Cultivating balance is essential to creating and sustaining your optimal mental, emotional, and physical health which is why CBD and Chiropractic are a natural match.
And yet, most people don’t know about the potential these two powerhouses of wellness have to work in harmony to create balance in the body.
In fact, while most Americans have heard of chiropractic or have even visited a chiropractor for an adjustment, they probably don’t know the full scope of healing chiropractic care offers. And it’s pretty safe to say that people don’t really know much about how chiropractic care, the nervous system, CBD and the body all work together.
CBD, Human Endocannabinoid System (ECS), and Feeling Good
Let’s face it, we all have a few things to learn about optimal health and wellness. While there’s tons of information out there, it’s hard to make sense of things and to know exactly which steps to take to achieve better health. That being said, we all know what it means to feel good.
If you close your eyes and conjure up an image of feeling good, you may visualize a scene where you feel at ease, move with ease, sleep well and are able to focus on living life the way it is meant to be lived- in a balanced and thriving body. That feeling is attainable, sustainable and available to you. Keep reading to find out how you can experience it all for yourself.
But first, a quick, yet deep, dive into some new-ish (1990’s weren’t thaaaat long ago…) science. Did you know that there is a regulatory system in our bodies, made up of receptors that interact exclusively with cannabinoids like CBD? No? That’s okay- you’re not alone.
This system is called the Human Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Scientific research reveals that the ECS is a major regulator of balance, or homeostasis, in nearly every system of the body – impacting and regulating your mood, sleep, memory, appetite, digestive system, pain sensation, and immunity. The ECS has receptors all over the body and brain. The two most prominent receptors are called CB1 and CB2. Imagine this ECS as a network of tiny towers all over your body waiting for signals from cannabinoids (molecules occurring in the cannabis plant) that communicate with all the other systems in your body- nervous system, digestive, immune, reproductive, respiratory, endocrine, etc. The signals instruct your body with messages that trigger responses that create homeostasis. Homeostasis is balance or equilibrium. So simply put- CBD and other cannabinoids work with your body to combat imbalances. Amazing!
Why do we have a system in our bodies that interacts with cannabinoids?
Well, fun fact… humans have been interacting with the cannabis plant since the dawn of civilization but that’s a really long story best saved for another time.
Something else to consider- cannabinoid deficiencies have been associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. These deficiencies are thought to be correlated to the dramatic rise in autoimmune disease and other physical and emotional illnesses which did not exist prior to the 1940’s when hemp grew on every farm and Americans of all ages were regularly consuming hemp in various forms (tinctures, teas, flower, etc.) along with other agricultural and medicinal products rich in cannabinoids.
Hemp for health and wellness is nothing new. In fact, the U.S. Pharmacopeia listed hemp/cannabis as a natural remedy for dozens of ailments. It’s not an exaggeration to say that hemp derived remedies were surely present in every American’s home medicine cabinet until the prohibition of hemp in 1937.
Still, it’s pretty cool to know that the human body does, in fact, produce cannabinoids (“runner’s high” is actually cannabinoids, not endorphins…but, once again, that’s another story), but they tend to have localized, short lived effects. Also, important to know is that these days most people are sorely deficient in cannabinoids because hemp/cannabis plants were prohibited from being grown on American farms for generations due to misinformation about the plant. According to the National Institute of Health, supporting the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) by introducing external cannabinoids, or in plain language- feeding your body’s ECS with full spectrum hemp derived CBD oil, could be useful in addressing a variety of common ailments, healing the body and boosting vitality.
The ECS is truly a powerful and exciting scientific discovery, one that shows us that the human body was designed to receive and be nourished by CBD and other cannabinoids.
How does all of this mesh with Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is based on the understanding that all the organs of the body are connected to the brain and regulated by the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustment opens blockages and increases energetic flow to facilitate healing within the nervous system. CBD and other cannabinoids affect receptors located in the brain and body which regulate the function of the nervous system and other bodily systems. This results in a natural, synergistic match for healing the body.
While CBD continues to be studied by scientists and doctors all over the world, and obviously there’s still more to be learned, we do know that it has proven benefits for improving the function of many systems in the body.
Knowing what you just learned, you can start cultivating a healthier, more balanced body and mind today. Simply incorporate chiropractic care, eat foods that fuel you, do exercise and/or movement that you enjoy, and use a high quality CBD oil supplement (which plays a role in reducing inflammation, improving sleep, repairing the gut, lowering stress, regulating mood and so much more) to achieve your wellness goals. Think of it as stacking good habits to achieve holistic health. Each element works with the others to support your journey.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated. The science has been done for you- the perfect match, chiropractic and CBD has already been made! CBD works to regulate the body’s response to life’s stressors, creating homeostasis, aka BALANCE, in the body and chiropractic care works to align the body and unblock the flow of energy through your central nervous system. The biochemistry of it all may seem complicated but the results are easy to understand- CBD cultivates wellbeing. And, who doesn’t want to be well?