Last reviewed by Daniel Gana, MsC, Abraham Benavides, MD, and Brent Ristow, PhD, JD, 01-31-2025

Life isn’t just stressful, it is relentless. The crushing weight of deadlines, the endless cycle of bills, the sleepless nights spent worrying about things we can’t control, and the mounting health issues caused by all this stress make it hard to catch a break. It can oftentimes feel like we are trapped in an exhausting race, running on fumes, barely holding it together. 

Stress has become part of everyday life, and the numbers prove it. A global survey published in 2024 found that over half of the population in 20 countries experienced emotional stress, with 85% of these nations reporting a worsening trend in psychological well-being since 2020. Of course, this is largely attributed to the pandemic and its global ripple effects on the workplace and access to care, especially mental health.

Gender disparities in stress levels are also evident. The American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America survey revealed that women continue to report higher stress levels than men and often report feeling misunderstood and alone in their struggles. 

While the world keeps demanding more, and anxiety, burnout, and fatigue keep rising, BioSource Botanicals is here to provide a solution. 

Could hemp, nature’s age-old remedy, offer the rest and relaxation we so desperately need? Let’s find out.

What does research say about hemp for rest and relaxation?

• Endocannabinoids And Cannabinoid Receptors May Control Stress Response

Hemp medicine is deeply connected to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex network of trans membrane receptors, cellular enzymes and neurotransmitters responsible for maintaining balance and overall well-being. The ECS acts as the body’s master regulator, ensuring that every cell, tissue, and organ function correctly. It influences everything from mood and cognitive function to digestion, immune response, and even how we handle stress.

Scientists have discovered a deep connection between the ECS and stress. In a 2017 study on circulating endocannabinoids, endocannabinoids are reported to play a key role in relaxation by counteracting stress and promoting well-being. The researchers discovered that endocannabinoid levels were affected by the presence of stress-related conditions such as PTSD thereby suggesting the role of endocannabinoids in helping the body recover from stress. 

Anandamide, for instance, likely plays a key role in alleviating anxiety and stress-induced pain following intense exercise.

Another report from a 2015 study revealed that the endocannabinoid system helps the body assess fear and respond appropriately, which is crucial for maintaining balance, coping with stress, and ensuring long-term well-being. When this system is disrupted, it can increase the risk of psychiatric disorders, making it harder for the body to manage fear and stress effectively.

• Phytonutrients In Hemp Interact With Stress Specific Pathways 

Phytonutrients like cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids are also found to interact with stress specific pathways to promote rest and relaxation. These activities often lead to the following effects:

• Regulating Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone. It is responsible for regulating metabolism, immune response, and stress adaptation. However, chronic stress can lead to excessive cortisol production, contributing to anxiety, fatigue, and other health issues. 

Cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and THC modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing cortisol spikes and promoting relaxation. Note that HPA axis dysregulation plays a role in vulnerability to stress-related disorders, such as anxiety and depression. 

Cannabinoids like CBD, CBDA, CBG, THC, etc., can lower stress through a plethora of molecular targets like serotonin, GABA, FAAH, CRH, cannabinoid receptors, and more. Recently, a 2025 study shows whole-plant extracts rich in CBD and CBDA reduces chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment and HPA axis hyperactivity in mice by reducing cortisol levels and associated hippocampal damage. 

The role of terpenes in regulating cortisol levels are not also left out as terpenes like linalool, myrcene, beta-caryophyllene and limonene are found to reduce cortisol spikes, reduce stress-related cortisol production, and support HPA axis regulation. 

Flavonoids like cannflavins, apigenin, and quercetin are also reported as contributing to the stress-reducing properties of hemp by reducing neuroinflammation, which is a key driver of chronic stress and cortisol imbalance, modulating cortisol production and preventing cortisol-related cellular damage. 

• Influencing Neurotransmitter Function 

Among its 65 molecular targets, CBD also modulates the action of GABA, the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, promoting calmness and reducing anxiety. It also modulates serotonin and dopamine levels, which are crucial for regulating mood and emotional well-being. Cannabinoid agonists like THC work by directly stimulating CB1 receptors in the brain, which can reduce the perception of pain, alleviate anxiety, and enhance relaxation. CBD can also indirectly boost CB1 activity by slowing FAAH, thereby increasing anandamide that does activate CB1 and reduces stress.

CBG, a lesser-known cannabinoid, can interact with serotonin receptors, influencing mood and reducing stress. These cannabinoids help balance neurotransmitter activity, creating a calming effect. Terpenes also further enhance this effect by interacting with GABA and serotonin systems, reinforcing relaxation. 

