Meditation and mindfulness are often considered the most effective and natural solutions to the stresses of modern life.
As more and more people are looking at natural ways to reach more relaxation for better life quality, CBD cannabis can now be found anywhere in the UK, and Europe. We can now have access to the best websites and products. But what if CBD oil could complement the meditative experience? And did you know that meditation and CBD share the same effects on our mind and body?
In this article, we are about to find out.
CBD oil and meditation: the perfect marriage
Who is not stressed in our Western society? Our pace of life, where we work and where we work hard, fight financial hardship and don’t find enough hours in the day, has left a record number of people struggling with anxiety and depression, which are for many the first signs of buckling stress pressure.
But stress not only causes mental health problems, but it can also cause dangerous increases in blood pressure, arterial damage.
Thus, more than ever, there is an increasing emphasis on learning stress management techniques. Meditation has been promoted around the world.
What is meditation?
There is a lot of confusion as to what precisely mediation is, with many people thinking that it means sitting in a lotus position and clearing your mind.
Although there are different meditation techniques, the most accessible and best known is “mindfulness”, which is to be in the present moment without changing or judging what is happening.
We can be attentive at all times, as long as we give our full attention to the here and now, instead of being distracted by thoughts of what happened yesterday and what we are going to do about it to come up. But to cultivate this ability, most people start with sitting meditation, which can be done cross-legged on a meditation cushion or even just sitting in an upright chair.
A common technique is to focus on the flow of our breath. By following our breath, we are present to what is going on in our body rather than getting caught up in the endless chatter of our mind.
What tends to happen when someone starts to meditate is that little by little, their thoughts begin to slow down and before long; they are in a state of relaxation and calm. But this is not always the case, and this is where acceptance and non-judgment come into play.
Mindfulness develops the capacity to accept even unpleasant emotional states as they are and, generally, when we stop fighting our thoughts and feelings, calm down on our own.
But what does this have to do with CBD, you might ask?
CBD oil and meditation
Many people who use CBD, the non-psychoactive compound in hemp and cannabis, find it helpful to focus their thoughts when they feel chaotic and scattered. A common symptom of stress and anxiety. While the ability of CBD to help focus has so far been mostly anecdotal, it does mean that in the context of meditation it can be a useful tool for centering the mind, especially for beginners in meditation.
It is not uncommon for early meditators to give up quickly because they have trouble concentrating on breathing or have difficulty sitting for extended periods.
Again, this is where the spirit-oriented aspect of CBD could come to the fore, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties, which some people say alleviate joint pain and improve mobility. This anti-inflammatory property is, in fact, something in common with the practice of mindfulness which, according to studies, slows down the activity of genes associated with inflammation.
Another common area between CBD oil and meditation is their ability to promote neurogenesis (new growth of brain cells) in the hippocampus – the area of the brain associated with learning and memory, emotion regulation and taking perspective.
Scientists believe that promoting the growth of new brain cells is one of the reasons why CBD oil can reduce feelings of anxiety. CBD for anxiety is one of the most commonly expressed uses of CBD oil.
Scientists know that CBD can indirectly increase the levels of a cannabis-like chemical, the harmless endocannabinoid, which stimulates mood, named after the Sanskrit word for happiness, Ananda.
Studies have also shown that CBD activates the serotonin 5-HT1a receptor, which they say contributes to its calming and anti-anxiety effect.
How to Combine CBD and Meditation
If you are thinking of trying CBD oil with meditation, it is a good idea to determine how long it will take to apply the chosen CBD method.
If you usually use CBD drops or capsules, try to take them an hour before you start meditating, while if you are vaping, you can meditate immediately.
Anyone new to CBD should also start with a very low dose. Although the compound is considered to be non-psychoactive compared to THC, it can cause drowsiness at higher doses. If you are trying to meditate, the last thing you want to do is take something that will make you sleep at work.
It is also essential to receive formal instruction in meditation, rather than watching a video on YouTube. Find mindfulness meditation groups or stress reduction classes in your area. Without a solid foundation, meditation will always be perceived as a difficult struggle, with or without CBD oil as additional support.
