CBD OIL EXPLOSION!

“The magnitude of pleasure reaches its limit in the removal of all pain. When such pleasure is present, so long as it is uninterrupted, there is no pain either of body or of mind or of both together."

- Epicurus

It was Epicurus who brought us the notion that life is the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. We all strive to be our healthiest! Being healthy promotes longevity and an overall better mental state-of-mind. Sickness is the bane of all existence, but is unfortunately a common, reoccurring part of life. Long life allows us to pursue our dreams and to be around to see our children and grandchildren pursue theirs. This realization has initiated several trends toward healthcare, diet and greener methods of dealing with the planet on which we exist. Studies have shown that people today are healthier and living longer.

The latest trend in healthcare is the use of CBD oil as treatment for a whole list of ailments. I have heard people conversing in public about their experiences with it. Me being a disabled military vet, I definitely tune in automatically to any conversation that revolves around pain relief. Pain is such a life altering constant in life that it causes us to do certain things subliminally. The introduction of pain can change a person’s patterns, lifestyle, mentality and level of tolerance to other external stressors.

I first heard of CBD Oil while at work. I had been dealing with extreme back and neck pain since being discharged from the military. My lumbar and cervical conditions make it impossible for me to work without the aid of pain meds, muscle-relaxers or topical ointment (Biofreeze). At the time, I had missed some days from work because I was just in too much agony to get out of bed. I spoke with my supervisor at the time concerning my trouble finding long-lasting relief. My normal measures would quell the pain but only for short periods of time, which regularly ended in sleep. If the pain was bad enough I would be forced to take additional medication or combine two different ones. Needless to say that this left me drowsy and incapable of garnering enough strength to perform at my expected levels. Many days there were countless trips to the restroom. I attributed this to side effects of the meds. The Biofreeze provided a topical alternative that was great at stopping the pain but had its own odor to deal with. I hated going to work smelling like I had been dipped in the medication. After bringing all of this to my supervisor’s attention, she asked if I had ever tried topical CDB. I informed her that I had not, but that I had heard a bit about it. She promptly invited me into one of the empty training rooms and motioned for me to be quiet. She exchanged some pleasantries with a party on the other end of her mobile phone. I figured she was sharing my pain story with this person and it was confirmed when she stated, “Oh honey he is all messed up!” Suddenly she was handing me her phone, “This guy is a veteran friend of mine who has some of the same issues you have. He has been using CBD oil for treatment and it has helped him substantially.” Anything was worth a good try. When I was on the line, her friend laid out his whole newly revised CBD treatment schedule and told me it had given him back almost everything the pain had taken away. Since we had so many similar or identical injuries, I took a few notes and decided that it would be worth some serious follow-up. I will share with you now the things that I have learned from my research. I will also include some links that will hopefully help you decided if CBD extract is the right choice for you in any capacity.

WHAT IS CBD OIL?

*California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996

First, CBD oil does not have any of the psychoactive affects associated with THC. There is no “high” so the oil is considered safer and is legal in most states. In fact, it is legal in several states where marijuana is not. CBD comes in a number of forms, including soft-gel capsules, tinctures, edibles, patches, and an under-the-tongue spray.

CBD comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant. This plant is also used to produce marijuana and hemp products. The oil is extracted from the resin of Cannabis buds and flowers. It is normally combined with another oil for dilution, like MCT oil.

These Medium Chain Triglycerides are therapeutic compounds that have cleansing properties. MCT’s have been documented to be very easily metabolized and consumed as energy through the digestive system. A problem arises because some oils like coconut or palm oils contain not only the MCT’s but also LCT’s or Long Chain Triglycerides. LCT’s are much more difficult for the body to digest. In fact, the majority of these end up being stored in the body rather than burned as available energy.

MCT is a full-synthetic oil that is created only in laboratories. Amazingly, no medical-grade MCT oil exists for commercial or retail supply. For us this means that we don’t know what we get when we purchase a product labeled MCT oil. It has been estimated in fact, that if legitimate, pure MCT oil was available for retail purchase, an 8oz jar would cost upwards of $200. This would be far more expensive than the $15 - $20 it normally sells for.

Whether your chosen oil is combined with MCT or LCT oils will make a big difference in is effectiveness within the body. A little later we will take a look at whether it is able to know if a CBD oil with MCT infused is legit.

