The Pathway Forward: The How of CBD and Exercise

As you know, I’ve been talking a lot about cannabidiol (CBD), to the point at which I’ve been compelled to give away literally $1,000,000 (MSRP) worth of CBD products. That’s because thousands of research studies have shown just exactly how powerful this molecule can be for human health, and how it can be used to treat some of the world’s most intractable diseases.

What we haven’t talked about yet is how it can help in our everyday lives.

One of the paths in which CBD can be extremely effective is linked to exercise.

Let’s look at how this works.

Think about the last time you went for a run. You may have faced a mental block before getting on the road: you may have been tired, emotionally exhausted, or just plain fed up with the idea of pounding the pavement.

Taking a small amount of CBD before running, however, says Sarah Daniels, a graduate research clinician at the University of British Columbia who is studying the effects of cannabis medicines on exercise, may help you to get started with a relaxed mind and a body that is more ready to breathe easy, move efficiently, and keep the pace while running.

Not only does CBD help people get into healthy habits, but, as Daniels explains, the research around exercise is actually changing since we’ve discovered that endocannabinoid deficiencies exist in our bodies. We used to think that exercise led to the release of endorphins, but we’re now looking at the endocannabinoid system as a deep part of that process. When we have an endocannabinoid deficiency, we may not be able to gain the mental strength to begin a life change that can result in health. Providing our bodies with a small amount of CBD can begin to shift the balance, and allow us to start on the path to wellness. The first tenet of the Yoga Sutra, Daniels explains, is that we need to diminish the chatter, or vrttis, of the mind in order to witness our true self. Anyone who has tried to achieve this goal knows this is much easier said than done, but the reality is that CBD can help to bridge the gap so that we can move forward.

In this way, CBD becomes part of a bigger process towards self-care, and can help us build positive habits that can last a lifetime.

There are a number of underlying reasons why individuals continue to practice poor health habits. We may lack knowledge about what is best for our bodies, but the reality is that most of us have the common sense to know that we need to eat right and exercise. Many individuals continue to be affected by negative habits, instead, because it is inconvenient to change, or because it is easier to continue on the same path without challenging oneself to pursue a better future and positive health outcomes. Health education programs, doctor recommendations, or even friends and family can help to influence the way in which people consider their health habits, and can shift them towards a new way of managing their health, but only if people choose to participate. It’s about what we choose to do with our bodies that counts.

Using CBD might provide the tipping point towards positive health behaviors by breaking down a few of the barriers to a life change. In my experience, that’s just what happens with CBD. The data is there, not only for cannabis medicines but for many other kinds of plant medicines that can work in our favor. Ginseng has been shown to decrease blood sugar, total blood cholesterol and triglycerides.[1] Cinnamon, bitter gourd, fenugreek and ivy gourd can improve diabetes treatments.[2] We’ve also used feverfew, digitalis, garlic, chamomile, as well as saffron and St John’s Wort to treat problems like heart disease, depression, and infection.

It’s up to each of us to find the specific path to self-care that works for our bodies and our minds. CBD may be the first step forward.

— Klee

[1] Murthy, H.N., Dandin, V.S., Lee, E.J. & Paek, K.Y. (2014). Efficacy of ginseng adventitious root extract on hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 153(3), 917–921.

[2] Medagama, A. B., & Bandara, R. (2014). The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMs) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: is continued use safe and effective? Nutrition journal13(1), 102.


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