What is Ototoxicity?

Ototoxicity

Ototoxic Drug Types

• Antibiotics
• NSAIDs
• High doses of salicylates
• Diuretics
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Environmental chemicals and other substances like lead, carbon monoxide, or alcohol

Doctors have a good idea of what drugs will cause a higher risk of ear damage than others; it isn’t likely that you would receive one unless they believed it was absolutely necessary. It’s not uncommon for them to prescribe you additional medication in these cases to help prevent hearing loss. If you are experiencing symptoms of ototoxicity, you need to let your doctor know.

Symptoms of Ototoxicity

• Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus
• Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss
• Dizziness
• Balance issues
• Change in gait
• Bouncing or oscillating vision

Medical Cannabis and Ototoxicity

Scientists are studying whether or not medical cannabis is a reliable treatment for ototoxicity. While the studies are still in their earlier phases, scientists are beginning to collect valuable evidence that links medical cannabis and the damage caused by ototoxic drugs.

How Does Medical Cannabis Work?

Medical cannabis, whether is full plant cannabis oil or CBD hemp oil like you can find in our shop, has shown to be so effective because of its interaction with our endocannabinoid system. By interacting with this system, cannabis has the ability to impact your entire body, including your ears.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system is in charge of homeostasis, which is the process of keeping your body regulated. When you are sick, you get a fever, that is your endocannabinoid system. When you get angry, you cool down eventually, that is your endocannabinoid system. From your physical health to your mental health, the endocannabinoid system has its hands in everything, and this is because of cannabinoid receptors.

What Are Cannabinoid Receptors?

All over your body, you have cannabinoid receptors that help the endocannabinoid system regulate your body. There are two main cannabinoid receptors, and they bind with endocannabinoids to maintain that regulation.

The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is mainly located in the brain but is found all over your body, it binds with the endocannabinoid anandamide and helps to regulate your neurological functions like pain sensitivity, mood, appetite, and sleep cycle. The CB2 receptor is more spread out in your body and mainly binds with the endocannabinoid 2-AG, which helps maintain your immune functions.

Cannabis and Ototoxic Chemotherapy

Studies have shown that ear damage caused by cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug used to treat a number of cancer, may be reduced when targeting the TRPV1 receptors. These are pain signaling receptors, and when they are upregulated, it can lead to ototoxicity.

Researchers have found that a component in the chili pepper, capsaicin, activates the TRPV1 receptors, which showed to cause rapid desensitization and increase the concentration of CB2 receptors, a cannabinoids receptor known for mediating the immune system.  

Cannabinoid receptors, you say? So, does this mean… it can’t be… yes, studies have also shown that medical cannabis like CBD hemp oil may be able to have the same effects. In fact, in the study where they tested the efficacy of cannabinoids and ototoxicity, CBD was more effective than the chili compound.

How do Your Take CBD Oil for Your Ears?

You can take CBD orally and still have the opportunity to experience the effects, even in your ears. When starting out with CBD oil for the first time, you should always let your doctor know and start at a low dose. Beginning at a low dose helps you discover if you have any adverse reactions before they become too severe, and helps give you a good foundation when figuring out your dose.

When working with your doctor, it is always suggested to raise your dose slowly. This ensures that you are able to discover your sweet spot considering CBD oil is dose-dependent and is less effective at too high or too low of a dose. If you are experiencing your symptoms getting worse, stop taking the CBD oil immediately and let your doctor know you need to take another course of action.

Have you used CBD oil for your ears? We would love to hear about your success in the comment section below!

Why Do People Have Sensitive Scalps?

I have friends who can yank on their hair when they brush it and have no problem. So why me? Why do some people have sensitive scalps while others have a scalp of steel? Unfortunately, there isn’t any one reason that can be treated to help all of us with sensitive scalps.

Causes of a Sensitive Scalp

• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Cysts
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Infections
• Sunburn
• Medication reaction
• Stress
• Using improper chemicals in your hair
• Tight hairstyles, hats, or helmets

How can CBD Hemp Oil Help with Sensitive Scalps?

The way that CBD works is by interacting with our endocannabinoid system, the system that is in charge of keeping our body regulated. One of the ways it communicates with this system is by enhancing endocannabinoids, one of them being the endocannabinoid anandamide.

The endocannabinoid anandamide binds mainly with the cannabinoid receptor CB1. This receptor is located all over your body, but most densely located in the brain. The CB1 receptor is in charge of mediating your neurological functions, such as your appetite, mood, sleep cycle, and sensitivity to pain. The way that endocannabinoids work is by binding to the cannabinoid receptor on a cell that is sending transmissions, and it helps to regulate the signaling sent out through a process called retrograde signaling.

When you take CBD, studies have shown that it elevates the level of anandamide produced which has shown in studies to reduce our sensitivity to pain. Because it works on a neurological level, CBD oil may be able to help with many different types of pain.

In addition to reducing your sensitivity to pain, CBD oil has shown in studies to be able to reduce inflammation. If your sensitive scalp is caused by a type of rash or something that makes your immune system attack, CBD oil may also be able to help in this aspect as well.

How to use CBD for a Sensitive Scalp

One of the great things about CBD hemp oil is all of the many different ways you can take it. There are vapes, tinctures, lotions, suppositories; you name it! When it comes to your scalp, using CBD oil as a topical may give you the best results.

Using tinctures, you can mix the CBD oil with your shampoo which can help you absorb the CBD into your scalp. Because the CBD oil is oil, the shampoo, and the hemp oil will separate. So if you do it this way, make sure to shake well each time you use it.

Another way you can help soothe your scalp is using the CBD pain spray and spritzing your scalp. In addition to the CBD oil, there is also aloe vera which may be able to enhance your experience.

Have you used CBD oil for your sensitive scalp? Tell us about it in the comment section below!

If you aren’t sleeping, your body isn’t recovering. Studies have also shown that a lack of sleep can make pain symptoms more severe. The whole problem is that when you deal with chronic pain on a regular basis, or even if you are dealing with a temporary injury, getting sleep isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world. Here are some tips for sleeping with chronic pain.

1. Cool Room

Have you ever noticed that when the room is cooler, and you are all bundled up, you seem to feel more comfortable? When it comes to sleep, comfort it one of the top priorities because without it you won't get a full night’s rest. Studies have shown that in real-life situations heat exposure increases wakefulness and decreases slow wave sleep and REM. So when you are winding down for the night and crawling into your sheets, make sure that your room is cool.

2. Invest in Supplies

A good mattress, a good pillow, and good sheets blankets are something you should invest in. If you find that you are uncomfortable trying to fall asleep, getting the right bedding could make the world of a difference. Many people find success in using heated blankets to help cope with the pain and get to sleep. Having a pillow top to make your mattress softer or getting a higher thread count, so you slide through your sheets may be able to help you fall asleep and stay asleep even with chronic pain.

3. Get Sleepy Before Bed

If you lay awake in bed and you don’t feel tired, it’s going to be difficult to go to sleep because your pain is exciting your central nervous system. Before bed, try doing an activity to tire your mind out. Try things like:

• A warm bath
• Reading
• Write
• Have sex
• Drink tea or warm milk

Try to stay away from screens before bed because they can keep you awake. The light emitted can suppress melatonin production which keeps you from falling asleep.

4. Using CBD Oil

Cannabis has been used for centuries for pain, using CBD hemp oil may be able to help you before you to go bed at night. By elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide, CBD oil is able to reduce your body’s sensitivity to pain. CBD oil has also shown in studies to help promote the REM stage of sleep and at higher doses may help you feel sleepy. Try adding it to your warm bath with CBD bath salts of using a topical to help eliminate localized pain.

Living with chronic pain is exhausting, and if you live through the misery without catching a break, it can lead to depression. There are ways you can make things easier on yourself. Giving yourself a break from pain is a great way to help your body rest, improve your mental health, and improve your quality of life. If you are looking for ways to cope with chronic pain, check out these tips.

Relax

It’s a lot easier said than done, but you need to relax. Pain increases your muscle tension, and when your muscles are tense, they tighten and increase pressure on nerves and pain sites. Relaxation can help you break through the cycle of tension and pain. Two of the easiest ways to help you relax and reduce your pain are by meditating or using hydrotherapy.

Meditation

Ancient remedies were used for a reason, and science is starting to show us why. Deep breathing and meditation have shown to help your body relax which can lead to reduced pain. Mindfulness meditation has shown to achieve pain-relieving effects without engaging the opioid receptors in the brain, making researchers believe that it is a very valid complimentary treatment for chronic pain. It may be difficult to get started when the only thing you can think about in the silence is the pain, but with enough practice, you can get anything done.

When starting your meditation routine, find a quiet and comfortable location. Some people start with going to classes that can make adjustments for people who have chronic pain. Have your body in a comfortable position whether it is sitting or laying down. It’s important that you stay as comfortable as possible so you can avoid any pain that could make the process more difficult. It can be hard to keep distracting thoughts out of your mind, which is why using a guided meditation for the first few times can help you get used to it. Focus on your breathing, follow the instructions in a guided meditation video, soundtrack, or teacher. While focusing on your breathing, you put your attention to your abdomen filling and emptying of air. Doing this process can help your body relax as well as your mind.

Hot Bath

Hydrotherapy is a common complementary therapy for chronic pain that you can do at a clinic, or you can do at home in a hot bath. By being fully submerged in the water, you take the stress and weight off of your muscles and joints; this is called buoyancy. Both hot and cold water have benefits to your body, but some temperatures are better for pain than others. Using cold water at 57 ͦ F and warm water at 68 ͦ F, hydrotherapy can help with increasing your dopamine levels which can help reduce pain as well as decrease cortisol concentration which is the hormone released during stress.

Hydrotherapy can manipulate the way that your body produces chemicals by taking advantage of your reaction to hot or cold water. Hydrotherapy can help boost your immune system, cardiovascular system, and reduce your sensitivity to pain. Because warm water relaxes your muscles and cold water stimulates your mind, taking a hot bath followed by a short cold shower can help your body be relaxed but stimulate your mind.

Natural Chemicals

Your body doesn’t want you to feel pain; it has chemicals that it produces to help prevent you from suffering. These chemicals are called endorphins. You may have heard of this word before when people talk about exercise, but there are plenty of ways to make your body produce these feel-good chemicals. Endorphins are known as neurotransmitters because they transmit electrical signals in the nervous system. There are at least 20 different types of endorphins in the human body, and the most common reason they are released is because of stress and pain.

The way that endorphins work is by interacting with the opiate receptors to reduce your perception to pain and they act similarly to drugs like morphine. The difference is your body doesn’t become addicted to these chemicals like it can on prescription opiates.

Another great thing increasing endorphin production does is giving feelings of euphoria, regulating your appetite, the release of sex hormones, and enhances your immune response. When your endorphins are high, you feel less pain and fewer negative effects from stress. While exercising is a great way to boost your endorphin levels, there are some unique ways to change it up and keep your life exciting and pain-free. Try doing things like:

• Going to your favorite concert
• Making music
• Watch a comedy routine
• Have sex
• Eat chocolate
• Eat spicy food
• Volunteer and be kind
• Learn something new
• Spend time in the sun

Sleep

There is plenty of evidence pointing to an association with sleep and pain which creates a vicious cycle. Pain makes it difficult to sleep because in order to fall asleep your nervous system needs to calm down, but chronic pain causes a much more active nervous system. Waking up in between REM cycles is normal, but people with pain may stay awake for longer making their sleep feel less restful. Not getting enough sleep can cause changes in the body that can make chronic pain worse by making you more sensitive to pain.

Falling asleep isn’t easy, but there are some tips to consider to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

• Make your room cool
• Invest in a good mattress and pillow
• Make your room dark when you want to sleep
• Don’t read or watch TV in bed
• Make adjustments to your bed or pillow according to your most comfortable sleeping position
• Only go to bed when you are feeling sleepy
• Avoid naps if you don’t need them
• Try to keep a strict sleeping schedule

Alcohol

Not all ancient remedies are that good for you, which is why it’s great that we live in a time of modern science to help guide us. Self-medicating with alcohol for pain and anxiety has been a method ancient kings have used, but today’s science tells us that drinking alcohol can actually make your pain symptoms worse. While drinking can give you relief for a short time, the effects occur when the alcohol exceeds the guidelines for moderate daily use. So if you are doing it every day, you can start to destroy your body.

Using alcohol every day also builds your tolerance, making you need more to get pain relief each time. Using alcohol for long periods has also been linked to causing pain by generating painful small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Cutting out alcohol completely would be ideal. Keep in mind if you have used alcohol to reduce your pain and have grown a dependence, the withdrawal symptoms can be painful making your chronic pain worse.

Cigarettes

If you are smoking cigarettes, here is just another reason to quit. Nicotine greatly affects your heart and lungs making it harder to deliver oxygen to the rest of your body. Smoking cigarettes or using products with nicotine can slow down your healing and increase your heart rate, which can make chronic pain more severe.

If you need to get an implant to help you with your chronic pain, smoking makes it more difficult to fight off any potential infections making you a bad candidate for surgery. But we all know quitting isn’t easy. If it were, no one would be smoking cigarettes because almost everyone knows how bad they are. Many free services can help you quit smoking, and you can even try using CBD oil to quit smoking cigarettes.

