By Billee Sharp

I realized the other day just how often I suggest CBD as a remedy for so many different conditions and ailments. I imagine that I might come across as a little over zealous but the truth is that cannabinoids have a beneficial impact on many health issues, big and small. We now know that keeping our ECS (endocannabinoid system) at optimum activation with cannabinoids is the key to regulating the systems of the body; both endocannabinoids that are made in the body and supplementary phytocannabinoids extracted from plants. Here are the main reasons that I always keep cannabis medications on hand in our medicine cabinet.

Muscle Strains & Arthritic Pain

Synergy 1:1 Salve is the go-to topical for muscle strain and arthritic pain. The combination of equal parts of CBD and THC creates an effective double action; CBD relieves inflamed tissue and joints while the THC dissipates the pain. The pure carrier oils, Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, allow the cannabinoids to easily penetrate the epidermis and activate the skin’s CB 1 & 2 receptors. For deep-seated arthritic pain, Synergy Super Salve is a double strength preparation, delivering twice as much medicine to the affected area.

Sunburn & Insect Bites

Synergy Salve to the rescue when sunburn strikes, cannabinoids applied topically activate the skin’s CB receptors which instigates rehydration for the damaged tissue, provides UV protection and calms the burn. The maddening allergic irritation of bug bites can be alleviated by applying salve to the distressed area. Recently some vicious mosquito visited my ring finger during the night and bit me twice! When I woke up my finger was so swollen it was too painful to take my ring off! I coated the area with salve and within a minute or two the itching was gone and the swelling reduced enough to remove my ring! I reapplied salve when the itch came back about an hour later and then again an hour after that!

Digestive Upsets

Nausea and upset stomach will respond to a dose of CBD-rich tincture taken sublingually with a little water. The calming effect of CBD combined with its anti-inflammatory action give quick relief from digestive discomfort.

CBD tincture has been shown to aid recovery from nausea associated with chemotherapy and it works the same way for nervous stomach pain. My son is a classical guitarist and suffers from pre-performance nerves which manifests as a bilious tummy ache unless he takes a dose of CBD before he goes on stage.

Pelvic Pain & Period Pain

Deep abdominal pain from serious health issues like cancer will respond to cannabinoid medication. A generous amount of THC acts on deep pain, to avoid the psychotropic effect we recommend using suppositories.

Rectal and vaginal application of cannabinoids bypasses the digestive system and avoids entering the bloodstream so there is no discernable “high”, just relief from pain.

Cramps and uterine pain from menstruation and other painful menopausal issues can be addressed with suppositories - the vagina has the highest concentration of CB 1 & 2 receptors in the female body, and suppository application delivers the medicine directly alleviating pain.

Anxiety, Depression & Headaches

One never knows when some situation will arise that fills us with dismay and anxiety. CBD-rich tincture will relieve anxious symptoms quickly. Similarly depressive symptoms can be treated with CBD tincture to elevate mood, we generally recommend a 4:1 CBD tincture for an on-going depressive condition but a CBD-rich tincture will give ample relief in the moment. Headaches can also be banished with a dose of CBD, for recurring migraines a 1:1 tincture is optimum but CBD-rich tincture will do the trick, relieving inflammation and pressure in the brain.

Immune Support

Since the Covid-19 pandemic supporting our immune systems has become a priority to avoid infection. New research on the anti-viral properties of CBDa and CBGa has proved that these cannabinoids inhibit RNA virus’ access to cells and blocks viral replication. Synergy’s Immune Support capsules deliver a daily dose of CBDa and CBGa to fight infection on a cellular level by supporting a healthy ECS.

Sleeplessness

Keeping CBN-rich tincture in your medicine cabinet can be a godsend on a sleepless night. CBN has a huge reputation as a cure for insomnia, combined with CBD to alleviate anxiety, it promotes sleep without any morning grogginess. Recently I used CBN to cope with sleeplessness from jet lag and it eased my return to Pacific time within a couple of days.

Pets

CBD-rich tincture is a great safe go-to medication for cats and dogs suffering from arthritic pain, muscle strains and anxious symptoms. In older pets a daily dose of CBD tincture with food will ease painful joints and hip dysplasia. Nervousness, as experienced by my two city-dwelling cats over the 4th of July weekend, is best treated with CBD tincture, which gives relief for hours at a time.

I often have little other than a thermometer, Band-Aids, Synergy Salve and CBD-rich tincture in my medicine cabinet because most common complaints can be successfully treated with these two products. Unlike over the counter medications which can have unpleasant side effects like stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, cannabis medication is gentle on the body.

Combining cannabinoids with other herbal remedies adds value - when I have muscle pain with bruising I will reach for arnica ointment as well as the 1:1 salve. When depressive mood is the issue I’ll take some St John’s Wort tincture as well as CBD tincture. When I have a headache I take CBD tincture and drink a long glass of water, adding electrolytes if I have them on hand.

There are so many ways that CBD works for the kind of minor ailments that we treat ourselves, it deserves front of shelf placement in the medical cabinet.

My next project will be revamping my earthquake emergency kit with a bottle of CBD tincture and a tin of Synergy Salve!