CBD for Health and Recovery

Our understanding of the human body has changed significantly in the last hundred years. Thanks to modern medical science the inner workings of our physiology have been revealed in innumerable ways. Consequently new treatments and interventions have made many chronic conditions either curable or manageable with medication. Treatments for diabetes, cardiovascular dysfunction and cancer have extended life expectancy for many and are part of our common understanding of illness and disease. These days a diagnosis of a heart condition will lead to medication and often surgical intervention instead of inevitable physical decline.

Awareness of how our lifestyles and the choices we make affect our health have also evolved. We understand that too much sugar in our diet will create imbalance and lead to obesity and diabetic conditions, that too much cholesterol will harm our hearts and that too much alcohol will damage our livers. Our belief that exercise is key to our health as well as a good diet and adequate sleep has been reinforced by medical science.

This is the health culture of the present, we strive for moderation to keep ourselves in balance and there is consciousness about lifestyle choices. Many nutrients are recognised as beneficial; vitamins , essential fatty acids, amino acids, fiber are all acknowledged as supplements that support general health. How all this works is less well understood but medical research into cannabinoids has revealed the mechanism of how our bodies maintain balance and health function.

Humans, and all mammals, maintain balance between the integral systems of the body through a homeostatic system known as the ECS (Endogenous Cannabinoid System) Our bodies make our own endocannabinoids from essential fatty acids which moderate endocrine levels and keep our internal systems balanced and regulated. The main source for the production of endocannabinoids comes from omega 6 and omega 3 -rich essential fatty acids, these are ‘essential’ as we cannot produce these compounds ourselves.

The modern western diet is significantly different from our ancestors, for thousands of years the human diet had a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids which came from food which was varied and largely unprocessed, this meant that our intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids was equal, a 1:1 ratio.

Modern diets with high levels of processed oils and sugars has meant that the ratio is very unbalanced, 15:1 is now the norm, this high ratio imbalance promotes the pathogenesis of many diseases; cardiovascular, pulmonary, inflammatory,autoimmune and cancers.

Minimizing our intake of processed oils and sugars which are unhealthy sources of omega-6, and making sure that our diets included omega- 3 rich foods supports production of endocannabinoids.

Plant-based cannabinoids are invaluable as supplements which directly support the functioning of the ECS. Cannabinoids create the same response in ECS receptors as the endocannabinoids our body produces. Supplementary cannabinoid support has been shown in clinical trials to improve omega-6 to omega-3 ratios and reduce chronic conditions.

Research into the prevention of cardiovascular conditions showed a 70% decrease in mortality when omega-6 to omega-3 ratios were reduced to 4:1. Realigning these ratios of fatty acids has been proved to reduce cancerous cell proliferation in colorectal cancer and suppressed inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Using cannabinoids as a healthy supplement to support our ECS bolsters the effects of good diet and adequate exercise, allowing our bodies to function most effectively.

When the body is recovering from disease the ECS is under significant pressure to bring balance back to regain health. Again clinical trial results show us that bones regrow quicker and stronger when cannabinoids are present. CBD which reduces inflammation have been shown to significantly speed up recovery from operations like hip replacement or ACL knee surgery.

A few years ago I had two friends, both women and both in their forties who had the same ACL surgery. One decided to medicate with CBD tincture while the other chose conventional painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. The woman who chose to use CBD used two ounces of CBD tincture and at the end of a month was able to ride her bicycle again. The other friend had a much slower recovery and subsequently needed physical therapy to strengthen her knee.

The science of endocannabinoids and cannabinoids is growing and is still in an evolutionary stage where we have much to learn about functionality. Different cannabinoids are indicated for different conditions, CBD, CBG, CBN, THC and THCV have all been identified as having particular properties and significant overlaps in effectivity.

All the recent and current research points firmly to the understanding that maintaining our ECS with the right nutrients will keep our bodies healthy and balanced. Making sure that the ECS has the cannabinoids that fuel its ability to work is paramount. A balanced diet with a good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 supports endocannabinoid production and full spectrum cannabinoid supplement like CBD-rich tincture or infused oil is an additional support to your endocannabinoid system.

CBD and Autoimmune Disease Management

Autoimmune disorders manifest in many different forms from a mild case of psoriasis to the profound symptoms of full blown rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Some autoimmune disorders attack one organ or system while others attack the whole body. Whatever the autoimmune dysfunction is, the basic situation is the same: the immune system incorrectly identifies healthy cells as foreign invaders, viruses or bacteria, and attacks them, causing damage and creating wide-ranging symptoms including pain, inflammation, fatigue, nausea, migraine, lack of appetite etc.

There is no single definitive cause of autoimmune disease, certainly genetics, diet, chronic stress and environmental contamination have been identified as stressors of the immune system’s ability to function.

The conventional treatment for autoimmune conditions is immunosuppressive drugs, which decrease the immune system’s responses. This immune system modulation stops the immune system from over responding but also weakens the system’s ability to fight off real threats.

Since the discovery of the ECS ( Endocannabinoid System) the system regulating intrinsic homeostasis, medical research has identified a condition which is a precursor to autoimmune dysfunction. This is CECD (Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency) where the body is not producing enough endocannabinoids to ensure balance in the body's organs and systems. This in turn leads to faulty messages to the immune system which then sends an unnecessary response expressed as autoimmune dysfunction.