Tweak Your Surroundings

At work, at home, at school, all of these places are somewhere that you are going to be for a long time. If you have to bend down to get something three times a day and it is causing your pain to get worse, make adjustments to your home or workplace. If you are somewhere like school or work where you aren’t in complete control of your surroundings, make your needs heard. See if there is something that someone can do to make your everyday life less painful. Make sure to be careful who you disclose this information to because a stigma still exists when it comes to invisible illnesses in the workplace, but remember your needs are just as important as anyone else’s.

CBD for Pain

One way you can cope with pain is by giving yourself some relief through medication. While opiates bring on the danger of addiction and overdosing, using CBD hemp oil for pain doesn’t offer those risks. Studies have also shown that you do not gain a tolerance to CBD like you do many other chemicals used for pain, so you don’t have to end up breaking the bank after using the products for years. You can even pair CBD with complementary therapies for pain like adding CBD bath salts in your bath to help with reducing inflammation or pain relief.

Do you suffer from chronic pain? What are some ways that you help cope with it? We would love to hear your tips in the comment section below!

When you’re in pain, you find yourself trying all different types of treatments to find something that works for you. From prescription medications to holistic remedies, everyone has their own unique needs meaning they need their own unique treatment plan. While some methods can be successful alone, there are ways to help advance your health that also enhance treatments. These are called complementary treatments and therapies and are not used to cure diseases, but instead help encourage your current therapy or treatment to work more effectively.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a study on how one part of the human body relates to another part of the body. Practitioners rely on a reflex map of your hands and feet that connect certain spots to organs and other body parts. There is evidence that applying pressure and massaging certain spots can help energize and rejuvenate other parts of the body.

Your body is covered in ten reflex zones with five on each side. Each zone is represented by a point on your foot or hand. A reflexologist uses these points to help regulate your body and make it more efficient. But how does this even work?

How Does Reflexology Work?

There are several theories as to how reflexology works, but the truth is, we aren’t sure how yet. We do have scientific evidence that it does work, we just don’t know how.

One of the main theories began in the 1890s, showing a neurological relationship between the skin and internal organs. According to this theory, the pressure on the reflexology points sends a calming signal through the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. This signal helps to relieve tension throughout the body and brings organs to an optimal level of functioning.

Other theories of reflexology that may explain its therapeutic effects:

• By reducing stress and tension, reduces brain pain signals caused by emotional distress
• Massage improves blood circulation, helping to relieve cardiovascular symptoms
• Reflexology may stimulate the immune system through regulation
• Reflexology may help detox the body by increasing the flow of certain fluids and delivering more oxygen and nutrients

Reflexology is not used to diagnose or cure a disease. There are no scientific claims of that that are accurate or reliable. Reflexologists that you work with are not medically trained professionals like a general practitioner. Reflexology is a complementary treatment, which means you use it in addition to current treatment and you do not use it to replace current treatment. But if it is just an additional treatment, can it really be that valuable? Science says, yes.

What Does Research Have To Say?

While reflexology has been used all over the world for years, it is only recently that scientists have compiled enough evidence to make any statements on the validity of the treatment. While studies are still limited, there is still enough evidence to make this a valid option when looking for ways to make your life easier to live. Some of the ways that they found reflexology was effective were helping with symptoms of the following:

• Low Back Pain
• Migraines and Headaches
• Stroke
• Stress Reduction
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetes
• Asthma

Some have even claimed that reflexology can be as effective as painkillers, which is a great alternative for those who don’t want to risk addiction or overdose.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is another ancient therapy treatment that science is catching up to. Research has found that submerging yourself into the water and manipulating the temperature can have beneficial effects to your body. Studies suggest that using hydrotherapy can help with problems in several different systems in your body.  

How Does Hydrotherapy Work?

One of the main ways that hydrotherapy works is through buoyancy. By being fully submerged in water, you are taking the stress and weight off of your muscles and joints. Studies have suggested this is why taking a bath is more efficient than taking a shower when trying to practice at-home hydrotherapy. Studies have shown that using both cold and hot water can have beneficial effects on your body.

Using cold water at 57 ̊ F, researchers have found that hydrotherapy can:

• Increase metabolic rate
• Increase heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased dopamine
• Decrease cortisol concentration

Water at 68 ̊ F showed in studies to:

• Decrease in heart rate
• Decrease in blood pressure
• Increase dopamine
• Increase metabolic rate
• Decreased cortisol concentration

Water at 89 ̊ F showed in studies to:

• Lower heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Lowered cortisol concentration

Hydrotherapy stimulates your body by taking advantage of the reaction to hot or cold-water submersion. By manipulating the way that your body produces chemicals, using hydrotherapy can help with your immune system, cardiovascular system, and can reduce your sensitivity to pain. Warm water can relax your muscles and your mind while cold water acts as a stimulant. Taking a hot bath followed by a cold, short shower can also help relax your body and stimulate your mind.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is when practitioners stimulate certain points on the body usually by putting a needle in your skin. It might sound a bit scary at first, but it can be very therapeutic. Studies have shown that using acupuncture as a complementary treatment can help people who deal which chronic pain, specifically in the lower back, neck, knees, and migraines.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture, like other ancient remedies, is just now starting to be understood. Like other therapies, we have evidence that it works we just aren’t sure how. Researchers have come up with a few theories as to how acupuncture works.

• Acupuncture may work through neurohormonal pathways, stimulating the nerves. The nerve sends signals to the brain, and then the brain releases neural hormones making the patient feel euphoric and increase the pain threshold.
• Acupuncture may reduce pro-inflammatory markers in the body suggesting that it can decrease inflammation and pain.
• Acupuncture may stimulate the brain to secrete some nerve growth factor, helping nerves regenerate.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is using essential oils to find relief. You can use on your skin, or you can just breathe it in, both have been found in studies to be successful in mental and physical relief. Not every essential oil is the same, so be sure to check this guide on beneficial essential oils to know what exactly you are looking for.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

There are three different ways to benefit from aromatherapy — Smelling, absorption, and skin absorption.

When you smell the aromas of essential oils, it can trigger an emotional or physical response. When the aromatic molecules travel to the top of your nose, they come in contact with nerve cells called olfactory cells. The cells have tiny hairs that recognize a specific aroma through that is specific to each hair. This produces nerve impulses that travel to the limbic system which leads scientists to believe that it can cause changes by altering brain chemistry.

When you inhale the aromatherapy, not just smelling it but breathing it in, the molecules are absorbed from within and can be especially effective in the raspatory system because of the antimicrobial properties. If you have pain from sinuses, throat pain, or chest pain, aromatherapy through inhalation may be able to help in tandem with other treatments.

For muscle and joint pain, using aromatherapy through massage may be able to help. Because the molecules in essential oils are so small, they can penetrate through the skin and be absorbed into your bloodstream giving them access to your entire body. This may be able to help with inflammation, pain, and help with any toxic buildup in your body.

CBD Oil

CBD oil is unique because it can be a complementary treatment or as a replacement treatment. CBD oil can replace certain medications or taking it can help make your treatment plan more effective. CBD oil can be used topically, inhaled, or taken orally.

How Does CBD Oil Work?

CBD oil has shown in studies to help reduce your sensitivity to pain by elevating endocannabinoids in your body. The endocannabinoid, anandamide, binds to the CB1 receptor which is in control of your neurological system. By elevating anandamide, it enhances its effect when it binds to the CB1 receptor, helping to mediate your mood, sleep cycle, appetite, and sensitivity to pain.

For internal pain, using CBD orally or through inhalation can be very effective. For localized pain that you can reach with a topical, using CBD salves or lotions can help make the pain less severe. If you are taking any medication, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking CBD because it can interfere with certain medications metabolized by the P450 enzyme.

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

If you deal with chronic pain or even if you just pull a muscle, you don’t want to let this pain get in the way of keeping your health maintained. But when is it time to take a rest day and when is it okay to push through the pain when it comes to exercise?

Take a Rest Day

Form Changes

If you notice that your pain or an injury is causing your form to change when you work out, you need to take a rest day. Having good form is what prevents you from getting injuries and keeps you safe while you work out. If your form is compromised, you can end up hurting yourself even more.

You’ve Been Pushing Through

You’ve been working out the past few days, and the pain is still there. You’ve been working hard, but your body still seems to hate you. This is a good time to take a rest day. While pushing through can help you build muscle, it can also cause you to become at a higher risk of injury if you don’t let your body heal.

Types of Pain

Several types of pain should keep you from working out. While a mild burning or tense muscles can be painful, they aren’t a reason to take a rest day. If you have any of the following pain types, you need to take a rest day:

• Sharp stabbing pain
• Pain that involves swelling
• Localized pain
• Pain increases when you work out
• Painful pops in your joints

Push Through

Muscle Fatigue

Muscle fatigue is a natural thing that happens when you are working out. If you are running on the treadmill and your muscles start to burn, this is the time you want to push through. Your body is going to fill you with feel-good chemicals, reduce your sensitivity to pain, and you’ll get a great workout. There is a myth that this soreness means that the workout is working, but this isn’t true. This is a type of pain you can work through, but you don’t have to.

When You Sleep Wrong

I’ve slept wrong to the point I walked around like I was in a body cast and any movement was horrendous. Luckily, exercise is known for its ability to reduce pain and stretching is great for tense muscles. Loosen yourself up with some stretches, as lifting weights or hard exercising could be hard on your tense muscles. But doing yoga or light exercise can help your muscles get back to normal, relieve your pain, and help you stay on track with your physical fitness.

Inflammation

Inflammation is painful, no doubt. But exercising is a natural remedy that can help bring your inflammation down a notch. In just twenty minutes of exercising, you can start to notice a reduction in your symptoms so push through!

When Your Should But You Can’t

You should push through your pain, but sometimes pain isn’t the only thing that is stopping us. Anxiety and depression on top of discomfort can make exercising look like an impossible feat. Try using CBD oil as a pre work out supplement, helping to boost your mood, reduce your anxiety, and reduce your pain so you can keep your body active. You can put it on your muscles as a topical for pain or inflammation, or take it orally to have additional mood boosting and stress relieving effects. Stop by our shop today to get yours!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

When you think of fibromyalgia, what do you think of? Pain? Fatigue? When you don’t have an illness, it can be pretty hard to understand, especially one like fibromyalgia. You can’t even see that! This can cause problems in the home because illnesses like fibromyalgia have a long list of symptoms and everyone experiences the illness differently. Here are four unique symptoms of fibromyalgia that

Allodynia

Have you ever tried to hug someone with fibromyalgia and they said no thank you? It might have hurt your feelings, but don’t hold any grudges over it. People with fibromyalgia can be so sensitive to pain that even a slight graze of the skin can be very painful. This can also make them feel pain in extreme weather, making it difficult for them to go on vacations or function regularly in a state that has drastic changes of weather.  

Excessive Sweating

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people smirk or have a comment when they see someone sweating in a setting outside of a gym. But next time you see someone with a face covered in sweat on the bus, remember that people have conditions they can’t control. Some people who have fibromyalgia can get so warm they feel like they have a fever and start to perspire. This is because of an autonomic dysfunction in the hypothalamus which regulates your sweating.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia is when someone feels an unexplained tingling or numbness which can be experienced by someone with fibromyalgia. It’s often related to anxiety or nervousness, which can cause people to develop avoidance behavior to keep from feeling so physically and emotionally uncomfortable. The anxiety and nervousness can be accompanied by rapid, deep breathing which can lead to acroparesthesia which is tingling of the hands and feet from a lack of carbon dioxide.

Sinus Issues

There is still much studying to be done when it comes to fibromyalgia and your sinuses, but there is evidence that it may cause issues in the sinus cavity that causes facial pain. Because fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease, it should come to no surprise that it is inflammation in the nasal passage that can lead to this discomfort. It can get so severe that surgery is needed to flush out the sinuses after people go months without being able to breathe through their nose.

Everyone Is Different

If you have a loved one who has fibromyalgia, their condition will be unique from every other case in the world. Everyone feels different symptoms and at different intensities, so it is important that we respect those in pain and remain considerate even though we don’t understand their disability.

What is a unique symptom of fibromyalgia you wish more people knew about?

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

I worked in the food industry for a while. And for some reason, it seemed like everyone was allergic to gluten. Like others, I ignorantly thought it was just a fad. That was until I was educated on the disease that causes people to have bad reactions to eating the protein gluten. I had no idea that it was actually an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself. But now that I know it is an autoimmune disease, that also leads me to believe that CBD oil can help with celiac disease. And from the research that exists today, CBD oil could be a future treatment.

CBD oil may be able to help with celiac disease because it helps counter autoimmune diseases by reducing inflammation. Considering there is no treatment option for celiac disease besides avoiding gluten, this could be an exciting discovery for the individuals suffering.

What is Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a painful autoimmune disease that leads to damage in the small intestine when inflammation occurs after eating gluten. 1 in 100 people around the world are likely to be affected by celiac disease, but unfortunately, it often goes undiagnosed.

When someone who has celiac disease eats gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, their body reacts with an immune response that attacks the small intestine. This can lead to damage in the villi which are small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine that promotes nutrient absorption. When this part of your body gets damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed in the body properly.

If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to more serious health problems like:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• Anemia
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility and Miscarriage
• Epilepsy
• Migraines
• Short Stature
• Intestinal Cancers

Causes of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is hereditary, which means that it runs in the family. If you have a first-degree relative, like a parent, child, or sibling with celiac disease, you have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease. This disease can start at any age, and the symptoms may change as the individual ages. This is why it is so important to know what the symptoms look like so you can take precautions as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Symptoms of Celiac in Children

While digestive issues are more common in infants and children, there are still symptoms you should look out for. If you notice these happening in your child, you will need to take them to a doctor to get tested.

• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Irritability or behavioral issues
• Dental enamel defects on adult teeth
• Delayed growth and puberty
• A short stature
• Failure to thrive
• ADHD

Symptoms of Celiac in Adults

Adults are less likely to have the digestive symptoms and only about one-third of them experiencing diarrhea. If you notice these symptoms in yourself, you need to go see a doctor and get tested for celiac disease.

• Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
• Fatigue
• Bone or joint pain
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Liver and biliary tract disorders
• Depression or anxiety
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Seizures or migraines
• Missed menstrual periods
• Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
• Canker sores inside the mouth
• Dermatitis herpetiformis

Treatment Options for Celiac Disease

The only treatment for celiac disease is spending the rest of your life avoiding gluten. You must avoid foods with wheat, rye, and barley. Even just eating small amounts of gluten, like crumbs of bread or a sip of beer, can cause damage to the smaller intestine. This lifestyle can be complicated and frustrating, especially when you have people like me who aren’t sure about the disease. Scientists are looking for a way to treat celiac disease, and studies suggest the solution may be medical cannabis like CBD oil.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical that is extracted from the cannabis plant. There are a lot of different ways you can get CBD. Growers can breed strains of cannabis that are low THC content and high CBD, or they can grow industrial hemp which offers all cannabinoids except for THC. At CBD Instead, our products come from hemp plants.

The reason CBD is so effective is that it interacts with our endocannabinoid system. While THC binds directly to receptors which causes the intoxicating feeling associated with cannabis, CBD elevates chemicals that are produced by your body to help regulate your body. The chemicals it elevates are called endocannabinoids, and they bind to the cannabinoid receptors located all over your body.

Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids

One way CBD oil works is by elevating endocannabinoids. The two main endocannabinoids that we know about are called anandamide and 2-AG. Both endocannabinoids bind to both cannabinoid receptors, but they each mainly bind with a specific receptor to help mediate systems in your body.

Anandamide mainly binds to the CB1 receptors which are all over your body but more densely located in your brain. The CB1 receptor helps to regulate your neurological system which includes your appetite, sensitivity to pain, mood, and sleep cycle. 2-AG mainly binds to the CB2 receptors which are more spread out evenly throughout your body. The CB2 receptor helps to mediate your immune system which is why CBD oil has shown in studies to be so effective against inflammation.

How can CBD Oil Help with Celiac Disease?

In 2003, there was an Italian study that focused on celiac disease in children. They found that the cannabinoid receptors in the intestinal tract were more prevalent in untreated patients opposed to those who had been following a strict gluten-free diet for over a year. This led scientists to believe that targeting these cannabinoid receptors could help the patients find relief from their symptoms more quickly and effectively.

CBD oil may be effective because it inhibits the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is the enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of anandamide. The FAAH inhibition helps to promote anti-inflammatory effects within the intestine which is why many scientists believe that CBD oil may be a valid treatment to relieve symptoms of pain, inflammation, and irritation in the gastrointestinal tract.

For many who suffer from celiac disease, it isn’t even the disease itself that is the most troubling. It is the persistent symptoms that can take the largest toll on the individual. Luckily, these symptoms may also be able to be treated by CBD oil. And not just for the treatment, but repair the damage already done, as well.

CBD for Nerve Repair

Studies suggest that people who have celiac may be at a higher risk of nerve damage. When taking CBD oil, you may be able to repair that damage. Researchers have discovered that CBD oil has neuroprotective and neurogenerative properties. This means that CBD oil may be able to prevent further nerve damage as well as repair the damage that already exists.

CBD for Nausea

Celiac disease often causes nausea which can keep people from eating or making their day-to-day life more difficult. When taking CBD oil, you may be able to combat that nauseous sensation. CBD oil has shown in studies to have anti-nausea effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy, leaving scientists to believe it may be a valid option for nausea caused by other illnesses.

How do you take CBD Oil for Celiac Disease?

Since celiac attacks your intestines, taking CBD pills or eating CBD edibles can help you get the CBD to the site of physical trauma. The CBD goes through your digestive system and is metabolized by your liver while also soaking into the walls of your intestine as it digests helping to elevate the endocannabinoid 2-AG to bind to the CB2 receptors.

When medicine is digested, though, it loses its potency. Digestion is a rigorous process which is why many people choose to use products like tinctures or CBD vapes. These methods of taking CBD oil can get the CBD into your system more quickly for those times when the pain or nausea is too much, and you don’t have time to wait.

Have you used CBD oil for celiac disease? We would love to hear how it has helped and how you take CBD for your pain!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Do you get muscle or joint pain often? Sometimes the over-the-counter medication doesn’t cut it, and not everyone wants to jump on prescription pain-killers. CBD has shown in studies to be effective in relieving pain and inflammation and using it topically can help you get to the pain at the source. If your pain is getting in the way of your everyday living, this CBD ICE gel may be able to help.

What Is This Product For?

When using topicals, CBD has shown to help with a variety of things from aging skin to pain. The CBD ICE gel is bio-freeze based infused with menthol which gives an immediate cooling and pain relieving effect. Some of the other ingredients (but not all) in this gel that contribute to pain relief are:

Aloe Vera powder

Camphor

Organic Ilex

Phenoxyethanol

Vitamin E

How Do You Use CBD ICE Gel?

You don’t need a lot of this gel for it to work, another beautiful thing about this CBD gel. Shake up the bottle before you use it, and if you haven’t used this gel before you’ll need to test it on your skin. Put a small dab of gel on a small area of your skin to make sure that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients. Once you have determined your skin won’t react to the gel, just use a nickel sized amount and gently massage it into the area where you’re in pain. You can do this several times a day, but it’s suggested not to exceed four times a day.

Other Benefits Of CBD Ice Gel

While the main use for this product is pain, there are some other ways this gel can help you. Aloe Vera is useful for healing wounds and reducing inflammation. Tea Tree Oil has shown in studies to have anti-microbial effects and help fight against infection. Vitamin E is an effective antioxidant helping your skin fight off free radicals trying to harm it. Adding this all with CBD oil which can do all of these things as well makes this product diverse and effective.

If you aren’t ready to commit, that’s okay! You can check out this product in our shop and get the trial size to see for yourself how well it works!

When it comes to pain syndromes like CRPS, often the medications prescribed can be addictive or harmful to the body if used for a prolonged period. This is why so many people are looking to CBD hemp oil for their chronic pain. CBD oil is non-addictive, you don’t grow a tolerance, and there are no over-dose risks when taking hemp oil. Is CBD what you need for your CRPS?

What Is CRPS?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that most often affects one limb. Pain is considered chronic if it lasts for longer than six months and the limbs CRPS most often effects are the arms, legs, hands, and feet.

CRPS is most common in women, but it can happen to anyone at any age but the risk peaks at the age of 40. CRPS isn’t found often in the elderly, and very few children are affected by CRPS.

How Do You Get CRPS?

CRPS is most common in women, but it can happen to anyone at any age. The risk peaks at the age of 40, but it is uncommon to develop this syndrome in your senior years. This pain syndrome usually develops after surgery or an injury, which may be why it is also so uncommon for children to develop CRPS.

It is believed that CRPS is caused by damage to or malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous system. The central nervous system is made of your brain and spinal cord while the peripheral nervous system involves nerve signaling from the spinal cord and brain to the rest of the body. Only 90% of cases of CRPS are linked to previous trauma, and researchers aren’t sure what the difference is between the two different types of patients.

Common Triggers for CRPS

• Fractures
• Sprains
• Strains
• Soft tissue injury
• Limb immobilization
• Surgery
• Minor medical procedures

Symptoms of CRPS

Symptoms of CRPS can vary in duration and severity. Some cases can be mild and eventually go away while others can be debilitating and last for months. There are several different symptoms, and you don’t have to experience all of them to be considered for CRPS diagnosis.

• Prolonged severe pain described as burning, pins, and needles, or someone squeezing the area
• Spreading pain from injured area to connected limb
• Increased sensitivity in the affected area known as allodynia
• Changes in skin temperature
• Changes in skin color
• Swelling in the affected limb
• Changes in skin texture
• Abnormal sweating
• Changes in nails and hair growth
• Stiffness in joints
• Decreased mobility
• Tremors, jerking, or other abnormal movements in the affected limb

How Is CRPS Diagnosed?

If you are in a bunch of pain all of the time, you still need to go to a doctor to find out what is causing the pain and don’t just write it off because you check off a few symptoms. A professional needs to check off those boxes, too.

If you go to the doctor expecting a blood test to tell you what all of your problems are, you’ll be disappointed. There isn’t a sure and specific test for CRPS. What doctors do is rule out other causes of your pain and sometimes need to watch over you to see how your symptoms change over time. They will also most likely give you different types of scans like with an X-ray or MRI to get more hints from your body.

How Is CRPS Treated?

After a doctor has ruled out any other causes, several different treatment methods will be advised to you.

Rehabilitation Therapy

Rehabilitation therapy for CRPS is an exercise program to help keep your limbs moving and improve blood flow. Increasing your blood flow can help lessen the circulatory symptoms you’re experiencing. These exercises can also help improve the flexibility, strength, and function of your limbs.

Rehabilitation therapy for your limbs can also help prevent or reverse secondary brain changes that can be caused by chronic pain. By working with your therapist, you can also find new ways to perform daily tasks without causing too much pain.

Psychotherapy

Pain has a way of making your brain feel funky. It doesn’t just affect the person in pain, it can affect the entire family’s mental health. People with CRPS can develop:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD

These mental health symptoms can make the pain even more unbearable and make rehabilitation difficult. By treating these secondary conditions with a mental health specialist, you can make recovery and coping easier.

Medications

There are different types of medications that you can take that can all be successful depending on how early on you are in the course of the disease. But no drug has been approved by the FDA specifically for CRPS, and no drug combination is guaranteed to work for every person.

Common medications Used For CRPS

Bisphosphonates – i.e., alendronate or intravenous pamidronate

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – i.e., aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen

Corticosteroids – i.e., prednisolone and methylprednisolone

Seizure or depression medication – i.e., gabapentin, pregabalin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and duloxetine

Opioids – i.e., oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) – i.e., dextromethorphan, ketamine, and lidocaine

One of the biggest problems when it comes to some of these medications I how they affect the body and the mind. Some pain medications can be very addictive, and patients taking them need to be under strict supervision.

Considering that CRPS can cause pain for long periods, certain pain medication shouldn’t be taken for the entire duration because of the effects on the body. People in pain are starting to see that using medical cannabis can have the same therapeutic effects without the risks associated with pharmaceuticals.

CBD For CRPS

Medical cannabis is becoming a popular option for people who are suffering from pain. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the full plant. To go around this and to still get the benefits of medical cannabis without breaking the law, many are turning to CBD hemp oil to help relieve their symptoms.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical that comes from the cannabis plant much like the popular chemical THC. The main difference between these two chemicals is that CBD doesn’t directly interact with your endocannabinoid system, preventing it from causing you to feel intoxicated or “high.”

The Endocannabinoid System

CBD works by indirectly interacting with the endocannabinoid system. This system is what is in charge of your entire body and makes sure that you stay regulated through a process called homeostasis. The way the endocannabinoid helps to control your body’s functions is through cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids.

Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids

One way that CBD indirectly interacts with the endocannabinoid system is by elevating endocannabinoids which are chemicals that our brain produces to bind to cannabinoid receptors. The two main endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-AG, and they bind with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors.

The CB1 cannabinoid receptor helps to mediate the neurological functions of the body, mainly binding with the endocannabinoid anandamide. These neurological functions include your appetite, sleep cycle, mood, and sensitivity to pain. The CB2 cannabinoid receptor helps to mediate your immune functions and mainly binds to the 2-AG endocannabinoid.

CBD For Pain Relief

CB2 Receptors And CRPS

There are a couple of different ways that CBD oil may be able to help with CRPS. The first is by elevating an agonist to the CB2 receptor. An agonist is a chemical that binds to the receptor and stimulating to cause a response.

Studies have shown that by interacting with the CB2 receptor, you may be able to reduce the feelings of pain and symptoms of inflammation. However, these models are still in the rodent stages and need human studies to be sure.

Anandamide And Pain

One of the endocannabinoids that we know that CBD oil elevates in the body is called anandamide. This chemical is released when you work out, eat chocolate, and also helps you calm down when you are angry.

The way anandamide works is through a process called retrograde signaling. While most neurotransmitters travel from the sending cell through the synapse to the receiving cell, endocannabinoids travel in the opposite way.

Anandamide travels backward to bind to the CB1 receptor, and it transmits a message to stop sending out so many pain signals through the body. Many people compare the feeling of anandamide being elevated to a runner’s high. You feel an uplifted mood, and the pain is less severe just like after a good jog.

CBD For Inflammation

High levels of cytokines, which cause inflammation, have been found in the cells of people with CRPS. This leads scientists to believe inflammation could play a role in this pain syndrome. If that is the case, CBD oil has just another way to help.

