Five Supplements You Should Be Taking With Your CBD

Why You Should Combine CBD with Other Supplements

The use of CBD as a form of medicine isn’t a new concept — people have been using it for centuries to treat everything from pain and inflammation to age-related cognitive decline.

However, people rarely use cannabis on its own to treat conditions.

In all forms of herbal medicine, plants are combined to enhance their effects based on the symptoms presented.

This is a common practice in herbal medicine, even in the modern world.

Only in the modern era have health practitioners chosen to take a more reductionist approach to medicine. Instead of combining multiple herbs or medicines to leverage their strengths and weaknesses, a single compound is prescribed.

Using a single compound (pharmaceutical) has advantages during the research stage because it’s easier to see what is responsible for a given result. Compounded medicines, on the other hand, are much harder to study because it’s challenging to identify exactly what effect each component is producing.

However, most people don’t care about knowing exactly which compound is producing the bulk of the effects — they just want to feel better.

By far the best way to leverage health supplements is through intelligent formulation. This works by taking 2 to 5 supplements that work well together to produce a more significant overall benefit.

For example, let’s say you’re taking CBD for joint pain — a popular application of the compound. Now, you could stop there and let the CBD do its job alone, but it’s going to have limitations.

CBD helps block pain and lower inflammation — both of which are common causes of the pain associated with the condition.

However, what happens if the cause of pain is a loss of cartilage tissue? CBD isn’t going to do much to support that process — so it’s better to combine it with something such as glucosamine, which is beneficial for repairing cartilage. Taken together, you can both speed the repair of your cartilage tissue in the joint and provide symptomatic support for the pain.

This is just one example of when it’s more beneficial to combine other supplements with CBD to achieve better results. Let’s go through five more examples.

Top Five Supplements to Take with Your CBD

Choosing which supplements to use alongside your CBD is going to depend on the symptoms you’re trying to address.

1. CBD & L-Theanine for Anxiety

There are many causes of anxiety, but the effects we feel during an anxiety attack are a direct result of overactivation of the nervous system — known as the fight-or-flight response.

CBD calms the nervous system through its ability to increase the activity of a neurotransmitter known as GABA — which acts as the brake pedal for the nervous system.

When our nervous system speeds up too fast, GABA slows it back down again.

Stepping on the brake pedal is great, but only if you ease off the gas pedal at the same time.

This is where L-theanine comes in.

L-theanine is an amino acid found in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Its structure closely resembles a neurotransmitter known as glutamate — which is essentially the gas pedal in the brain. It’s one of the primary stimulatory neurotransmitters in the brain.

The similarity in the chemical structure of L-theanine to glutamate allows it to bind to glutamate receptors — only it doesn’t produce any effects [10]. Instead, L-theanine blocks glutamate from hitting these receptors — effectively stepping off the gas pedal to allow CBD to calm us down.

2. CBD & Ashwagandha (KSM-66) for Stress

An effective stress response is critical for maintaining optimal health.

Stress comes in all forms, but all stress has a similar effect on the body. It activates a region deep within the body known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then sends hormones to the adrenal glands, which initiate the production of a hormone known as cortisol.

Cortisol then:

• Inhibits the immune system
• Inhibits digestion
• Increases heart rate
• Increases blood pressure
• Dilates the airways
• Stimulates the brain
• Forces the liver to dump glucose into the bloodstream

Cortisol is helpful in the short term for activating the stress response when it’s necessary — but if allowed to persist for too long, it can cause serious long-term problems, including insomnia, brain fog, lowered immunity, and weight gain, and even more serious complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

Ashwagandha supplementation has been shown to lower cortisol levels over time with regular use [1, 2]. There are several theories as to how it achieves this. The predominant idea is that it increases the conversion of cortisol to inactive metabolites by increasing the ability of the hypothalamus to regulate cortisol levels and handle stress.

CBD pairs nicely with ashwagandha because it achieves similar results by acting on other areas of the nervous system, including GABA [3].

These compounds may work together to alleviate chronic stress from the top down.

3. CBD, Curcumin, & Boswellia for Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is incredibly complex — entire textbooks are dedicated to the topic without even grazing the surface.

Inflammation can vary a lot depending on the cause of the inflammation, which means that the inflammation experienced during an autoimmune disorder is very different from the inflammation experienced when you injure yourself.

Long-term (chronic) inflammation is also very different from short-term (acute) inflammation.

CBD is excellent for addressing both chronic and acute inflammation because it blocks many of the molecules involved in triggering inflammation. However, it has its limits.

Adding curcumin (the active constituent in turmeric) and Boswellia (another name for frankincense) may further enhance the effects of CBD by offering additional anti-inflammatory benefits through different mechanisms.

Curcumin and Boswellia stop inflammation by blocking key enzymes involved with manufacturing inflammatory compounds known as COX and 5-LOX.

Curcumin blocks COX [6], while Boswellia is better for stopping the related enzyme 5-LOX [7].

Taking all three supplements together is going to offer the most profound benefits because all of these actions are important for stopping inflammation.

By blocking these enzymes on top of key inflammatory messengers by CBD, the inflammation process comes to a screeching halt.

