Have you noticed that all of the sudden CBD is everywhere? It’s in the mall, on billboards. There are advertisements on the radio and in your magazines.
But what exactly is it? And do you need it?
I did some research myself and today we’re going to demystify this new trend and give you enough information to make a decision about whether or not its for you.
Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is CBD? Is it legal? And where does it come from?
My homegirl and brilliant nutritionist Mary Spirito of Ritual and Routine explains it like this:
“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that is extracted from hemp that acts on our body’s endocannabinoid (ECS) system. The ECS is a regulatory system involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. The ECS is comprised of receptors that communicate with our body’s systems (immune, gut, skin) to maintain homeostasis.
TRANSLATION:
The ECS tells our brain when we feel off base, like if we’re in pain or anxious etc., depending on the signals picked up by receptors in the affected part of our body (like in your muscles, gut lining, heart, etc). The ECS then aids in signaling for the appropriate changes to bring us back to baseline.
CBD works on the ECS to modulate pain, memory, appetite, AND the immune and inflammatory system. “
Sounds good to me. Now you see why Mary is my go to girl for all things science?
As a busy entrepreneur who loves to turn on her chill at a moment’s notice, I was excited to give CBD a try.
I got my hands on a few products from Franny’s Farmacy in North Carolina. They sent me an awesome care package their CBD Lip Balm, Bath Bomb, Massage Oil and Chamomile Hemp Tea. The variety allowed me toan idea about the full range of CBD experiences.
I’ve got tell you, I was a little nervous about the tea. Would I get stoned? Feel funny? Say weird things and start talking to my house plants?
Ok…so I talk to my houseplants on a regular basis anyway. It did none of the above. The tea is delicious and left me feeling calm and relaxed. This would be of great benefit for those of you who have trouble sleeping or need a little extra help calming down before yin yoga. If you deal with anxiety during the day, the tea may be a great way to relieve some stress.
Next up was the chapstick.
Let me start by saying that I hate chapstick. I have those kind of lips that reject everything that isn’t red lipstick by Chanel or Rosebud Salve. Burt’s Beeswax chapstick actually makes my lips more chapped. Then it turns into a vicious cycle of layering on chapstick for temporary relief only to be left off worse than when I started.
I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. Franny’s Chapstick has a nice earthy scent reminiscent of Christmas. It’s a bit waxy but not in a distracting way. I’ll be keeping it in my purse until further notice.
Last but certainly not least, the massage oil.
YUMMMMYYYYY. It smells good, it feels good. The texture is smooth and refreshing, not too oily like many massage oils. The 2oz bottle lives on my desk and provides pleasant relief during my busy days.
As a bonus it contains clary sage which is known to clear energy so its perfect for use between clients. Normally I would burn sage or pal santo between clients but My boyfriend has an aversion to heavy scents. The CBD massage oil provides a nice alternative…although I’m not sure this is its intended use.
I didn’t forget about the Bath Bomb. I’m saving that baby for the night after my upcoming half marathon.
After all my experimentation I’ve decided that CBD products are definitely something worth trying especially if you struggle with any kind of tension, anxiety, muscle soreness, or are basically a human.
And I’m feeling really good about Franny’s Farmacy for more reasons that their products.
Obviously, I love their products but upon further research I started to love the company even more. They practice local, sustainable, farming. The hemp they use in their products is grown, sown, processed and packaged in North Carolina. Last, but not least, they have a team of dedicated farmers working with their crop so you never have to worry about where it came from.
You can check out their range of items on their website here.
And…weird bonus..the company was founded by a kid I went to middle school with. Small world, ‘eh?
Let me know if you use CBD and what you use it for in the comments below! I’m new to this world so if you have any other experts advise or opinions I’d love to know!
At any given moment, you can find me handstanding on a foreign beach, running down the rabbit hole of some new subject of study, discussing philosophy over a bottle of red, or laughing out loud at a table full of friends.
