{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/stress/3","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1987-markdown","title":"Terpenes That Augment the Healing Power of Cannabis","slug":"terpenes-that-augment-the-healing-power-of-cannabis","content":"The two most well-known components of cannabis are THC and CBD, but\r\nthere are many more important compounds in this valuable plant. So far,\r\n480 chemical components of cannabis have been identified. One important\r\ngroup of chemicals found in cannabis are terpenes. These chemicals could\r\nmake vital contributions to the beneficial properties of medical\r\nmarijuana.\r\n\r\nWhat are Terpenes?\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nTerpenes are the chemicals that give marijuana its flavor and aroma; in\r\nfact, variations in the amounts of various types of terpenes are what\r\nmake different strains of cannabis smell earthy, fruity or herbal.\r\nDifferent terpenes also have different effects on the body, ranging from\r\ncalming down inflammation and relieving pain to enhancing mood and\r\nincreasing cognitive function.\r\n\r\nThe following five terpenes are some of the most important for giving\r\ncannabis its healing properties.\r\n\r\nBeta-Myrcene\r\n------------\r\n\r\nAlso found in hops, bay leaves, lemongrass and eucalyptus, beta-myrcene\r\nis the most common terpene in marijuana. It has a spicy, herbal aroma\r\nthat users of medical marijuana may recognize as characteristic of some\r\nstrains.\r\n\r\n[Beta-myrcene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrcene# Pharmacological_effects)\r\nhas an incredible ability to help the body heal. It relaxes muscles, and\r\nstudies have shown that it acts as a general sedative in mice. It also\r\nreduces inflammation, which could help the body recover from illness or\r\ninjury. Importantly, beta-myrcene has a pain-relieving effects, which\r\ncould help explain why some people use lemongrass tea for medicinal\r\npurposes.\r\n\r\nLimonene\r\n--------\r\n\r\nThe second-most common terpene in cannabis is limonene. It has that\r\nlemony-fresh scent that many people associate with insect repellent and\r\nlemon-flavored cleaning products. In fact, manufacturers often use\r\nlimonene to make their products smell that way. Limonene occurs\r\nnaturally in both citrus fruits and marijuana.\r\n\r\nThe healing action of limonene are well-documented.\r\n[Studies](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24328705) have shown that\r\nlimonene promotes healing of the mucous cells in the digestive tract,\r\nwithout any toxic effects. This could explain why it is used as a\r\ntreatment for gastric reflux and ulcers. It may also fight bacterial\r\ninfections, stimulate the immune system, and suppress the growth of\r\ntumors.\r\n\r\nAlpha-Pinene\r\n------------\r\n\r\nAlpha-pinene -- a compound most commonly associated with pine trees and\r\nother conifers -- is another important chemical in cannabis. Like other\r\nterpenes, it has anti-inflammatory effects that augment the\r\ninflammation-fighting ability of cannabidol (CBD). Alpha-pinene dilates\r\nthe bronchial tubes, allowing users to draw cannabis smoke or vapor deep\r\ninto the lungs. Some even claim that it increases cognitive function.\r\n\r\nBeta-Caryophyllene\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nDespite its complicated name, beta-caryophyllene is actually a very\r\ncommon chemical. It's found in cloves and black pepper, and helps to\r\ngive those foods their characteristic flavors. Beta-caryophyllene (known\r\nmore concisely as BCP) binds to the cannabinoid receptor CB2. This\r\nreceptor is involved in inflammation and pain.\r\n[Studies](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24210682) suggest that BCP\r\ncould be useful for treating long-term pain.\r\n\r\nLinalool\r\n--------\r\n\r\nOften used in perfumes due to its lovely floral scent, linalool is found\r\nin a range of nice-smelling plants, including mint, lavender, citrus,\r\nand cinnamon. It's a commonly used remedy for stress and anxiety, which\r\ncan be particularly effective in combination with SSRIs. Linalool even\r\n[reduces\r\nseizures](http://www.researchgate.net/publication/12925341_Elisabetsky_E_Brum_LF_Souza_DO._Aniconvulsant_properties_of_linalool_in_glutamate-related_seizure_models._Phytomedicine_6_107-113)\r\nin conditions such as epilepsy.\r\n\r\nThe Entourage Effect\r\n--------------------\r\n\r\nThe various terpenes in cannabis work together to increase the overall\r\npotency of the plant. This is known as the entourage effect, and it\r\ncould explain why whole cannabis has more beneficial medicinal effects\r\nthan individual chemicals that are extracted from the plant. For\r\nexample, the FDA-approved drug Marinol can be useful for treating nausea\r\nand vomiting caused by chemotherapy and anorexia caused by AIDS, but\r\nthere is some evidence that whole marijuana could be more helpful and\r\ncould cause fewer side effects.\r\n\r\nThe synergy between the various terpenes found in cannabis would likely\r\nbe difficult or impossible to replicate in an artificially created drug.\r\nExtracting a single compound from cannabis changes the effects of the\r\nchemical, which can lead to undesirable side effects or a treatment that\r\nis less effective than pure marijuana.\r\n\r\nOften, patients who could benefit from medical marijuana need more than\r\none of the effects. Cannabis includes compounds that can relieve pain,\r\nnausea, loss of appetite and inflammation - a common combination of\r\nsymptoms for patients suffering from a variety of serious medical\r\nconditions.\r\n\r\nBy choosing a strain of cannabis that contains the right combination of\r\nterpenes and other compounds, patients may be able to access specific\r\nbenefits, while still harnessing the power of the entourage effect to\r\nincrease the potency of the drug. The terpenes listed above occur in\r\nvarying amounts in the different strains of cannabis, making it possible\r\nto select a strain based on the needs of the patient and the symptoms\r\nthey are experiencing.