Equilibria CBD Review + My Routine

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My introduction to CBD came at the lowest point in my life. I was exhausted and struggling with my arthritis, and every day by three o’clock my stress level had compounded to the point where the tension in my body would not go away. I have always appreciated a balance between incorporating natural remedies and modern medicine to manage my stress and discomfort, but I felt like I had hit a wall and nothing was going to help. Plus, there are so many fake “natural remedies” out there that are just preying on vulnerable people desperate for a cure. I didn’t want to fall into that trap (this is also why my CBD partnership with Equilibria is the only wellness-based company I will partner with, so hopefully that tells you something about how reputable they are)

I had tried CBD before, but it never seemed to work for me. But it took me watching another Instagram creator talking about CBD to decide to give it another try. She talked about how you need to use CBD consistently for at least 30 consecutive days in order to see an effect. In the past, I had tried to use CBD to solve in-the-moment stress and found it lacking.

It is so important when trying something new to educate yourself before making a decision, and one of the main reasons that I gravitated towards the brand this creator was advertising was that they really emphasized the importance of education and provided tons of easy to understand resources about how CBD works in your body to mirror compounds we produce naturally, retraining your nervous system to take better care of itself.

Another thing that was holding me back from really putting my trust in CBD was it seemed too easy - it didn’t make sense to me that we could all just take the same dose no matter our issues or body size and have great results. Part of what Equilibria is doing differently is that they fully support you throughout your CBD discovery journey with their free dosage consultations with experts who custom tailor your routine to fit your life and needs. They taught me that CBD is flexible, and what you need may change from season to season. For example, when I have a flare up of my arthritis symptoms or a stressful time at work filled with deadlines, I know I need to lean on my CBD routine more and increase my dosage. But I can accomplish this in so many different ways, because depending on the form of CBD that I use it may be more fast-acting or long-lasting.

So, let’s start with the basics.

What is CBD?

CBD is a phytocannabinoid found in the hemp plant. But what does this actually mean? Our body produces compounds like CBD naturally in our endocannabinoid system or ECS. The ECS comprises a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors that are densely packed throughout our brains and bodies. The ECS affects our immune system, nervous system and organs.

Here’s what Equilibria has to say about the ECS:

“The primary function of the Endocannabinoid System is to maintain balance throughout your body. Endocannabinoids (neurotransmitters) and cannabinoid receptors are the two essential players in this system.

Stress can contribute to a decline in ECS function, and one approach that may support the healing of this system is to introduce phytocannabinoids like CBD.

CBD is not used to treat underlying medical conditions; instead, it plays a role in supporting the ECS to address imbalances by amplifying your body’s natural balancing and healing properties.

Since the discovery of the ECS in the early nineties, researchers have identified ECS receptors in nearly every area of the body. “

Is CBD legal? Is CBD psychoactive?

CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it does not cause a “high”. That feeling comes primarily from THC which is only found in extremely low quantities in the hemp plant - in fact, the amount of THC is so low that hemp is totally legal in all 50 states. Think of it like a non-alcoholic beer - there may still be a tiny amount of alcohol present, but not enough to intoxicate or require legal regulation.

CBD for discomfort and soreness

One of the worst parts about having arthritis is managing the discomfort that comes with joint inflammation. I have really bad knees, so any kind of bending or kneeling (which we have to do a lot of in the garden!) is difficult for me and causes my joints to start to stiffen. I also get tension and soreness in my neck that can make turning my head difficult.

Now, before you click away because this sounds too good to be true I’ll say this is just my own experience, and it doesn’t always help especially when my discomfort is at a ten, but the first time I used the Relief Balm for my neck soreness, I was shocked. I literally went from not being able to turn my head to the side at all to almost a full range of motion in minutes.

