Connecting to the Whole

These days it is very easy to find oneself in a state of nervous system overwhelm. The causes for this are many. Constant input streaming in at all times, stimulus and distractions abound. Working and earning a living to survive has replaced hunting and gathering, and our tribal ways of support and community have all but vanished from Western society. As far as evolution goes, this all happened very quickly. The isolation that is experienced by many due to this modern way of living is the cause of much suffering, as separation and isolation are not natural states of being for mammals. Our bodies are vessels capable of complex processes beyond our comprehension, yet they have not evolved over the millennia to cope with depletive life as we now know it. Whether we wish to accept it or not, it is the truth! Despite the extensive amounts of money and effort poured into medical research, there are mysteries of the human body that completely evade the understanding of the most learned individuals. One may argue that current research on the human body as a collection of isolated systems that can be understood in vitro is a woefully limited approach. A limited approach that yields limited results. Medical science has largely forgotten one of the most fundamental facts of human existence. The fact that we are not, in reality, isolated individuals. Quite the contrary. We are unique, precious, individualized parts of a vast and integrated whole.

Just as the individualized cells of our bodies collectively create the architecture of our being, so our individualized beings make up the architecture of our collective experience of reality. All of us are an interdependent whole, a collective living breathing organism. Remembering this simple fundamental fact will bring comfort to your soul. It will bring peace to your heart to remember the greater community of life on earth is dependent on your happiness, and vice versa. If we all begin to look at our own self care and self love through the lens of truth, we begin to observe the reality of the situation. By neglecting our own wellbeing we are actually harming the universal organism. We are all one interdependent mosaic of life that should be celebrated and acknowledged as such for our own psychological well being and the well being of all life on earth! As above, so below. This is the law of the universe!

It is important to acknowledge the ways our ancestors used to use ceremonies and sacred herbal rituals to celebrate and honor this interconnected and cyclic flow of nature. The oldest known written record of ritualistic use of cannabis dated back to 2727 B.C. from the ancient Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. Ancient Greeks and Romans used cannabis in herbal remedies, and use spread throughout the ancient Islamic empire into North Africa millennia ago. Cannabis has been used to soothe and connect people to each other and to their own bodies for ages, as it really was only demonized and marginalized in recent history. There is good reason why cannabis is so efficient at relaxing and disarming the human body. In order for our bodies to have evolved chemical receptors specifically designed to receive the various forms of THC and CBD, our species had to be exposed to it a lot, for an extremely long amount of time. We have co-existed with cannabis long enough to connect directly with it in our DNA. That right there is some remarkable proof of interconnectedness of all life.

One major step towards happiness that we all can take, no matter where we are on the spectrum of health, is to continually acknowledge and reconnect to the whole of nature that is our birthright. Connecting to your body and nature every day is more than a new age idea my friend, it is a deep intrinsic need ingrained in your ancient DNA. We are tribal beings, we cannot thrive in isolation. Bringing cannabis into your self care ritual revives the ancient plant wisdom already present in your human body. All you are doing is simply reconnecting with that which was already yours. Your ancestors would be proud.

With love and deep gratitude for all life on earth,

Nurse Lauren

The Perfect Summertime Soda: Smreka with CBD

There is nothing better in the hot summer months than a refreshing cordial, Smerka is a classic drink from the Balkans, a fermented Juniper Berry soda with health benefits. Smreka is probiotic but unlike Kombucha it isn’t fermented with sugar which makes it ideal for those watching their sugar intake. Smreka has negligible alcohol content, around 0.5%, I’ve added a CBD-rich alcohol-based tincture to enhance the relaxing cordial effect.

Smreka’s main ingredient is dried Juniper Berries, known to improve digestion and support urinary tract health. Smreka has a mild slightly flowery flavor and is lightly carbonated. The fermentation process takes 10 to 30 days, after 10 days it will get fizzier by the day, so how much carbonation you prefer will dictate the length of the fermentation process. I like a mild carbonation so I favor around 14 days fermentation before straining.

What You Need To Make Smreka

  • A quart jar with either a plastic lid or a metal lid, with a parchment paper insert placed under the lid.

  • Either a cheescloth, muslin, silk, a sprouting screen or fine-mesh colander for straining.

  • ¾ cup of dried juniper berries

  • 1 quart of water

  • 30 drops Synergy Wellness CBD-rich alcohol based tincture.

  • Fresh lemon or lime juice (optional)

  • Raw honey (optional)

Method

  1. Pour the dried Juniper Berries and the quart of water into the quart jar, seal the jar.

  2. 2. Shake the jar every day, the Juniper Berries will float around, the longer you keep fermenting the more berries will drop to the bottom of the jar.

  3. ’Burp’ the jar every few days, ‘burping’ just means taking the lid off, exposing the liquid to the air and then re-sealing the jar.

  4. When you are ready to finish fermenting the Smreka, (for mild carbonation say 14 days) strain the liquid through cheesecloth, silk, muslin or a fine-mesh colander.

  5. Add 30 drops of Synergy Wellness CBD alcohol based tincture, shake to mix.

  6. Smreka has a mild flowery flavor, add fresh lemon or lime to add a little tartness, and/or a little honey if you like a little more sweetness.

Serve & enjoy!

Spotlight on Cannabichromene, CBC: The Brain Health Essential

Several studies in the last decade have revealed the substantial role that CBC plays in brain health. CBC which is present in all cannabis, influences the various pathways that neural stem cells take as they mature.

CBC determines which stem cells will mature into new neurons and which cells will form the protective sheath for nerves. CBC also decides which stem cells become astrocytes, important star-shaped brain cells which regulate cerebral blood flow and regulate electrical impulses. Astrocytes also play a crucial role in repairing the brain and the spinal cord after an infection or a traumatic injury.

The latest research classifies CBC as a ‘neurogenesis enhancer’ because of this important ability to allow stem cells to maintain their viability and to differentiate into their various different forms. CBC is being studied for neurodegenerative conditions like dementia, Altzeimers and Parkinson’s Disease.

Cannabichromene (CBC), is categorized as a ‘minor cannabinoid’ because it occurs in small amounts in cannabis, not because it is minor in usefulness or effectiveness. Many cannabinoid studies have shown CBC’s uses in other areas. Not surprisingly, studies on antidepressant qualities of cannabinoids show CBC works synergistically with CBD and THC relieving depressive symptoms.

CBC has been shown to relieve inflammation in several distinct conditions, studies on arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease both returned positive results.

There is hope that CBC will prove to be valuable in many more areas, studies are ongoing in the role it can play in anti-cancer treatments, bone health and inflammatory skin conditions like acne.

While research continues it is worth noting that CBC and other minor cannabinoids are always present in broad spectrum extracts where cannabinoids act together as nature intended. I think of broad spectrum extracts as packed with extra value from all the extra cannabinoids that are present.

CBD-rich cannabis strains usually have between 0.25% to over 1% of CBC present.This translates to 2.5mg to 10mg per gram of cannabis flower, this represents a good supplemental dose of CBC, adding discernible benefits and therapeutic value to CBD-rich products.