LIVING, THINKING + BEING

TADHG STOPFORD: HEMP - better than the Mediterranean diet...

Hello neighbours, how are you? I hope you're not feeling too anxious in these trying times.

If you are, perhaps try some hemp extracts, or even just some plain old Mary Jane. Personally, I’ve found hemp extracts to be a quiet oasis of calm, an understated blessing because, although rich in CBDs, they are low in THC. So there's no haze to your day.

Many hemp CBDs are anxiolytic, pain reducing, and more. They are also potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. We naturally make CBDs (cannabinoids) inside our body, and they occur widely in food plants too.

But they are most abundant in hemp; aka Cannabis Sativa (sativa means 'cultivated'); Hemp/Cannabis is humanity's oldest and most sacred food crop.

The most well known hemp CBD is actually called CBD (Cannabidiol). According to the WHO, it has “no scope for abuse”. It also has a ludicrously broad range of therapeutic benefits, from anxiety, through pain, cancer, and psychosis. But it’s just one of more 180+ Hemp CBDs.

Hemp CBDs interact with our cannabinoid system in the same way that Mediterranean foods do (Mediterranean foods have small amounts of similar molecules). i.e. as powerfully protective antioxidants, anti inflammatories, and much much more.

Ponsonby’s own Medical Cannabis Company, (MedLeaf) pioneered affordable medical cannabis access for patients and provides a third of the patient population with CBD oils and THC flower/bud.

I know these guys, and they have performed heroically, in the face of a mercilessly uninformed, unsympathetic, (and apparently conflicted) regulator - (MedSafe).

Despite its rhetoric, this Labour government is needlessly destroying not just this patient centered company, but two thirds of New Zealand's current medical cannabis supply chain. By 1 October all of their existing products must be destroyed.

Previously CBD products have been acceptable if they had no more than 2% THC; but now Medsafe has banned all products that do not meet the most unneccessary standards in the world, despite NO ADVERSE HEALTH EVENTS REPORTED SINCE THE MARKET OPENED IN 2017. Their talk of 'safe and legal' makes zero sense to anyone who understands this field. The question must be asked: are patients being protected or exploited?

In 2016 Food Safety Aus NZ (FSANZ) proposed that CBD rich hemp become a legal food as it is throughout the EU, UK, USA, and much of the world. But this sensible health proposal was trashed by MedSafe.

OIAs show that MedSafe's goal was to ensure “therapeutic goods” were not available to the public as food, unless rendered “sub-therapeutic” by stripping the CBDs out. This is a mind boggling fact. The Ministry of Health's medicines regulator opposed a food that could benefit the public's health. Is that a conflict of interest, or just the way our public service/government works?

Irritatingly enough, no politician seems to want to know about this failure of public service in one of our most important, and expensive ministries. Now, in 2021, New Zealand's most affordable products are being pushed out of the market, meaning that our most vulnerable people will have to pay more. Or maybe your taxes will subsidise overpriced medicines?

Food is medicine. Why did MedSafe oppose natural hemp, and fortified foods? I think Pharma takes care of itself, and we should take care of each other.

Write into Ponsonby News and tell me, what you think. (TADHG STOPFORD)  PN

www.thehempfoundation.org.nz

TIGERDROPS HOLY HEMP

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Prohibited food. Not intended for the treatment or prevention of any disease or condition.

MORAL FIBRE: Five ways to upcycle fabric scraps

As fast fashion increases demand for fabrics, we’re seeing its effects on our planet.

Around 20% of pollution is attributed to the textile industry, from the harmful and toxic chemicals used during manufacturing, and the waste and pollutants released when textiles reach the end of their lives – in landfill and burning.

By making something useful out of fabric scraps, you can reduce waste, need less new stuff, and have a bit of fun in the process. Get a few friends together and turn your upcycling into a crafternoon tea after lockdown.

Five no-sew or low-sew things to make with fabric scraps:

Hair accessories - hair upcycling projects make a great gift. Stretchy, silky fabrics work well for this. Sew a tube and thread elastic through to make a scrunchie. For a headband, attach the ends together with a sewn seam or tie together to create some decorative drama.

