“It’s the most stressful wonderful time of the year…” 🎶 And how are we all feeling? This year has been wild to say the least, and now the holiday season is upon us. For us that means Dathan’s birthday, Thanksgiving, Hudson’s birthday, my mom’s birthday, Christmas, New Year… all in the span of just over a month. And all with two under two at home, and a full time business happening and a cookbook launching… wowza!

Don’t get me wrong, I truly LOVE this time of year. And seeing it through my babies eyes makes it all that much more magical. But yeesh – it’s also stressful, ya know? We’ve all got our list of things going on, and it can be so hard to strike a balance any time, but especially right now.

I’ve got a list of things I’ve been practicing to actively find balance & calm as I navigate this season, and my CBD routine has truly been at the top of that list!

It’s been about a year and a half since I got on the CBD train, and honestly I can’t imagine how frazzled I’d be feeling right now without it! With consistent use and dosage tweaking here & there as life changes, it’s been an absolute game changer for my mental health. Figured it was about time I give it an official review on the blog, and answer some FAQs so y’all have it to refer back to!

WHAT IS CBD? WHY EQUILIBRIA?

CBD is a natural ingredient found in hemp flowers. It’s clinically proven to impact mental & physical well-being when taken consistently AND in the correct dosage for your personal needs. For me, it’s been truly powerful in helping me feel more “balanced”, but with no “high” at all. Just other health benefits… which I’ll get into!

I’ve tried other brands but always questioned the sourcing – there’s just SO much CBD out there nowadays and not every brand is transparent in exactly where their ingredients are coming from (or what they even are!)

Equilibria CBD is fully traceable to their partner farm in Colorado. It’s an organic farm, and the products are all tested & free of heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides. Their ingredients are super clean & simple – no fillers. There’s no middle man… just their organic CBD from their own farm, delivered straight to you.

Besides the quality, the biggest thing that sets them apart to me is the dosage support. They have dosage specialists on staff, there to help you with 1:1 guidance on what to take, when, how much – all tailored to your specific needs. You tell them all your info, and they help you reach your goals.

It’s SO helpful, so you’re not going into it blind or based off of someone else’s dosage. I actually just chatted with my specialist & had my own dosage tweaked a bit to help with easing the increased anxiety I’ve been feeling with all of the full-time business woman + caring for 2 under 2 full time all at home. It’s SO nice to have the support when you need it!

Your FAQs

I’m going to answer these based on my own experiences, in conjunction with info on the Equilibria website. Always check their site for full info! I’m just sharing from my perspective!

What do you use it for?

For me, I’ve found it helps with:

• SLEEP: Falling asleep faster, and staying asleep / getting back to sleep after waking up with babies in the night
• ANXIETY: I always say that I am an “anxious person by nature” really since childhood. I’m an overthinker, a worrier, a perfectionist, I could go on. And this has really intensified since having kids, as I have just extended my anxious feelings to include them and all that is their well-being. Certain times of day I feel my anxiety peaking. My goal with my CBD dosage is to prevent those feelings from coming up, and de-intensify them when they do.
• PAIN PREVENTION/TREATMENT: I’ve always had “bad periods” but using CBD consistently has truly changed that. They got more painful after having Hudson, but I see a huge difference in cramps and general pain during that time of month when I’ve been consistent with my CBD leading up to it. Headaches/migraines are another huge issue for me, and I’ve been on medication for them in the past that left me with other side effects and didn’t truly make a difference. CBD has helped so much with reducing inflammation in my body and preventing them from coming up. When they do, I use CBD to treat as well.
• BALANCE: Overall, I just find that I feel like a more balanced version of myself when I’m consistently supplementing with CBD. I can go without it… but I’d rather not, because it really makes me feel so much better!

How does it make you feel? Does it make you high?

No high – even if you drank a whole bottle of the oil! (Which I’ve been tempted to do some nights with these boys LOL kidding but not.). There’s less than 0.3% THC (the part that can make you feel a “high”), and it’s 100% federally legal!

The softgels are a slow release, so those are more subtle and build up in your system and trickle down if that makes sense. I do best taking these hours before times of day when I’m most anxious or need the support of CBD (before the evening routine madness, before bed when I may have trouble getting back to sleep in the night after being up with babies, etc.). Then when the time really comes that I need the benefits, it’s already releasing into my system and doing its magic.

