The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with heightened public awareness of the survivalist movement. For years reports have circulated about how the world’s wealthiest individuals are actively preparing for disaster, but the pandemic has moved the conversation closer to the mainstream of public thought than ever before.
Shortly after COVID-19 struck, it was reported that Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates had previously stockpiled food and supplies in his basement—specifically in preparation for a pandemic flu.
Of course, you don’t have to be a billionaire to understand the advisability of preparing yourself for future cataclysm. All you have to do is pay attention to global affairs.
Considering all the political and economic instability around the world, not to mention the threats posed by climate change and nuclear weapons, it’s no wonder the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently moved its Doomsday Clock to 100 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been.
So survivalism, once thought to be the domain of the paranoid fringe of society, now has a very different reputation. To deny its merits is to deny reality.
The question for many people becomes: What should I include in my survival kit? Beyond the universal items (food, water, clothing, first aid, basic tools, etc.), bug out bags become very personalized. Anything you rely on for your physical and/or mental health should absolutely be included.
Which brings us to the topic of this post. Over the past few years, cannabidiol (CBD) has grown to become one of the most popular natural supplements on the market. And while it carries no risk of physical dependency or addiction, many people have come to view it as essential for their general well-being.
CBD and its effects
For those of you who don’t already know, CBD is a chemical compound that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant. Most CBD products derive from hemp (a variety of cannabis), but they can also be made from marijuana. Hemp CBD contains only trace amounts of THC, which means it will not make you high. That is why hemp CBD is legal at the federal level. The legality of marijuana hemp varies by state.
People use CBD for numerous reasons. It is especially popular among those who suffer from chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, insomnia and depression. Indeed, research has identified CBD as a potential treatment for all of the above ailments, as well as serious medical conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
As you can see, CBD can be extremely useful in the event of a global emergency.
Storing CBD efficiently
Taking CBD is one thing; storing it for the long-term is another. As you have probably noticed, CBD is available in a variety of forms. The most common are oils (aka tinctures), topicals, edibles and capsules.
In the context of prepping, oils and capsules are going to serve you best. That’s because they allow you to store CBD in high concentrations while taking up minimal space. In short, they are incredibly efficient.
For example, with bottles of extra strength tincture, you can store as much as 5000 mg of CBD in a single 30 ml bottle. That’s a lot of bang for your buck, so to speak. And it’s much more than you can realistically store in the form of CBD gummies, which are naturally more cumbersome.
Additionally, tinctures can be applied directly to the skin, obviating the need for CBD topicals in your bug out bag. Bear in mind that you should dilute a CBD tincture before applying it your skin, especially if you’re working with a highly concentrated product. Doing so will help prevent irritation.
On that note, remember to adjust how much oil you ingest according to its strength. This cannot be overemphasized. If your typical daily dose is five drops of 1000 mg oil, you only need a single drop of 5000 mg oil for the same effects. Making adjustments like this is absolutely critical when facing a disaster situation.
Including natural remedies like CBD in your survival kit is just one of many measures you need to take to ensure you’re fully prepared for a worst-case scenario. With that said, it’s a remarkably important measure, given the positive effects CBD can have on your physical and mental well-being.