CBD OIL

Who they are:  South Florida resident Laura Fuentes had worked in pharmaceutical compounding for 20 years. In 2013, her dear friend Arby Barroso asked her about CBD. They experimented a little and noticed major improvements in well-being. Although “determined to bring its potential to more people,” the industry was young. There were obstacles at every turn. But the duo persisted. Today, Green Roads is among the most reputed CBD companies in the nation with thousands of verified reviews.

Third-party laboratory tests are a QR scan away. The reports are comprehensive and easy to read. In the words of Fuentes, “As a pharmacist, I look at our end users as ‘patients’ not customers.” The relatively large company considers customer service its “heart and soul.” That’s a comforting thought.

Why they’re unique: Green Roads is a legacy brand in the CBD industry. They didn’t jump on the bandwagon–they helped start it. Adherence to high quality and customer service has preserved the company’s popularity for years.

What products they have: Oils, various topicals, capsules and softgels, edibles, coffee, and bath bombs. Products are rated as mild, moderate, or mighty depending on CBD dose. Easy peasy!

The hot-selling Original Blend tincture is offered as broad or full spectrum in the three dose ratings: 300 mg (mild), 750 mg (moderate), and 1500 mg (mighty). The broad spectrum version comes with the option for mint or apple-kiwi flavors. Glycerin and oils–MCT, hemp seed, and sunflower–form the base. The pet tinctures nix the glycerin and add “love” to the formula. No animal testing and vegan options!

Other big sellers and staff favorites are the capsules and softgels. Sound plain? Think again: Relax comes with GABA and 5-HTP, superstar supplements in their own right. Sleep replaces those with another proven favorite–melatonin. That’s in addition to 25 mg CBD isolate per capsule/gel.

The most unique product at Green Roads is probably the hemp flower coffee, which combines Colombian beans and American hemp. Coffee connoisseurs, brace yourselves for Founder’s Blend, French Vanilla, and Hazelnut. If that’s not tantalizing enough, consider that Green Roads uses a “closely guarded method to create a CBD coffee experience unlike any other.”

Amy H. was quite pleased with the broad-spectrum oil: “This has worked very well for me. The dosing syringe is easy to use. The third-party verification that it has no detectable THC is essential to me.”

Allison E. left this feedback on the Founder’s Blend coffee: “This coffee tastes great and reduces the jittery feeling I get from normal coffee. Everyone who has tried it asks me for some when they come over.”

Bonus: The company’s rewards program may be the most robust in the industry, with points awarded for purchases, social media, and referrals.

Acne is the most common skin condition; factors causing or worsening it include stress, hormonal imbalances, genetics, medications, diet, and high stress levels, to name a few. Most people get acne at differing degrees, including mild, moderate, or severe. Acne commonly grows where oil glands can be found–the neck, face, chest, and back–and treatments can involve antibacterial creams, oral antibiotics, and cleansers.

CBD & Acne Management

Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely used in skin care products as a natural way to clear acne. CBD, or cannabidiol, is an active component of hemp plants. If you are worried about getting “high” from CBD oil, you can put your mind at ease. CBD is non-intoxicating and allows you to reap benefits of the hemp plant.

Our skin has its own endocannabinoid system (ECS).[1] CBD helps reduce inflammation, which can greatly help alleviate this major symptom of acne. Clinical studies have also shown that CBD molecules reduce the formation of sebum.[2] Excess sebum is one of the causes of acne. Aside from that, CBD oil also has antibacterial properties, which reduce the risk of getting or aggravating acne.

CBD & Other Skin Problems

Psoriasis. Aside from acne, CBD, as a tincture, also helps alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease where your skin cells have an accelerated growth cycle. This presents itself as reddish eczema, and can be found in the elbows, knees, and the edges of your scalp. Sometimes, it can be found in nails and palms. CBD may help relieve psoriasis flare-ups.

Due to CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can help calm swelling during a psoriasis flare up. It also inhibits the growth of keratinocytes, the primary cells found in our epidermis, or the skin’s outermost layer.[3] Fewer keratinocytes means a more muted skin cell growth cycle.

Dermatitis. CBD also may help with some types of dermatitis. By lowering the production of sebum, tied with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help keep flare ups manageable and relieve dermatitis symptoms. CBD also helps moisturize the skin by forming a barrier to prevent moisture loss. This helps keep dryness and irritation at bay.

