Why CBD Should Be Your New Favorite Adaptogen

Prioritizing your health and wellness right now? Then you’ve probably heard of adaptogens, but did you know CBD falls into that category too? Find out why CBD is about to be your new favorite adaptogen!

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It seems like you can’t get online without hearing someone talk about how maca powder or ashwagandha changed their life. Honestly, it does look pretty magical. Watching someone put a pinch of bright orange powder or a spoonful of emerald green powder into their smoothies makes us want to put on our wizard robes and start brewing our own potions. 

Well, before modern medicine, apothecaries did just that (minus the dramatic wizard robes 😆). The research past apothecaries did with plants and herbs were precursors to the modern practices of pharmacology and chemistry.

 Basically, they used mother natures medicine cabinet to relieve a wide variety of issues. While we don’t recommend ditching western medicine completely (the magic of an MRI machine is pretty obvious) it’s not a bad idea to think about adding adaptogens to your wellness routine. 

For starters, we recommend CBD! The hemp plant that CBD comes from is packed full of beneficial compounds that are phenomenal for your skin, body, and even your mood. Keep reading to learn why CBD should be your new favorite adaptogen.

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are natural substances meant to be taken long-term that help your body stabilize and adapt to stress. For many of us, stress is kind of our natural state. Don’t believe us? We’ll be surprised if the following description doesn’t sound familiar…

The Stress Cycle First, you get stressed. It could be something small, like missing your exit on the freeway. Your body then signals to our nervous system to work harder, which exhausts and irritates you. Then your immune system crashes, your poor nerves work even harder but get depleted in the process which causes more stress...all we can say is YIKES.

If reading about the stress cycle had you nodding your head, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way! 

Your autonomic nervous system regulates all of the things that you DON’T consciously control (think blood pressure, breathing, and heartbeat). Research suggests that adaptogens, when used properly, help your autonomic nervous system stabilize. 

Why is that important? Because soothing your overactive autonomic nervous system means your body will have more energy to use for other things like boosting your immune system, developing a more regular sleep cycle, and even for feeling frisky 😉

Using Adaptogens in Your Everyday Life

Does anyone else have a relative that swears by their morning cup of ginseng tea? Well, soon that relative might be YOU! Adaptogens have been used for centuries to aid in an assortment of ailments. You might already have a few in your cupboard. 

Have you ever enjoyed a golden-latte with turmeric? Are you a licorice lover? If you answered yes to either of these, then you’re already supplementing with adaptogens! 

Other popular picks are ashwagandha, holy basil, moringa, Gotu kola, and about a hundred different types of mushrooms. We’ve even included adaptogens in some of our products. Our Healing CBD Salve includes several adaptogens chosen for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Combining different adaptogens together can create a synergistic healing effect that you might not get with just one of them alone. 

You should definitely expect to see adaptogens moving into the mainstream as well. Companies like Apothékary are spreading the magic of adaptogenic plants and mushrooms with their herbal blends. Moon Juice even gives you tips on how to combine their products for different effects (their Hot Sex Mocha recipe looks VERY tempting).

 

Why CBD Should Be Your New Favorite Adaptogen

If an adaptogen is something that helps regulate different bodily systems, then CBD definitely qualifies. It’s even recommended to take CBD long term to experience its full benefits, just like adaptogens. When your body has a regular supply of CBD, your endocannabinoid system functions more smoothly. Aaaaand your endocannabinoid system affects pretty much everything else in your body--immune system, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system, and the list goes on and on. 

Plus, remember earlier when we were going on about how certain adaptogens have a “synergistic healing effect” when combined? Well, CBD is the perfect example of that! We make sure to use full-spectrum CBD, which basically means you’re getting all of the beneficial compounds from the original hemp plant. 

When different cannabinoids and terpenes work together, you benefit from a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. So instead of reaching for a CBD isolate, which means only CBD and none of the other plant magic, make sure your products are full-spectrum!

CBD is the Adaptogen We All Need in 2020

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter how you categorize it. Any plant, mineral or herb that increases your body’s wellness is ok by us. It’s important to remember, however, that everyone responds differently. 

These compounds have the ability to alter your bodily functions, and therefore should be given the respect they deserve. It’s recommended to consult with your doctor before starting any new health regimen. Other than that, just start with low doses and go slowly from there.

You can add adaptogens to your morning coffee or tea, to a mid-afternoon smoothie for an extra pick-me-up, and you can even get creative with other food items. We’re not kidding! Even curry with a few extra dashes of turmeric will give a boost of anti-inflammatory powers to your dish.

And let’s not forget the wide world of adaptogenic skincare (it’s what we do best ✌️). So many adaptogens, CBD included, are seriously great for your skin! CBD alone can reduce redness and irritation, combat acne, and increase that high-vibing glow you’ve been trying to achieve since...forever. 

 

Infuse Your Wellness Routine With Adaptogens

Remember that adaptogens are a long game. If you try a certain adaptogen and after a week you don’t feel any different, it’s possible that whichever system it was supposed to regulate...didn’t need any regulating. So make it a goal to try a new adaptogen every couple months, and once you’ve got a list of adaptogens you like start playing mad scientist! 

Create your own recipes and concoctions. Let your inner apothecary run wild and give your body a magical adaptogenic boost. The long robes and pointy hats really aren’t necessary...but we won’t tell anyone 😉

Be sure to tag us in your adaptogenic experiments on Instagram for a chance to be featured on one of our stories! And don’t forget to stock up on CBD infused skincare so your face can get some adaptogen love too.