By elevating the 2-AG endocannabinoid, CBD oil helps with inflammation with the same process it uses to help with pain, retrograde signaling. The 2-AG endocannabinoid tells the CB2 receptor to stop sending out so many attack cells without compromising the strength of your immunity.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you want to start taking CBD oil for your CRPS, talk to your doctor first. CBD oil can reduce the efficiency of other medications, and you need to make sure that you aren’t mixing medications that don’t go together. They can also help monitor your symptoms and help you look out for any adverse reactions you may experience. Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, be sure to stop by our shop to get some creams or tinctures that may be able to help you finally get relief from CRPS.

Have you used CBD hemp oil for CRPS? We would love to hear your story in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

I love the way it feels when my muscles are sore the next day after a workout. It gives me a sense of, “Hey, it’s working!” But not everyone enjoys being in pain or has a weird idea of what progress feels like. This is why people are using CBD oil on their muscles to help relieve their pain.

CBD For Inflammation

When you work out, your muscles get lit on fire! Inflammation is the main source of muscle soreness after working out, but CBD oil can help! Cannabidiol (CBD) elevates an endocannabinoid called 2-AG which binds to the CB2 receptor. The CB2 receptor is in charge of making sure the immune system functions properly. By indirectly interacting with the immune system, CBD oil is able to reduce inflammation.

CBD For Pain

CBD not only helps with the pain by reducing the inflammation causing it, it can also help by reducing your body’s sensitivity to pain. CBD elevates an endocannabinoid called anandamide which binds to the CB1 receptor in charge of our neurological functions. These functions include things like your sleep cycle, appetite, mood, and sensitivity to pain. Using CBD topicals can help with the pain in both muscles and joints after a workout. To get that relief all over your body, you can try using CBD bath salts and soak in a nice warm bath.

CBD As An Antioxidant

Taking antioxidants is a great way for you to help reduce damage done to the muscle cells in your body. CBD oil has shown in studies to be a potent antioxidant helping to protect cells from damage. Taking CBD before a workout may be able to help reduce the amount of pain you feel afterward.

Take A Break!

We feel pain for a reason. But if you don’t want to endure the pain, that’s okay! Just make sure that you aren’t pushing your body farther than it can go and you are giving yourself enough time to recover from your work out.

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

The holidays are right around the corner. Do you have a friend or loved one who deals with chronic pain? Why not get them a practical gift this year that is really showing you how much you care about them! Here are five gift ideas for people who have chronic pain.

Massage Voucher

Who doesn’t love a nice massage? Studies have shown that certain types of pain can be eased through massage and massage therapy. This would be a great gift for anyone dealing with the following:

• Lower back pain
• Headaches
• Shoulder pain
• Neck pain
• Fibromyalgia

Heating Pads and Cold Packs

This is an inexpensive gift that can go a really long way. Heating pads and cold packs can help your loved one who experiences moderate to severe pain. This gift will help with the circulation and help increase muscle flexibility. If your loved one has the following conditions, do not give them a heating pad.

• Diabetes
• Vascular disease
• Dermatitis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Multiple sclerosis

If your loved one has chronic pain from stiff joints or muscles, do not give them cold packs.

Bath Bombs Or Bath Salts

Encouraging your loved one to take warm baths can help them get relief over their entire body. Not only can bath bombs and bath salts help with their muscle, joint, or skin pain, these can also help your loved one relax. Going through an entire day in pain can be very stressful, they’ll love it!

Aromatherapy

Studies have shown that aromatherapy can be beneficial to reducing pain. This is a type of therapy where you use essential oils either through your skin or through your olfactory system, which is when you smell. The best essential oils for pain are:

General Pain Relief

• Peppermint
• Helichrysum
• Ginger
• Black Pepper
• Clove

Head Tension

• Peppermint
• Chamomile
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Rosemary

Joint Pain And Function

• Peppermint
• Marjoram
• Lemongrass
• Cypress
• Copaiba

Muscle Pain

• Peppermint
• Helichrysum
• Cypress
• Sandalwood
• Juniper

Inflammation

• Peppermint
• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Yarrow

CBD Oil

CBD oil topicals are a great gift for people who are in pain. They are blended with essential oils and infused with the powerful chemical CBD from the cannabis plant. CBD oil may be able to help with the following:

• Fibromyalgia
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Arthritis
• Muscle Pain
• Joint Pain
• Skin Rashes

 Do you suffer from chronic pain? What is a gift you would like this holiday season? Leave your answer in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Do you get headaches on one side of your head that happen in a series that lasts for weeks or months? Cluster headaches can be debilitating, but CBD oil may be able to help. Because CBD hemp oil has shown in studies to help relieve pain and anxiety, it could be a valid treatment option for cluster headaches.

What Are Cluster Head Aches

A cluster headache is a rare primary headache disorder that causes severe headaches on one side of the head.  These headaches usually attack in a series lasting for weeks or months. The headaches are usually separated by remission periods that can last months or years.

Symptoms Of Cluster Headaches

• Red eye
• Eyelid swelling
• Forehead and facial sweating
• Tearing up
• Abnormally small pupil size
• Nasal congestion
• Running nose
• Drooping eyelid
• Restlessness and agitation during attacks

Cluster headaches are more than just reoccurring headaches. The pain is usually severe, on one side of the head, and near the bone framing the eye or around the temple.

Can CBD Help With Cluster Headaches?

Currently, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to claim CBD a cure for cluster headaches. However, anecdotal evidence and preliminary results indicate that CBD oil may be able to help with the pain. There are also certain things that can make cluster headaches that CBD oil may be able to help with like anxiety.

Some scientists believe that cluster headaches can be triggered by extreme stress. CBD oil may be able to help with this aspect with its anti-anxiety effects. When you are overly stressed, the chemical cortisol is released which at high concentrations can become harmful to your brain. CBD oil has shown that it may be able to help regulate the brain chemistry that causes high stress and anxiety.

How Do You Take CBD Oil For Cluster Headaches?

CBD oil is a great way to reduce pain and stress. Some of the easiest ways to use it are by taking it through tincture, oral spray, or vaping. These methods can help get the CBD oil into your system quickly to help you find relief fast. You can also try taking CBD pills or edibles which will take longer to kick in, but may last throughout the day. Talk to your doctor before taking CBD oil so they can help monitor your progress and make sure this is the right route for you to take.

Have you used CBD oil for your cluster headaches? We would love to hear how it worked for you in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Do you sit at a desk all day or hover over a bed of flowers for long periods of time? If you are constantly in weird angles or using your upper body, you could be at risk for a repetitive strain injury. Considering that the biggest problems with these injuries are pain and inflammation, CBD hemp oil may be able to help.

CBD oil may be able to help you find relief with repetitive strain injury because it helps to reduce your sensitivity to pain while also reducing the inflammation in your body. By elevating chemicals and stimulating receptors, CBD oil may be the solution to your RSI pain and discomfort.

What Is Repetitive Strain Injury

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a general term used to describe a pain felt in muscles, nerves, and tendons. This type of injury is also known as work-related upper limb disorder or non-specific upper limb pain. RSI mostly effects the forearms, elbows, wrists, hands, neck, and shoulders.

Symptoms Of Repetitive Strain Injury

• pain, aching or tenderness
• stiffness
• throbbing
• tingling or numbness
• weakness
• cramps

You may only notice these symptoms when you are doing the activity that is causing this injury to develop. The symptoms usually start out small and just an inconvenience. If the discomfort goes untreated, the pain can become more severe and become more frequent.

How Do You Get RSI?

These types of injuries are located in the upper part of the body from the overuse of muscles and tendons. Doing repetitive and high-intensity activities for a long period of time without rest can make repetitive strain injury develop. There are also several other causes that may contribute to these injuries.

Common Causes Of RSI That Can Also Make It Worse

• poor posture
• activities that require you to work in awkward positions
• cold temperatures
• vibrating equipment
• working in jobs like an assembly line, supermarket checkout, or typing at a computer

A comfortable work environment is important for avoiding these injuries. Your employer has a legal obligation to try to prevent these injuries and make sure that if you have a condition, it doesn’t get worse.

Examples Of RSI

Carpel Tunnel

In your wrist, there is a tunnel called the carpal tunnel with nine tendons and the median nerve passing through it. If pressure builds up in the carpal tunnel, the nerve inside gets squeezed and is unable to work properly. This can result in discomfort, pain, and numbness in the fingers.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel?

• repetitive wrist movements
• prolonged awkward wrist positions
• prolonged firm grip or pressure on the palm
• high speed or forceful finger movements

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger or trigger thumb is when there is pain or discomfort when trying to straighten or bend the finger or thumb. The finger can become locked or stuck when there is swelling of the tendon lining.

The tendon lining is like a tunnel where the tendon muscles glide to make movement. When the tendon lining is swelled, it impairs the smooth gliding motion which can result in pain or the catching feeling that happens when you try to flex your finger.

What Causes Trigger Finger?

• doing activities that involve excessive repetitive grasping.
• maintaining a firm grip of the hand with a hard surface for prolonged periods of time
• changes of connective tissue as associated with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or diabetes.
• hormonal changes experienced during middle age or pregnancy

DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

DeQuervain's tenosynovitis is when there is pain over the wrist joint near the base of the thumb. The tendons that connect to the thumb can become constricted in a tight tunnel that becomes progressively inflamed from repetitive movement and friction.

What Causes DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis?

• holding the wrist in an awkward position when pinching or peeling
• resistive thumb motion performed repeatedly.
• repetitive twisting of the wrist, together with a prolonged gripping
• direct injury to the wrist or tendon which causes tissue scarring.

How To Prevent RSI

• maintain good posture
• take regular breaks when doing repetitive tasks
• try relaxation techniques when you are stressed out
• make sure the equipment you use is positioned so that it causes the least amount of strain
• request an assessment of your workplace to make sure that it is suitable and comfortable

What Do You Do When You Have RSI?

If you develop an injury because of your job or start to notice the symptoms, you need to let your employer know right away. They can help you make adjustments so that your condition doesn’t get worse. If the symptoms continue, you should talk to your doctor to find the right treatment plan.

How Is RSI Treated?

Identify The Cause

The first thing you need to do to treat your RSI is to find out why you have it. You may need to modify how you do the activity or stop doing it altogether.

Heat Or Cold Packs

The cold has an anti-inflammatory effect, but it can cause tightening, so it is always a good idea to warm up before you get back to work.

Elastic Support Or Splint

Support and splints are a great way to get relief for short periods of time, but it is suggested not to wear them for prolonged periods of time. You should also try to avoid wearing them in your sleep.

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist can offer advice on posture and how to strengthen or relax your muscles. You can even find relief from symptoms using types of therapy like massages, yoga, and osteopathy.

Anti-Inflammatories And Painkillers

Your doctor may prescribe painkillers or anti0inflammatories to help with RSI. This can help with the pain and movement, but you may experience some side-effects. Over the counter painkillers might be suggested for you which can be harmful to your liver if you take them for long periods of time. This is why many people are turning to CBD hemp oil for their repetitive strain injury.

CBD And RSI

What Is CBD Oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike the popular chemical found in cannabis THC, CBD oil doesn’t get the user intoxicated at any level. Many scientists have taken an interest in CBD oil because of its long list of healing potential and a short list of downsides. The way that CBD hemp oil works so well is because it interacts with our endocannabinoid system.

Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is the system in your body that keeps you regulated. It makes sure that you are at a healthy temperature, that you don’t eat until you explode, or that you wake up. The way that CBD oil interacts with this system is by stimulating certain receptors, opening pathways in the brain for easier travel and stimulating cannabinoid receptors by elevating endocannabinoids.

Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids

There are two main cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors. The endocannabinoid anandamide mainly stimulates the CB1 receptor, and it helps to mediate the neurological functions in your body like appetite, sleep, pain, and your mood. The CB2 receptor mainly binds with the endocannabinoid 2-AG and helps to control your immune functions.

CBD For Pain

One way that CBD oil may be able to help with repetitive strain injuries is by reducing your sensitivity to pain. By using CBD topicals on the affected area, your body elevates an endocannabinoid called anandamide. This endocannabinoid binds to the CB1 receptor and helps to reduce your sensitivity to pain by reducing the pain signals sent out in your brain.

CBD For Inflammation

Inflammation not only makes injuries painful but too much inflammation can make the injury even worse. CBD oil has shown to help with inflammation by elevating the endocannabinoid 2-AG. This endocannabinoid binds to the CB2 receptor and tells the brain cell to stop sending out so many attack immune cells without compromising your ability to heal.

Talk With Your Doctor

If you have decided to start using CBD oil for the pain and inflammation associated with repetitive strain injury, talk to your doctor about it. Some medications can interfere with CBD oil if they are metabolized by certain enzymes called cytochrome p-450, and your doctor can help to make sure that your medication is okay to take with CBD oil. They can also help to monitor your progress to make sure that you are getting better.

Have you used CBD oil for a repetitive strain injury? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Have you ever stubbed your toe and yelled out profanities that would make your grandmother blush? Do you deal with chronic pain which puts you in a sour mood making everything you do unpleasant? What is it about pain that makes us so angry?

Scientists wondered the same thing, so they experimented squids. In their first experiment, they had injured squids, and non-injured squids enter a tank with their natural predator, the sea bass. What they found was that the non-injured squid was very aware of the predator while the injured squid was more active.

In the study, the injured squid was changing colors and releasing ink when in the tank of the predator. They were responding more to visual stimulants than the non-injured squids. The injured squid made it clear they were ready to fight. The study went even further when the researchers took injured squid but also took away their sensation of pain. And what they found was just as interesting.