• Balancing Dopamine 

Cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids work together to balance dopamine levels and reduce stress. CBD regulates dopamine receptors, promoting emotional stability and preventing overstimulation that leads to anxiety and mood swings. THC, while temporarily increasing dopamine release, is balanced by CBD to avoid long-term imbalances. CBG supports mood regulation and stress resilience by interacting with dopamine receptors. Terpenes like limonene and linalool also contribute by up-regulating dopamine function and promoting relaxation. 

• Reducing Glutamate Overactivity  

Glutamate overactivity is linked to stress, anxiety, and cognitive imbalance. It is important to note that cannabis affects glutamate differently depending on use. While acute use may reduce glutamate release thereby promoting relaxation and neuroprotection, chronic use may increase glutamate levels, potentially leading to heightened brain activity, tolerance, or cognitive changes.

CBD and THC help modulate glutamate receptors, preventing excessive neuronal excitation that can lead to stress and anxiety. By inhibiting glutamate release, they help balance brain activity and reduce the overstimulation that often contributes to mental strain. 

Terpenes like myrcene and linalool support this process by reducing neuronal excitability, offering calming effects on the nervous system. Additionally, flavonoids like quercetin have neuroprotective properties that help attenuate glutamate-induced toxicity, shielding the brain from stress-related damage. 

• Regulating Sleep Cycle 

Phytonutrients in hemp contribute significantly to regulating the sleep cycle by interacting with the brain’s receptors and signaling systems. CBD promotes relaxation by influencing endocannabinoid levels, serotonin receptors, and increasing GABA activity, which help reduce anxiety and prepare the body for sleep. It also interacts with melatonin receptors, aiding in the natural sleep-wake cycle. 

Minor cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, CBC, and THCV are documented to regulate the same targets as major ones and therefore implicated in our sleep cycles. While CBN produces a sedative effect, CBC enhances relaxation while THCV influences REM cycles. Together, these cannabinoids balance sleep by reducing stress, supporting melatonin, and calming the nervous system for a more restful night.

• Reducing Activity In The Amygdala

The role of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in reducing activity in the amygdala, the brain’s center for processing fear and stress, are well-documented. CBD interacts with serotonin and endocannabinoid receptors, helping calm the amygdala and regulate emotional responses. This reduces anxiety and promotes a more balanced mood. 

THC also affects the amygdala by increasing dopamine levels, which can mitigate fear responses and promote relaxation. CBG supports this process by interacting with CB1 receptors, aiding in the reduction of emotional reactivity. 

How To Choose The Best Hemp Products For Rest And Relaxation

• Focus On Tinctures

Tinctures provide fast absorption and precise dosing, and maximum bioavailability, while avoiding airway side effects, making them an excellent choice for relaxation. Our Rest and Relax Tincture from Biosource Botanicals offers premium hemp tinctures formulated for optimal bioavailability, ensuring a quick and effective calming effect.

• Insist On Full-Spectrum Products

Real Active Spectrum(™) hemp extracts offer a powerful combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that work together to enhance relaxation through the entourage effect, each improving the effect of the other. This synergy activates key receptors and pathways, including those linked to stress, promoting a deeper sense of calm and balance.

At BioSource Botanicals, we take this a step further with our proprietary Active-Spectrum Extracts™, a complete blend of hemp’s natural compounds, obtained from one source plant, designed for maximum effectiveness. Our extraction process preserves the plant’s full chemical integrity, ensuring a high-quality, potent formula that meets market demands without compromise. Experience true full-spectrum benefits for relaxation and well-being.

• Check For Third-Party Lab Testing From A Reputable Lab

Quality and safety are crucial when selecting hemp products. BioSource Botanicals ensures all products are rigorously tested by independent labs, verifying potency and purity while ensuring they are free from contaminants. You can always double-check our COA lab results for every product to verify all these.

• Choose Organic And Clean Formulations

Hemp is also a tremendous bioaccumulator, meaning it naturally absorbs compounds from the soil, including nutrients, but also potential toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. This makes it useful for ground detoxification and industrial use efforts, but also why it’s essential to choose organically grown hemp cultivated in nutrient-rich, uncontaminated soil without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.

Organically grown hemp ensures a cleaner, safer final product, free from harmful residues that could compromise both efficacy and safety. High-quality brands like BioSource Botanicals prioritize sustainable and ethical farming practices, sourcing hemp from carefully monitored farms that meet strict organic standards. By selecting organically grown hemp, consumers can enjoy the full benefits of cannabinoids and terpenes while minimizing exposure to unwanted chemicals and impurities.

