Cannabis: The #1 Medicine Cabinet Essential

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!  

Cannabis Effective in Easing Symptoms of Neuropathy: Relief without Troublesome Side Effects or Opioids

By Dan Reich

Neuropathy is one of the most common forms of chronic pain, and is caused by damage to the nervous system. Symptoms can include feelings of muscle weakness, numbness, tingling and burning. Affecting as many as 20 million Americans according to the National Institute of Health, it can be caused by disease (diabetes is the most common) but other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disorders can also result in neuropathy. 

Other causes include alcoholism, exposure to toxins, chemotherapy, HIV, Fibromyalgia, Shingles, surgery, viral infections and injuries. With diabetic neuropathy, the nerve damage is caused by chronically high blood sugar. Sufferers of neuropathy numbness in the feet (the most common location) can injure their feet without being aware of it, and can suffer infections or other complications.

Free radicals, which are generated when the body encounters stress, toxins, poor lifestyle habits, can damage nerve endings, exaggerating the effects of the condition. Cannabis is rich in antioxidants, helping to diminish oxidative stress and irritation.

Conventional pain relieving drugs have traditionally had a hard time mitigating the pain of neuropathy, as they usually work by reducing inflammation, which is a common source of pain. Neuropathic pain is not caused by inflammation but rather nerve damage, and due to the way that cannabinoids bind with the body’s pain receptors, they can block the sensation of pain.

Another advantage provided by medical cannabis is that topicals, such as Synergy’s double-strength Super Salve, with its 1:1 THC for optimum pain relief, can quickly direct relief to the affected area, instead of waiting for it to be absorbed by the entire body as would be the case with edibles or tinctures.

Further, it doesn’t take a lot of medicine to be effective. Nurse practitioner Lynn Haslam says she typically starts neuropathic pain patients on a low nighttime dose of a balanced CBD to THC oil (1:1). “We really want the pain managed so they can sleep,” she says. “Neuropathic pain typically gets worse at night, electric shock-like. We may not be able to diminish all of these sensations, but if we can restore sleep, which will help decrease pain during the day, that may be a reasonable goal.” If the 1:1 ratio is too strong, then start with a 4:1 blend.

Cannabis Pharmacy author Michael Backes writes that this study is particularly significant because the best results were observed at the lowest dose, highlighting “the unexpected medical effectiveness of cannabis dosages that are far below those commonly consumed within the medical community.”

Author Michael Backes details in his book Cannabis Pharmacy a study finding a single, small, inhalation of THC cannabis decreased neuropathic pain at a higher rate than did larger doses ( 2mg). Significantly, this is a non-pscho-active dose that would allow for patients to treat their pain without any alteration of consciousness.

A number of studies have established the efficacy of cannabis in relieving neuropathy symptoms. A 500-person study by the National Institute of Health revealed that more than 85% of participants reported a decrease in the amount of neuropathic pain. Other studies have indicated that THC, or balanced combinations of THC and CBD, effectively relieves neuropathic pain. ( Synergy Wellness offers 4:1 CBD:THC blends, #116 4:1 Sativa for daytime relief, #103 4:1 Indica for pain relief at night). 

Certain strains, especially those high in CBD, have earned a reputation as being particularly effective, such as ACDC. Other popular strains for neuropathy include Granddaddy Purple, Sour Diesel and Blue Dream, which are high in THC for pain relief. Much like flower, vape cartridges provide a quick onset of relief. Synergy stocks high THC cartridges for rapid pain relief ; Blue Dream, Sour Diesel and the CBD-rich   ACDC.  If you want to avoid psychoactive effects, topicals and suppositories are extremely effective for providing pain relief without getting you high.

Whatever your preferred method of consuming cannabis, whether edibles, tinctures, topicals, capsules or flower, if you suffer from neuropathy there is probably a product that will provide the relief you are seeking. We are happy to consult with you to help you find the solution that will work best for you.

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Synergy Member Testimonial: A Journey with Pain Management over the years!

Hello, my name is Sarah Gould-Biggs.

I am 40 years old, and at 18, I was in a tragic accident. For many, many years afterwards, I had surgery after surgery, with dozens of medications.

To this day, I have chronic injuries and pain because of them, yet I try to lead an active life.

I began with the tinctures and did them for about one year. However, because of digestive issues and reflux, I was unable to continue, so I switched to the suppositories. They were quite relieving at first and worked well for pain for two years. Then, I felt my body build a tolerance to them, as with many other things. I stopped for four or five months, then my pain became unmanageable again.

I restarted them just a couple nights a week and felt relief. With the guidance of Leonard, I have started a new protocol, and will hopefully find daily relief again.

I cannot thank Synergy Wellness & Healing Essence, Leonard, and the rest of the team that has helped me the last few years.

All the praise, love, and light.

Sarah Gould-Biggs

July, 2023