When they put the un-injured squid and the injured squid without feelings of pain in the tank with the sea bass, the injured squid was still more attentive than the non0injured squid. But what they found was that the injured squid that couldn’t feel pain was more likely to be eaten by the sea bass.

Scientists believe that this study has revealed that the anger we feel when we experience pain is a biological defense mechanism. They believe that as predators evolve towards seeking out the most vulnerable prey, prey has evolved to become more aggressive and attentive in times of injury to combat this evolutionary advancement.

So next time you are around someone who has MS or fibromyalgia, and they seem in a sour mood, cut them some slack. Our bodies are designed to become hypervigilant when we are injured, and it is something that is difficult to control. If you are someone who experiences pain on a regular basis and you are tired of being mad all of the time, try CBD oil! It has shown to help reduce the sensations of pain in many different illnesses. You can find more about how CBD can help with pain in this article and find great products in our shop!

Do you suffer from chronic pain? You probably know better than anyone how hard it can make everything in life. Simple activities become a chore and things are harder to enjoy. However, there are ways you can make things easier on yourself. By changing your environment and your habits you can help reduce the pain that you experience on a day to day basis.

1. Buy Special Products

You know those infomercials on late night TV where a woman has no idea how to use a knife? It’s an almost transparent attempt to get you to buy something you don’t need because surely you know how to use everyday utensils. But many of these products are actually made with the disabled in mind. Take a look through these types of product to find something that makes your life easier like neck pillows or grips for cups that are painful to hold.

2. Reduce Negative Emotions

Being in pain already puts you in a bad mood. There is a reason people shout in anger when they stub their toe. This gives you even more reason to avoid extra stressors. Stress, depression, and anxiety can all cause your body to become more sensitive to pain.

3. Get Comfy

When I grew up, we had a special chair in the living room. I had no idea why this chair was so special, but I knew that my grandfather was the one to sit in it. Now I know that it was because of his hip and back problems. In your house, the place where you are supposed to relax, make sure that you have comfortable furniture. Especially with your bed. A good mattress and pillow can help reduce the intensity of your pain.

4. Kick Bad Habits

Smoking cigarettes may be able to give you short-term relief, but in the long run, it can actually make your chronic pain even worse because it reduces blood and nutrient flow in your body. Alcohol can do the same thing. Sure, while you are drinking you get a break from the pain but eventually it will all catch up to you.

5. Tailor Your Diet

Talk to your doctor about the foods that you eat. Certain foods can make your symptoms worse by encouraging inflammation. A healthy diet can also help promote a healthier mood which can transfer over into helping reduce your pain.

6. Exercise

Chronic pain can make you move less which often means sacrificing exercise. But the less you are mobile, the weaker your body will become. Exercising boosts endorphins and other chemicals that can help reduce your pain while also maintaining your body’s strength.

7. Meditate

Meditation is a great way to manage your stress and anxiety. It can also help by making it easier to control your emotions. Another great way meditation can help with pain is helping your body become less sensitive to pain signals.

8. Organize

If you have pain, getting things from hard to reach places is not something you want to do. Reorganize your home so that you can get things easily so you don’t strain yourself. Have a step ladder, so you don’t have to stretch your body out or risk falling. Make your house you friendly.

9. Try CBD Oil

One of the main reasons people try CBD oil is for their pain. You can use CBD topicals on targeted areas or take it orally to get pain in hard to reach places. Studies have shown that CBD has the ability to reduce pain by elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide. The great things about this pain reliever are that you can’t get addicted to it, grow a tolerance or overdose on it. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking it to make sure it won't interfere with any medications, and your doctor can help monitor your progress.

Do you have any tips for reducing pain or making your life easier with chronic pain? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Have you ever had a period where the PMS was so severe your cramps, and mood swings made everything harder to do? You may have premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD. Luckily, CBD hemp oil may be able to help.

What Is PMDD?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is like having PMS on steroids. Your cramps can get insanely painful, your mood swings can turn you into a different person, it can make you feel exhausted and lazy, and you can feel like you are walking around like a beached whale from all of the bloating. Between 20 and 40% of women have experienced this disorder, and 8 to 10% of those women have reported that this condition is getting in the way of their life.

How Do You Get PMDD?

We don’t really know what causes PMDD, researchers and scientists are still trying to figure that out. What they hypothesize is that it may be a lack of serotonin because of the brain’s reaction to the change in hormones during her period. Women who have experienced depression, postpartum depression, or mood disorders are more likely to experience PMDD, so it very well could be caused by a neurological issue.

How Do You Treat PMDD?

Common treatment plans for PMDD are antidepressants, certain contraceptives, and using cognitive therapy. While those options have proven beneficial to people in the past, we are in a new time where using natural remedies like cannabis are showing to be just as beneficial if not more.  

How Can CBD Help With PMDD?

CBD For Pain

One of the worst parts about periods is the cramps. Some women get them so severe they can’t even get out of bed in the morning. CBD oil may be able to help by reducing your sensitivity to pain. By elevating an endocannabinoid called anandamide, CBD hemp oil helps to regulate your neurological functions including your sensitivity to pain.

CBD For Mood Swings

One thing women hate to hear is men asking if they are on their period every time they are upset. Especially when it’s true. If your mood swing has you acting like a different person, CBD oil may be able to help. By elevating the endocannabinoid talked about earlier, anandamide, CBD hemp oil can do more than just reduce your sensitivity to pain.

This endocannabinoid binds to the CB1 receptor which mediates all the neurological functions in your brain. This includes pain, sleep, appetite, and your mood. By taking CBD oil, you may be able to help regulate your mood so you can handle what the day constantly throws at you.

CBD For Fatigue

Having a body that can make humans is exhausting. Especially when it is flushing itself out to create a new nest. Considering that a poor mood can also bring down your energy levels, some women have the hardest time being out and about when they are experiencing their time of the month.

CBD oil acts as a wake-promoting agent in small doses, which can help you feel a burst of clean natural energy. It can also help you sleep better at night by promoting the REM stage of sleep, making you feel more rested. By uplifting your mood, it may also be able to get rid of the gray cloud that is making everything so hard to do.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you want to take CBD hemp oil for your PMDD, talk to your doctor first. If you are on any other medication, the CBD oil could interfere making it less effective. Your doctor can also monitor your body and mind making sure that this is the right route that you need to take. When you are ready to get healthy, stop by our shop and pick out the best product for you!

For first time users, be sure to check out our Beginner’s CBD Guide so that you know what to do!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Do you have some pain that you need to get rid of? You may have heard how CBD can help with pain, but what is the best way to use it? It all depends on where the pain is and what you’re most comfortable with.

CBD hemp oil may be able to help with pain because it can help your body not be so sensitive to pain signals being sent to your brain. CBD elevates a chemical called anandamide which binds to the CB1 receptor which controls your nervous system. Through a process called retrograde signaling, the anandamide tells the cell holding the CB1 receptor to stop sending out so many pain signals so that you can find relief.

CBD For Muscle And Joint Pain

If you have arthritis, MS, or another illness that causes you to have pain in your muscles or joints, one of the best and most favored options for this type of pain is using CBD topicals. Topicals are a great way to reduce pain because you can put the lotion or salve right at the source having the ability to focus on trouble areas.

If your whole body is sore, you might not want to use an entire container of lotion. Which is entirely understandable. But what you can do is use CBD bath salts and soak in a tub. Not only will the warm water help your muscles relax and soothe your joints, but the CBD in the salt also have therapeutic benefits that can reach any part of your body that is submerged in the bath water.

CBD For Internal Pain

You can’t put lotion on a headache. If it’s your intestines that are in pain, topicals may not be the best way to go. When it comes to pain that is inside your body that you can’t reach, you have a few different options.

Tinctures and vapes are a great way to get CBD into your system quickly to help with any pain that may be making day to day activities harder to do. This is great for when you need a break from pain now, not in an hour.

Pills and edibles are other great options, their only downfalls being how long it takes to work and losing potency through the digestive process. What these have to offer that tinctures and vapes don’t have is the ability to last for long periods of time. If you don’t have time to do a few drops of tinctures every few hours, these are the types of products for you.

How do you take CBD for pain? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Growing up, how many times were you told to stop slouching? Hopefully, you listened and trained your body how to position itself. Otherwise, you might be in a world of pain. Having bad posture causes an uneven amount of stress on parts of your body leading to aches and pains, but it is never too late to fix it.

What Is Good Posture?

Having good posture is more than just standing up straight. It is how you sit at your desk, how you cut tomatoes, and how you even lay down at night. The way you position yourself effects your balance, flexibility, how well your joints move. Poor posture often leads to neck, back, and shoulder pain which can take a blow to your quality of life.

Posture Affects Your Self-Esteem

Having good posture may help you with your self-esteem. Scientists suspect that your posture affects emotion through activating the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine system, and the skeletal system. People with better posture showed to portray more confidence and positive emotions than those who slouched all day.  

Posture Affects Your Spine Health

With good posture, you have a healthier spine. People who have bad posture can cause someone to develop a spinal disorder that can be extremely painful. This is because of the uneven stress that is caused on the body when you don’t sit, move, or lay down correctly.

Posture Affects Your Digestion And Circulation

Good posture helps with digestion and circulation as well. Blood has an easier time traveling when you sit or stand up straight, and the byproduct made in your body after you eat that can cause bloating has an easier time navigating.

Posture Affects Your Muscles And Joints

Your posture dictates how your body aligns itself. If your posture isn’t that great, you are putting unnecessary stress on your body. This can cause your muscles and bones to work harder, and differently than they are supposed to which can cause problems the longer you leave your posture unchecked.

But I Want The Pain Gone Now

If bad posture is causing you pain, the pain isn’t going to go away overnight. There are yoga routines, exercises, and tips to help you retrain your body, but it does take time to start having an effect. In the meantime, you can use things that help with the pain like CBD.

CBD hemp oil is an all natural medicine that can help you by reducing your body’s sensitivity to pain effectively numbing the problem areas. This doesn’t mean just slap on some CBD topicals and continue with your day; you should still work to improve your posture, so you aren’t dependent on pain relief.

One of the things that cannabidiol is becoming well known for is its anti-inflammatory effects. This is a huge win for hemp oil considering the many diseases and disorders caused by inflammation, including diverticulitis.

What Is Diverticulitis

Along your colon and digestive tract, you can develop these little pouches called diverticula. These pouches form when there are weak spots in your intestine, and they balloon outward. These pouches become diverticulitis when they become inflamed, or bacteria gather inside and cause an infection.

Symptoms Of Diverticulitis

• Pain in the abdomen
• Nausea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Increased need to urinate
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

 How Do You Get Diverticulitis?

There are several different risk factors involved in developing this illness and not all of them you can control.

• Hereditary
• Smoking
• Low fiber diet
• Not enough exercise
• Certain medications
• Lack of vitamin D
• Being female above the age of 50

How CBD Oil May Be Able To Help

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system. This interaction is the reason that CBD hemp oil has such a long list of potential healing benefits. By elevating chemicals already existing in your body, CBD hemp oil has the ability to make your body do all of the work.

A part of the endocannabinoid system is the cannabinoid receptors. Something that is really cool about our bodies is that it has specific receptors that react to cannabis use to improve health. Both the CB1 and CB2 receptors have shown to be beneficial in both pain and inflammation, making it a possible treatment option for diverticulitis.

CBD For Inflammation

The CB2 receptor in your body is in charge of regulating your immune system. When taking CBD, you elevate an endocannabinoid called 2-AG which mainly binds to the CB2 receptor. It sends a message to this receptor telling it to stop sending so many attack cells to an affected area. Studies have shown that in diverticular samples, the CBD oil was able to help reduce the inflammation.

CBD For Pain

Inflammation causes the pain, but reducing the inflammation can still leave your intestines feeling sore. That is where the endocannabinoid anandamide comes in. Anandamide binds to your CB1 receptors which are in control of your neurological functions. By binding to the cannabinoid receptor, anandamide is able to send a message telling the receptor to stop sending out pain signals effectively numbing the pain.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, talk to your doctor about taking CBD. If you are on any other medication, they can help determine whether or not the CBD hemp oil will interact with your medicine. They can also help closely monitor your condition to make sure you are taking the right route for your own personal healing. You can stop by our shop and check out the wide variety of products we have that fit most comfort levels.

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

When suffering from an illness, there is more that you can do than just take medicine to make it more manageable. Scientists believe that your diet plays a crucial role in your health, and that includes influence on fibromyalgia.

Using medication for fibromyalgia is one of the easiest ways to make the pain less severe. Many have found success in using CBD oil because of how it helps reduce pain. CBD oil elevates an endocannabinoid in your body called anandamide, which binds to your CB1 receptor in charge of your neurological functions. By strengthening the anandamide, CBD has the potential to reduce pain. But there are more steps you can take toward wellness, like changing your diet.

While we don’t know exactly what causes fibromyalgia or have a cure, research has found that foods links to inflammation may exacerbate your symptoms. By reducing your intake of these types of food and increasing foods that can combat inflammation, your diet may be able to help reduce your fibromyalgia symptoms.

Foods To Eat With Fibromyalgia

Fruits And Vegetables

Foods rich in flavonoids and antioxidants like fruits and vegetables have shown in studies to help reduce inflammation. Fruits are also made up of complex carbs, which means they can help give you a natural boost of energy to fight fatigue common in fibromyalgia patients.

• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Avacado
• Pineapples
• Blueberries
• Tomatoes
• Apples

Healthy Whole Grains

Healthy whole grains have also been linked to reducing inflammation by inhibiting oxidative stress. Rich whole grain diets have also been linked to weight loss without disrupting the body’s insulin sensitivity or gut microbe.

• Barley
• Buckwheat
• Oats
• Quinoa
• Brown Rice
• Rye
• Wheat
• Spelt

Dairy Products

It was once thought that limiting your dairy intake would be more beneficial to your health in regards to inflammation, but studies show that there isn’t enough evidence to prove this hypothesis. Researchers have found that including dairy in your diet actually has anti-inflammatory properties. Do keep in mind what else is in your dairy product, like yogurts, to make sure there isn’t any refined sugar or saturated fats which can cause inflammation.

• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Milk

Oily Fish

Omega-3 that is present in oily fish has shown in studies to help reduce inflammation. Whether it is canned, fresh, or frozen, the following fish added to your diet can prove to be very beneficial:

• Trout
• Sardines
• Salmon
• Kippers
• Eels
• Mackerel
• Tuna

Foods To Stay Away From When You Have Fibromyalgia

Refined Sugar

Refined sugar and carbohydrates have inflammatory properties. High blood sugar can cause oxidative stress causing inflammation, while a high carbohydrate diet with low energy content can cause inflammation as well. Try to cut the following things out of your diet:

• Soft Drinks
• White Bread
• Cookies
• Candy
• Cake
• Pasta
• White Rice

Reduce Red Meat

Having a steak every now and then may be okay but reducing your red meat intake may be able to help with inflammation. Studies have shown that eating a lot of red meat can cause inflammation, but decreasing red meat intake reduced the risk of inflammation by 20%.

• Beef
• Lamb
• Pork
• Veal
• Venison
• Goat

Talk To Your Doctor

If you have fibromyalgia, going over all of your treatment options with your doctor can help you find what works best for you. This could be diet restrictions or medicine like CBD hemp oil. Your doctor can help monitor your condition and help you pick the best route to manage your symptoms.

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Periods were never fun to begin with, but endometriosis can turn this annoying monthly visit into something excruciating and in some cases dangerous. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in this illness, which may mean that CBD can help with endometriosis.

Cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help with the pain and inflammation associated with endometriosis by its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. By elevating chemicals, stimulating receptors, and opening pathways in the brain it may offer as a tool to assist people who are experiencing this visceral pain.  

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is when the tissue that makes up the uterine lining is also found on other organs or other areas in your body. Usually, it is in the lower organs like in your lower abdomen or pelvis, but it can be found anywhere from your lungs to your thumbs.

Symptoms Of Endometriosis

• Pain during menstruation
• Pain During Sex
• Constant pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region even off your period
• Painful bowel movements
• Painful urination
• Blood in urine
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Fatigue and muscle weakness

With endometriosis, you don’t even have to be on your period when you are feeling the pain. Sometimes it can be constant. Usually, the pain will be at its worse right before your period starts and then get better over time. You can also be a woman who doesn’t show any symptoms at all, and will only know about having this condition if you ever undergo surgery. Being a woman is so fun!

How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

You can go to your gynecologist and tell them about this pain, but they won't be able to actually know if you have endometriosis or not until they open you up. The surgery is called a laparoscopy, and the surgeon opens up your abdomen and looks inside with a camera for any uterine cells outside of the uterus.

What Causes Endometriosis?

There are several theories on why endometriosis happens. The first is retrograde menstruating which is when during the woman’s period, the blood and tissue travel through the fallopian tubes and go into the abdominal cavity.

Another idea is that the cells outside of the uterus can change into the same kind of cells that line the uterus. This is a theory that mostly explains why there have been accounts of endometriosis in places like the thumb.

The cells that are in the uterus lining could be traveling through blood vessels or the lymphatic system which spreads to other organs of the body, which could be why the uterine cells have been found on lungs.

Most women experience retrograde menstruating without developing endometriosis. Scientists believe that it is the difference in each’s immune system. Researchers have found that it is more common to develop endometriosis if another family member has it because genetic makeup may also play a part in development.

Why Is Endometriosis painful?

Before your period comes, estrogen levels rise, and it prompts the production of the uterine lining. The uterine lining is there so the embryo can sit on the wall and get fertilized by sperm. But when the body recognizes that no babies are being made and the egg goes unfertilized, it sheds the lining and the blood in the uterus.

When someone has endometriosis, the uterine cells on the outside of the uterus react to this chemical change and act the way the cells do inside the uterus. This can cause swelling, bleeding, and scarring of normal tissue which causes the excruciating pain.

Can You Prevent Endometriosis?

There is no known total preventative measure that you can take for endometriosis, but there are ways you can reduce your risks. The main way is to reduce the estrogen levels in your body. You can do this by taking hormones, or you can change your diet.

Exercising can also prove to be beneficial, helping to reduce the levels of bad estrogen and raising the levels of good estrogen. You don’t even have to go into weight training or excessive work out routines, just a moderate amount of exercising for thirty minutes a day can help you regulate your hormones.

Cutting down on the alcohol can help you as well. Studies show that alcohol can raise your estrogen levels, which is something that can lead to endometriosis. You can still enjoy a glass of wine before bed, but don’t overdo it.

Treatment Options For Endometriosis

There are several different options you have for treatment, and sometimes it depends on how severe and invasive the endometriosis has developed. Non-steroid medications and hormones are often prescribed and suggested to help with the pain and inflammation. But if it’s severe, your doctor may recommend surgery.

The cells that act like uterine lining tissue can be surgically removed which can help with the pain as well as fertility issues that come along with endometriosis. In some cases, surgeons will remove the ovaries and the uterus, unfortunately making the woman infertile.

With new studies emerging linking the endocannabinoid system and endometriosis, it is now thought that cannabinoids like CBD may be able to help make the pain involved more manageable in this condition.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a chemical that we find in the cannabis plant. It can come from either a hemp plant, which makes it legal in all fifty states or the marijuana plant which may contain higher amounts of THC. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have any intoxicating effects which is one reason why doctors are so intrigued by its potential. The reason it has so many possible healing benefits without offering intoxicating effects is because of how it indirectly interacts with the endocannabinoid system.

What Is The Endocannabinoid System?

Your endocannabinoid system is what keeps you functioning normally, also known as homeostasis. This system interacts with different parts of your body to make sure that the vessel it runs, you, stays alive. When you get an infection, this is your endocannabinoid system telling your immune system to fight off pathogens that could be harmful. Without your endocannabinoid system, it would be like a band without a conductor.

Main Parts Of The Endocannabinoid System

Endocannabinoids

One way that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system is by elevating endocannabinoids. The two main ones that we study today are anandamide and 2-AG. Each endocannabinoid binds to both cannabinoid receptors but has a stronger bond with a specific receptor. Anandamide binds mainly to the CB1 receptor while 2-AG binds to the CB2 receptor.

Cannabinoid Receptors

Both cannabinoid receptors are found all over the body, though the CB1 receptors are more densely populated in the brain. The CB1 receptors mediate the neurological functions which include your appetite, sleep cycle, mood, and sensitivity to pain. The CB2 receptors regulate your immune functions and play a key role in reducing inflammation.

The Endocannabinoid System And Endometriosis

Pain

Scientists studied rodent models and found that CB1 receptors were found in their uterus and blastocyst which contributes to fetal implantation as well as failed implantations. With the knowledge that the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in controlling pain sensitivity, this leaves scientists to believe that the endocannabinoid system is involved in endometriosis and its association with pain via the CB1 receptors.

Cannabidiol elevates the endocannabinoid anandamide which binds to the CB1 receptor. Through this chemical change, CBD hemp oil may be able to reduce your body’s sensitivity to pain. When anandamide binds to the cannabinoid receptor, it sends a message to the cell to stop sending out so many pain signals essentially numbing the discomfort.

Inflammation

Pain and inflammation go hand in hand in many cases. When any part of your body is inflamed, you’re likely to feel it. Researchers believe that cannabinoids like CBD may be able to help with the visceral pain involved in endometriosis because of its relationship to the CB2 receptor.

When inflammation occurs, it is your body’s way of attacking foreign substances, so they don’t harm your body. When you have uterine lining where it isn’t supposed to be and blood having contact with other organs, it can trigger inflammation.

By elevating the endocannabinoid 2-AG, CBD hemp oil may be able to help reduce inflammation. The endocannabinoid reaches the CB2 receptor and mediates how many attack cells are sent to an affected area. Research shows this is how it can reduce pain and inflammation on your internal organs.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you have endometriosis, you might already be on medication. If this is the case, you need to involve your doctor with your medical decisions. They can help you determine whether or not the CBD oil is going to interact with the medication they are giving you or not.

Even if you aren’t on medication, it is still always a good idea to have your doctor involved when taking any type of medication. They can help monitor you and make sure this is the best treatment option for you. After the go-ahead from your doctor, stop by our shop and check out the wide variety of options we have that may be able to get you to feel less pain so you can live your life to the fullest!

Do you have endometriosis? What have you done to help with the pain? Have you used CBD hemp oil? We would love to hear your story in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Dance is a beautiful art and those who devote their lives to expressing it put themselves at risk of developing conditions that can make dancing more painful like arthritis. Even with perfect technique, dancers can accidentally injure themselves over time. While rest plays a big part in recovering and prolonging the health of the body, study suggests that CBD oil may be able to help slow down the development of arthritis.

Studies have shown that professional dancers can find themselves developing a joint disease which they believe some of it comes from microtrauma. Using CBD oil for the pain may also be able to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis because of its potential healing properties.

CBD And Osteoarthritis

In a rodent model, researchers found that cannabidiol (CBD) inhibited the pain associated with arthritis. CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects have continuously shown to be beneficial to help manage painful conditions. What they also found was that these anti-inflammatory effects might also play a roll in disrupting the progression of this condition, which may mean that dancers can have the career of their dreams for even longer.

How To Use CBD For Arthritis

Using a CBD topical on the joints that are hurting can work quickly, getting to the affected area through the skin. This can help people who are in pain at the moment, but that doesn’t mean to just jump back out on the dance floor because you don’t feel the pain anymore. While the pain may be gone, it’s important to remember that rest is vital to an actual full recovery.

Rest Is Just As Important For Recovery

Dancing for more than five hours a day can lead to an increase in injuries. Because there is no “off season” for dancers, a lot of them don’t give their body enough time to rest putting themselves in danger. While CBD may be able to help with the pain and arthritis, taking care of your body is also extremely crucial.

Get Yours Today!

If you are a dancer and you find that over the years your joints have begun to start hurting, stop by our shop today to get a CBD hemp topical that you can rub into your swollen joints to help with the pain. If you are new to dancing, using the CBD topicals may be able to help you avoid developing osteoarthritis as well. Your body is your tool to express yourself to the world, keep it in good condition so you can enjoy this passion for even longer.

Are you a dancer? Have you developed pain in your joints? What are some tips and tricks you wish you knew when you first started dancing to help reduce the likelihood of injury or developing a joint disease? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

Autoimmune diseases are pretty common today in America. It’s likely that you know someone who is suffering considering 1 in 5 Americans suffer from some type of autoimmunity. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown in studies and as anecdotal evidence that it may be able to help people manage this lifelong illness.

Cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help with autoimmune disease because of the way it interacts with the immune system. By elevating an endocannabinoid that mediates the immune functions of the body, CBD hemp oil may be able to help make the chronic illness more manageable.

What is An Autoimmune Disease

Your immune system is what fights off viruses and bacteria that may be detrimental to your health. Without your immune system, you could die from a common cold. Many illnesses can make the immune system less effective, but autoimmune disease kind of does the opposite.

When you have an autoimmune disease, your body is mistakenly attacking healthy tissue. This can cause pain and inflammation that gets in the way of everyday life. Autoimmune comes in all shapes and sizes, each one with their own painful twist to the disease.

What Are Autoimmune Diseases

While this isn’t a complete list of autoimmune diseases, these are some of the most common. What you’ll notice is that the immune system is what causes the body to react differently.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is when the immune system attacks the joints. The inflammation causes the tissue that is supposed to help lubricate the joints, called synovium, to become thick and inflamed. This is what causes the swelling, redness, and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.

Graves Disease

Graves disease is when the immune system causes the thyroid gland to overproduce thyroid hormones. This can cause weight changes, weakness, troubled sleep, nervousness, and irritability.

Sjogren’s

Sjogren’s is an autoimmune disease that can affect organs like your kidneys, blood vessels, GI tract, lungs, liver, pancreas and central nervous system. You can experience pain in the joints or muscles, dry mouth, mouth ulcers, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that can cause pain and fatigue in your muscles. The pain can vary in intensities, but even on the lighter end of the scale, it can still get in the way of everyday activities. Some common symptoms of fibromyalgia are pain in the muscles, fatigue, nausea, constipation, anxiety, forgetfulness, and depression.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an illness that happens when the immune system causes inflammation of the skin, causing it to produce skin cells too quickly. Because the skin can’t shed the skin cells fast enough, they start to pile up on each other causing the red and itchy skin rashes.

Lupus

Lupus is another autoimmune disease that can attack all over the body. This particular autoimmune disease can be life-threatening in severe cases. Lupus can cause you to have shortness of breath, skin lesions, fevers, fatigue, and joint pain.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is when the immune system attacks the central nervous system. The immune system inflames a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers, causing pain in various parts of the body. Typical symptoms are things like pain, fatigue, dizziness, excessive urinating, anxiety, mood swings, sexual dysfunction, slurred speech, and depression.