4. CBD, Glucosamine, & Chondroitin Sulphate for Joint Pain

CBD is useful for alleviating joint pain involved with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Inflammation is a key component of the underlying causes of arthritis, but it’s not the only cause.

One of the biggest problems leading to chronic joint pain as a result of arthritis is a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is designed to protect the joints so that bone doesn’t rub directly against another bone. Instead, the cartilage and a slippery fluid called synovial fluid allow the joints to move freely without causing any damage to the bones.

As the cartilage disappears, the rubbing of bone on bone causes extreme pain and worsens inflammation — ultimately leading to even faster degeneration of the cartilage and a buildup of scar tissue.

CBD is effective for reducing symptomatic pain in the joints and fighting inflammation — but it does very little for restoring lost bone cartilage.

This is where glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate comes in.

Both of these supplements are known for their ability to provide essential precursors for the body to repair both the cartilage and the cells responsible for producing synovial fluid (chondrocytes).

Taken together, the CBD can help lower inflammation and treat pain, while the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate help to restore cartilage tissue over time.

5. CBD & St. John’s Wort for Depression

Depression can be debilitating to our health, especially if allowed to persist for long periods.

CBD is a good option for treating depression primarily for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Neuroinflammation is a key driver of depression [8], but it’s not the only cause.

Most antidepressant medications work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain — something that CBD isn’t able to do.

However, another herb — St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) — can do this.

This herb works similarly to common SSRI medications used to treat depression [9]. It blocks the reuptake and breakdown of serotonin in the brain, causing levels to increase outside the neurons.

This ability to increase serotonin, combined with the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of CBD, provides a powerful combination for alleviating symptoms of depression.

Of course, always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements to treat depression, especially if you’re already taking antidepressant medications. Both CBD and St. John’s Wort may interact negatively with this type of medication — in which case, they should be avoided.

Bonus CBD Supplementation Tip

Grapefruit Juice to Prolong the Effects of CBD

CBD — like any other compound we consume — is eventually metabolized and deactivated by the liver.

The liver is an incredibly versatile organ. It can break down nearly any compound that enters the bloodstream thanks to a set of enzymes known as the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme complex.

Depending on the chemical structure of the compound being metabolized, different enzymes will step up for the job.

When it comes to CBD, the liver mainly relies on two enzymes —  CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 [4].

Therefore, if we inhibit the activity of these enzymes, it will take much longer for the liver to break the CBD down.

There are a few things that can achieve this, but nothing as strong, or as readily available, like grapefruit juice [5].

This has led to a lot of people drinking grapefruit juice or taking grapefruit juice extracts, alongside their CBD supplementation — effectively lowering their required daily dose of CBD and providing long-lasting relief.

Cautionary Note: Grapefruit juice also inhibits other liver enzymes, so you should never take this supplement if you’re taking other medications as it may cause side effects. It’s especially important to avoid grapefruit juice if you are taking blood thinners or other medications to treat high blood pressure.

Key Takeaways: Supplements to Take with CBD

CBD is an incredible health supplement. It has a lot to offer a wide range of different medical conditions. However, like many other compounds, CBD is even better when combined with other herbs and supplements.

Choosing which supplements to combine it with depends on the symptoms you’re treating.

By leveraging the benefits of CBD alongside other supplements, we’re able to provide even greater benefits toward reversing, preventing, or alleviating symptoms.

This is the difference between a holistic approach versus a reductionist approach. Which one will you choose?

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References

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2. Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), 255.
3. Consroe, P., Benedito, M. A., Leite, J. R., Carlini, E. A., & Mechoulam, R. (1982). Effects of cannabidiol on behavioral seizures caused by convulsant drugs or current in mice. European journal of pharmacology, 83(3-4), 293-298.
4. Yamaori, S., Ebisawa, J., Okushima, Y., Yamamoto, I., & Watanabe, K. (2011). Potent inhibition of human cytochrome P450 3A isoforms by cannabidiol: role of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety. Life sciences, 88(15-16), 730-736.
5. Ho, P. C., Saville, D. J., Coville, P. F., & Wanwimolruk, S. (2000). Content of CYP3A4 inhibitors, naringin, naringenin and bergapten in grapefruit and grapefruit juice products. Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, 74(4), 379-385.
6. Goel, A., Boland, C. R., & Chauhan, D. P. (2001). Specific inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by dietary curcumin in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Cancer letters, 172(2), 111-118.
7. Lalithakumari, K., Krishnaraju, A. V., Sengupta, K., Subbaraju, G. V., & Chatterjee, A. (2006). Safety and toxicological evaluation of a novel, standardized 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA)-enriched Boswellia serrata extract (5-Loxin®). Toxicology mechanisms and methods, 16(4), 199-226.
8. Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Derry, H. M., & Fagundes, C. P. (2015). Inflammation: depression fans the flames and feasts on the heat. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(11), 1075-1091.
9. Neary, J. T., & Bu, Y. (1999). Hypericum LI 160 inhibits uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in astrocytes. Brain research, 816(2), 358-363.
10. Nathan, P. J., Lu, K., Gray, M., & Oliver, C. (2006). The neuropharmacology of L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine) a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 6(2), 21-30.