Nonslip hangers - Fabric scraps can give boring wire clothes hangers a makeover. As a bonus, they’ll also make your hangers non-slip. Just wrap long strips of fabric neatly around and around the hanger and seal ends with hot glue or doublesided tape.

Patches - If you rip a hole in a favourite pair of jeans (or any other item), a patch can save the day. This is an easy item to hand sew; just fold and iron the edges of the patch over first so it doesn’t fray. You might want to make a feature of it by using a contrasting colour patch or thread. Napkins - Cloth napkins are fancier than paper ones and can help you reduce waste. This one works best with linen or cotton fabrics. Simply cut scraps into squares, roughly 40cm x 40cm. Create a fringe by pulling the threads, or, if you have a sewing machine, hem them.

Twine - It’s easy to make fabric ‘string’ by twisting or plaiting long skinny pieces of scrap fabric together. You might want to tie a small knot at each end to prevent unravelling. Use it to decorate gifts, in the garden, or anytime you need to tie something up (or down). This fabric ‘wool’ can also be used in knitting, weaving or macramé projects.

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz

LIVING, THINKING + BEING JOHN APPLETON: VERTIGO

When the room is spinning but you aren’t...

I first wrote an article about vertigo several years ago.

Recently however two people I know well told me that when attempting to get out of bed, they find the room is spinning around them. This form of dizziness, often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting is commonly referred to as vertigo. Vertigo is however a symptom not a diagnosis and it’s important to understand this as there are several potential causes of this condition which may require other forms of treatment including hospitalisation.

The most common form of vertigo is a condition known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which can occur during specific head movements while standing up or bending over or getting out of bed. BPPV generally lasts less than one minute but during that time it can be very frightening for the person suffering the ‘attack’. If it lasts for minutes it could be vascular resulting from reduced blood flow, or if it’s hours, it may be Meniere’s disease (vestibular migraine). BPPV usually affects older people with most cases occurring in folks over 50 years of age.

BPPV is thought to be caused by small fragments of debris (calcium carbonate crystals) which break off from the lining of the channels in the inner ear. The fragments are commonly referred to as ‘ear rocks’ but the formal name is ‘otoconia’ They don't usually cause a problem, unless they get into one of the ear's fluid-filled canals. When your head is still, the fragments sit at the bottom of the canal, however, certain head movements cause them to be swept along the fluid-filled canal, which sends confusing messages to the brain, causing vertigo.

What can be done to help anyone suffering with BPPV?

Dr John Epley MD an American Ear Nose and Throat specialist discovered a surprisingly successful treatment option which was first described back in 1980 and is now known as the Epley manoeuvre.

The procedure is as follows and many GP’s are familiar with it.

1. The patient begins in an upright sitting posture on the edge of a bed. The legs are fully extended and the head rotated 45 degrees towards the side of the affected ear. 2. The patient is then quickly and passively lowered backwards by the clinician performing the treatment into a supine position with the head held approximately in a 30-degree neck extension, and still rotated to the same side. If it is the correct side, the symptoms of spinning may be quite severe. The patient will not always know which is the correct side and the process may need to be repeated to determine this.

3. The clinician observes the patient's eyes for “primary stage” nystagmus (rapid eye movement).

4. The patient remains in this position for approximately 1–2 minutes.

5. The patient's head is then rotated 90 degrees to the opposite direction so that the opposite ear faces the floor, all while maintaining the 30-degree neck extension.

6. The patient remains in this position for approximately 1–2 minutes.

7. Keeping the head and neck in a fixed position relative to the body, the individual rolls onto their shoulder, rotating the head another 90 degrees in the direction that they are facing. The patient is now looking downwards at a 45-degree angle.

8. The patient remains in this position for approximately 1–2 minutes.

9. Finally, the patient is slowly brought up to an upright sitting posture, while maintaining the 45-degree rotation of the head.

10.The patient holds sitting position for up to 30 seconds.

I have observed this treatment on several occasions and I have been impressed with the outcome. The Epley manoeuvre can easily be done at home but my recommendation is to consult with a doctor in the first instance in order to obtain a correct diagnosis. (JOHN APPLETON)  PN

E: john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

COPY DEADLINE: Friday 20 August PUBLISHED: Friday 3 September