Ashwagandha and CBD for Balance and Stress Relief

CBD and ashwagandha help to regulate your stress response and defend your body and mind against the damaging effects of chronic stress.

The effects of chronic stress

Our stress response helps us make quick decisions and take life-saving action as soon as a threat is perceived. We perceive the threat, stress hormones rush through us, heart rate increases, and we enter ‘fight or flight’ mode.

While our bodies’ ability to react and adapt to acute stress is a magnificent thing, modern life has definitely pushed our stress response to its limits. Ideally, your body begins to recover once the stressful situation is over, but the reality is that a majority of US adults are dealing with chronic stress. Chronic stress goes hand in hand with chronically elevated cortisol levels.

Cortisol is the stress hormone that triggers our fight or flight response. Upon its release, it signals the body to put a hard stop on any “nonessential” functions in the interest of survival. It activates the limbic system (our primal brain) and shuts down our prefrontal cortex (logical, cognitive brain). It suppresses immune function and digestion. It even affects blood sugar. When cortisol is chronically elevated due to chronic stress, the temporary holds on these systems become full-on shutdowns and your mind and body suffer.

Adaptogens to the rescue

Adaptogens help you adapt to stress so that you don’t get crushed by it. Their primary goal is to help you restore and maintain homeostasis, your body’s ideal state of balance. Stress is always trying to push us off-center and screw with our mind-body balance. The job of adaptogens like ashwagandha is to strengthen our inner forces against the effects of outside forces. In other words, it makes us more resilient to stress. In fact, ashwagandha has been proven to lower cortisol levels!

Ashwagandha root and powder. Adaptogen, nutritional supplement.

While CBD may not technically be classified as an adaptogen, it is focused on the same mission as ashwagandha. The role of CBD, and the endocannabinoid system as a whole, is to help us maintain a stable internal environment despite an ever-changing external environment. Now you see why CBD and ashwagandha are a match made in heaven, right?

CBD and Ashwagandha: The Power Couple

CBD & ashwagandha both provide an all-natural, non-toxic, and effective way to:

• Lower cortisol 
• Regulate serotonin and GABA levels (neurotransmitters that affect mood, sleep, anxiety)
• Create systemic balance and restore homeostasis
• Defend against the negative effects of chronic stress
• Boost immune function 
• Increase focus, endurance, and mental clarity.

Cannabidiol

CBD is one of the most abundant cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Though long in the shadows of THC, CBD has gained incredible popularity due to its ability to deliver the therapeutic benefits of cannabis without the intoxicating effects.

The power of CBD starts in the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) – the vast communication network throughout our bodies. The ECS regulates vital physiological functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, blood sugar, immune function, and pain perception. We have Endocannabinoid receptors throughout our nervous system, immune system, and various organs including the skin.

When our ECS is not functioning properly, it can result in some serious issues. Migraines, chronic pain, autoimmune issues, or inflammatory disease have been linked to Endocannabinoid deficiencies or imbalances.

So, how do you bring it back into balance? Supplement with phytocannabinoids like CBD!

What you can expect from adding CBD into your routine:

• Anxiety and mood support
• Calmer, clearer mind
• Less inflammation 
• Greater capacity for stress 
• A sense of overall balance

CBD has also been shown to have antioxidant, neuroprotective, antibacterial, and antispasmodic effects. 

Ashwagandha

Daily ashwagandha supplementation has been proven to significantly lower cortisol levels, which makes it an amazing tool for addressing chronic stress. While CBD gets the job done through the 5HT (serotonin) receptor network and the endocannabinoid system, ashwagandha addresses the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) first and foremost. The HPA is in charge of hormonal output, including stress hormone (cortisol) output.

Ashwagandha has also been shown to boost neuron regeneration, which in turn helps improve memory, focus, and mental clarity. This adaptogen doesn’t just help your brain though, it also helps to give your body a boost. Research has shown that ashwagandha supplementation resulted in a higher VO2 max (aerobic capacity) even in elite athletes!

What you can expect from adding CBD and ashwagandha into your routine:

• Less crankiness, more patience
• A heightened ability to deal with stress
• Improved focus and mental clarity
• More comfort in your physical body
• A greater sense of overall balance
• Healthier sleep patterns
• Better workouts
• Feeling like you’re in flow

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