CBD effects

So what does CBD feel like? Honestly, it’s subtle. Within a couple weeks of starting my CBD routine with Equilibria, I was in the middle of an extremely stressful day when I realized something; I could breathe. If you’ve ever experienced stress, you probably know what I mean - but with CBD, it wasn’t that it turned me into a groggy zombie, I just suddenly had the choice to decide what was worth being stressed about instead of having that stress own me. This in itself was life changing.

Difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD

I’ve alluded to the fact that not all CBD is created equal. This is a huge, unregulated industry, and I’d encourage you to be very wary of brands who make bold claims with no data to back them up. This means looking for third party testing data available publicly on their website, and also choosing a full spectrum versus broad spectrum product. Full spectrum CBD includes more than just CBD - it utilizes the entire spectrum of cannabinoids available within the hemp plant to activate something we like to call the “entourage effect”. Other minor cannabinoids work in unison with CBD to help it work more effectively to reach its goal.

From the Equilibria website: “The Entourage Effect put simply, is like having team members. The more hands-on-deck we have to work toward a common goal, the better! When CBD has the other components of the hemp plant there to help it out, its job as team leader becomes a lot more productive.

While Broad Spectrum products do include some of CBD’s teammates, they are missing one key component. And that component is THC. Full Spectrum products, on the other hand, keep THC in the formula. Albeit in teeny tiny amounts (each of our products contains <<0.3% THC, which means it won’t get you high and it’s federally legal).”

My daily CBD routine

My routine is literally the only thing that keeps me going most days. If you live with chronic illness too, you probably know what I mean! If I don't start my day with stretching, journaling and CBD my mind and my body just won't cooperate.

AM:

• Meditate 10-15 minutes - I use the Insight app for this.

• Move my body 15-20 minutes - I usually just pick a YouTube video focused on upper body, lower body or yoga or go for a walk.

• Shower

Breakfast - I try to always incorporate healthy fats into my breakfast because that helps the CBD bind better and work most effectively. Avocado, cheese, dark chocolate, eggs, nuts and chia seeds are all great sources of healthy fat. At the end of my meal I take 1 Extra Strength Soft Gel. This has a slower release than a CBD oil you take sublingually (under the tongue) and lasts longer to get me through the day.

Throughout the day, I’ll use a topical CBD to spot treat sore areas (usually my neck) with Relief Balm (best long term relief) or the Recovery Roll On (best for fast acting relief). If it’s a particularly rough day I may take a Daily Gummy in the afternoon if I start to feel my morning dose wearing off.

PM: If it’s been a stressful day, I like to unwind with CBD Drink Drops. These are an excellent non-alcoholic alternative to a glass of wine and come in a three pack with different flavors. At night before bed I take either 2 CBD Sleep Gummies (these are long lasting if you have trouble staying asleep) or 1 Sleep Melt (Best for helping you to fall asleep)

It’s important to note that I have pretty severe psoriatic arthritis and anxiety. If you’re taking CBD just for stress relief, your needs may be different. That’s why it’s so important to meet with one of Equilibria’s dosage specialists to build a routine specific to your needs.

For best results with CBD, it’s essential to make this a consistent part of your routine and allow at least 30 days to see any changes. So where should you begin?

CBD for beginners

If you’re new to CBD, I’d recommend starting with a monthly subscription to the Relief+ bundle.

This bundle includes the topical relief balm, regular strength daily drops and regular strength daily soft gels. Everything you need to really get a sense of whether or not CBD will work for you. Buying as a bundle unlocks a 25% discount which you can stack with my 15% off code “thecottagepeach”

Pro tip: The only negative I can find with Equilibria is the cost. It can be prohibitively expensive if you don’t take advantage of their promotions, although I do believe it is worth every penny for the mental health benefits alone. Thankfully, just by signing up for their monthly subscription you can save even more, and they make canceling really easy if you decide CBD is not for you. No sketchy recurring fees here!

Adding CBD to my daily routine keeps my stress from overwhelming me, and my discomfort at a minimum. I can’t imagine going without it.

Click here to shop Equilibria CBD and use code “THECOTTAGEPEACH” for 15% off your first order.