By Janelle Lassalle @jenkhari
Whether you’ve been plagued by a demanding job or long hours at home, it’s easy to see how that sexy spark (ahem) can feel, well, less than aflame in the upcoming winter months.
Fret not, lovebirds! Believe it or not, there are a number of herbal aids you can employ in your day to day life with the kind of therapeutic benefits that can get the party going again.
One of my favorite plant-based aids? Cannabidiol (CBD), of course! With a growing number of novel applications, CBD boasts a number of therapeutic properties that’ll kick things into high gear. Here are my top 3 ways to use CBD to spice up your love life.
Couple CBD with other adaptogens for all the feels
You might be surprised to learn that CBD can really amplify the effects of other adaptogenic substances.
But wait, you ask. What does this have to do with my love life?
Your love life is very much influenced by your stress levels. That is to say, a person’s libido, otherwise known as a sex drive, is the result of careful balance between several hormones.
When we’re stressed out–especially chronic stress over a long period of time–this can throw our hormone production into wack, which can tank our libidos.
Adaptogens are substances that help your body better regulate stress. This happy fact means they can also improve our sexual health. Ashwagandha, for instance, has been shown to do just that in clinical studies.
CBD also helps your body better regulate itself and your stress response. Pairing it with adaptogens, then, can result in a powerful, uplifting effect on general well-being and sexual health.
You can incorporate CBD and adaptogens in a number of different ways.
I’m a huge fan of NextEvo’s Ashwagandha gummies, which have been clinically shown to reduce cortisol levels, improve emotional well-being and energy levels. But I’m truly addicted to their Curcumin based Revive capsules. These contain some of the most potent adaptogens out there: Black Pepper Extract and Curcumin (Turmeric). Ginseng and maca are also commonly used for this purpose.
Another great pairing?
Try CBD with a cacao ritual
I came across this happy combination on pure accident one day. I was preparing a cup of my favorite cacao to drink but had forgotten I’d just taken 50 mg of CBD or so a few minutes prior.
Cacao, incidentally, isn’t the same thing as cocoa. Cacao denotes products that are made from the fruit of the cacao bean before it’s processed into cacao powder. It’s often presented in the form of drinking cacao, which is like making a hot chocolate only with a less refined product. Many people utilize this drinking cacao for special ceremonies which are said to “open the heart”.
The reason behind this is a neat little bit of science: Cacao contains a number of feel good, mood-boosting substances including Theobromine, Phenylethlalanine and Anandamide.
Theobromine acts as a mild stimulant. Phenylethlalanine stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers. Known as the body’s “bliss” molecule, Anandamide modulates the reward circuit region of your brain. These factors contribute to the euphoric feeling you get when you eat chocolate.
These substances, especially Anandamide, interact with many of the same receptors as CBD, which is why consuming the two in conjunction can have a strong potentiating effect.
About a half hour after drinking my cacao paired with CBD, I began to feel a deep sense of euphoria flowing through my veins. I was giddy, romantic, ecstatic with joy; almost as though I was on MDMA. It took me a few minutes before I realized the effect was due to the combination of cacao and CBD!
You can search through the internet for cacao ceremony guidelines, or make up a fun routine that’s all your own with your boo. As for the cacao itself? I’m a huge fan of KAKAO Drinking Chocolate, which uses stone ground, whole heirloom beans, but you can use any cacao you like; just be sure it’s minimally processed, reputably sourced and high quality.
Did you know that CBD lube is a thing? That’s right: you can add CBD to many different topical (skin based formulations) for a number of neat effects.
One such application is CBD lube. CBD lubes aim to utilize the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD to increase blood flow and circulation. This ideally means heightened sensitivity, relief from dryness and tension, and stronger orgasms. It can also lead to an increased feeling of arousal thanks to the increase in blood flow.
I’m always experimenting with CBD products, so you can imagine how amazed I was to discover I could make my own CBD lube! In this instance I combined a packet of Caliper into MCT coconut oil. Caliper is a type of CBD available as a fast-dissolving powder.
You’d be downright astonished to find out all of the clever applications you can utilize CBD for with a little creativity. Another fun pairing? Try your hand at making your own CBD salves for back rubs and massages. Add CBD oil to the carrier oil of your choice along with any desired essential oils and voila! Say goodbye to back pain and hello to a special gesture for your sweetheart.
Got any fun CBD tricks you’d like to share? Let’s hear it!