*While most marijuana farmers have made great strides in increasing THC levels in marijuana, hemp farmers have rarely modified their plants. This means that the hemp plants are basically not tampered with and should have less negative effects.

HOW IT WORKS

Marijuana and CBD work by acting on the body’s endocannabinoid system; whose main function is to maintain homeostasis. This is accomplished by it responding to cannabinoids produced in the body. Scientists have learned that the system also recognizes and responds to cannabinoids from external sources, including the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD).

There are two types of cannabinoid receptors: cannabinoid receptor type1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). Although they are similar in name, the receptors perform very different functions in the body.

CB1 – (Discovered 1988) The CB1 receptors are expressed in high numbers in the brain, but also in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. These are also expressed on peripheral nerve terminals and play a role in the relief of pain. In the brain they are mainly expressed by microglial cells, where their role is unclear.

CB2 – (Discovered 1992) CB2 receptors are expressed on T cells of the immune system, on microphages, B cells and in the hematopoietic cells. They also have a function in keratinocytes.

The list of CBD oil benefits seems to be growing every day. I was truly surprised by the amount of benefits attributed to the use of CBD in one form or another. Just like milk, CBD can do a body good.

*Marijuana itself has been used as a pain reliever as far back as 2900 BC.

CBD oils have been shown to help reduce chronic pain by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters. Sativex (an oral spray) is a combination of THC and CBD approved in several countries to treat pain related to multiple sclerosis.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the largest contributor to disability worldwide. These disorders are usually treated with pharmaceutical drugs that come with a plethora of negative side effects, including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and headache. CBD oil has been shown to greatly reduce anxiety and depression without many of the negative side effects. This has been linked to its ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin; which regulates mood and social behavior.

CBD may help reduce symptoms related to cancer and side effects related to cancer treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain. A review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that CBD helped to significantly prevent the spread of cancer. They also found that it tends to suppress cancer cell growth and promote their destruction.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex for treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy: Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. This is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug derived from marijuana.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2017 found that nearly 70% of all CBD products sold online are incorrectly labeled.

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautions pregnant women and nursing mothers to avoid marijuana use due to the possibility of adverse development to their baby.

*Recent scientific studies have also discovered that broad spectrum CBD extracts are much more effective than “pure” CBD isolates. While most doctors agree that CBD oil with MCT oil infused is best for your body, they also say that CBD oil with coconut or palm oil infused is still not a bad thing. It just takes longer to be absorbed and thereby turned into energy.

WHAT DOCTORS THINK

Most doctors are skeptical of CBD oil despite many of their own patients touting its health benefits.

“I have been using CBD on various patients at my functional medicine center for some time now, and we are loving the clinical results! I use it to support healthy balanced inflammation levels in people with autoimmunity, pain, and anxiety. For some, CBD has truly been the missing link in their health puzzle. It's one of the few things that I, too, take every day."

—William Cole, D.C.

“I was skeptical of marijuana and CBD oil benefits. I was also hesitant to prescribe CBD to patients due to potential psychoactive effects when combined with THC and because it’s not a regulated substance. But as my patients at Parsley Health kept asking me about CBD, I decided to dig a little deeper into CBD oil benefits and was surprised at how promising it may be.”

- Dr. Tiffany Lester MD

Since, there is no real regulation or medical guidelines in place regarding use of CBD oil, many doctors have now started conducting their own research. Some of them are even experimenting by using the oil themselves and documenting results. Many doctors admit that CBD oil and its proposed health benefits were brought to their attention by patients they are treating for pain, anxiety, depression, or psychosis. The lack of concrete medical research or guidelines keeps many doctors from recommending it to their patients. There are many community forums where you can chat with others who have been using CBD for some time and who may be able to provide testimonies and advice about deciding which product brand is right for you. Hopefully this will aid in locating the oils that are infused with real MCT oil. There is no one size fits all philosophy at work when it comes to medication. Everyone’s metabolism and body chemistry is different. Therefore, consulting your physician throughout the process is highly recommended. Your due diligence is required!

