CBD And Nootropics

Nootropics have been around for ages. The majority of people have probably not heard of them unless they’re privy to the recent wave of podcasting that discusses them in some varying form of depth. 
However, there’s a lot of scientific evidence that certain vitamins can have a healthy influence on your brain's ability to perform. 

Where does CBD come in?

Cannabidiol or as we keep seeing it in the press, CBD, is one of at least 120 phytocannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa L. plant.

​This contributes to nearly 40% of the plants overall makeup and has been touted as a very effective way to treat various ailments. 

On the nootropic end of things, science is also inquiring into the effects of CBD on the brain and its performance. This makes it a great candidate for possible nootropic benefits. 

Since CBD does not have the same psychotomimetic (mind-altering) effects as the main plant compound THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), many are curious as to what extent the compound can affect the brain. 

So how do these nootropics interact with another? Which ones are safe when used with CBD and what are the side effects? 

Let’s get into the details now!

The Origin Of CBD As A Nootropic

In 1999, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services obtained a patent for the neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids (US patent 6630507). To protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This is a far cry from the opening scene of Pineapple Express. 

CBD is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety and provides anti-tumor properties, among others. CBD has been shown to have potential in the treatment of depression, neuroinflammation, epilepsy, oxidative stress, vomiting and nausea, anxiety and schizophrenia.

So what happens when you use CBD with a nootropic?
That makes, what is referred to as a nootropic stack. When combining two or more nootropics to achieve the desired effect.
This is why people are starting to report the benefits of dosing CBD with Coffee, which we reported on a few posts back, on the blog. 

Neuroprotectors

The primary culprit behind the brain and neuron damage is oxidation and inflammation. And this damage can happen at any age. It’s influenced by our environment, toxins, food, stress and more.

↓ Serotonin and anandamide levels decline
↑ Anxiety increases
↓ Mood declines
↓ Brain cell plasticity declines
↓ Cognition, learning, memory and recall decline

The clinical research for CBD published in the last few years is impressive. But we can group many of these studies into four primary categories; neuroprotection, stress recovery, immune system balance and homeostatic regulation (energy balance).
CBD reduces social anxiety
 
THC produces stimulating psychoactive effects, and CBD works opposite by quelling mind-altering reactions.  THC can cause paranoia and CBD does not. This is certainly a criterion for making this compound a nootropic. 

Available Forms

CBD is available in capsules, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, sprays, and vapes. We are probably all familiar with these mediums but as more and more companies show up to take a piece of the prize, it is important that we stay educated on what kinds of products do the job: 

Tinctures are the most common form of CBD on the market. And likely the purest form of CBD. Dosages range from 100 – 1000 mg. So do your research on what strength to choose. Tinctures are great for using CBD sublingually.

Concentrates are similar to herbal extracts in that they can contain up to 10-times the concentration of CBD compared to a tincture. Similar to tinctures concentrates of CBD work well sublingually.

CBD capsules are usually 10 – 25 mg of CBD Oil. Capsules are the easiest way to keep track of your daily dosage. Just add the capsules to your nootropic stack.

Topical CBD comes in lotions, lip balms, and salves and is used for chronic pain, inflammation, psoriasis, acne, skin cancer, and anti-aging. Read the label to find out what type of technology the product employs to deliver CBD through the dermal layers of your skin.

CBD sprays are usually the weakest concentration compared to other forms of CBD ranging from 1 – 3 mg per spray. But they’re easy to carry around with you.
Vaping CBD seems to be the least effective form of CBD. If you decide to try vaping CBD, ensure you avoid vape juice or vape pens using propylene glycol as a carrier. Vaping propylene glycol produces nasty toxins like formaldehyde when heated.
Again, purity matters!
When searching for a CBD vendor, always ask for third-party lab results. And pay particular attention to labeling to determine exactly what’s in the bottle and where the CBD was sourced from. User reviews can be especially helpful in choosing a high-quality CBD supplier.

Nootropics Experts Recommend with CBD Oil:

Start with 4 – 45 mg per day

Your body does not make CBD Oil on its own. So to get its benefits you must take it as a supplement.

CBD Oil is especially helpful for those dealing with anxiety and depression. CBD increases the bliss neurotransmitter anandamide, GABA and serotonin. And helps tame inflammation in the brain.

CBD Oil is also particularly useful for treating epilepsy.

Purity and dosing is everything when using CBD Oil. And remember that CBD Oil and hemp oil are NOT the same things. While hemp oil offers several health benefits, it does not contain much, if any, of the phytocannabinoid CBD.

Dosing CBD varies from person to person and requires some trial and error. Always start low to see how your body reacts. Slowly increase the dose until you achieve the benefit you’re looking for.

Stacking With Other Nootropics

While there are companies aplenty that try to sell you their proprietary blends of nootropics, it’s actually hard to tell what is effective for most people as everyone is just a bit different. We caution combining things you aren’t familiar with and using the above rule of small doses, to understand how you will react to different things. 

When you create your own personal blend through personal experience you are being more cost-effective and because Nootropic stacks work in a few different ways:

Improved absorption
Decreased side effects
Increased potency

L-Theanine and CBD

L-Theanine has an anti-anxiety effect just as CBD is commonly used to treat. The synergistic effect is likely very effective, but there isn’t much research on the two being used together. Using the above rules, it’s worth exploring how the two can help each other. As neuro-nootropic substances rise on the market, this is among the most common. 

If you’re familiar with the Onnit Alpha Brain supplement, then L-theanine should be known as the thought-provoking wakeful treatment. 
Although most people experience these sorts of things in different ways, the common stacking effect for these two is a sort of reprogramming effect. This means in colloquial terms that one should take them and try to live their best habits out throughout the day to make them habitual. The effect is commonly referred to as a “flow state”.

Kombucha and CBD

Perhaps this is less of a nootropic stack and more of a health food regimen, but the combination of these two dietary additives is one that should be a part of your week. 

The gut biome is one that controls the way we feel, think and perform. If we had spent the majority of our lives thinking of our body as a system, humanity might come to appreciate how the things we put into our bodies affect our lives as a holistic experience.

If you want to take advantage of a full-spectrum CBD product even, the focus should be on the way your gut absorbs its incoming nutrition. 

In the next installment, we will cover the other combination of CBD and nootropics that make for a successful stacking. Thanks for tuning into the blog and if you have a success story of your own, please reach out and share for the next blog post. 

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