Diabetes

Diabetes is also an autoimmune disease. While it was once thought that it was a metabolic disorder, researchers believe that the insulin resistance is a product of the immune system attacking healthy tissue. Common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.  

Treatment Options

Diet

Some people have tried the autoimmune protocol diet with the theory that gut bacteria affect the immune system. This diet is a nutrient-based diet that excludes foods that have been known to irritate gut bacteria.

Foods To Exclude For At Least The First Thirty Days

• Grains and pseudo-grains
• Legumes, seeds, and nuts
• Nightshade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chili, and eggplants
• All dairy
• Eggs
• Modern vegetable oils
• Alcohol
• Natural and artificial sugar and sweeteners
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin

What CAN You Eat?

• All vegetables except nightshades
• Seafood
• Meats
• Fermented foods
• Fruit in small quantities

Medication

Researchers have suggested that using immunosuppressants for autoimmune diseases. Their only issue is that remission is still uncommon with these medications. Some scientists have seen success in immune-ablating by auto transplanting stem cells, but researchers believe that resetting the immune system should be the actual goal, instead.

With the emerging research on cannabis in the last few decades, scientists are now starting to discover that CBD may be a valid treatment option for autoimmune disease. While we don’t know if it meets the goals of resetting the immune system, the interaction it has with the body could be beneficial for patients.

What is CBD

Cannabidiol is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. At CBD Instead, all of our products are a derivative of hemp instead of the marijuana plant. CBD, unlike THC, doesn’t get the user high but it still has many of the healing benefits that cannabis has to offer.

The way cannabidiol works is by indirectly interacting with the endocannabinoid system. By elevating chemicals, stimulating receptors, and opening channels, CBD has shown to help the endocannabinoid system work more efficiently. This information is meaningless if you don’t know what the endocannabinoid system is, so get ready to learn.

Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is a regulator of our body. It is in charge of making sure everything in the body is running efficiently. When you get a paper cut, the endocannabinoid system is why you don’t get an infection or bleed out. Cannabidiol helps regulate this system by elevating endocannabinoids which in turn bind to cannabinoid receptors.

Cannabinoid Receptors

Cannabinoid receptors are located all over the body. They each have their respective jobs and help mediate functions in the body when stimulated by endocannabinoids. The CB1 receptor helps to regulate the neurological functions while the CB2 receptor helps to mediate immune functions.

Endocannabinoids

The two endocannabinoids that have researchers’ attention are anandamide and 2-AG. Anandamide mainly binds to the CB1 receptor while 2-AG primarily binds to the CB2 receptor. Endocannabinoids travel backward from the receiving cell to the sending cell, helping to control the activity going on in the brain.  

How CBD May Help With Autoimmune Diseases

Studies have shown that cannabidiol can suppress a large number of inflammatory genes activated by T cells. When the inflammation does occur, studies suggest that CBD can help prevent damage done to the brain.

Rodent Model Evidence

In rodent models where the subjects had paralysis caused by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CBD helped to relieve the paralysis from their hind legs. A study with rodent models with diabetes, cannabidiol showed to stop the onset of autoimmune disease. While these trials are still in their early stages, learning the mechanics behind how cannabis helps is an exciting adventure that could prove to be beneficial should these trials begin on human subjects.

How Does It Work?

Because cannabidiol elevates the 2-AG endocannabinoid, it may be able to help with autoimmune diseases. The 2-AG endocannabinoid travels from the receiving cell to the sending cell with a message to stop sending out so many attack cells.

While CBD suppresses immune functions, it doesn’t stop all immune cells from being sent out. This may be the reason that people can still heal from injuries while reducing inflammation. CBD can do more than just help with the swelling, CBD has shown in studies to help with other symptoms of an autoimmune disease that makes these illnesses so unbearable.

Pain

Inflammation causes pain, so people with autoimmune diseases have to live with that suffering usually daily. The endocannabinoid anandamide may be able to help with that because it helps mediate neurological functions, including your sensitivity to pain. While it doesn’t cure the illness that causes the pain, when anandamide binds to the CB1 receptor, it tells the receptor to stop sending pain signals helping to make it more manageable.

Depression

Depression is common in people who experience chronic pain. Research shows that people who have depression and pain together often overlook their depressive symptoms. Cannabidiol has shown to possibly be a fast-acting anti-depressant. With rodent models experiencing chemical changes in their brain within the first thirty minutes of taking the medication, it is looking very promising for the mental health world.  

Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms are common with people who have muscle pain, like with multiple sclerosis. Research indicates that cannabidiol has the ability to reduce the frequency of muscle spasms. Inflammation can make your muscle contract which is what the spasms are. By reducing this inflammation, CBD oil may be able to help with this particular pain.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom cross the board of illnesses. It’s when you feel tired even after having a good night’s rest. It can also impair your cognitive performance, making you feel foggy. Cannabidiol has shown in studies to be a wake-promoting agent while also helping people get a better night’s sleep. Taking a small amount can lead to feeling more awake while taking a large dose of CBD has shown to help promote the REM state.

Talk To your Doctor

If you have an autoimmune disease and you want to start taking CBD hemp oil for it, talk to your doctor about integrating it into your regimen. You most likely are on other medications, and CBD can cause certain drugs to act differently in the body. Your doctor can also monitor you more closely and has the tools to make sure this is the best treatment options for you.

Have you used CBD oil for your autoimmune disease? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

People all over the world are using medical cannabis to help with pain opposed to using prescription painkillers. One condition that is gaining attention from cannabis users is carpal tunnel syndrome. With so many people bound to their desks at work spending hours typing away, people are finding that it is taking a toll on their health. Studies suggest that CBD may be able to help relieve the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.

What Is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?

There is a nerve called the median nerve that runs up your arm and goes through an area in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. If this nerve gets pinched, it can lead to numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand.

You can develop carpal tunnel syndrome by making repetitive motions in your wrist, like typing on a computer, playing tennis, or the drums. If you do activities that involve your wrists and your hands are lower than your wrist, it can elevate your chances of developing this pain syndrome.

Other Causes For Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

• Pregnancy
• Hypothyroidism
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cannabidiol and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Using cannabidiol topicals may be able to help reduce the pain and inflammation involved in this pain syndrome. Doctors generally prescribe anti-inflammatories and pain relievers for this condition, which are two things that CBD has been able to do.

By elevating the endocannabinoid 2-AG, cannabidiol may be able to help reduce inflammation. This endocannabinoid binds to the CB2 receptor and helps reduce swelling by telling the neurons to stop sending so many attack cells to the area.

Cannabidiol may also be able to relieve your pain by elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide. This endocannabinoid binds to the CB1 cannabinoid receptor which helps mediate your neurological functions, including your sensitivity to pain.

A wrist brace, wrist exercises, or activity changes may also be prescribed to you by your doctor, so if you start to notice that your hand is feeling a shock of pain, getting numb, or is weakened, then you should consult your doctor about it as soon as you can.

3 Ways You Can Reduce The Risk Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Take Breaks

If you are often typing or using your hands for your job or frequent hobbies, take breaks. You don’t have to give yourself a thirty-minute break every hour, but taking a few minutes to let your hands rest can help reduce the likelihood of developing this syndrome.

New Equipment

If you use a mouse all day, try getting one that is more ergonomic, so it isn’t as hard on your hands. If you work in the kitchen all day, getting ergonomic cutlery and other utilities in the kitchen can help with your wrist. If you use something all day and every day, try to find if there is a version of it that is better for your health.

Improve Your Posture

Good posture can also reduce the risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Fingertip and wrist posture has shown in studies to be a factor in developing this pain syndrome, as well as neck and back posture. If you are in one position for long periods of time because of your job or hobby, make sure you are in a position that puts the least amount of stress on your body.

Have you used CBD hemp oil for your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms? We would love to hear how it has worked for you! Share your story in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

300,000 people in the United States and Canada suffer from dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder where your muscles contract, making you have frequent involuntary movements or posture changes that are often repetitive. This disease can sometimes get in the way of everyday activities, cause social isolation, and can be painful from all of the muscle contractions. With this wave of acceptance and new research of medical cannabis, do we know if CBD can help treat dystonia?

Cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help with patients who have dystonia according to research. CBD oil may be able to help with the symptoms both physical and mental health related. Because hemp oil has access to the endocannabinoid system, it may be able to offer a broad range of therapeutic benefits for people with dystonia from helping with the muscle contractions to reducing anxiety.

Studies Show Improvement In Symptoms

In the 80’s, researchers gave a senior woman and a thirty-one-year-old man CBD orally to help with their dystonic symptoms. The senior woman began to notice the effects in three hours. Her condition made her neck pull to the right eight to twelve times a minute, but after taking the CBD, it was reduced to two to four times a minute.

The thirty-one-year-old man was bound to a wheelchair because of his condition. After two hours of taking the CBD orally, he was able to walk, and the effects of the CBD lasted for twenty-four hours. This study led researchers to believe that cannabidiol can act as a muscle relaxer.

Studies with patients have shown that when taking CBD orally, most patients had improvement that ranged from 20%-50%. Newer research has stated that cannabidiol may be able to help prevent movement disorders, including delaying the progression of dystonia.

CBD For Pain

Cannabidiol has also shown in studies that it can reduce our sensitivity to pain. By elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide, hemp oil can help dull the pain felt from frequent contractions. Unlike other painkillers and muscle relaxers, cannabidiol doesn’t have the same risky side-effects and isn’t addictive.

CBD For Mental Health

Social isolation, pain, and interruption in everyday activities can lead someone to become depressed or anxious. Cannabidiol has shown that it can help with depression, possibly faster than common pharmaceuticals. The endocannabinoid anandamide that is elevated and helps with pain can also help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Talking To Your Doctor

If you have decided that you would like to take CBD for your dystonia, have a talk with your doctor. If you are on any other medications, mixing certain ones with CBD oil can cause adverse effects. Letting your doctor in on how you decide to treat yourself can also help them monitor you more closely, so you can know for sure if CBD is the best route for you to take.

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Ulcerative Colitis is the most prevalent form of inflammatory bowel disease in the world. In America, 1 in 1000 people has this condition. While researchers are still unsure of how this disease is developed, they do believe that it could be an issue with the immune system. This brings scientists to the table to find out if CBD can help with colitis, hoping that its interactions with the immune system are enough for relief.

Cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with the endocannabinoid system which plays a significant role in mediating the immune system. CBD has shown in studies that it has the ability to reduce inflammation, which can make effectively treating ulcerative colitis possible.

IBD vs. IBS

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome which is a frequent mistake. The main difference between IBS and IBD is that irritable bowel syndrome does not cause inflammation, ulcers, or do any other actual damage to the bowel.

IBS is considered less severe and is labeled as a functional disorder. In IBS, the digestive system looks normal it just doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. If you think that this may be your issue, here are some of the symptoms:

• Feeling gassy
• Cramps
• Mucus in your stool
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

The one thing that IBS and ulcerative colitis have in common is that they mainly affect the colon. Crohn’s is another form of IBD, but it can cause ulcers anywhere along the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Researchers think that there could be many reasons behind IBS, but when it comes to IBD, they believe it is because of the immune system.

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the colon. Instead of welcoming food, good bacteria, and liquid in your body, researchers believe that your colon sees them as a foreign enemy. When your body recognizes a substance for something that is going to harm the body, it will send white blood cells to the area causing inflammation and ulcerations.

Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis

• Loose bowel movements
• Feeling like you have to relieve your bowels more
• Blood in stool
• Persistent diarrhea
• Pain or cramps in the abdomen
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite
• Fatigue

Treatment

When it comes to ulcerative colitis, you may need a large batch of treatment methods to help calm the disease down. People have been known to change their diet, use therapy, and take medication to help with their symptoms. Ulcerative colitis doesn’t have a cure, but there are ways you can manage this disease.

Diet

While food isn’t the baseline cause of ulcerative colitis, changing what you eat can help you manage the symptoms. Some foods can aggravate the colon making the inflammation more severe. Eating soft or bland foods as opposed to spicy foods can help reduce the severity of inflammation, and you have to keep in mind your nutrient intake. Because food will sometimes pass right through you, much will be lost through your bowel movements.

Therapy

Guided imagery relaxation training has shown in studies to help patients with ulcerative colitis. By reducing stress and anxiety, scientists believe this can help with the inflammation. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown in studies to help people who suffer from ulcerative colitis and depression. Studies have even suggested that trying acupuncture might also work.

Medication

There are of course pharmaceutical medications that you can take to help manage your ulcerative colitis symptoms. Anti-biotics, immunomodulators, steroids, and even biologic therapies have been used to help with this disease. In severe cases, surgery is even required. Current research is underway to find out if CBD oil can be added to this list of medical treatments.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a chemical found in the cannabis plant that has healing benefits like THC however it doesn’t get the user high. This form of medication has been under extensive research because of the lack of euphoria, risky side effects, addiction, and lethal overdose.

CBD interacts with a system in our body in charge of homeostasis called the endocannabinoid system. This system is what regulates your body to make sure you are at optimal functionality. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have a strong direct bond to the cannabinoid receptors in this system. Instead, CBD elevates and enhances the endocannabinoids our body already has to make the endocannabinoid system more efficient.