References

1. Abdel-Kader, M. S., Radwan, M. M., Metwaly, A. M., Eissa, I. H., Hazekamp, A., & ElSohly, M. A. (2023). Chemistry and Biological Activities of Cannflavins of the Cannabis Plant. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 8(6), 974–985. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0128
2. Benavides, A. (2022, January 24). Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System: A Match Made in Heaven. Doctor’s Corner. https://www.veriheal.com/blog/cannabinoids-and-the-endocannabinoid-system-a-match-made-in-heaven/
3. Chiang, M.-C., Tsai, T.-Y., & Wang, C.-J. (2023). The Potential Benefits of Quercetin for Brain Health: A Review of Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Mechanisms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(7), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076328
4. Chowdhury, K. U., Holden, M. E., Wiley, M. T., Suppiramaniam, V., & Reed, M. N. (2024). Effects of Cannabis on Glutamatergic Neurotransmission: The Interplay between Cannabinoids and Glutamate. Cells, 13(13), 1130. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13131130
5. da Silva Pês, T., Saccol, E. M. H., Jerez-Cepa, I., de Moraes Ourique, G., Gilannejad, N., Baldisserotto, B., Martínez-Rodríguez, G., Mancera, J. M., & Pavanato, M. A. (2020). Quercetin attenuates endocrine and metabolic responses to oxytetracycline in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 238, 108864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108864
6. Do Terpenes Play a Role in the Stress-reducing Effects of a Forest Bathing Intervention? (2024, May 7). Cdn.Clinicaltrials.Gov. https://cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/97/NCT05316597/Prot_000.pdf
7. Fuss, J., Steinle, J., Bindila, L., Auer, M. K., Kirchherr, H., Lutz, B., & Gass, P. (2015). A runner’s high depends on cannabinoid receptors in mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(42), 13105–13108. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1514996112
8. Galaj, E., & Xi, Z.-X. (2020). Possible Receptor Mechanisms Underlying Cannabidiol Effects on Addictive-like Behaviors in Experimental Animals. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(1), 134. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010134
9. García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: A Potential New Alternative for the Treatment of Anxiety, Depression, and Psychotic Disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10111575
10. Gugliandolo, A., Silvestro, S., Chiricosta, L., Pollastro, F., Bramanti, P., & Mazzon, E. (2020). The Transcriptomic Analysis of NSC-34 Motor Neuron-Like Cells Reveals That Cannabigerol Influences Synaptic Pathways: A Comparative Study with Cannabidiol. Life, 10(10), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/life10100227
11. Hajirahimkhan, S. (2023). Cannabigerol—An overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cannabigerol
12. Hillard, C. J. (2018). Circulating Endocannabinoids: From Whence Do They Come and Where are They Going? Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 155–172. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.130
13. Kamsrijai, U., Charoensup, R., Jaidee, W., Hawiset, T., Thaweethee-Sukjai, B., & Praman, S. (2025). Cannabidiol/cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) extract attenuates cognitive impairments and glial activations in rats exposed to chronic stress. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 338, 119113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.119113
14. Lee, B. K., Jung, A. N., & Jung, Y.-S. (2018). Linalool Ameliorates Memory Loss and Behavioral Impairment Induced by REM-Sleep Deprivation through the Serotonergic Pathway. Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 26(4), 368–373. https://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2018.081
15. Lf, S. B., T, E., Do, S., & E, E. (n.d.). Effects of linalool on glutamate release and uptake in mouse cortical synaptosomes. PubMed. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11495541/
16. Low, Z. X. B., Lee, X. R., Soga, T., Goh, B. H., Alex, D., & Kumari, Y. (2023). Cannabinoids: Emerging sleep modulator. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 165, 115102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115102
17. Lutz, B., Marsicano, G., Maldonado, R., & Hillard, C. J. (2015). The endocannabinoid system in guarding against fear, anxiety and stress. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 16(12), 705–718. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn4036
18. Manzanares, J., Julian, M., & Carrascosa, A. (2006). Role of the Cannabinoid System in Pain Control and Therapeutic Implications for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Episodes. Current Neuropharmacology, 4(3), 239–257. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430692/
19. Medaris, A. (2023, November 1). Women say they’re stressed, misunderstood, and alone [American Psychological Association]. Https://Www.Apa.Org. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/women-stress
20. Piao, X., Xie, J., & Managi, S. (2024). Continuous worsening of population emotional stress globally: Universality and variations. BMC Public Health, 24, 3576. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20961-4
21. S, O., S, S., S, T., H, N., T, M., & S, N. (2002). Effects of flavonoid phytochemicals on cortisol production and on activities of steroidogenic enzymes in human adrenocortical H295R cells. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11948020/
22. Y, S., S, S., S, L., J, S., Jt, H., Hj, C., & J, Y. (n.d.). Limonene has anti-anxiety activity via adenosine A2A receptor-mediated regulation of dopaminergic and GABAergic neuronal function in the striatum. PubMed. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33548867/
23. Yarar, E. (2020). Role and Function of Endocannabinoid System in Major Depressive Disease. Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 4(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511979
24. Zhou, W., Yoshioka, M., & Yokogoshi, H. (2009). Sub-Chronic Effects of s-Limonene on Brain Neurotransmitter Levels and Behavior of Rats. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 55(4), 367–373. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.55.367