Medical science has shown that CBD reduces inflammation and supports healthy production of endocannabinoids. This means that autoimmune sufferers will benefit in two distinct ways from CBD medication. To simplify the process, CBD is received by CB1 and CB2 receptors which are situated throughout the body, present in every organ and system, including the immune system. When CBD connects with these ECS receptors an immunosuppressant message is sent to overactive sites. The substitution of plant-based cannabinoids where endocannabinoids are scarce stimulates the anti-inflammatory response. This reaction can be very swift, relieving inflammatory pain very quickly.

Treating autoimmune conditions with CBD is not just a ‘quick fix’ solution for inflammatory pain, plant-based cannabinoids also stimulate the ECS to create more endocannabinoids itself to act on the intrinsic deficiencies. Also CBD inhibits the enzyme which breaks down endocannabinoids meaning there are more cannabinoids circulating in the body for a longer period of time. The ECS does not store endocannabinoids or cannabinoids; rather it utilizes them on demand, responding to the needs of the body. This is why plant-based cannabinoids like CBD are so effective and quick-acting.

Many sufferers of autoimmune disorders have found relief from symptoms and a substantial decline in flare-ups of symptoms by using CBD as part of their health regime. Extremely painful diseases like Multiple Sclerosis have been shown to be very responsive to cannabinoid therapy. Synergy member Leenie shared her journey from debilitating MS symptoms back to many years of active life here.

Leenie’s testimony to the healing power of cannabinoids reminds us of how many cannabinoids there are and how far we still have to go in terms of clinical research to discover all of the benefits.

Experimenting with different cannabinoid blends have proved effective for Leenie in large part because of her careful attention to dosage and effect.

There are so many constituents in every cannabis strain, not only cannabinoids but also terpenes and flavonoids which all elicit their own unique effects. Synergy Wellness products focus on full spectrum extracts so that the entourage effect of all the intrinsic constituents of the plant are present.

At Synergy we encourage patients with autoimmune conditions to experiment with cannabinoid medicine in different ratios of CBD/THC and other cannabinoids of note. Recently a member suffering from acute rheumatoid arthritis inflammation added Black Beauty THCV-rich tincture to her daily CBD tincture and salve, 5 drops had her pain eradicated and sustained by an extra 5 drop doses when the pain started to come back.

Anecdotal accounts of relief from eczema and psoriasis using CBD-rich salve alongside arthritic pain relief from salve application shows a clear connection between surface and internal inflammation from topical medication.

The perceived science of medicating autoimmune disorders vacillates between suppressing overactive immune response and encouraging healthy immune response. Cannabinoids work in the same way as endocannabinoids, redressing balance wherever it is needed. This is the underlying logic of why CBD treatments cause symptoms to abate and even be eradicated by correcting imbalances. Using CBD as a daily supplement has proved valuable in keeping autoimmune symptoms at bay.

Cannabis – A Solution to the Polypharmacy Problem

By Dan Reich

Polypharmacy – the situation that arises when someone is prescribed multiple prescription medications – has been a problem plaguing medicine since the emergence of Big Pharma. It is estimated that 36% of adults over 60 take five or more prescription medications. If you include over-the-counter remedies and supplements, the figure climbs to 67%. Many seniors have needed to be hospitalized due to adverse reactions to medications, and the more one takes at a time, the greater the chance that a problematic or even deadly reaction can occur. Much of the problem is caused by “prescribing cascades” in which side effects from one medication are addressed with another medication, such as laxatives being prescribed for constipation resulting from opioid use, or blood pressure medicine given to those who develop hypertension from taking NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen.

Sir Munir Pirmohamed, a British professor of molecular and clinical pharmacology, has suggested that pharmaceutical drugs are “poisoning” the elderly: “Those drugs are used at conventional doses and those doses have been tested in younger populations who had exclusion criteria for trials – so they have been tested in people who don’t have the multiple diseases. So when we use a drug at a dose which is licensed at the moment, we are often ‘poisoning’ the elderly because of the dosing that we are using.”

Compounding the problem is the fact that many patients are being treated by multiple practitioners, who don’t always share information and may or may not know what other medications the patient might be taking.

And it’s not just older people who are at risk…young people with conditions such as epilepsy and autism are frequently given drug after drug in the hopes that some combination will be what works, instead of trying them one at a time. It is common for physicians to prescribe a combination of antipsychotics, anti-seizure drugs, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants.

Cannabis – An effective alternative to multiple prescription medications

In recent years, research and changing attitudes have led to many practitioners using cannabis as an alternative to adding more pharmaceutical solutions. Cannabis is a very complex medicine, combining many cannabinoids and terpenes, which enables it to address a variety of symptoms, such as pain relief, insomnia, inflammation and anxiety. This versatility is key in its ability to address multiple symptoms without a drug needed to be prescribed for each.

Many studies are pointing the way towards cannabis replacing “drug cocktails” or drugs that are dangerously addictive or cause significant side effects. In an open-label study conducted in Israel, patients given medical cannabis for treatment-resistant chronic pain experienced improved pain and functional outcomes, and a 44% reduction in opioid use. And there are many stories of epileptic children taking multiple prescription drugs that are able to wean themselves off of them with cannabis and CBD oil.

The problem of polypharmacy is not going away any time soon. As our population ages, and people acquire more chronic conditions, it’s clear that another approach is needed. Cannabis appears poised to become an effective strategy in avoiding the pitfalls of polypharmacy and providing an improved quality of life.