Health Watch - June 2020 Cincinnati Magazine

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HEALTH WATCH

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DEMYSTIFYING CBD

IT SEEMS LIKE CANNABIDIOL IS EVERYWHERE THESE DAYS. CAN IT REALLY HELP YOU? PLUS:

• WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRY • COMMON TYPES OF CBD PRODUCTS

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HEALTH WATCH EXPLORING CBD ing, meaning users can reap the benefits without the high.

NAVIGATING THE

CBD BOOM

CBD’S RISE TO THE WELLNESS MAINSTREAM HAS BEEN METEORIC. BUT DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?

T

ake a drive down Bellevue’s main drag and the signs of CBD’s explosive surge in popularity are, quite literally, everywhere.

The Kentucky Botanical Co., which deals extensively in CBD, occupies a shiny new storefront in the heart of town. Even the local coffee shop serves up CBD-infused brews. The sign outside a liquor store proclaims its message to passersby in bright, blinking red lights: “WE CARRY CBD.” The global market for cannabidiol (CBD) is set to grow to an astonishing $1.25 billion by 2023, according to a recent study cited by the FDA. While

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it’s difficult to pinpoint when and why the substance became so popular in the first place, CBD’s benefits have been touted as wide-ranging and transformative, offering relief from pain, anxiety, and a host of other chronic ailments.

Just one of nearly 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant, CBD has historically been overshadowed by its more infamous cousin, THC, typically associated with the euphoric feeling that goes hand-in-hand with marijuana use. While THC and CBD are similar—they’re both phytocannabinoids—CBD’s effects are non-intoxicat-

Photograph by (Cover) matka_Wariatka /stock.adobe.com/ (This page) Tinnakorn /stock.adobe.com

DISPELLING CBD MYTHS If you’re finding it difficult to navigate the tangled web of claims about CBD, you’re certainly not alone. Research from the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) found that, although six in 10 Americans are familiar with CBD, at least four in 10 incorrectly believe the substance is just another name for marijuana. More than half erroneously believe CBD can get a person high.

The “alarming” lack of consumer knowledge, the CBA reports, underscores a need for greater clarity and regulations that address the most common consumer questions. Can CBD get you high? Will it show up on a drug test? Are the benefits real?

Jeri Schultz, a registered nurse and founder of Tulip Tree CBD, has heard all of these claims—and more. There was even a time when she was a bit skeptical about whether CBD could live up to the hype.

But long days spent managing emergency rooms and tending to patients took a toll on Schulz, who was prescribed anti-inflammatories to manage aches and pains. When a series of adverse reactions ruled out prescription medications, Schulz found herself on a quest to discover natural pain management alternatives. First, she tried food.

And then she tried cannabis.

“I’ve always been an advocate for the medicinal use of cannabis,” Schulz says.

“CBD started becoming more popular and I was able to actually assess it.”

She ordered products from a dozen different CBD companies. And she was impressed. CBD wasn’t just helping her manage chronic pain and inflammation associated with arthritis—it was helping her sleep better at night. But in researching the CBD that was on the market, she was troubled by discrepancies in quality.

Because the FDA is still evaluating many of the claims made about CBD’s benefits, it’s illegal to market CBD as a drug or dietary supplement. But paired with a lack of federal regulation, the sud-

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den influx of CBD products popping up on shelves in gas stations and gift shops can create confusion for consumers.

UNDERSTANDING THE LEGALITY OF CBD

KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY With the door wide open for CBD sales, dozens of CBD stores have popped up across Cincinnati. Even Kroger has joined the fray. The grocer does not offer ingestible or consumable CBD products—at least for now—opting instead for hemp-derived topical CBD products like lotions, oils, balms, and creams.

“Our top-selling item was the Veritas Farms lip balm, which is priced well for a consumer’s first experience with a CBD product,” says Erin Rolfes, corporate affairs manager for Kroger’s Cincinnati-Dayton Division.

“Similarly, we saw smaller containers of hemp-infused creams be popular with customers.”

If you’re interested in giving CBD a try, don’t just grab the first tincture

bottle you see on the shelf at a boutique. Avoid buying your CBD from Amazon—particularly if the products are coming from countries where CBD isn’t regulated.

“Make sure that it’s grown organically and that it’s not coming from China,” Schulz says. “There’s a lot of imports there and China doesn’t have the same regulations we have, so people are getting it and they’re not getting any benefits from it.”

Your best bet for quality CBD will always be a specialty retail store, whether online or brick-and-mortar.

And if you want to go the extra step to assure you’re purchasing reliable products, ask for a third-party lab report.

Reputable sellers will often send their CBD to third-party labs for neutral, unbiased quality tests.

Always consult with your doctor before trying a new CBD product. And always keep in mind: CBD is by no means a cure-all.

“Don’t get me wrong. CBD does not work for everybody,” Schulz says. “I’ll be the first to tell you it’s not a magic bullet. Like anything else, everybody’s individual.”

Illustration by Tong_art /stock.adobe.com

To understand CBD’s somewhat complicated relationship with the law, you need to jump back to 2018, when President Trump signed the Agricultural Improvement Act, a provision of which removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. Hemp and marijuana are both forms of cannabis, which has been illegal on the federal level since 1937. The government considers cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC to be hemp.

Anything above that percentage is marijuana.

So as long as CBD is derived from hemp, it’s legal, at least on the federal level. State regulations, meanwhile, are all across the board. Three states— Idaho, Iowa, and South Dakota—consider CBD illegal in all forms. Many others have specific restrictions, such as allowing CBD sales only in cannabis stores or banning CBD-infused foods and beverages.

