CBD and Meditation

Increased calm, emotional well being, improved memory, freedom from addiction, improved sleep, pain relief, reduced blood pressure, and just everyday stress management: a growing number of people are turning to meditation as a means of improving their emotional, mental, and physical health and wellness. Different styles of meditation -- mindfulness, transcendental, and guided, to name a few -- may offer a myriad of safe, effective, and readily accessible health benefits. And many meditation practitioners are finding that CBD helps them further calm their "mental traffic" and improve their meditation experience. But what exactly is meditation and how can CBD help?

What is Meditation?

Meditation has long been used to increase calm and focus, and has its early roots in numerous religious traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. More recently, the practice has become more culturally widespread as a means of focusing the mind, training awareness, and achieving mental and emotional calm and stability. Studies continue to demonstrate that meditation may reduce stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia. [1] [2] Research is ongoing to study how meditation may have measurable neurologic effects on the aging brain, produce beneficial cardiovascular changes, and help modulate mental disorders and addictive behaviors. [3] [4] [5] Although techniques differ, there are three well-recognized styles of meditation:

Mindfulness Meditation. The goal of this practice is awareness and presence in the moment through concentration on relaxation, observation of sensations, and rhythmic breathing. Many find this practice very useful, as it may be self-guided and conducted anywhere, even for a few minutes of time in a quiet space, either sitting or reclined with eyes closed and outside distractions noted and dismissed.

Transcendental Meditation. This practice is characterized by a "mantra" -- a word, phrase, or sound that is recited or silently repeated to help focus on the moment, calm the mind, and enter a deep state of relaxation. Such meditation may be conducted in a group or individually, usually in a seated position with eyes closed. It is thought that the chanting of mantras decreases nagging negative thoughts, and results in vibrations that release stress, increase mental awareness and concentration, and reduce heart rate.

Guided Meditation. This form of meditation, once only available in a group setting, led by an instructor, yogi, or class leader, is increasingly available to individuals via online meditation resources and applications. It utilizes guided breathing exercises, bodily relaxation techniques, and verbally communicated imagery and visualizations to focus the mind on the present moment and achieve self-awareness, mental, emotional and physical healing, and stress relief.

What About CBD and Meditation?

CBD, or hemp-derived cannabidiol, can be a useful tool, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, to help calm the noise, promote calm, and complement the practice of meditation. The FDA has approved only one CBD drug, Epidiolex, for the purpose of treating two seizure disorders in people one year of age and older. However, the agency has underscored the interest in the potential health benefits of CBD and the "important public health opportunity in using novel sources of data and rigorous analytical methods to build a more robust base of scientific evidence on the safety profile and use of CBD products." [11] As studies continue to provide data, those who have experienced the benefits of CBD in easing stress and promoting calm may find CBD to be an integral and synergistic partner in their daily meditation practices.

How does CBD work?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of at least 100 chemical compounds unique to the cannabis sativa or hemp plant. These compounds are referred to as cannabinoids. You likely have heard of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabinoid most commonly associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is non psychoactive and has been shown to offer a myriad of wellness benefits without the "high" effect of THC. Research and experiential evidence shows that CBD may be helpful in promoting calm, addressing muscle tension and soreness, and supporting the GI, nervous, and immune systems, among other useful applications. Adding to these benefits, CBD is non psychoactive, non habit-forming, and well tolerated, making it a desirable supplement choice for your stress-reducing regime and meditation practice.