\r\n\r\nCannabis Can Improve Lives\r\n--------------------------\r\n\r\nCannabis has the ability to reduce pain, tackle nausea, and fight\r\ninflammation. As a result, it has incredible potential to help people\r\nsuffering from a range of disease symptoms and medication side effects.\r\nBy using medical marijuana, rather than a chemically synthesized drug,\r\npatients gain access to all the benefits of cannabis. These not only\r\ninclude the effects of the more than 400 compounds found naturally in\r\ncannabis, but also the interactions between them.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/14b42/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg","srcSet":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/f836f/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 200w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/2244e/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 400w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/14b42/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 800w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/47498/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/58556/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/61e93/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 200w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/1f5c5/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 400w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/58556/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 800w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/99238/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2008-markdown","title":"Get Started with Cannabis: A Comprehensive Overview of Medical Marijuana","slug":"get-started-with-cannabis-a-comprehensive-overview-of-medical-marijuana","content":" You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and try medical cannabis. Perhaps you’ve received your [medical marijuana recommendation](www.hellomd.com),  but are wondering “Now what?” Patients are often confused and many do not know where to start. \n\nWe recently chatted with Brant Hindman, resident Patient Guide with [Herba Buena](http://herbabuena.com/), regarding his advice for new cannabis patients. Herba Buena is a California medical cannabis collective which \"creates artisan-crafted products for solution-based medicine\". [Brant and founder Alicia Rose](http://herbabuena.com/our-story/) interact with patients through their monthly [Social Clubs](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) where members receive personalized consultations in a group setting. Social clubs allow for a tasting experience of Herba Buena's product line so each person finds the medicinal marijuana that is right for them. \n\nWe always suggest speaking to your doctor or a trusted advisor at a reputable dispensary or collective before ingesting medicinal marijuana for the first time. Below is some advice on how to obtain the right medical marijuana for you.\n\n**Find a Reputable Dispensary**\n\nIt's important to start with a reputable and knowledgeable dispensary. A reputable dispensary will do lab testing, which is important in the largely unregulated cannabis marketplace. Lab testing will check for pesticides, molds, fungus, and Ecoli among other substances that may negatively impact your health.\n\nA knowledgeable dispensary will also have people on staff capable of giving good advice. Brant says:\n\n>“In my experience, I do not believe that most people who advise in dispensaries take the time to really listen and give personalized advice to the patients who walk through the door. Finding the right dispensary should be like finding a trusted advisor. Call around, ask your friends, see who you get a good feeling from before you go in.  Go to the place that is going to take the time to listen to your questions and give you good answers that’s personalized to your specific needs. It’s also important to find a dispensary that carries a wide variety of medicinal marijuana, as not everyone can or wants to smoke to receive the effects of this amazing plant.”\n\n**Communicate Your Medical History & Symptoms**\n\nOnce you find the right dispensary, it’s important to clearly communicate your medical history (if necessary) and define the symptoms you are trying to treat. Are you looking for something to help with chronic pain, an anti-inflammatory or are you struggling with insomnia? If you have cancer are you trying to quell nausea or trying to eat more?\n\nTalk with a reputable ‘bud master’, the patient advisor within a dispensary, or doctor if available. A good advisor should be able to recommend an appropriate medicinal marijuana product for your condition. On this point, Brant says:\n\n>“When a new patient comes to us, we want understand symptoms they are experiencing, and what exactly they are trying to treat. We like to know as much as we can about their unique personal circumstance. How sensitive is their endocannabinoid system?  Have they had any bad experiences with medicinal marijuana before? What are their preferred or prescriptive methods of ingesting cannabis? We need to understand their medical history, as well as their symptoms, so the recommendations that are made are a pairing of both the most recent scientific research and the best organic medicine that can be found/created.” \n\n**Your Reaction to Cannabis is Unique**\n\nPeople respond to cannabis in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to THC, the psychoactive component within cannabis. Other people are less sensitive and can tolerate larger doses.  Before selecting a medicine, it is important to think about whether you are comfortable with the ‘high’ you may feel with a medicine that is THC-heavy. Some people prefer to ingest products that have zero psycho-activity.