We imagine the people suffering who need support and think about how we are growing the plants to help them.
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healing ways
~Lara Miller
The Feel-Good Molecule
CBD’s New Frontier Help for Mental Health by Julie Marshall
W
hen Kaye Her- It’s really important ing to anxiety, depression bert’s husband for people to know and stress as the top three brought home applications. their options and a free sample of cannabiHowever, as an unregto keep looking for diol (CBD) oil, she didn’t ulated supplement, CBD hesitate to give it a try. what works for them. presents a challenge for Having heard about its consumers in its ubiquity ~Peter Bongiorno calming effects, she gave from CBD-infused pillows CBD to her three sons, to gummies, soaps and whose attention deficit hyperactivity dis- even pet food. Discerning purity, dosage order made home-schooling difficult due and safety are real concerns for those that to frequent tantrums and lack of focus. “I may grab any bottle off the shelf. didn’t expect CBD to be miraculous, but Consumers must become well inI was surprised that my kids’ frustrations formed, especially when replacing mediwere greatly reduced,” says the Austin, cations for serious disorders, experts say. Texas, mom. “We weren’t seeing the But for anxiety and emotional well-being, severity of meltdowns.” CBD is largely heralded as a safe and The use of CBD in tinctures, capnatural choice by providers well-versed sules and lotions has grown exponenin CBD, such as Peter Bongiorno, past tially, along with the science to prove its president of the New York Association of efficacy in remediating physical pain. Naturopathic Physicians. “It’s really imNewer, but equally as robust, is the viportant for people to know their options ability of CBD as a remedy for mental and to keep looking for what works for health-related issues, experts say, pointthem,” he says.
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CBD, a compound extracted from the hemp plant, is appealing because it can raise the level of cannabinoids—feel-good molecules naturally created within the human body. “When we can’t sleep or are stressed out, cannabinoid levels go way down,” Bongiorno says. While prescription drugs overwhelm the body with adverse side effects, CBD can healthfully bring back balance. But CBD won’t trigger an altered state because there is little to no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that produces a high, he says, adding that he starts patients at a low daily dose of 25 milligrams. It’s important to talk with a physician about drug interactions, Bongiorno says. For instance, CBD can increase levels of blood-thinning medications, according to a 2017 study published in Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports. CBD can possibly treat a wide range of conditions, from fear of public speaking to bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, but more research is needed, experts say. A 2018 clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests CBD offers potential in treating psychosis. More recently, researchers in a 2019 case study of 27 patients published by the Permanente Journal concluded, “Cannabidiol may hold benefit for anxiety-related disorders.”
Seeds of Hope
The most important step consumers can take to find a safe, quality product is to know where their CBD comes from, experts say. Lara Miller is an organic farmer
