SAFETY WARNINGS
Safety is knowing exactly what is in the CBD product you are using.
Knowledge of cannabinoid medicine is in the very early stages and it’s best to proceed with caution. More studies are needed and hundreds are underway.
A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published in the journal Pediatrics cautions pregnant women and nursing mothers to avoid cannabis use due to possible adverse developmental effects on their baby. In a study reviewed for the report, short-term exposure to CBD was found to increase the permeability of the placental barrier, potentially placing the fetus at risk from certain substances. The placenta keeps the baby safe from harm and cannabis may be letting the bad in. Too soon to know.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
CBD interacts with the Cytochrome P450 enzyme system. This enzyme system is involved in processing about 60% of all pharmaceuticals on the market, including common psych drugs like Klonopin, Valium, Xanax, and a long list of antihistamines, antiretrovirals, and steroids, to name a few.
Anyone taking significant doses of CBD and other drugs simultaneously should be cautious. People on chemotherapy drugs and warfarin blood thinners should be on alert given how easily an increased blood concentration of either could lead to serious negative side effects.
If you have blood pressure issues, are taking prescription drugs or have ever been warned about ingesting fruit juice, citrus or fermented products, consult your doctor before using CBD oil.
SIDE EFFECTS | ADVERSE EVENTS
Small-scale studies concluded that adults tend to tolerate a wide range of doses well. Researchers have found no significant side effects on the central nervous system, vital signs, or mood, even among people who used high dosages.
Patients reported diarrhea, tiredness, and changes in appetite and taste or weight. The most common side effect was tiredness.
DOSING cannabinoids | WHICH METHOD IS BEST?
Everyone metabolizes food, alcohol, supplements, and medicine differently.
When someone asks how to dose CBD, as important as it is to offer specific directions and guidelines, it is difficult to provide an easy answer.
How a person responds to medicine (plant-based or pharmaceutical) is influenced by genetic makeup, biological sex, lifestyle, mood, how they slept, what they ate that day, and of course, overall health.
These factors combined with the quality and type of product, formulation and delivery system, determine how well CBD may work.
How will CBD make you feel? Think acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen… they should relieve pain but you would not expect to “feel” anything in terms of a high or euphoria effect. Will it make you feel better? Again using acetaminophen as an example, 250 mg might be enough to relieve a headache, but you may need 500 mg to treat a bad headache or fever.
For these products, you can dose in liquid suspension, chewable tablets, suppositories and all in varying strengths. CBD dosing can seem complicated and overwhelming but does not have to be.
We will dig in way deeper with guidance directly from doctors, scientists, pharmacists, and caregivers.
The typical starting dose for CBD is 10 mg once or twice daily and with any medication. It is always best to start low and go slow.
Taking CBD on a full stomach allows more CBD to reach the circulatory system and faster. Some suggest taking CBD with Omega-3 ensures maximum potential benefit.
On average the effects of CBD oil last 3-5 hours.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD is thought to be responsible for many of the medicinal benefits of the cannabis plant without the high of THC. Just like Nana's hot chicken soup can make you feel better all over, CBD works as a whole-body medicine. It works as a tonic and goes to the places your body needs balance.
The job of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain homeostasis and to keep our bodies functioning at their best by adapting to change.
Though not well understood the ECS is thought to play a role in regulating pain, sleep, mood, memory, appetite, and other cognitive and physical processes.
The endocannabinoid system is made up of many receptors. These receptors are located throughout the body, and can be found in the brain, and even throughout the nervous system and the immune system. There are 2 main receptors, CB1 and CB2. Together, they are responsible for regulating neuro-hormones in the body.
“The endogenous cannabinoid system—named for the plant that led to its discovery—is one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. With its complex actions in our immune system, nervous system, and virtually all of the body’s organs, the endocannabinoids are literally a bridge between body and mind. By understanding this system, we begin to see a mechanism that could connect brain activity and states of physical health and disease.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov- high on the endocannabinoid system.
Illness, autoimmune disease, trauma to the body, chronic stress, foods we eat, and genetics contribute to an imbalance within a body system. A lack of endocannabinoid activity is thought to be present in many debilitating ailments such as fibromyalgia, migraine, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, chronic fatigue, IBS and more. The medical term for this condition was termed ‘clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome’ (CEDS) by Ethan Russo, M.D. in 2003. Prolonged exposure to stress depletes endocannabinoid tone, and this, in turn, has an adverse impact on a plethora of physiological processes.
Learn more about The Endocannabinoid System: Hemp and Beyond in May 2018 Whole Food Magazine
Plant-based medicine as a science based alternative to pharmaceuticals
HEMP, THE NEW KALE
Hemp is the new kale and the superfood everyone is talking about.
The hemp plant is naturally rich in CBD with very low levels of THC, less than 0.3% and offers many of the medicinal benefits of cannabis (or pot) without the high.
There is nothing new about hemp. One of the strongest, most durable natural fibers harvested it has been used for decades in the US to make clothing, plastics, textiles, rope, paper, and even beer. You will see hemp woven into favorite brands like Vince, Eileen Fisher, and Patagonia.
Hemp oil and cannabidiol (CBD) oil are not the same. The production of CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant. Hemp seed oil comes from the small seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. The seeds do not contain the same levels of compounds as the plant itself, but they still have a rich profile of nutrients including Omega-3 and Omega-6, fatty acids, and useful bioactive compounds.
Hemp plants are a good source of sustainable energy and easy to grow in various climates without chemicals or pesticides.
They act as hyperaccumulators meaning they easily absorb contaminants from the soil while they grow. Hemp plants are literally used to clean the environment of toxic heavy metals and organic pollutants. So powerful, hemp was planted at Chernobyl.
PHYTOCANNABINOIDS
CBD derived from hemp may also be referred to as a phytocannabinoid.
Phyto is a Greek word meaning ‘from a plant’.
A cannabinoid is a chemical compound that acts on cannabinoid receptors.
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant.
Other plants that produce phytocannabinoids
1. Black Pepper – major anti-inflammatory properties to ease ailments like osteoporosis and arthritis.
2. Rosemary, along with black pepper, both share a compound called BCP (beta-caryophyllene) that acts as a cannabinoid. It’s the same compound that gives the plants a peppery flavor. BCP also helps fight depression and anxiety, as well as ulcers when combined with THC and/or CBD.
3. Kava -Typically used somewhat as a sedative (i.e. in tea), Kava’s effects are similar to cannabis in that it contains a compound that binds to the same receptor as THC — primarily in areas of the brain related to cravings, which makes kava a desirable aid in treating addiction.
4. Maca contains compounds that emulate CBD by prohibiting an enzyme that breaks down endocannabinoids, which in turn increases the amount of them in your system causing a boost to your overall system, including mood.
5. Cacao -This fan-favorite superfood contains many therapeutic chemicals that boost mood. It’s also rich in anandamide, a naturally occurring endocannabinoid that regulates mood, memory, appetite, and pain perception. Its euphoric nature is like a lingering runner’s high. To unlock the magic of cacao, make sure you get it from raw, organic cacao, not processed (i.e. candy)
6. Black truffles- Just like cacao (and cannabis), black truffles contain the same anandamide properties that regulate mood and pain perception, among other things. Plus, truffles pre-date cannabis by about 50 million years (and taste better on pasta).
7. Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is usually mentioned in the same company as “colds,” but it’s capable of so much more. The plant contains bioactive compounds similar to THC that relieve anxiety, headaches, and arthritis by regulating the immune system.
8. Flax seeds have been found to produce compounds similar to CBD that act as antioxidants.