Whether it's to overcome stress, anxiety or depression, or to improve sleepmillions of people around the world practice meditation.
And in recent years, thousands more people in France have been consuming CBD products products for similar reasons... Which begs the question: are there any benefits to combining CBD with the practice of meditation?
Table of contents
What is meditation?
Before exploring the possible benefits of CBD and meditation, let's take a moment to briefly review what meditation is.
First of all, it's important to know that meditation is a Buddhist practice whose aim is to develop the mind. It's perfectly possible to practice meditation without adhering to the Buddhist religion or philosophy, which is why it's practised all over the world, whatever the beliefs or aspirations of its practitioners.
Good to know
Meditation generally aims to cultivate three human capacities:
- Becoming aware of the automatic and uncontrolled way in which we react to events ;
- The letting go ;
- Cultivating resiliencethat is, tolerance of life's obstacles and challenges.
This work on oneself can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality and concentration.
In the West, the most popular practice is Vipassana meditation which consists in "seeing reality as it is". To achieve this, two methods are used:
- The Mahasi method which consists of observing phenomena as they appear;
- While the the Goenka method involves scanning the body and observing present sensations.
Of course, these are not the only meditation techniques - there are dozens (yoga meditation, transcendental meditation, zazen meditation, mindfulness, etc.).
Meditating and taking CBD: what are the benefits?
There are many ways to meditate, but most often, the objective is the same to increase well-being. And in the same way, most people consume CBD oil to feel better.
There's a reason for this, meditation and CBD have similar effectseven if their mechanisms of action are still poorly understood.
The potential benefits of meditation
Ever since meditation arrived in the West, neuroscientists have been interested in its effects on the functioning of the nervous system. Admittedly, studies in contemplative neuroscience are still are still incompleteHowever, initial observations are as surprising as they are encouraging.
During meditation, breathing slows down and deepens, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system whose aim is to promote relaxation by lowering heart rate and blood pressure [1].
Good to know
Our nervous system is divided into 3 :
- The sympathetic (or orthosympathetic) nervous system is involved in alert situations;
- The parasympathetic nervous system, which acts, on the contrary, to slow down the body and promote relaxation;
- And finally, the enteric nervous system, which controls the digestive system.
Regular meditation practice promotes a state of relaxation and serenity. state of relaxation and serenity which can help to :
- Reduce stress, anxiety and depression ;
- But also to improve the quality of sleep [2], because stress and anxiety are the main causes of insomnia, and also because the state of relaxation achieved through meditation promotes sleep.
And finally, boost your ability to concentrateQuality sleep coupled with a stable emotional state increases our cognitive capacity. What's more, some studies show that meditation helps slow down neurological degeneration.
CBD + meditation for greater well-being?
As we have just seen, the benefits of meditation appear to be the result of a changes in the way the nervous system functions (stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system).
As for CBD, some studies suggest that it may also act on the functioning of our nervous system, inducing a state of relaxation.
As you may know, we are all equipped with an endocannabinoid system. endocannabinoid systemsystem, i.e. a network of receptors to which the cannabinoids contained in cannabis, such as CBD, can bind.
Good to know
The receptors of the endocannabinoid system are located throughout the body (brain, muscle tissue, epidermal tissue, liver, intestines, lungs, etc.). They act synergistically to ensure an overall state of equilibrium (=homeostasis), synonymous with good health.
According to preclinical studies [3], CBD intake appears to be associated with an increase in serotonin levelsa well-known hormone which, among other things, induces a feeling of relaxation and well-being. As a result, CBD consumption can potentially :
- Reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression As we said, serotonin synthesis is linked to a state of relaxation. This is why antidepressants act on the reuptake of this hormone;
- Improve sleep quality ;
And improve cognitive abilitiessuch as memorization and concentration.
How can CBD oil be combined with meditation?
As we've seen, meditating and taking CBD are two ways of increasing well-being that it can be useful and beneficial to to combine. Let's take a look at how.
How to meditate with CBD?
As anyone who has tried meditation knows, focusing on the present moment and relaxing is not easy. easy ! And CBD could be just the thing to help, as it helps induce a state of relaxation thanks to its action on our nervous system.
Therefore, we recommend that you take your CBD oil oil at least half an hour before meditatingto give the molecule time to take effect.
Taking CBD oil: recommended dosage and instructions
In the context of meditation, CBD oil is mainly used to promote mental relaxation, calm the flow of thoughts, and facilitate physical grounding. The ideal dosage depends on several factors: weight, individual sensitivity, oil concentration, and the desired goal. As a general rule, it is recommended to start with a low dose, either 5 to 10 mg of CBD per dose, 30 to 45 minutes before the meditation session, then gradually increase if necessary. For meditative use, Broad Spectrum or Full Spectrum CBD oils, dosed between 5% and 10%, are often the most suitable, as they offer a more balanced effect thanks to the synergy of cannabinoids (entourage effect), while remaining non-psychotropic. Those who are more sensitive or beginners will prefer a 5% oil, while regular practitioners or people prone to significant mental stress may opt for a 10% oil, without exceeding the manufacturer's recommendations. Sublingual administration (a few drops under the tongue, held for 60 seconds) allows for optimal absorption and a gradual onset, perfectly compatible with a gentle and conscious approach to meditation.
To take your practice further and choose an oil suitable for meditation, discover our carefully selected range ofhigh-quality French CBD oils, designed to promote relaxation, balance, and mindfulness.
Our sources
[1] "Meditation has a direct effect on stress. (CNRS)
[2] Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances (Jama Network)
[3] Evidence for the anti-panic actions of cannabidiol(Pubmed)