THE ABC OF CBD

In our often frenetic and time-pressed lives, a lack of proper sleep and increasing daily stress has become a part of our everyday existence. Which is why products, like CBD, that are designed to aid relaxation and ease anxiety (among other things) have become the mental health buzzwords of the past few years. So, why all the hype? Experts in the health and wellness community say this functional ingredient can help people feel great. But how does it work, and how can we use it to reap the most benefits, whether we’re adding it to our diets or beauty regimes? We collaborated with artist Valentin Gillet to celebrate the raw power and beauty of the cannabis and hemp plants, and spoke to experts in the world of CBD, plus picked out a few products to try for yourself as we explore the future of feeling good with SUPERSELF…

CBD (or cannabidiol, to give it its full name) is one of over 100 naturally occurring chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in cannabis or hemp plants (in the leaves, flowers and stems). Supplementing the body with cannabinoids, such as CBD, has been found to help with conditions such as anxiety, stress, pain and inflammation. In fact, CBD’s anxiety-tackling benefits are of particular appeal to many users, given that the WHO (World Health Organization) found that stress and anxiety is the number-one cause of disease in young people. And, in case you’re wondering, CBD isn’t psychoactive (ie it won’t get you high), as it contains no, or only traceable amounts of, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive component in cannabis).

CBD mirrors cannabinoids produced naturally by the human body in our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system’s role is to help keep the body in balance (or, using the technical term, homeostasis) and tackles pain and inflammation, regulates mood and calms anxiety by communicating to the body’s neurone transmitters, cells and hormones. While this doesn’t mean that introducing plant-derived cannabinoids into the body will always make things ‘just right’, it does suggest that we can stimulate the endocannabinoid system by introducing external cannabinoids, such as CBD, into the body.

CBD can be consumed as an oil (dropped under the tongue), or in the form of edible foods or even in drinks. These are usually infused with other functional adaptogens (natural substances that help the body adapt to stress, like ginseng) or botanicals (like the green oregano oil in Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate or the turmeric CBDfx’s CBD gummies) for added health benefits, including improved immunity, greater focus and reduced stress. As for how long it takes the different forms of CBD to work, edibles and capsules can range anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour to take effect, while tinctures can take up to 20 minutes.

CBD is said to be a great addition to our skincare regime, as it is naturally derived and causes little irritation, so is suitable for a wide range of skin types. From reducing blemishes, blotchiness and discomfort to relieving and easing discomfort and stiffness in muscles and joints when applied topically to problem areas, it’s a real miracle worker.