CBD and THC can provide whole-body relaxation when taken together. Here’s what you need to know about using CBD and THC for winding down.
Whether you’re unwinding from a long day at work or looking for a way to kick your self-care days up a notch, CBD and THC can work together to relax your muscles, soothe pain, and calm anxiety.
Some people enjoy a glass of wine to relax, but others prefer CBD: THC products. Cannabis has a low likelihood of abuse compared to alcohol, few side effects, and lots of benefits besides in-the-moment relaxation.
The best CBD:THC ratio for relaxation depends on preferences, but a 1:1 ratio is a good place to start.
Here’s all you need to know about taking CBD and THC for relaxation.
CBD and THC are perhaps best known for their relaxing effects on the human body. While THC reduces pain and relaxes your muscles, CBD relaxes the nervous system. Both work together to reduce the likelihood of an anxiety response to a stressor.
They also help improve sleep, including making it easier to fall asleep at night. These cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system and help reduce the inflammation or hyperactivity that keeps you awake.
As such, the compounds are a great tool to use if you want to relax before bed, and they’ll help improve your sleep cycle overall.
CBD also may dampen the psychological effects of THC, which some people experience as jarring paranoia or unease. When taken together, you can enjoy a mellower high with less concern that you’ll get too high and start to feel anxious.
Too little CBD might result in the opposite effect, as some studies show CBD may be wake-promoting when taken in small doses. However, relaxation will set in when CBD is combined with THC and used in larger amounts.
Depending on what type of relaxation you’re looking for, various CBD:THC ratios may be more helpful than others.
For example, if you’re someone who smokes marijuana regularly and would like to add CBD to your regimen to experience more bodily relaxation, we recommend a 1:1+ ratio. That means you can take more THC than CBD since you likely already enjoy the relaxing effects of THC.
If you’re looking for an after-work relaxant that won’t leave you sleepy for the rest of the evening, it’s best to take a ratio with more CBD than THC — at a low dose, under 15 mg per compound. Too much CBD and THC can make you sleepy.
Some users feel that very high CBD:THC ratios, with 10+ parts CBD to each part THC, are best for anxiety that prevents you from relaxing. You can read more about CBD:THC ratios for anxiety if this is the reason you can’t relax.
Proper dosing will help you find the ratio you prefer, but it’s important to consider the method you’ll use.
One way to utilize CBD and THC for stress relief is through topicals. While CBD and THC can help your mind relax when taken orally, they can also help your body relax when absorbed transdermally. These powerful topicals can help ease pain and relax sore muscles or specific body parts.
Some doctors believe CBD and THC to be more effective in treating certain things, like acute pain, when administered topically.
You can use CBD and THC topicals for relaxation by rubbing CBD:THC lotion on your temples or wrists, getting a massage with CBD and THC oil, or using a CBD:THC bath bomb. Your skin will absorb some of the cannabinoids and give you full-body relaxation.
If you don’t want to go the topical route, you can stick with edibles like gummies. This physical relaxation will be different than the topical version, so maybe try them both and see what you prefer.
The thing to remember about eating your CBD and THC is that it takes an hour or so for the effects to kick, so be patient.
Of course, you can always kick back and smoke or vape your CBD and THC. For some people, there’s nothing more relaxing than the act itself. Plus, the effects kick in within minutes — another bonus.
The best CBD:THC ratio for relaxation varies greatly and depends on what you find relaxing. That said, it’s best to start with a 1:1 ratio, meaning one part CBD for every one part THC if you’re looking for casual relaxation.
For anxiety, it’s best to take 10+:1 ratio products. To improve sleep, look into products with 1:1+ CBD to THC. Pain may be treatable with 1:1 ratio products.
CBD and THC can be used to treat relaxation orally or through topical treatments. The best CBD:THC ratio for topicals used to relax you is 1:1. CBD and THC are effective aids for relaxation whether you smoke it, rub it on your skin, or eat it.
When taken together, CBD and THC relax the mind and body. Whether you’re taking a gummy, smoking a joint, or rubbing a topical on your skin, these two compounds may reduce inflammation and lower anxiety to promote relaxation.
The best CBD:THC ratio for relaxation depends, but a 1:1 is a good place to start. Since CBD helps reduce the psychological side effects of THC, you shouldn’t end up too high with a 1:1 ratio. That said, make sure to always find the right dose for your body.