Can I Use CBD for Energy?
As a supplement largely famed for being a natural sleep aid, it’s understandable that using CBD for energy might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re looking for an extra boost. But, CBD oil is ‘biphasic’, meaning it can have different (sometimes even opposing) effects depending on the dose you use. What’s more, CBD oil is also a ‘pleotropic’, which means it has the potential to have multiple effects through a variety of molecular pathways, often depending on the need in the individual.
Confused? You needn’t be. In simplistic terms, a huge body of research suggests that CBD can work in many ways – and one of those ways might be providing the body with more energy when you need it.
The potential reasons for this are extensive, as how much energy we have to expend depends on a wide variety of factors. While CBD is not the antidote to all our woes, it may well support you in getting your mind and body where you want it to be.
Does CBD give you energy or make you tired?
Despite all the ways CBD interacts with the body to support a better night’s sleep (which in and of itself will give you more energy the following day), Cannabidiol (CBD) has also been dubbed a potential ‘wake-promoting agent’, in a 2014 study published in Current Neuropharmacology.
Although further research needs to be conducted into how and why people can specifically use CBD for energy, there are plenty of theories relating to the inner workings of energy production and the endocannabinoid system, serotonin receptors (which CBD directly activates), metabolism, stress and more.
How does CBD boost energy?
Let’s take a look at some of processes involved in energy production and how CBD oil might impact them…
CBD and Metabolism
First thing’s first: to have energy at all, we need to eat nutritious food which can be converted by the body into ‘fuel’. Having a fast, or simply a healthy metabolism means that the body breaks down fats and nutrients very quickly so this can be converted into energy. Having a slow metabolism, or eating more calories than we need, leads to fat storage so the fat is not freed up to be used as an energy source. As a result, we become sluggish, lethargic and often overweight too.
The hypothalamus, in the brain, is what controls metabolism and this, just like everything else in the body, needs to be regulated to work properly. If you’ve read any of our other articles, you’ll hopefully know by now that we do have a complex network of receptors responsible for regulating all bodily (and brain) functions – the endocannabinoid system.
Fascinatingly, the hypothalamus has a local endocannabinoid system, meaning that synthesis and release of our naturally produced endocannabinoids (neurotransmitters called Anandamide and 2-AG) which activate the ECS receptors to regulate the body, are essential for a healthy metabolism. Many cannabinoid researchers, namely Dr Ethan Russo, believe that most people suffer from some degree of endocannabinoid deficiency (when our endocannabinoids are not produced properly). This is thought to happen as a result of chronic stress, lack of sleep, poor diet and more, and can lead to the dysregulation of pretty much anything in the body! Fortunately, CBD oil supports the endocannabinoid system, by inhibiting the enzyme which breaks our endocannabinoids down and encouraging a freer flow of them. What’s more, certain cannabinoids found in some broad or full spectrum CBD oil, like CBG and THC, directly activate the ECS receptors in much the same was as our endocannabinoids.
If your ECS isn’t working properly, your metabolism might not be being regulated either. If you regulate your metabolism, your body will be able to convert calories into energy far more efficiently so we can convert food into energy with ease.
Can stress drain your energy?
If you have a stressful day, you’re likely to feel exhausted by the end of it. If you have chronic stress issues, or an over-active fight or flight response which leaves you feeling panicked when the phone rings or overly anxious about small problems, you’ll probably feel tired a lot of the time. This is largely to do with something called ‘adrenal fatigue’ and also the fact that stress can result in poor quality sleep.
If stress is draining your energy, CBD might be the perfect pick-me-up!
As mentioned above, one of the ways CBD interacts with the body is supporting the endocannabinoid system, and the release of endocannabinoids. One of these endocannabinoids, Anandamide, plays a vital role in stress management as its presence in the brain acts as a sort of ‘gate keeper’ for stress, preventing the fight or flight response from kicking into gear at inappropriate times. When the fight or flight response is over-active, this can cause a wide variety of problems, including depleted energy. But if you keep it in check by supporting your ECS, you may find your energy levels balance out just as they should.
CBD dosage for energy
These are just a couple of ways in which taking a daily dose of CBD oil might help with energy levels. But, for best results, you should take your CBD every day – starting with just a drop or two a couple of times a day and building up until you reach the dose that suits you. Getting the results you want will largely depend on getting the dose ‘right’, but everyone is different, so the best way to work this out is just to try it, low and slow, until you’re happy!