The drops give me more of an instant relief. In a small dose, it gives me a calm, focused energy and I feel like I can breathe deep again in those moments of overwhelm. It’s also great for winding down at night… and leaves me feeling like I had just a sip or two of wine. Calmed down a bit, but not out of control or anything like that!

Can you take CBD while pregnant/breastfeeding?

This one basically comes down to your personal comfort level, and a chat with your trusted professional. Studies on pregnant women/babies are always sketchy because – who wants to run tests and potentially see a negative effect?

It’s something that’s being studied currently, but for me I personally like to keep it real simple while I’m TTC/pregnant. I stick to the supplements I know are positively impacting baby, and would rather be safe than sorry. But that’s coming from the girl who doesn’t even do a sip of caffeine while pregnant, ha! So definitely chat it out with your dosage specialist & your doctor, and see if the benefits of CBD outweigh the risk – maybe it’s reducing the # of potentially harmful prescription drugs you need to take? Maybe it’s vastly improving your mental health, reducing harmful effects of stress on baby? It’s all so individual!

I am not breastfeeding, but if I were I would personally be comfortable with Equilibria CBD then knowing the source and the subtle nature of its effects. But again, that’s just me!

How long does it take to feel the effects?

They say that long term benefits really kick in with 3 months of consistent use, and I would agree – totally saw that with the pain management (headaches, period pain). But you do feel immediate (or almost) effects with the products too! Here’s what my dosage specialist shared with me:

• Softgels: Great as a preventative. Onset is 1-3 hours, lasts 6-8 hours.
• Daily Drops: Great for “in the moment” effect. Onset 10-30 minutes, lasts 2-6 hours. (I use the rollerballs for immediate effects too!)
• Relief Cream: Just a pea-sized amount will do – try for arthritis, ovarian/uterine discomfort, headache relief, muscle soreness, feet. Safe to use as needed throughout the day.

What does it taste like?

The softgels taste like nothing, no after taste. The liquid drops in the plain flavor have a hemp flavor to them – have you tried hemp lotion before? It’s an herbal taste. The flavored drops are my personal fav as of late – the mint is great, and I’m loving their holiday flavors too (esp the Cranberry!). Once they’ve sat under your tongue for a few seconds, that flavor is all you taste. Love it!

What’s your dosage?

Here’s what I’m personally doing now to help with pain prevention & better quality sleep, but most importantly to prevent & treat anxiety/feelings of overwhelm:

(chat with your dosage specialist to get a routine tailored to you! they are amazing!)

• Morning: Full dropper (10mg/1mL), split into two half doses to allow for better sublingual absorption 
• Lunch or Mid Afternoon snack: 1 softgel (10mg), with a healthy fat to allow for a slow drip release into the evening
• Before bed: Full dropper (10mg/1mL), as needed, split into two half doses to allow for better sublingual absorption  
• Reach for additional drops / relief cream for “in the moment” extra support as needed

FINAL THOUGHTS & A READER DISCOUNT

It’s been over a year & I personally think my mental health & productivity in this season of life would look a whole lot different without these CBD products in my routine! It’s been an absolute game changer, helps me be a better version of “me” – mom, business woman, wife, home cook, slave to tiny demanding humans etc. And I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard the same from you guys. You know I only share the good stuff… so I love hearing when you try something & love it too!

Best news: code JESSIE gets you 15% off any items on the website. Personally, I always recommend the subscription boxes. It’s a much better value, and helps keep you on track with the “consistency” piece! You can change or cancel your subscription at any time. They also have tons of great holiday sets available!

Keep us posted if you give Equilibria a try, and if you’re already loving… I’d love to hear!

Here’s to a healthy, happy, and balanced holiday season. XO

SHOP THE POST:

As per FDA guidelines, Equilibria is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any ailments or disease. As always, consult with your physician before starting any new program that may interact with your current health plan.

This post was sponsored by Equilibria.  Per usual, all opinions expressed herein are my very own. You know I only partner with brands I already use & love – and am PROUD to join forces with! I hope you love their product as much as I do!