CBD For Brain Fog – CBD Instead


CBD For Brain Fog

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Have you ever had the feeling that you just can’t think? You can sit there and read something, but you just can’t comprehend it. You can’t for the life of you remember where you set your keys. Or you realize that someone has been talking to you for the last five minutes and you have no idea what they were saying. This is what brain fog is like, and CBD oil may be able to help.

What Is Brain Fog?

Brain fog is a generalized term for having cognitive issues. You can get brain fog when an area in your brain called the limbic system starts to malfunction. Oxidative stress can cause inflammation in the brain which can cause malfunction.

Damage to the brain also causes damage to something called phospholipids which are in our brain cells to help mediate activity. Phospholipids also create membrane barriers that protect you from charged particles. When these phospholipids begin to degrade, it can cause the brain to start malfunctioning.

This is most common with men and women who have hit menopause or andropause because of the hormonal changes. Sex hormones help regulate the stress hormone called cortisol which affects neurotransmitters in the brain. This causes blood circulation and your metabolism to slow down.

Other Causes Of Brain Fog

  • Leaky gut syndrome which can cause brain inflammation
  • Fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Stress, depression, and anxiety which all impact brain function
  • Anemia which can cause a lack of oxygen in your body
  • Thyroid disease
  • Sleep deprivation or disturbances
  • Diabetes which can impair your primary energy source, glucose
  • Dehydration or brain malnourishment
  • Magnesium, vitamin B12 or amino acid deficiency
  • Memory and concentration dysfunctions from taking medication

Brain fog is more than just being confused. Having a lacking in connectivity and protection in the brain can cause a whole bunch of symptoms that can make the condition even more challenging.

Symptoms Of Brain Fog

  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Difficulty remembering and understanding spoken language or information
  • Lack of mental clarity
  • Difficulty with problem-solving
  • Low motivation
  • Difficulty with routine situations
  • Hard time focusing on tasks or conversation
  • Difficulty making plans
  • Hard time drawing or recognizing shapes

What Do You Do When You Have Brain Fog?

If your cognitive issues aren’t taken care of and managed, your condition can get worse and start to affect your work, social, and personal life severely. If you notice these symptoms or have any of the common illnesses that can lead to brain fog, the first thing you need to do is talk to a doctor.

Talk To A Doctor

If you are noticing any of these symptoms, you need to talk to a doctor right away before it starts to become an extreme burden. They can help determine how you started developing cognitive issues and then help establish the right treatment plan. There are a few things you can do at home that may help remedy some of the symptoms as well.

Sleep

When you are in the REM stage of your sleep, your body is repairing itself. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, this could be the cause of your brain fog. Let yourself sleep for eight to nine hours a night to help repair the brain, especially the hippocampus which is a part of the limbic system.

Avoid Alcohol

Drinking alcohol has shown to cause damage to the brain, including the hippocampus. It also acts as a depressant, making mood disorders harder to manage if that is something you struggle with. If you are on any medications form an illness that could be causing brain fog, you should definitely stay away from consuming alcohol.

Learn To Manage Stress

Are you overworking yourself? Do you give yourself time to relax and let your plate not get too full? If you are stressed out all of the time, it can cause a decline in your cognitive performance making you experience brain fog. Learning how to handle day to day life with as little stress as possible is something you should learn to do.

Exercise

Exercise isn’t just good for your body; it is good for your mental health and self-esteem as well. Committing to regular physical activity can help improve your cognitive performance, as well as help alleviate some of the symptoms from illnesses that can cause brain fog.

Exercise… Your Brain

To exercise your brain, you have to use it in a way you don’t all of the time. This could be learning something new like an instrument or how to build a birdhouse. This could be completing puzzles or doing volunteer work. Make your brain work out like you would your biceps to help improve its ability to function.

Eat Brain Food

There are certain foods that you can eat that have been linked to better brain performance. Try adding these foods to your diet:

  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Fatty fish
  • Berries
  • Tea and coffee
  • Walnuts

CBD Oil For Brain Fog

Another way that you may be able to help clear your brain fog is by using CBD. CBD may be able to help with brain fog because of its relationship with the endocannabinoid system. By indirectly interacting with this system, studies have shown that it has an impact on our brains including cognitive performance.