Conclusion

Unlike prescription medication and some over-the-counter medications, CBD oil has little-to-no serious side effects, though further research is needed. You can use it as a preventive measure, to alleviate itching, pain, redness, and swelling of your skin.

If you combine CBD with a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle, and a good skin care regimen (of which CBD could even play a big part), you may be able to keep some skin conditions at bay. Just make sure that you procure your CBD oil from a reliable source. As always, speak to your dermatologist before starting any new treatment, including CBD.

Heather Smith is the Communications Manager at Sunday Scaries. She’s a composed copywriter and content strategist. She’s also a CBD advocate, promoting a healthy lifestyle free of stress and scaries.

 Image Credit: Erin Stone

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/users/erin_hinterland-17114308/

References

1. Bíró T, et al. The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009;30(8):411-420.
2. Scheau C, Badarau IA, Mihai LG, et al. Cannabinoids in the pathophysiology of skin inflammation. Molecules. 2020;25(3):652.
3. Wilkinson JD, Williamson EM. Cannabinoids inhibit human keratinocyte proliferation through a non-CB1/CB2 mechanism and have a potential therapeutic value in the treatment of psoriasis. J Dermatol Sci. 2007;45(2):87-92.

You might have heard of a sub-culture of people in Silicon Valley dropping acid regularly to facilitate their problem-solving abilities. Microdosing psychedelics has found a wave of popularity in recent years as it provides hints of a “trip” experience but doesn’t overwhelm the user.

Not to mention, taking small amounts of psychedelics has been found to promote creativity, self-efficacy, energy, positive social interactions, and cognitive performance.[1] To take things further, researchers also found that microdosing psychedelics can reduce symptoms of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

Many have taken note of Silicon Valley’s psychedelic technique and also applied it to cannabis. Since cannabis is considered a psychedelic substance by some, it only makes sense that taking small amounts of it may be able to produce a lightened intoxication.

But what about the medicinal side of things?

A study published by the Journal of Pain of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, graded-dose study found that low and medium doses of a cannabinoid formulation known as nabiximols (2.7 mg tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, and 2.5 mg cannabidiol, CBD, per spray) were actually better at treating pain in cancer patients than high doses compared to placebo (inactive substance).[2]

Another paper published by the University of Washington found that lower amounts of THC were more likely to relieve anxiety whereas higher amounts perpetuated anxiety.[3]

While these studies give us insight as to how microdosing cannabis can benefit us, we certainly need more research in order to properly understand the way cannabinoids interact with the body and how it affects individuals differently.

Since cannabis is a substance many people take regularly, it can be difficult to compare to the occasional consumption of psychedelics. Most notably due to the fact that many develop a tolerance to cannabis that makes it difficult to understand whether a microdose will have the same effect on them in comparison to someone who doesn’t use cannabis.

However, when it comes to those who haven’t tried any psychedelic, a microdose may be the proper introduction.

Beyond this, it seems microdosing both psychedelic drugs–such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (sometimes referred to as magic mushrooms)–and cannabis might have medicinal properties that have, until now, been overlooked. Although there are many different perspectives on dosing both cannabinoids and psychedelic compounds, hopefully greater clarity with come with more research.

Image Credit: Pretty Drugthings

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/yYplxJnqEsU

References

1. Anderson T, et al. Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: An empirical codebook. Harm Reduction Journal. 2019;16(43).
2. Portenoy RK, et al. Nabiximols for opioid-treated cancer patients with poorly-controlled chronic pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, graded-dose trial. The Journal of Pain. 2012;13(5):438-449.
3. Stoner, SA. “Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders.” Available at: https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf Accessed: October 9, 2020.

Recently a meta-analysis published in Lancet Psychiatry linked cannabis to psychiatric symptoms. While this has not been the first study to make such suggestions, here we discuss the implications of the work and gaps in this analysis.

With approximately 188 million people using cannabinoids on a global scale (based on 2017 statistics), the issue of possible psychiatric symptoms is of paramount importance and clarity is of the essence.

It is important that the risks and benefits of cannabis use are spelt out clearly without causing significant alarm. This includes the risk of inducing acute psychiatric symptoms as well as other possible detrimental effects.

The main psychoactive compound in cannabis– tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC–has long been associated with acute psychiatric symptoms or temporal psychosis. However, there is also a chicken-and-egg phenomenon related to cannabis use and the development of schizophrenia: does cannabis cause schizophrenia or do people self medicate with cannabis before receiving a diagnosis?

