CBD seems to be popping up everywhere claiming to cure every illness under the sun, but does it really work and if so how? Sometimes it can feel like a modern version of the snake oil salesman and I must admit I was skeptical. After many recommendations from friends and a big interest from my community, I decided to give it a try and I am excited to share my experience after 8 weeks of consistent use.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored but all views expressed are my own. The products referenced are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
What Is CBD & How Does it Work?
CBD (short for Cannabidiol) is one of more than a hundred phytocannabinoids, which is unique to cannabis and provides benefits to the body through the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with your biological processes to produce a desired effect.
So how does CBD work in your body? Your Endocannabinoid System (ECS) works to balance all your body's functions and the phytocannabinoid CBD can help to replenish deficiencies due to stress and inflammation. Learn more about CBD Basics
A common misconception is that taking CBD can lead to being "high". Hemp derived CBD products only contain trace amount of THC, which help amplify the therapeutic benefits.
Want to learn more about CBD? Check out this article from the WHO showing that CBD is non-habit forming and safe for consumption.
This article from Project CBD also provides a great science background on CBD.
How to Choose a High-Quality CBD
Just like the food you eat, CBD quality is key! I highly suggest you do your research and talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
When looking for high-quality CBD you want to ensure the product is third-party lab tested, to ensure it is free from heavy metals and harmful pesticides and you want a full spectrum CBD with a tiny amount of THC, which makes it more effective. Don't worry you can't get high from the 0.3% THC included in Equilibria CBD and it is completely legal.
What Did I Hope to Gain with CBD?
I started taking the CBD in mid-May and like many of you my anxiety had been at an all time high. While I am on low-dose anxiety medication and have been for many years, I was excited to see if the CBD could help regulate my moods. I knew very well that CBD could not eliminate my anxiety but I was curious to see if it could help with the peaks and valleys of tension and stress that at the time were consuming me daily!
My Experience with Equilibria
My experience with Equilibria was amazing from the start. Not only are they a company founded by women, but their entire business model and product production is focused on women and education! The team talked to me about my health, the areas I was hoping to address and I worked directly with a dosing specialist to determine the right doses, procedures and timing for my body.
While I took copious notes, I will leave the science of how CBD impacts your endocannabinoid system to the Equilibria Team
My CBD Dosing
Keep in mind that your dosage will be customized to your body, and your needs and can take up to 3 months to see the full effects. It took me about 2 weeks to find a good routine/dose that worked best for me.
8:30am: 1 - 25mg full spectrum softgel with my coffee. The gel is a slow release and meant to slowly balance you throughout the day. * I started on the 10mg and worked up to the 25mg
Side Note: They did suggest taking the capsules with a fatty food for better absorption, which I was doing until I recently switch back to intermittent fasting.
5:00pm - 1/2 dropper (5mg/0.5ml) Daily Drops, pre witching hour, or as needed to manage peaks and valleys of stress. I find the time when I transition from my day job to #momlife + blog life can be most stressful
Bedtime: 3/4 dropper (7mg/0.75ml) daily Drops before bed split into two doses to more easily absorb under my tongue. Letting it absorb vs. swallowing right away helps it absorb into your bloodstream quicker AND it tastes a little less gross. Cannabis has a distinct taste that reminds me of a medicinal herb, but it’s nothing awful. I also tried the new mint flavored drops and they are AMAZING!
Episodic Dose: You can also use your drops episodically as needed. So, if I find myself feeling particularly overwhelmed or anxious, or I know I'm headed into a stressful situation, I will do a 1/2 dropper (5mg/0.5ml) of the Daily Drops.
Science Tip: The drops under the tongue are absorbed and take effect faster but are quicker to leave your body so that is why they work for episodic stress. The capsules on the other hand have a slower onset but have a lasting effect throughout the day.
Did CBD Work for Me?
YES! Despite my skepticism, the consistent addition of CBD to my routine has made a big difference in both my anxiety levels and how quickly I am able to wind down for bed at night.
In order to share more than just my anecdotal experience, I decided to track my stress factors for the first 7 days of my CBD experience.
Stress manifests for me as:
- So many to-do lists/post-its
- Uncontrolled screen-time
- Throwing myself into work (particularly the blog)
- Excessive multi-tasking
- Racing heart rate
Here are my results for the first 7 days of CBD use
- Day 1: 5/5 predictors present
- Day 2: 5/5 predictors present
- Day 3: 4/5 predictors present
- Day 4: 1/5 predictors present
- Day 5: 0/5 predictors present
- Day 6: 0/5 predictors present
- Day 7: 0/5 predictors present
Do I still have rough days? Absolutely! But the way I know the CBD is working is that if I miss a day, I immediately notice I am more irritable, more controlled by my anxiety and quicker to snap at family and friends. It's such a gradual balancing that leaves me feeling like the best version of myself!
Want to try Equilibria CBD? You can use the code MYCANCERCHIC for 15% your order
This has been my experience with CBD using one particular company. Each person's experience will be unique. Like any supplement you should consult with your doctor before use and keep in mind that results may take up to 3 months to be evident.
Have more questions about my CBD experience? I'd love to hear from you!
Breast cancer survivor, lover of style, beauty and all things pink! Inspiring you to thrive through adversity.
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