How Can CBD Help With Ulcerative Colitis?

Researchers believe that by manipulating the endocannabinoid system, you can find treatment for ulcerative colitis. In models that were deficient in cannabinoid receptors, they found that they were more prone to inflammation.

CBD As A Preventative

During a study where they gave rodents experimental colitis, they found that when they treated the rodents with cannabidiol beforehand, it actually prevented the disease. You may one day be able to add “preventing ulcerative colitis” to the list of reasons to take CBD daily, but many of you here already have it and need a better solution.

CBD Might Reduce Damage and Inflammation

Further studies where they gave rodent models experimental colitis showed that when given cannabidiol after, the damage to the colon was reduced. They also have found that rodent models with experimental colitis who were given CBD after the disease had less inflammation in their colon.

How CBD Interacts With A Healthy Colon

But what will CBD do if you don’t have this disease? Will it make your immune system weak in your colon allowing you to contract whatever disease comes through your digestive tract? In another rodent model study, they might have found the answer.

In this rodent study, they found that the mice that weren't given experimental colitis didn’t have the same reaction to CBD that those who had the disease. The mice that did have ulcerative colitis and were treated with CBD showed to have a reduction in certain proteins that came down to match the healthy subjects. Their mast cell levels were also reduced to match their healthy counterparts, and the study reaffirmed the possibility that CBD could be used as a preventative treatment.

CBD And Human Studies

But enough about the rats, right? What about people, we always wonder. Luckily, scientists are far enough into the research to start using actual biopsies from patients who have ulcerative colitis. In the previous study mentioned, they also tested pieces of colon taken from patients who suffered from ulcerative colitis. The same protein decrease that was found in the rodent models happened with these samples when given CBD.

The Double-Blind Study

It takes a long time for scientists to be able to bring their ideas to the humans who might benefit, but they have been able to make such significant progress that it became possible. A double-blind study including adults with ulcerative colitis were either given a placebo or cannabidiol. Researchers found that the patients who had the CBD has a lower mayo score and their quality of life improved.

CBD And Mental Health

Studies have shown that stress is a common factor that can increase the severity of inflammatory bowel disease. Stress is something that isn’t easily avoided in this fast-paced and cruel world, especially if you have problems with anxiety or depression.

CBD And Anxiety

Cannabidiol has shown in studies to have anti-anxiety effects. Scientists believe that many mechanisms make this possible, the most popular theory being that of the endocannabinoid anandamide.

Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that binds mainly to the CB1 receptor which is in charge of mediating neurological functions. This relationship helps to control your appetite, sleep, pain sensitivity, and mood.

The way anandamide works is through a process called retrograde signaling. While most neurotransmitters travel from the sending cell to the receiving cell, endocannabinoids move backward. Anandamide will go to the sending cell and tell it to either stop sending so many transmissions that is overwhelming the brain, or it can tell it to pick up the pace because there is so little activity.

Anxiety is a panic signal that has your amygdala and hippocampus becoming overactive. When these parts of your brain are overactive, it causes the fear response to signal more often even when you aren’t in any actual danger. Through enhancing anandamide, CBD may be able to help reduce this signaling which, in turn, means less stress and anxiety for you.

CBD And Depression

Exciting news for people with depression is that CBD may be able to work more quickly than common pharmaceuticals. By elevating a chemical in our brain that helps with function and growth called BDNF, CBD may be able to help restore damage done to two parts of the brain linked to depression, the hippocampus, and the medial prefrontal cortex.

Cannabidiol also can help with an uplifted mood thanks to the endocannabinoid anandamide. This chemical is released during exercise which contributes to the runners high feeling many feel after a good work out.

Talk To Your Doctor

Before jumping in, you should talk to your doctor about taking CBD. Hemp oil can make certain medications metabolize differently, so your doctor will need to know if you are going to implement hemp oil in your treatment. They can also help monitor your condition, so you can find out if this treatment plan is truly best for you.

Have you used CBD oil or any cannabis product for your ulcerative colitis? We would love to hear about it, leave your story in the comment section below!

[author name="Sarah Potts" bio = "Sarah Potts has been writing about the wonderful benefits of cannabis for CBD Instead since 2017. Medical cannabis has changed her life and her goal is to show others how it might help them as well." email="pottscontent@gmail.com" twitter= "pottstato"]

Cannabis has been known to be used for glaucoma for quite some time. THC has been in the spotlight showing incredible improvement in patients, and research has begun to find out that CBD may play a significant role in healing as well.

Cannabidiol has shown in studies that it can not only help reduce the damage done by glaucoma, but it can also help with many of the risk factors that lead to this disease. Cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system acting as a regulator. Studies have suggested that using hemp oil for glaucoma may make the disease more manageable.

What Is Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease that causes high pressure in the eye’s optic nerve. This increase in intraocular pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve which is what sends images to your brain. If this pressure continues without treatment, it can cause permanent damage and lead to complete blindness. This disease can sneak up on you without any warning, which is why regular eye doctor visits are necessary the older you get.

Risk Factors For Glaucoma

Diabetes

It is now thought that type 2 diabetes may be a risk factor for glaucoma because of insulin resistance. Untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to the eyes not getting enough blood or oxygen which is called diabetic retinopathy. This makes the eye form new blood vessels to compensate which can impair the draining process causing pressure build up.

Hypertension

Doctors and scientists alike used to think that elevated blood pressure was good for intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma. But now studies have found that hypertension can do more harm than good.

Having high blood pressure for a long period of time can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eye. The damage done to the vessel walls can make it more difficult for the eye to manage new blood flow when the eye pressure is increased.

Inflammation

Researchers have reported that one of the most common causes of high intraocular pressure is due to inflammation. About 20% of patients with glaucoma have inflammatory glaucoma, also known as uveitic glaucoma.

Who Is Most Likely To Develop Glaucoma?

• People over the age of 40
• People who have African-American, Hispanic, Irish, Russian, Inuit, Scandinavian descent
• People who have a family history of glaucoma
• People who have poor vision
• People who take certain steroid medications
• Someone who has had trauma to their eye

What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma?

Once glaucoma starts to take hold, it’s not likely you’ll even notice until it’s too late. Glaucoma is called, “The Sneak Thief Of Vision” because of it’s ability to arrive undetected. If you do notice any of these following symptoms, you should go to the eye doctor immediately.

• Halos around lights
• Vision loss
• Redness in the eye
• An eye or both eyes looking hazy
• Nausea or vomiting
• Eye pain
• Narrowed vision or tunnel vision

How CBD Oil Can Help With Glaucoma

Many studies have highlighted how THC can reduce the intraocular pressure, but CBD has demonstrated that it can help reduce the damage done by the pressure. Glaucoma can do damage to your eyes because of the excessive release of a chemical called glutamate. Glutamate causes the death of retinal neurons because of the formation of peroxynitrite.

Research has shown that CBD can help reduce the formation of peroxynitrite which helps to protect the neurons from glutamate-induced cell death. Along with helping to minimize cell death associated with glaucoma, hemp oil has also shown that it may be able to help with risk factors as well.

CBD and Diabetes

Resistin is a hormone that is produced that can make someone develop type 2 diabetes. This hormone makes your blood sugar higher and has also been linked to inflammation, thrombosis, endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis, and smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Studies have suggested that elevated blood sugar levels can help the retinal ganglion cells function more efficiently. However, in long-term, high blood sugar can lead to glaucoma.

Cannabidiol has indicated in studies that it can inhibit the production of the hormone resistin which may help with the treatment of diabetes. Having type 2 diabetes for a long time can cause tissue scarring, stress, and cell death. All of which CBD may be able to help treat.

CBD and High Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure can cause the blood cells to squeeze through the arteries, bashing against the arterial walls making the crack or rupture. Studies have shown that CBD oil may act as a vasodilator which means it lets the blood flow more freely by dilating blood vessels which takes away the pressure put on the arteries.

In a study where healthy subjects were given CBD, they were given a single dose, and their blood pressure was lowered. Further studies have suggested that hemp oil may be able to reduce the number of dead cells due to the low blood supply.

CBD and Inflammation

Not all inflammation is bad; its entire purpose is to protect you from pathogens that may be trying to attack your body. When inflammation becomes a problem is when it is excessive and reduces the healing time or causes damage. Cannabidiol has shown in studies to help with inflammation that is harmful by interacting with the CB2 cannabinoid receptor.

The way that CBD has shown to reduce inflammation is by elevating the endocannabinoid 2-AG which binds to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor. The CB2 receptor mediates the immune functions, like sending attack cells to an affected area. The endocannabinoid 2-AG travels backward toward the cannabinoid receptor and sends a message telling the receptor to stop sending out so many attack cells which can reduce inflammation.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you are thinking of trying CBD oil for the first time, it is best to bring your doctor in on the situation. They have the tools to help monitor your condition to know if CBD is right for you. If you are taking medication, CBD can make your body metabolize them differently making them less effective. By letting your doctor know your plans for treatment, they can give you the correct counsel to discern what treatment is best for you as well as make any adjustments they see necessary.

As Americans are gaining more weight, the likelihood of gout across the country is also increasing. The most common risk factors are all related to being overweight. Luckily, CBD oil has been aiding many people who suffer from all types of arthritis, including gout.

Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with gout in many different ways from risk factors to symptoms. By interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD oil can help with weight loss, inflammation, and pain that are all associated with developing or having gout.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a common type of arthritis that happens when too much uric acid crystallizes and deposits into the joints causing pain and inflammation. This form of arthritis usually attacks one joint at a time, most commonly the big toe. Gout can also cause deposits that make up kidney stones. The symptoms of gout include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain
• Heat

Preventing Gout

You can try to prevent gout by taking care of your body. Exercising and eating healthy are great preventative measures that you can take that will also improve your quality of life. The common risk factors that lead to gout include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Insulin Resistance
• Poor Kidney Function
• Certain Medication
• Alcohol Consumption
• High Purine Diet

While exercising and eating healthy can help prevent gout, taking CBD oil regularly can help as well. Hemp oil can help you lose weight, manage your blood pressure, reduce your resistance to insulin, and replace diet medications you may be taking that could contribute to gout. Besides helping prevent gout, CBD oil can also help with the symptoms when you already have it.

Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s way of attacking outsiders known as pathogens that can be harmful to your body. Too much inflammation can actually slow down healing and can be very painful.

CBD oil helps combat inflammation by elevating the endocannabinoid 2-AG which binds to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor helping to mediate the immune system. When the 2-AG endocannabinoid binds to the CB2 receptor, it tells the receptor to stop sending so many attack cells which reduces inflammation.

Pain

Pain is also common with arthritis because of the inflammation. If gout has created deposits that form into kidney stones, this can also be an excruciating pain that most find themselves bedridden over.

CBD can help by elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide which binds to the CB1 cannabinoid receptor which helps control the neurological functions. These functions include sleep, appetite, mood, and sensitivity to pain. When anandamide binds to the CB1 receptor, it blocks pain signals from making it through and helps you find relief.  

How To Take CBD For Gout

You can use CBD orally or topically with gout. If arthritis has formed in your joints, using topicals can help get the pain and inflammation down quickly. You can’t put a topical on your kidneys, however. Which is why taking CBD orally is also a valid treatment option. Stop by our shop and check out our variety of options to find relief that fits your comfort level today!

Have you used CBD oil for gout? We would love to hear all about it, leave your story in the comment section!

Catering your diet to your arthritis can help with your symptoms. While cannabidiol can help with the pain and inflammation, changing your diet is just another tool for keeping your symptoms under control. Here are a few foods you should stay away from when you have arthritis.

Processed Foods

If you are eating fast food often or eating snacks or meals that are prepackaged, then you might notice your arthritis symptoms getting worse. For processed foods to have a longer shelf life, they are made with trans-fat which can make inflammation worse.

Refined Sugar

Eating foods with refined sugar like sweets, fruit drinks, soda, and sugary cereals can cause your inflammation to get worse. Eating too much of these sugars can make your body produce more cytokines which cause inflammation.

Fried Foods

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) form naturally in your body when you eat proteins or fats combined with sugar. Your body is less effective at eliminating harmful AGEs if you are getting too many from your diet. Frying, broiling, and grilling food have the highest levels of AGEs which can lead to worsening your arthritis symptoms.

Saturated Fat

Foods like cheese, red meat, and high-fat dairy products have a high amount of saturated fat. An animal model study suggested that eating foods with high saturated fat can cause you to develop osteoarthritis.

Refined Grain

Eating foods with refined grain opposed to whole grain can cause your arthritis symptoms to get worse because of the glucose malfunction caused by the grains. Research shows that many of the people who suffered from a glucose metabolism malfunction also had symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis suggesting the connection between the two.

What Should You Eat?

When you eliminate food from your diet, you’re going to want to replace it with foods that can help. There are a few foods that you should eat when you have arthritis.

• Fatty Fish
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Brussel Sprouts
• Garlic
• Vitamin C
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Walnuts
• Grapes
• Spinach
• Berries

Taking CBD For Arthritis

Cannabidiol is also a great option when it comes to helping relief you from the symptoms. CBD enhances the 2-AG endocannabinoid which helps mediate the immune system through the CB2 cannabinoid receptor. By enhancing that endocannabinoid, it can help encourage the body to stop sending out so many attack immune cells reducing the swelling and pain. Be sure to stop by our shop and check out the wide variety of options we have to help you find relief.