to help you relax and reduce the overall feeling of stress and anxiety..

However, whilst this is the most popular way to consume CBD, CBD oil often has a more earthy, nutty, woody or grass-like taste which is down to the fact the product is natural, safe, and non-toxic.

You can use CBD oil in different manners.

You can either place a few drops under the tongue and hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. This way of consuming CBD – called sub-lingual. This is one of the best ways to get it absorbed into the bloodstream as this method allows CBD to completely bypass the digestive system and liver metabolism, so the compounds can avoid being broken down by enzymes and reach the bloodstream more quickly. This offers the quickest relief with an onset of 20 minutes or less.

For those who feel the earthy or grassy taste of CBD is too strong, another option is to mix it with a food or a drink to mask the taste. However, be aware that when you digest CBD, it will not provide immediate relief and you may need to wait 30 to 60 minutes for it to start working.

CBD Capsules

If the earthy and grassy taste of CBD oil or its sharp and bitter aftertaste is not for you, you may want to choose CBD capsules to experience all the benefits of CBD without any of the nasty taste or additives that gummies may contain (such as sugar).

CBD capsules are filled with a precise dose of CBD (usually between 10mg and 50mg of CBD per capsule). You can take one or two capsules, once or twice daily with a full glass of water. The CBD usually comes from full-spectrum (<0.01% THC) ground hemp and is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. However, seeing as CBD capsules go through the digestive system, they take about an hour or so to work.

Choosing capsules is a great way to get your CBD intake and it’s incredibly travel friendly, the ideal solution for those who are always on the go.

CBD Gummies

For consumers who aren’t comfortable using the sublingual drops or those who struggle to swallow capsules, the CBD-infused chewy candies are a yummy way to consume the hemp extract.

Using CBD gummies is also an easy and accurate way of measuring that you are getting the right amount of CBD as each gummy will provide you with an exact dose of CBD (from 10mg to 50mg).

Unlike CBD oil which acts within 20-30 minutes as it gets absorbed into the blood stream, the onset for CBD gummies is about an hour as edibles need to go through the digestive system.

Finally, remember that gummies tend to contain additional ingredients – including sugar and additives. So whilst gummies are a convenient way to get your daily intake of CBD to treat your pain, eating 3-5 gummies each day could have a negative impact on your overall sugar intake! This isn’t always ideal and for that reason, we would always recommend going for CBD oil or CBD capsules whenever possible.

CBD Vapes

Whilst the team at CBD Unboxed isn’t pro-smoking or pro-vaping, using a vape and inhaling CBD appears to be a great way to get your daily dose of CBD as the heating process occurring whilst smoking increases absorption.

How? By smoking CBD, the active compounds quickly enter the bloodstream via the lungs where they are transported throughout the body. Compared to oral intake such as gummies and capsules, vaping avoids the liver breaking down many of CBD’s beneficial compounds which enhances its potency.

Also, unlike edibles which often contain additional ingredients, the only two ingredients present in CBD vapes and vape juices tend to be cannabinoids and terpenes, natural substances commonly found in herbs, fruits, flowers and plants.

Whilst this seems a great way to get your daily CBD intake, we cannot comment on its use or efficacy as we have not tried vaping products and most research papers to this day have focused on CBD oil.

How Much CBD Should I Consume?

CBD doesn’t have one-size-fits-all dosing and calculating a proper dosage of CBD can be tough as our bodies react to it differently.

The four major factors affecting your CBD dosage are:

  • Your weight
  • The condition being treated (i.e. depression, chronic pain etc)
  • The severity of your condition
  • The concentration of CBD oil

Most brands recommend customers start with the lowest dose and increase until they find the right serving size that fits their needs. The most common starting amount is between 10mg and 25mg. For anxiety and depression, the dose can vary from 20mg to 50mg or more.

As a rule of thumb, a person weighting between 10.5 and 17 stones (approximately 150 and 240 lbs) may need between 18mg and 27mg of CBD per day depending on the severity of their symptoms.

When using CBD for the first time, we would always recommend starting with a one of two drops of the 3% or 6% CBD oil placed under the tongue (sublingual) and holding it there for at least 30 seconds so it can absorb into the bloodstream.

Taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to see how your body reacts to it is also recommended. If you are not seeing any major benefits with a single drop, increase your intake by a single drop every 2 or 3 days until finding the right balance to treat your personal symptoms.

How to calculate the number of drops needed to achieve my targeted CBD intake?

Whilst it may be confusing at the beginning, it’s incredibly simple to work out how many drops of CBD oil you need to take depending on your daily requirements and the strength of the product you bought.

Most bottles of CBD oil contain 10ml of product and come in strengths ranging from 300mg to 2,400mg – also known as 3% and 24% CBD oils. This simply means that in a 1ml drop of the 300mg bottle, you will have 30mg of CBD, whilst the same 1ml of the 2,400mg bottle will give you 240mg of CBD.

How Many CBD Drops Should You Take?

Whilst it may be confusing at the beginning, it’s incredibly simple to work out how many drops of CBD oil you need to take depending on your daily requirements and the strength of the product you bought.

Most bottles of CBD oil contain 10ml of product and come in strengths ranging from 300mg to 2,400mg – also known as 3% and 24% CBD oils. This simply means that in a 1ml drop of the 300mg bottle, you will have 30mg of CBD, whilst the same 1ml of the 2,400mg bottle will give you 8 times that amount for a total of 240mg of CBD.

So assuming you need to hit 25mg of CBD per day with, you will need:

CBD / Bottle CBD / Drop # Drops
500mg 1.25mg 20 drops
1000mg 2.5mg 10 drops
1800mg 4.5mg 5.5 drops
2400mg 6.0mg 4 drops

Assuming you are using the 500mg CBD oil for a daily dose of 25mg, you will need to take approximately 20 drops per day (25mg divided by 1.25mg per drop). You could break this down throughout the day by taking 8 drops first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, 6 drops early afternoon and 6 drops at night before going to bed.

If however you bought the 2400mg CBD oil for a daily dose of 25mg, you would only need to take 4 drops per day (25mg divided by 6mg per drop), which you could also spread across the day – 2 in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

As with everything, start with a small amount of CBD oil daily to make sure there’s no reaction, then increase slowly by a drop every 1-2 days until finding the right balance.

If you feel less depressed and anxious by increasing your daily CBD intake and don’t experience any particular side effects, you have fond your sweet spot and CBD is definitely working for you.

What are the Side Effects of CBD?

Most people do not experience any side effects when taking CBD as this is a natural product. However, as with everything, some people may experience mild side effects from the hemp extract, including:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Drowsiness

The best way to decrease adverse reactions is to simply lower your daily intake of CBD, or if taking CBD oil under the tongue, to mix it with your food and drink to mask the taste and reduce potential side effects as the CBD will be processed by the digestive system – which means slower absorption.

How To Choose Quality CBD?

As with anything you ingest, the source and quality of your CBD products are important. We would always recommend looking at five main aspects before choosing your CBD gummies.

CBD Oil from Organic Hemp

Hemp can be grown in just the same way as any other plant – mass-produced and using pesticides and GMOs for the greatest profit, or grown organically with care and attention to provide a fantastic end product.

The best CBD is produced from organic hemp that has benefited from plenty of rain during the growing process. While hemp can physically be grown in many countries, it grows best when the temperature is in the low twenties Celsius. Therefore, the location of the hemp farm is important to ensure the optimum environmental factors are accommodated.

And seeing as cannabis plants can be stressed out by the weather, resulting in a higher THC content (above 0.2%), it’s important to ensure that your CBD oil comes from organic hemp which has been grown in the right part of the world.

Less Than 0.2% THC

Cannabis flowers and extracts usually contain two cannabinoids known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Yet the exact percentage of each can vary greatly, depending on the plant variety and the growing technique used.

THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation, while CBD has been associated with health benefits.

The EU common agricultural policy states that cannabis plant can be grown for industrial uses, provided their THC content does not exceed 0.2 %. That’s in the plant, not in the CBD product you buy.

So when buying CBD oil from a shop or online retailer, be sure to check that their products contain less than 0.2% THC.

