Is CBD Good for Focus? - FOCL

Is CBD Good for Focus?

Over the last 10+ years, the emergence of cannabidiol (CBD) has altered the status quo in the natural supplements space. CBD has fast developed a reputation as the jack of all trades – a versatile natural supplement with wide-ranging health benefits. 

It’s pretty much the talk of the town, given the growing body of word-of-mouth evidence on its effectiveness in treating various health conditions. 

CBD is one of the 100+ cannabinoid compounds found in cannabis plants. It’s probably less famous than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but certainly not any less useful or valuable. 

In fact, it has come to be associated with many health benefits that researchers are uncertain whether its full range of health benefits has been discovered. Consequently, cannabis research is gaining momentum globally as the CBD wave continues to engulf one and all.

So considering the larger-than-life profile it has, it’s understandable why you would want to know if it can help you focus better. 

Can it? Let’s find out.

 

Can CBD help with focus? 

We live in interesting times – life is so fast-paced that you risk losing out if you cannot keep up. People are working 2-3 jobs besides looking after their families, pursuing hobbies, forging new friendships, and trying to remain sane. 

It’s a lot, and sometimes this can impact your ability to focus.

It’s comforting to know that if you’re struggling to concentrate on the essential things, you are not alone. We understand too well how frustrating it can be to try to finish a task in time only to fail. 

If you’re multitasking, it’s even worse – you’re failure rate increases by 40%! 

Fortunately, the inability to focus does not mean it’s all doom and gloom. There are a few measures you can take to boost your focus levels. It turns out that CBD may actually help you regain focus. 

 

How does CBD work for focus?

In trying to understand how CBD may improve your ability to focus, we’ll digress a bit and introduce you to a system in your body known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The ECS is an extensive, intricate network of cellular receptors throughout the body controlled by the brain and the central nervous system through chemical signals. 

The ECS regulates various bodily functions such as learning and memory, emotional processing, pain control, temperature control, immune and inflammatory responses, and eating.

This system comprises three fundamental components:

  • Endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by the body)
  • Endocannabinoid receptors
  • Enzymes

The body naturally produces its cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids (from the words endogenous cannabinoids). These are in specific organs and tissues like the brain, muscles, and circulating cells. 

Endocannabinoids only become active when they bind to a cannabinoid receptor. These receptors are spread throughout the body.

Researchers contend that when something is amiss within the body, receptors bind to cannabinoids to remedy the situation. 

For example, if your temperature goes out of the normal range, the ECS regulates it back to within the normal range by activating certain endocannabinoids. Once the temperature is corrected, the ECS releases enzymes to break down those endocannabinoids to stop the chain process.

This system is a therapeutic target for pathological conditions and memory issues.

Exocannabinoids (external cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and CBN) work by mimicking the actions of your endocannabinoids. So, when you take cannabis, for instance, you boost the supply of cannabinoids in the body. 

As a result, more cannabinoids are available to bind to receptors, creating a more significant impact.

So in the case of improving focus, research shows that CBD may increase the amount of blood flowing to the hippocampus. This is where functions like memory processing happen in the brain. 

More importantly, CBD is linked to the development of new brain neurons. This explains why CBD may also promote lower levels of anxiety.

However, more studies are inclined to the notion that CBD indirectly improves focus by dealing with the issues impeding your ability to focus. These include pain and discomfort, stress and anxiety, and poor sleep.

Studies have shown that CBD promotes better sleep. Its binding action on specific receptors is believed to promote melatonin secretion. This hormone regulates your sleep-wake cycle and is responsible for making you feel sleepy. 

Another hormone with an important role in your sleep is serotonin. Besides being a mood stabilizer, this hormone helps the body create healthy sleeping patterns. CBD is thought to play a role in the production of serotonin. 

Indeed, in studies investigating the effect of CBD on sleep, there’s some equivocality on its effectiveness. 

This cannabis compound is also believed to be effective in reducing symptoms associated to stress and anxiety. In fact, 60% of CBD users cite stress and anxiety relief as the main reason for using CBD.

The argument goes that by being able to alleviate these symptomatic problems, CBD may make you focus better. And it makes perfect sense because—think about it—you will struggle to focus if you’re not getting enough sleep, are stressed, or are in some form of pain or discomfort.

And so, by removing these distractions, CBD may indirectly improve your ability to focus.

 

Does CBD help with anxiety and focus?

A growing body of empirical studies suggests that CBD can help reduce anxiety. Let’s sample a few of these.

A 2015 study that investigated the potential for CBD as a treatment for anxiety disorder concluded that CBD “has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.” 

In the study, the researchers administered CBD doses between 300 to 600mg to participants who presented different anxiety disorders.

