One of the greatest things about medical marijuana is how much you can do with it. You can smoke it, vape it, eat it, drink it, and put it in a pill to pop it. When it comes to edibles, you can use the health benefits of other food to compliment and boost the healing power of CBD oil.
One food that far surpasses any other sweet treat on the menu is honey. It is delicious while being beneficial to your health, what a combo! For centuries, people all around the world have used honey as a natural medicinal alternative. So, it only makes sense that we infuse it with CBD oil.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical we find in the cannabis plant. It has just as many medicinal benefits as the famous chemical THC without giving you that euphoric high. THC has psychoactive effects because it binds directly to cannabinoid receptors, and CBD lacks that impact because it interacts more indirectly.
The system that marijuana regulates is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This system is in charge of keeping your body functioning correctly, a process called homeostasis. The ECS is in control of your immune system reacting to pathogens, your ability to calm down after getting angry, and how you feel pain.
Key Components Of The Endocannabinoid System
Cannabinoid Receptors
Cannabinoid receptors are located on the outside of cells and bind to endocannabinoids that the brain synthesizes. There are two primary cannabinoid receptors that we know of today, though researchers do think there may be a third we don’t know of yet.
CB1 receptors are located mostly in the brain and are in charge of the neurological system. Binding to these receptors can help control your mood and your sensitivity to pain. CB2 receptors are more thoroughly spread out in the body and interact with your body’s immune system. By interacting with this receptor, your body can control how many immune cells are sent out to take care of organisms that are attacking your body.
Endocannabinoids
The brain synthesizes chemicals that are similar to the cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant. These similarities are the reason that marijuana is so effective with the ECS. Endocannabinoids work by traveling backward through a process called retrograde signaling.
Typically, a neuron will send a message to the receiving cell which is the reaction that creates your thoughts, senses, and movements. Endocannabinoids start at the receiving cell and travel backward toward the sending cell. When these endocannabinoids bind to the cannabinoid receptors, they send a message from the receiving cell letting the sending cell know what is needed. Retrograde signaling is how endocannabinoids calm down overactive neurons, sending them the message to stop sending over so many signals.
Metabolic Enzymes
Metabolic enzymes are where endocannabinoids are synthesized. They also make sure that there isn’t any debris floating around in your brain by degrading chemicals that are no longer needed. Metabolic enzymes also help with your cell’s life cycle by repairing damaged cells and promoting growth.
Why Mix CBD With Honey?
CBD oil is already known for its amazing properties. When mixing cannabis with honey, you get a double dose of health. Honey has been used for centuries just like marijuana for healing; it was about time these two super healers came together.
Soothe A Sore Throat
How CBD Helps
When you get an infection or a virus, your body sends out immune cells to attack the organism that is causing you harm. A large number of immune cells in one area causes inflammation, which is painful enough to make you cough when it is in your lungs or throat. CBD oil interacts with your body’s immune system through the CB2 receptor. By elevating endocannabinoids, it sends the message for the inflammation to become reduced. Your body is still fighting the virus. However, it isn’t causing you harm.
How Honey Helps
A study published 2007 had 105 children ages 2-18 with issues about nighttime coughing. The children under investigation were given honey, honey-flavored cough medicine, or no treatment to help cope with their symptoms. The parents of the children reported that the honey was more efficient with their children than the cough medicine or the lack of treatment.
Clean Small Wounds
How CBD Helps
When you get a cut, your immune system sends cells to the affected area to fight off any organisms entering that could harm you. The immune cells cause inflammation which makes the wound puffy, red, and itchy. CBD oil reduces this inflammation while still letting the immune system do its job. Cannabis oil also helps by reducing your pain. Because your endocannabinoids can tell your neurons what information to send, they can control how sensitive you are to pain. CBD oil has also shown to have antibacterial properties which can be doubled up when infused with honey.
How Honey Helps
Honey is bee vomit, which sounds gross but it’s still so good. Bee enzyme and glucose oxidase are introduced to the honey during nectar harvesting. These two chemicals combined causes glucose oxidation which produces hydrogen peroxide. Honey helps the healing process along making it a faster process and has even been known to help with wounds that don’t respond to antibiotics.
Physical Activity
How CBD Helps
A problem many have when it comes to working out is finding the energy to do so. CBD gives you a clean, healthy boost of energy by elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide. When anandamide is higher in your system, your sensitivity to pain is lowered, and your mood is uplifted. Taking CBD pre-workout can also help you stay focused and in the zone.
How Honey Helps
When you work out, you diminish muscle glycogen. Glycogen is what your muscles use for energy. One of the best ways to optimize glycogen stores is by eating carbohydrates. Honey is packed with natural carbohydrates, making it the perfect snack for a pre-workout. Studies have shown that aerobic athletes perform better when taking honey supplements before physical activity.
Antioxidant
How CBD Helps
Free radicals are most commonly associated with aging skin, but they also can occur in your brain from the activity. Your body is equipped to help fight off these molecules, however, if there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants your body can get overwhelmed. Cannabinoids in the marijuana plant like CBD act as “free radical scavengers,” being more potent than Vitamin C and E.
How Honey Helps
Honey also acts as an antioxidant because it has phytochemicals in it, including polyphenols. Polyphenols help with the defense against UV-radiation and pathogens that may try to corrupt your body. It is also suggested that having polyphenols in your diet for an extended period can help protect against developing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disease.
Lower Blood Pressure
How CBD Helps
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system by elevating the endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid anandamide plays a vital role in cardiovascular health. High blood pressure can be a result of stiff blood vessels that become narrow. Anandamide relaxes the blood vessels, resulting in lower blood pressure quickly.
How Honey Helps
A study published 2015 had 50 healthy males testing their blood pressure after eating honey. They found that after 15, 30, and 60-minute increments, their systolic blood pressure was lower. There has also been significant evidence showing that honey is more effective in lowering blood pressure for women than it is for men.
Don’t Give Honey To Your Baby
Though CBD has been known to be well tolerated for most ages, honey should not be consumed by any children under 12 months of age. Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum, which are spores of bacteria. Your adult digestive system can handle the spores no problem. Babies, however, don’t have the same strength in their underdeveloped digestive system. Eating honey can cause infant botulism, which can be fatal.
Symptoms of Infant Botulism
- Constipation
- Muscle Weakness
- Slack Jaw
- Trouble Sucking
- Excessive Crying
- Lethargy
If your baby is showing these signs, you need to see a doctor immediately.
CBD honey can be put in your tea, on your biscuits, or on your face! Both CBD and honey are great for your insides and outsides, making them a perfect pair. In our shop, you will find CBD honey as well as honey sticks! Our CBD honey sticks are made by former beekeepers who know a thing or two about honey. Using all natural ingredients, these tasty treats have the added benefit of full-spectrum hemp extracts. Be sure to stop by the shop today to get yours!
