Natural Awakenings
PLANT MEDICINE
SECTION pages 30-37
community spotlight
DIVINE SYNERGY Natural Health for the Mind and Body with CBD by Tavi Meketon
E
ric Gutierrez was given a weightlifting set when he was only nine. Since then, he’s been studying health and wellness, providing “better medicine”, and most importantly, educating people on the importance of a comprehensive view of the body and mind. In April 2019, he opened Divine Synergy Therapeutics with the mission of bringing only the highest quality products to his customers. His goal to offer a selection of natural products containing CBD and hemp were a way for him to help others and provide a holistic path to health for many. 36
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Gutierrez’s passion is to provide an effective and healthy solution for those searching for answers to a myriad of health and wellness issues that can be addressed by nature and nutrition. He sources his products based on a few simple goals that are summed up by the word “integrity”. He searches only for products that have been tested by third-party laboratories that are free of all heavy metals, pesticides and other particulates. All of Divine Synergy’s products include a COA, a full-panel certificate of analysis issued by an accredited labora-
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tory that includes the full composition of a product. Gutierrez is proud that more than 95 percent of his customers return regularly and word of mouth is his best form of advertising. One can easily miss the storefront, as it sits in the middle of an unassuming row of small businesses on the east side of Park Avenue. Inside, it is warm and friendly with a wide variety of hemp and CBD products including salves, oils, tinctures, balms and healthy edibles. Gutierrez is a patient and knowledgeable teacher who carefully explains dosage, timing and exactly how they can improve health. Anyone who has considered CBD or cannabinoids is familiar with the tremendous amount of information available and how much of it can be confusing. CBD vs. hemp, broad spectrum vs. full spectrum, total plant vs. isolate—buzz words that shoppers can spend significant time and energy wading through only to find that the research they have done is just to understand the basics. Ingredients can be confusing too; “active” ingredients may not be reflected accurately, and terminology may be incorrect. “We are not regulated at this point in Arizona,” says Gutierrez. “That means that manufacturers may not only label their products incorrectly, but the customer has no way of knowing exact ingredients and amounts.” Talking with Gutierrez, it is evident how strongly he feels about the direct role food has on healthy living and ultimately, the effectiveness of any CBD supplement. “We don’t carry any gummies at all,” he says, citing his emphatic belief in a holistic approach to health. Some of the popular products available in the CBD market, including gummies, are high in fructose and food coloring. “You can’t expect to improve your health if you ingest these types of ingredients,” says Gutierrez. Consumers are also confused about the differences—properties, benefits and risks—among CBD, THC and hemp. According to the National Institutes of Health, “cannabis” refers to all products derived from the plant Cannabis sativa, which contains about 540 chemical substances. The word “marijuana” refers
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