When it comes to health and wellness, men have a unique perspective that is rarely being served. There are tons of products that wellness-minded women find value in which may not be reaching men at the same rate or for the same reasons. One of these product categories is the ever-popular CBD. Did you know there are benefits in CBD for men, too?
What is CBD and will I get high?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of several compounds called cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant. When applied to the body and activated via the body’s endocannabinoid system, different cannabinoids create different drug-like effects and may provide relief for a wide variety of ailments. CBD does not have the psychoactive attributes that are associated with consuming marijuana.
While hemp and marijuana belong to the same plant genus and species, only marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that can get you high, while hemp does not. As a non-psychoactive product, CBD holds many of the healing properties of medical marijuana without the head high. CBD is popular because it is a holistic, plant-based solution to overcome mental, physical, and emotional obstacles.
How can CBD support Men’s Health?
The benefits of CBD seem to multiply as use continues. There are multiple reasons for taking CBD and multiple methods for incorporating CBD into your wellness routine. When applied, the CBD molecules are incorporated into the nervous system, reminding the body to ‘calm down’ in different ways depending what is flaring up. CBD affects different people in different ways – this biodiversity is one of the main reasons why CBD research is still lacking.
The primary reasons why men may use CBD include…
- Pain and inflammation
- Depression and anxiety
- Heart health
- Sexual health
- Nausea
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Arthritis
- Migraines
- Seizures
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sleep aid
CBD for heart health
Because heart disease is the number-one cause of death in men, heart health recommendations should not be taken lightly. Men can use CBD to take preventative measures for their hearts. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine, CBD has been said to support heart pressure and stress response reduction. Further, because CBD has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, regular use of CBD could improve long-term heart health.
Sexual health and CBD
Men look to CBD for sex for a number of reasons, including pain from chronic conditions, erectile dysfunction, easing performance anxiety, and setting the right mood. CBD increases blood flow to tissues, which increases sensitivity and promotes the body’s own natural lubrication. With regular use, CBD could support your love life by reducing anxiety, relaxing muscles and increasing pleasure.
Using CBD to support sleep
Sleep is a foundational element of men’s health, as it affects everything from heart health to brain function to weight maintenance and immune health. If you find it challenging to get to sleep or stay asleep, CBD could be your answer. Because it’s known to reduce blood pressure and promote relaxation, CBD could even provide natural relief for insomnia symptoms.
Consuming CBD
The primary methods for using CBD include:
- Tinctures: a few drops under the tongue allow for measured relief
- Topicals: salves and body butters may relieve sore muscles and skin issues quickly
- Gummies: slow-acting edibles for long-lasting support
When considering the use of CBD for men, you can try incorporating it into your routine whenever it makes sense. Take a few drops of tincture in the morning for energy and focus, use a topical after a long bike ride or hike, and drop an herb-infused gummy before bed to help you drift off to sleep comfortably.
Is CBD Safe and Worth the Risk for Men’s Health?
Yes, CBD is safe both medically and legally. While there are risks involved with taking any medication, the use of plant-based support has been shown to be far safer than use of pharmaceuticals for many ailments.
As part of the Farm Bill in December 2018, Congress legalized hemp. According to the Farm Bill, it is legal to grow hemp and hemp-derived products are federally legal as long as they have a THC level of less than 0.3 percent. The federal government has recognized that the benefits of CBD far outweigh the potential issues and have legalized its use to allow for increased testing and precision.
The way that cannabinoids react within the body is still being closely studied for a better understanding of biodiversity and medicinal applications. CBD is a hot topic for researchers. The National Institutes of Health clinical trials database shows more than 160 trials involving CBD that are either active or recruiting.
That said, there are potential side effects of CBD use. These can include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Tiredness
- Lightheadedness
- Crankiness
- Low blood pressure
- Drowsiness
CBD can also change the way some medications work. Talk with your doctor about it.
What do I need to know when shopping for CBD?
When reviewing the wide variety of CBD products now available on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We’ve narrowed down our CBD label checkpoints to include the following:
- Third-party test results
- Extraction methodology
- Additional ingredients
Third Party Lab Testing
When shopping for CBD products, your number-one priority should be reviewing the products for third-party testing. This is a real concern in the industry—take the 2017 Journal of the American Medical Association study, for example, which tested 84 CBD products and found that 26% contained lower doses than stated on the bottle.
Look for a quality assurance stamp or certificate of analysis from a third party (aka not the actual brand) or check the retailer’s website if you don’t see it on the product’s label. Some manufacturers print a QR code on their label to link you directly to their test results.
Full Spectrum CBD vs CBD Isolate
Next, consider whether the CBD product is labeled as full spectrum or isolate. Full-Spectrum means that the product contains all of the naturally available compounds of the cannabis plant, including a small amount of THC. This ensures that all the good stuff remains intact for consumption, providing space for the entourage effect to take hold.
The Entourage Effect
The entourage effect is a proposed mechanism by which cannabis compounds other than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) act synergistically with it to modulate the overall psychoactive effects of the plant – meaning, combining the compounds of cannabis changes their effects. . CBD isolate, by comparison, is cannabidiol in its purest form, as the final product is isolated from all of the other compounds in the cannabis plant
Finally, take a look at any other ingredients that a CBD product might be touting. Here at Blooming Botanicals, we combine our CBD with supercritical CO2 extracts and aromatherapy. Plants like lavender, turmeric, black pepper, and adaptogens maximize the body’s ability to heal itself and improve overall health and well-being.