What Is The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is so important because it helps to keep our body regulated. It makes sure that cells stay healthy and that any outside invaders don’t do you any harm. The main components that make the endocannabinoid system work are endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors.

Cannabinoid Receptors And Endocannabinoids

The two cannabinoid receptors that have been studied the most are CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptor is mainly stimulated by the endocannabinoid Anandamide which helps to mediate neurological functions like sleep, appetite, pain, and emotions. The CB2 receptor is primarily stimulated by the endocannabinoid 2-AG which helps to mediate your immune functions. This activity is stimulated by the chemical CBD found in the cannabis plant, which is how CBD oil may be able to help with brain fog.

How CBD Oil May Be Able To Help With Brain Fog

CBD For Neuroprotection

One of the reasons we get brain fog is because of damage that happens in the brain. CBD oil has shown in studies to act as a neuroprotectant, which is why it has been looked at as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. CBD oil may be able to help with brain fog by protecting the cells from damage.

CBD For Depression

Depression causes issues in the limbic system which may be a reason that it can cause brain fog. CBD oil has shown in studies to help alleviate symptoms of depression as well as promote neurogenesis in areas of the brain like the hippocampus. It also elevates chemicals that are normally lacking in people who have depression which may contribute to its effects on symptom relief.

CBD For Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can cause inflammation in the brain that can lead to brain fog. This stress and anxiety is born in the amygdala, which is your body’s fear response. Studies have shown that CBD oil can reduce the overactivity of the amygdala, helping to relieve anxiety symptoms which may include brain fog.

CBD For Fatigue

Being fatigued is more than just being tired, it is when your entire body including your brain is completely exhausted. You may feel that even after a full night’s rest you still don’t feel 100%. This is a common symptom in many illnesses ranging from fibromyalgia to depression, but CBD oil may be able to help with fatigue by acting as a wake-promoting agent.

CBD For Fibromyalgia

When many people think of fibromyalgia, they just think about an illness that involves invisible pain. While this is true, fibromyalgia can also cause cognitive issues. Studies suggest that CBD oil may be able to help with fibromyalgia which may effectively help with the brain fog that comes along with it.

CBD For Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is when someone becomes resistant to insulin because of an increase in a hormone called resistin. Cannabidiol has shown in studies to help reduce this hormone which can help reduce your body’s resistance to insulin. CBD oil may also be able to help you lose weight and improve your heart health which can contribute to and be symptoms of diabetes.

CBD For inflammation

One of the main reasons that CBD is used is because of its ability to mediate the immune system with the CB2 receptor. Considering that illnesses can cause inflammation in the brain, CBD oil may be able to help reduce this inflammation helping to protect you from further damage.

CBD For Memory

Cannabidiol may also be able to help improve your memory to help reduce the impact of brain fog. Studies show that its interaction with the hippocampus may be able to help with recall, long-term, and short-term memory.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor before implementing CBD oil into your routine. There are some medications that it interacts with that can make the medication you are already on less successful. Your doctor also has the ability to monitor your condition to make sure this is the right route for you to take toward a healthier life. Stop by our shop today to get an awesome product that may be able to help you with your brain fog!

 

Have you suffered from brain fog? What are some ways you have gotten rid of it? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

 

Sarah Potts

Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well.

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2 comments


  • Hi Alex,
    One thing that may be giving you brain fog is other ingredients in the CBD oil. That would be one thing to consider. Another thing is maybe trying to take it at another time of the day. CBD can be wake-promoting at small doses, so if you are taking a small dose before bed you may not be getting the right rest, making your brain not able to recover while you sleep. Taking a larger dose at night is meant to enhance the REM cycle. Taking small doses throughout the day and no CBD before bed may be able to help regulate your sleep to where it is recovering while you sleep to make your brain more functional the next day. These are all of the variables to consider if you haven’t yet. We would love an update if you find a way to take it that works for you the best.
    Hope this has helped!
    CBD Instead

    CBD Instead on

  • I’ve just started taking CBD oil and I’m currently varying the dosages before bed and when I wake up I feel like I have brain fog … Any suggestions?

    Alex Stelmaszuk on

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