While we still don’t know this answer for sure, as single studies cannot provide definite conclusions, this recent meta-analysis of multiple studies, has provided some insights.

Cannabis and Psychiatric Symptoms

A meta-analysis evaluated the effect of THC alone as well as in combination with cannabidiol (CBD) on psychiatric symptoms in healthy people by reviewing several studies on the topic. A placebo (inactive substance) group was included for comparison.[1] The researchers used the search engines MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO to find data on this topic, and included studies published in English from May 21, 2019.

The psychiatric scales used were the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), standard measures used in psychiatric research, to determine symptoms after acute administration of intravenous, oral, or nasal THC, CBD, or placebo in healthy participants. Positive psychiatric signs include delusions and hallucinations, while negative signs include blunted affect and amotivation. Fifteen studies were included.

The results showed that, compared to placebo, a single administration of THC significantly increased the severity of both positive and negative symptoms. CBD on the other hand did not significantly cause these symptoms nor reduce THC-induced symptoms. The researchers concluded that THC poses potential psychiatric risks when consumed by healthy individuals.[1]

Study Limitations & A Rebuff

This is not the first time that THC has been associated with acute psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia and hallucinations. However, this meta-analysis had some shortcomings.

As noted in the discussion, the low number of studies included prevented proper statistical analysis as they were underpowered (low sample size). Also, the researchers combined summary scores across studies, which prevented them from analyzing individual symptoms.[1]

Additionally, important variables were not taken into consideration which this could potentially introduce bias in the results. These includes differences in dosing, biological sex, age, previous cannabis use, tobacco use, and cannabinoid/terpene profile, among others.

While there are different strengths and weaknesses of meta-analyses vs. individual studies, it’s important to keep in mind that this topic is very important and requires further study to understand who might be at higher risk of experiencing these possible effects.

Cannabis users should always consider the benefits and potential risks of treatment–any treatment–and carefully decide in collaboration with a physician what is best for them, as even medications that are available by prescription carry safety risks.

Image Credit: Gerd Altmann

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/

References

1. Guy H, et al. Psychiatric symptoms caused by cannabis constituents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):344-353.
2. Schoeler T & Bhattacharyya S. (2013). The effect of cannabis use on memory function: An update. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. 2013;4:11-27.

Who they are: Simple Goods offers a “balanced experience of cannabinoids, starting from the energetic morning all the way to a restful night’s sleep,” says one of their emails. The masterminds behind the new company include Woody Mooers, renowned industry innovator and CEO of Nectris Labs.

Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Nectris Labs shines as a seed-to-sale vertical integrator with the “highest possible quality control standards.” For starters, they are Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant and grow US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-certified organic hemp.

Nectris Labs boasts testing for “potency, pesticides, heavy metals, and more.” That said, at the time of writing, Simple Goods only offers cannabinoid potency reports. The functionality of the QR scanning feature also has some issues. But hey, Simple Goods is the new kid on the block. Hiccups are normal.

Other industry players behind the project include Loudpack—a pioneering cultivator, manufacturer, and distributor in California. The footprint is real.

Why they’re unique: Simple Goods makes CBD simple. Really simple. The lifestyle brand fuses organic ingredients and powerful bonus supplements to target daily needs—from a morning caffeine boost to evening insomnia relief.

What products they have: Currently, Simple Goods offers a lineup of five flagship routine lifestyle products:

• Morning Energy Oil
• Daytime Balance Oil
• Daytime Balance Gummies
• Night Time Rest Oil
• Night Time Rest Gummies

Hustle and bustle got you down? The Morning Energy Oil features a lemon flavor and green tea extract for a boost of natural caffeine. It’s a nice serving of CBD in coconut oil. The Daytime Balance Oil nixes the caffeine for a more traditional broad-spectrum tincture with peppermint flavor. Insomniacs, take note: Night Time Rest Oil sprinkles cannabinol, or CBN, into the mix. If that doesn’t make the eyelids heavy, the organic chamomile and lavender just may.

The vegan gummies (you read that right—no gelatin!) pack some other special ingredients. Daytime Balance Gummies come in scrumptious watermelon flavor with Vitamin B12 to “energize and calm.” Night Time Rest Gummies come in blueberry and add ever-popular melatonin to help induce slumber.

Be prepared for more products to come in the future.

Bonus: With products that cover a whole day’s and night’s work, why not subscribe? The discount is a whopping 20%!