CBD Oil for Health

CBD and Meditation: A Match Made in Zen or Just a Trend?

Posted on by
01
Sep

For those who meditate, the benefits are clear. This ancient practice is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks in part to the many scientific studies proving how beneficial it is for overall health and wellness.

The same can be said about CBD. We see new research every day that highlights how amazing this natural substance is.

But what happens when you put the two of them together? Is there value in pairing CBD and meditation or is it just a passing fad?

Benefits of Meditation

Over the last few decades, people around the world have have started turning to meditation for a variety of benefits. Meditation is a habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. And that’s something we can all benefit from.

Science proves that, as a holistic modality for healing, it can help with so many different things, including:

Some schools have even instituted meditation breaks because of the benefits for school-aged children!

And you can do it pretty much anywhere.

There are two major forms of meditation: 

  1. Focused-attention meditation: with this meditation, you concentrate your attention on a single object, thought, sound or image. The goal is to clear your mind of any distraction.
  2. Open-monitoring meditation: this meditation encourages broadened awareness of everything around you. Instead of clearing your mind, open-monitoring meditation emphasizes becoming aware of thoughts, feelings or impulses that you might normally try to suppress.

So, what’s the deal with CBD and meditation? Can it help you achieve the ultimate zen?

RELATED: Yoga is another ancient practice that has major benefits. Is there value in pairing it with CBD? Read this next!

CBD and Meditiation

Just in case you need a refresher, cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound in the cannabis plant, which includes both hemp and marijuana. While that may have you thinking about the psychoactive compound THC, CBD comes from hemp and contains little or no THC. That means it won’t give you that “high” feeling.

CBD works by interacting with a complex system in your body called the endocannabinoid system (ES). The ES is in your central nervous system, your skin, your bones, your digestive system, and in this case, arguably most importantly, your brain. Its goal is to help your body achieve and maintain homeostasis, or balance, by controlling a variety of functions, including pain, sleep, digestion, immunity, and even your mood.

When your ES is healthy, it is easier to for your cells to communicate. This helps promote neurotransmitter levels within the brain, making daily stresses easier to deal with. This can help reduce your stress levels – making it easier to focus.

When it comes to meditation, users report that CBD helps soothe the mind and the body to allow you to more easily find that place of calm. Since you want a clear head and supreme focus for meditation, CBD may be the answer to clearing those distractions and giving you the ability to zero in on the here and now. Additionally, if there’s pain that’s blocking you from reaching that meditative state, CBD may assist here as well.

Things to Know About CBD and Meditation

Now, if you’ve never tried meditation before, be aware that it can take time (just like CBD). Chances are, you won’t zen-out on the first try. And CBD won’t give you that immediate meditative space. Meditation takes practice, so give your body and mind the time and space it needs. Don’t get discouraged. And don’t assume that taking your dropper of CBD will magically transport you to that place of calm.

Also, as we mentioned, CBD takes time to work, so with regard to meditation, it’s best as part of an overall daily health and wellness regimen. You may not notice the effects right away, but give it time.

So, next time you’re planning on meditating, give CBD a try. Take it about an hour before you plan to sit, give it time to soak into your cells, and sit back and relax.