Clean Extraction Method

Once the hemp is grown and harvested, the CBD needs to be extracted from the plant. There are several methods for doing this, including the use of carbon dioxide (CO2). This produces the cleanest and purest CBD extract but can be expensive to do as the machinery required is not cheap.

Alternative methods include using solvents such as ethanol or plant oils (eg olive oil) to extract the CBD.

This can lead to less-pure CBD extract, as small amounts of solvent or oil can remain, although most companies using this type of extraction method will usually test their CBD extracts to ensure they are solvent free and safe to consume.

Tested by Independent Labs

Another thing we would recommend checking is whether or not your CBD oil has contaminants. That’s because cannabis plants readily absorb heavy metals, pesticides, and other potentially harmful chemicals that may be in the soil or water.

To ensure your CBD oil is free of those harmful chemicals, it should be tested frequently while the hemp is growing, and finished products should also be tested, using validated methods.

The extract should be tested and certified by a third-party laboratory to confirm the quality of the CBD. Organic CBD should be GMO-free, pesticide-free, and as pure as possible. In the UK and EU, CBD must register THC content of 0.2% or lower.

Most reputable companies selling CBD oil in the UK publish their lab results on their website. Below are a few examples of companies that play the transparency card with their customer and share their lab results for each batch of CBD they produce:

Strength to Match your Needs

Finally, the CBD level within any product should be of a suitable strength to match your needs. Every person is different and their body will respond in a slightly different way, so the level may partially be down to personal preference.

However, higher concentrations might be more suitable for treating different ailments to lower concentrations, and it is wise to check the level of CBD in every product you use.

As a rule of thumb, people looking to use CBD for sleep, anxiety, digestion, relaxation or stress might take between 10mg and 25mg of CBD daily and use the lowest strength (300mg to 600mg), whilst those using CBD as a pain relief for conditions such as severe arthritis, back pain or migraines may want to take 30mg to 50mg of CBD per day and use higher concentration products (1200mg to 2400mg).

So remember that CBD oil comes in different concentration and that this will impact how many drops you need to take – for example Blessed 500mg CBD oil (5%) contains 1.25mg of CBD per drop, whilst their 1800mg CBD oil (18%) contains 4.5mg of CBD per drop.

What to Expect when Taking CBD?

First-time users may experience relief immediately, as CBD is brand new to your ECS. However, this does depend on the ailment you are trying to improve. For example, one dose of CBD could relieve pain, reduce anxiety and reduce nausea but it wouldn’t stop seizures, cure your depression or diabetes.

If it took you a long time to get the symptom then the same will be said for reducing, preventing or eliminating it.

Immediate Relief (After 24 hours a noticeable difference is seen):

Pain, Inflammation, Migraines, Nausea, Anxiety, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Stress, Insomnia, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Rheumatism and Motion Sickness.

Short Term Relief (Noticeable between 2-14 days):

Acne, Inflammation, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Depression, Stress, Insomnia, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Rheumatism, Endocrine Disorders, Obesity, OCD, Spinal Cord Injury and Rheumatism.

Long Term Relief (Noticeable between 2+ weeks):

ALS, Addiction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atherosclerosis, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Depression, Diabetes, Endocrine Disorders, Fatty Liver Disease, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Huntington´s Disease, Kidney Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Mood Disorders, Neurodegeneration, Obesity, Parkinson´s Disease, Prion Disease, Schizophrenia and Traumatic Brain Injury.

As you can see from the table above, symptoms which occur quickly can be improved in the same short time frame. Progressive illnesses and their more severe side effects require longer exposure to CBD before a real difference can be seen.

This is just a general guide, literally every single person is different. No one person has the same biology, external factors, ailments and lifestyle.

Top 5 CBD Oils for Stress

With over 150 CBD brands on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right CBD product. This is why the CBD Unboxed team has tried and tested most CBD products and brands available in the UK market and assessed them across 6 key areas:

  • Efficacy
  • Taste
  • Value for Money
  • Third Party Certification
  • Packaging
  • Shipping & Delivery

Based on our findings and whilst every person will be different, we would recommend the below five CBD oils to start with if you suffer from chronic stress or anxiety.

CBD
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Still unsure about what products to choose? Simply take our CBD Quiz which has been designed specifically to identify the product and strength that is best suited to your personal needs.

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