CBD OIL USES

Acne Multiple Sclerosis

Anxiety Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Chronic Pain Inflammation

Depression Dyskinesia

Epilepsy Psoriasis

Glaucoma Broken Bones

Insomnia Mad Cow Disease

Weight Loss Bacterial Infections

Muscle Spasms Diabetes

Parkinson’s Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis

Heart Health Nausea

ADHD Schizophrenia

Addiction Irritable Bowel Syndrome

(This is not a comprehensive list)

CBD OIL SIDE EFFECTS

Anxiety Changes in Appetite

Changes in Mood Diarrhea

Dizziness Drowsiness

Dry Mouth Nausea

Vomiting

(This is not a comprehensive list)

*It is not crystal-clear how CBD oil may interact with other medications. We cannot stress enough how important it is to consult your physician prior to starting any CBD oil regiment!

COOKING WITH CBD

I guess this is what we would call a trend within a trend. While researching the growing trend of CBD oil use, I kept finding these sites dedicated to cooking with CBD extract. Eating healthier is a topic that never goes out of season and has been embraced by a newer, younger generation.

Edibles like brownies, cookies and candies have found a growing fan-base. The 20-30-year-old crowd still loves their treats but are finding healthier ways to indulge. The long-lasting effects of edibles make them the ideal dosage delivery system for Cannabidiol. Just like when mom used to mix our medication in with our favorite drink or dessert, cooking with CBD can bridge the gap between what tastes good and what’s good for you.

Since CBD is an oil, it is very easily added to recipes that require oil or butter. Best practice is to add an oil or butter with the CBD like coconut oil, palm oil, or ghee. Most of the testimonies I have read caution against attempting to fry with CBD. Frying is probably the least healthy way of preparing food. Not only are fried foods high in fat, calories and often salt, but also have been linked to obesity and heart disease. Aside from this, frying with CBD would greatly diminish its beneficial effect in the body. Direct heat can cause the oil to lose terpenes which are compounds that increase the medical potency of CBD. Cannabinoids are extremely sensitive to heat. Its boiling point is 320-356 degrees F. Cook at a temperature higher than this and you run the risk of evaporating the oil. Serving size is another factor to keep in mind. The amount of oil should be distributed equally for each serving. Stirring constantly can help to keep the temperature down. The taste of CBD oil can be a bit overpowering to some, while others find it delicious. Starting off with small amounts and gradually increasing your intake is recommended. If you are taking your first dose you should take it at night, as it is known to make some people sleepy. Always give yourself up to an hour between doses. Looking for products labeled “organic” is another way of finding higher quality. Full-spectrum products are more beneficial because they contain other cannabinoids . . . look for these.

It may be impossible to determine the quality of CBD oil by sight alone. With the ton of new suppliers claiming to all have high-grade oil, this task becomes even more difficult and necessary. Another way to tell is by the price. Any smart consumer knows, if the price is too good to be true it probably is. There have been reports of some producers using toxic methods of extraction. The most effective methods use grain alcohol to remove residues and unwanted toxins and a process that uses high-pressure carbon dioxide in an extremely cold environment.

According to Guide to CBD, “A good quality oil will contain almost 70% cannabidiol in the first extraction. It has been suggested that one way to ensure you are getting a quality product is to select products grown in Oregon. Though CBD is not yet subjected to the FDA’s rigid set of tests and standards, Oregon has much stricter standards.

CBD oil is taking the world by storm. Hopefully you are well on your journey to the world of better health. I have used the CBD topical cream and they worked a lot better than the Biofreeze that I get from the Veteran’s Administration. I prefer the full spectrum product. It seems that I get better relief from the pain and stiffness with those. My regular sleep schedule and I have found each other again finally! The pain used to keep me up all hours of the night trying to find a painless sleeping spot. Most nights this would prove impossible. CBD reduces the pain long enough that my body and mind are on the same page and I can rest without the tossing and turning. I plan to explore much more uses for CBD and to incorporate it more into my health regiment. As for trying to oil as a part of my diet, I have not yet. I am still researching this aspect and will be sending updates to this blog after I do. If any of you guys have any experience with CBD oil in any form please give us your testimony. I really hope this helps you guys to achieve your health goals. I am including some links to recipes below. Leave us a comment family! POWER UP!

GET INVOLVED!

CONVERSATION RULES THE NATION!

RECIPES RECIPES RECIPES