Cannabinoids are naturally effective in our bodies because, throughout our evolutionary development, we have been hardwired to gain the benefits of the cannabis sativa plant through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex signaling network within the mammalian body that functions as a lock and key mechanism when cannabinoids are present or introduced into the bloodstream. These receptors exist throughout the body -- nervous, musculoskeletal, digestive, immune, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, and other systems -- and are the reason why cannabinoids can have such diverse and profound effects. [6] All mammals, including humans and companion animals, have an ECS, and the body produces "endo" (internal) cannabinoids (naturally occurring substances such as anandamide) that operate to keep the body's systems in balance. [7] However, when an external force such as injury, illness, or stress is introduced, our body's own endocannabinoids may be depleted, resulting in an interruption to homeostasis that can manifest as anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disturbance, compromised immune function, and more. CBD and related "phyto" (plant) cannabinoids are natural compounds that can supplement the body's own cannabinoids and lock into cannabinoid receptors to address the imbalance and restore homeostasis. [8] In addition, research suggests that CBD may also interact in potentially beneficial ways with other neurotransmitter systems and receptors that support normal levels of other "feel good" brain chemicals such as serotonin. [9] [10]

How can Trove CBD help manage stress?

If you are seeking systemic relief, you may want to consider an ingestible tincture or capsule. A daily dose of Trove CBD Oil taken under the tongue will help address stress, enhance calm and mental focus, while also providing relief from pain and inflammation throughout the body, assisting in your meditation regimen, and often aiding in a restful and restorative sleep. The specific dosage regimen will vary from person to person, and also depends upon the nature of the issue you are seeking to address. Once you determine the amount and frequency of supplementation that works best for you, you can develop your own Trove CBD wellness routine.

Trove CBD Balm is a natural way to target a specific area of tension, making it a great choice for muscle tightness, aches, and specific areas of pain or inflammation. It is not uncommon to feel relief within minutes following topical application, and results will often last from two to four hours, allowing for greater release of muscle tension and improved mental focus during meditation.

Meditation as Medicine

According to many professionals, including Mayo Clinic, "Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being." [12] Mayo cautions the importance of consulting with one's heath care provider and potential risks while referencing research that suggests that meditation may help people manage symptoms of certain medical conditions, especially those that may be worsened by stress, including:

Anxiety
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic pain
Depression
Heart Disease
High blood pressure
Irritable bowel syndrome
Sleep problems
Tension headaches

Meditation helps train the mind to focus, redirect thoughts, increase awareness, and reduce stress. Because it is simple, accessible, and requires no specialized equipment, the practice of meditation is available to anyone, almost anywhere. As scientific research continues to provide data, CBD may prove to be a useful complement to meditation and a benefit to everyday health and wellness. Trove CBD is triple tested, THC free, and offers a full line of premium products that taste great, feel luxurious, smell delightful. . .and they work! Read more about "Why Trove CBD" [here]

[1] Chen, KW, Berger CC, Manheimer E, et al. Meditative therapies for reducing anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety. 2012;29(7):545-562.

[2] Ong JC, Manber R, Segal Z et al. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for chronic insomnia. Sleep. 2014;37(9):1553-1563

[3] Luders E. Exploring age-related brain degeneration in meditation practitioners. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2013;1307:82-88.

[4] Dakwar E and Levin FR. The emerging role of meditation in addressing psychiatric illness, with a focus on substance use disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2009;17(4):254-267.

[5] Rubia K. The neurobiology of meditation and its clinical effectiveness in psychiatric disorders. Biological Psychology. 2009;82(1):1-11.

[6] Lutz, B et al. The endocannabinoid system in guarding against fear, anxiety and stress, Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(12): 705-718

[7] Hillard, CJ. Stress regulates endocannabinoid-CB1 receptor signaling. Seminars in Immunology, 26(5), 2014, 380-388

[8] Bluet, RJ et al. Central anandamide deficiency predicts stress-induced anxiety: behavioral reversal through endocannabinoid augmentation. Translational Psychiatry (2014) vol 4, e408

[9] Bedse, Guarav et al. Therapeutic endocannabinoid augmentation for mood and anxiety disorders: comparative profiling of FAAH, MAGI, and dual inhibitors. Translational Psychiatry (2018) vol 8, 1 92

[10] https//:www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6161644/

[11] https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/better-data-better-understanding-use-and-safety-profile-cannabidiol-cbd-products

[12] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858