In 2014, a study looking into CBD’s effect on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) roundly concluded that participants treated with CBD over a placebo reported “reduced anxiety levels.”

Recent studies now show that CBD may offer some relief against PTSD symptoms, especially negative memories, and nightmares. A few of these studies explored the potential to use CBD as a standalone treatment for PTSD and as a supplement to traditional treatment plans like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medication. 

 

CBD brain benefits

While CBD’s range of health benefits is system-wide, those that impact the brain are probably the most important. After all, it’s in the brain where it all happens. 

So here are CBD benefits to the brain. 

Protects brain cells 

Contrary to popular opinion that cannabis harms the brain, studies show that some cannabis compounds actually protect brain cells from damage. In 1999, the US Department of Health and Human Services acquired a patent for cannabinoids’ neuroprotective effects.

The patent stated that the chemical properties of cannabis could protect brain cells in people with neurodegenerative illnesses. 

Oxidation is the main cause of brain tissue damage and subsequent brain damage in people with these conditions. Research shows that CBD’s action on CB2 receptors reduces oxidative damage. 

Supercharges the endocannabinoid system

A significant component of the endocannabinoid system is the CB receptors. The CB1 receptors are predominant in the brain. 

Unlike THC, which binds to CB1 receptors to induce psychoactive effects like heightened mood, pain relief, hunger, and short-term memory loss, CBD doesn’t activate CB1 receptors. 

Instead, it inhibits the binding action of chemical compounds like THC and reduces their psychoactivity. Failure to do this and marijuana users would suffer long-term anxiety and memory problems.

Fighting seizures

Due to its proven efficacy in reducing or stopping epileptic seizures, Epidiolex is the only CBD-based medication with the FDA's full approval to treat epilepsy. But how does it do this?

CBD is believed to reduce seizures by lowering the activity levels of excited cells in the brain that cause the seizures. Further, it impedes brain processes that trigger seizures by stimulating the release of GABA – an inhibitory neurotransmitter. 

It also raises anandamide concentration in the brain, thereby reducing psychotic tendencies.

 

CBD for focus and concentration

Even though the exact mechanism behind CBD’s effect on focus is still unclear, there’s a tentative consensus that it removes distractions that affect a person’s ability to focus. These include relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety, helping soothe pain and discomfort, and promoting better sleep.

CBD and ADHD 

Emerging research studies suggest that CBD may minimize ADHD symptoms. For example, a 2020 study established that high doses of medicinal marijuana were linked with lower ADHD medication in adults. 

In other words, after they started using medical cannabis, the study participants significantly reduced their use of traditional ADHD medication.

However, this is still an area where more research is needed.

 

How much CBD should I take to focus?

Despite the immense health benefits of CBD, this is the point where CBD experts don’t have a clear guideline. The thing is, CBD exists in three main forms – broad spectrum, full spectrum, and pure CBD isolates. 

The effectiveness of, say, 1ml of each of these would be significantly different due to their different compositions. 

Most medical marijuana users confess that full spectrum CBD is often more effective than the isolate. This could be attributed to the entourage effect, where all the naturally occurring compounds work together to enhance each other’s properties.

Moreover, cannabis comes in different strains. Word on the street is that each strain has a different chemical composition. In essence, an equal volume of different strains may have completely different strengths due to their chemical composition.

That said, people respond differently to CBD. 

One person might find their ‘sweet spot’ fairly easily, while another might struggle despite using the same product. How you respond to CBD depends on many factors, including body size, metabolism, and administration method.

With CBD, no one size fits all. Most manufacturers will recommend a dose depending on your condition. You have to find a dose that works for you mostly through trial and error.

So, the rule of thumb is to start at lower doses and slowly increase the dosage until you start feeling the effects. 

How do I find the correct dosage for CBD oil?

You can use this formula to calculate the correct dosage of CBD oil to use.

  • For low strength CBD: 1mg of pure CBD for every 5kg of body weight.
  • For medium strength CBD: 7mg per 10kg of body weight
  • For high strength CBD: 13mg per 10kg of body weight.

Remember that when using this formula, you should count the amount of CBD, not the CBD oil. The oil is usually a carrier element to improve the processing of the compounds to prevent stomach discomfort.

 

Is there a CBD oil for focus? 

Our Premium CBD Drops are designed to calm your mind and soothe your body. We believe it’s easier to focus with a more relaxed mind.

That’s why these delicious oil drops alleviate everyday stressors like physical pain, sleeplessness, and anxiety that stop you from focusing on the things that matter to you.

  

Do CBD gummies help you focus?

Our Premium CBD Gummies are delicious treats that help you focus by relaxing your mind. For a more focused day, start with one gummy in the morning.

These gummies are made from broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD and are designed to give more bang for your bite.