Ohio is actually one of the more

lenient states when it comes to CBD sales, with no specific restrictions, so long as products contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Gov. Mike DeWine legalized hemp in 2019, in effect taking CBD off Ohio’s controlled substances list and ushering in a much-anticipated boom in CBD retailers.

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HEALTH WATCH EXPLORING CBD

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRY INTERESTED IN WHAT CBD COULD DO FOR YOU? HERE ARE FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER. Quality of Ingredients: Not all tinctures and topicals are created equal. Before you make a purchase, do your research, shop around, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Was the hemp grown organically?

Have the products been tested by a thirdparty lab? Be sure to read the label and confirm you’re buying CBD and not hemp seed oil, which doesn’t provide the same benefits.

Current Medications: Make sure you talk to your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you take before adding CBD to your daily regimen. While the existing body of research generally confirms that CBD is safe, it can change

Trying Topicals: If you’re seeking relief from chronic conditions like arthritis and psoriasis, you might benefit from CBD creams, lotions, or salves. And you might not have to go to a specialty shop to find what you’re looking for. Last summer, Kroger began carrying a specially curated selection of CBD topicals in select stores. the way your body processes certain medications, including blood thinners and antihistamines.

Choosing the Right Dose: Tincture bottles may tell you how many milligrams are in the bottle, but may not be clear on how

Not Seeing Results? It’s true that some people simply don’t respond to CBD, Jeri Schulz, owner of Tulip Tree CBD, says. But before you give up, talk to an expert. You may be dosing incorrectly, using a faulty product, or taking CBD in a way that isn’t right for your needs.

DR. KHURRAM A. KHAN, BDS, DMD Dr. Khan is a Board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Fellowship trained in Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial surgery.

He brings with him a wealth of expertise in wisdom teeth removal, in-office anesthesia, complex dental implant reconstruction and various other maxillofacial and cosmetic surgery procedures.

Cincinnati Center for Corrective Jaw Surgery 7523 State Road Cincinnati, OH 45255 513-232-8989 cincinnatijawsurgery.com

WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL • DENTAL IMPLANT THERAPY • ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY

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much you should be putting under your tongue. Take too much or not enough, and you might miss out on the benefits. Talk to your provider to make sure you’re taking the correct amount of CBD. Or, if you’re looking for a low-fuss option, Tulip Tree offers single-dose tinctures, gummies, and soft gels.

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TYPES OF CBD PRODUCTS

edibles are available in single doses and are often sold as gummy bears. Before you buy, make sure you know whether your edibles have been derived from cannabis or hemp, as cannabis edibles may contain intoxicating THC.

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THESE FIVE CBD PRODUCTS MIGHT BE A PLACE TO START—AFTER CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR, OF COURSE. Oils & Tinctures: Two of the most popular forms of CBD are oils and tinctures, liquid hemp extracts that are swallowed or absorbed under the tongue. But Tulip Tree CBD Founder Jeri Schulz cautions against buying the first bottle you see. Don’t buy it off Amazon, she says. “And for the love of God, don’t buy your CBD from a gas station.�

Skincare: CBD has made its way into the realm of skincare—perhaps with valid reason. A 2016 study found that topicals infused with CBD could relieve pain and inflammation for those suffering from arthritis. But if you’re just looking to incorporate CBD into your skincare routine, Kroger, which began selling CBD topicals last year, says its most popular product is

Seltzers: You heard that right. Cashing in on the same trend that spawned White Claw, companies nationwide, including homegrown Queen City Hemp, have introduced lines of nonalcoholic CBD-infused seltzers that come in natural flavors like passion fruit, guava, and lemon lavender.

a CBD-infused lip balm made by Veritas Farms.

Edibles: Easy to use and store, CBD edibles are just what they sound like: cannabidiol-infused forms of CBD that you can eat. Like softgels and capsules, most

Pet Products: Although there haven’t been any formal studies to determine CBD’s effects on dogs and cats, some owners have been turning to CBD products to help their pets manage everything from pain and inflammation to seizures and separation anxiety. The AKC recommends that owners interested in trying CBD start with oils and tinctures, which allow carefully controlled dosing.

DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE! There is so much misinformation about CBD. As a registered nurse, I’ve seen ĆUVWKDQG KRZ &%' FDQ KHOS SHRSOH VXIIHULQJ IURP FKURQLF SDLQ LQćDPPDWLRQ anxiety and insomnia. ,èP KHUH WR VKDUH ZKDW ,èYH OHDUQHG )RU H[DPSOH The hype: CBD gets you high.

Jeri Schulz, MSN, RN

The TRUTH: 7+& LV ZKDW JLYHV \RX D HXSKRULF IHHOLQJ QRW &%' 6RPH FRPSDQLHV VHOO &%' WKDW KDV WUDFH DPRXQWV RI 7+& 127 7XOLS 7UHH 2XU &%' LV RUJDQLFDOO\ JURZQ WKRXJKWIXOO\ SURFHVVHG DQG FRQWDLQV Zero THC. $OO RI RXU SURGXFWV DUH WHVWHG IRU SXULW\ E\ DQ LQGHSHQGHQW UG SDUW\ ODE 7KHVH UHVXOWV DUH OLVWHG RQ RXU ZHEVLWH 6R \RX FDQ WUXVW WKH TXDOLW\

CARING FOR YOU

Visit TulipTreeCBD.com to learn more about CBD and how it can help you.

And save 15% on your ďŹ rst order.

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