\n\n>“As an advisor, I strive to understand what experience the patient may be comfortable with. We always suggest that people new to marijuana start with an elixir (sublingual tincture) and then perhaps later they can move to a vaporizer, which is going to deliver more of a punch. We know that everyone has different sensitivity to cannabis and how his or her unique system reacts with cannabis will be different to the next person. The molecules from cannabis work differently in each person’s brain, so the result is not always consistent from person to person.”\n\n**Understand Cannabinoids and Their Effect** \n\nCannabinoids are what make the cannabis plant so unique. The two most prevalent cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. THC is what makes marijuana psychoactive. CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and it is not psychoactive. There are upwards of 100 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, but CBD and THC are the biggest stars. \n\nWhat’s interesting about cannabinoids is that they all work together to provide a synergistic effect within the body’s endocannibinoid system.  Cannabinoids work together to create stability and optimal health within our body. Some refer to cannabis as an adaptagenic medicine due to its ability to balance the body’s internal system. \n\nWhen you ingest cannabinoids they travel through the body and end up in your brain, binding to one or both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Depending on which receptor the cannabinoid prefers, it will alter the kind of relief you may feel. Both CBD and THC work together to create a balanced system, in conjunction with the myriad of other cannabinoids. This is what is referred to as the ‘entourage’ effect, meaning that the different cannabinoids work together to produce an overall effect.\n\nDepending on your symptoms, you may want more THC or more CBD. To this point, Brant commented:\n\n>“If someone has cancer they may want to have a medicine that is higher in THC. There are studies that show [THC can target some types of cancerous tumors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). It is also a well known treatment for the nausea associated with chemotherapy.  [CBD is also being used as a treatment for some types of cancer](https://www.projectcbd.org/cancer) due to its ability to attach to cancer cells, causing them to destroy themselves. Ultimately, finding the right forms and ratios of CBD to THC is important in the treatment of your condition.  \n\n>If a person has insomnia, they may think about a higher THC ratio. Personally, I’d recommend a product such as our low dosed [‘Lullaby’](http://herbabuena.com/product/lullaby-nighttime-cannabis-elixir/) which  is functionally dosed to be effective, yet does not leave any hangover effects the next day.  CBD, is just a wonder drug.  It can drastically reduce the amount of seizures people with epilepsy experience. CBD helps people from a pain and inflammation standpoint, people with arthritis and fibromyalgia and anecdotally, it has even shown promise as a treatment for some skin cancers as well.” \n\n**Look at Ratio of CBD to THC – It Matters**\n\nCBD is non-psychoactive and THC is psychoactive, and almost all products are a combination of these cannabinoids. Flowers or strains, will always display a percentage of THC to CBD. For the most part, dispensaries almost exclusively sell flowers that are THC-heavy. Other medicinal products such as tinctures, drinks and edibles will present products with a ratio in milligrams of THC to CBD. \n\nIf you are looking for a non-psychoactive product you will look for a high ratio of CBD to THC. Conversely, if you are OK with psycho-activity you will seek a product that either has an equal ratio or one where the THC is higher than the CBD. Brant commented: \n>“Sometimes people can feel anxious or paranoid with too much THC. CBD counteracts and is an antidote to THC. It does not lower the level of THC in your body but the THC becomes less impactful as a psychoactive. The CBD can actually ground you and your nervous system. Understanding the ratio of THC to CBD in your product will help you better understand the overall effect you may experience with the cannabis you ingest.”\n\n**You Don’t Need to Smoke Your Medicine-Necessarily**\n\nBrant says “People are often shocked that they don’t need to smoke flowers in order to imbibe with their medicine. [There is an enormous amount of choice](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7e6426264330006310000/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana) in the market today and all kinds of products a patient can choose from.” Among the myriad of choices are edibles-both food and drink, tinctures, sublingual (under the tongue) sprays, pills, topicals, among others. Some forms of medical cannabis are faster acting, such as smoking and sublinguals. [Edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f44cbb33663800064d0000/essentials-about-edibles-that-you-need-to-know) can take as long as an hour to take effect, but can also last longer, sometimes up to 3-6 hours. When considering different types of medicine, consider that not all dispensaries offer a wide choice of products. In fact many dispensaries will only offer flowers (bud) for sale.\n\n**Microdose Your Medicine**\n\nBrant says his approach to dosage, is always to proceed with caution in the beginning. “At Herba Buena we are very big on micro dosing, or taking small doses at first until you find the right dosage for you.” As every person reacts differently to both CBD and THC, it is wise to start with a smaller amount and slowly ramp up to larger dosages. Brant says:\n\n>“Over time, finding your tolerance to THC is very important. When you start with a new product, start small. If it is a vaporizer, take a tiny puff and wait 15 minutes. Taking a one second puff is radically different from taking three or four puffs. If you are new to cannabis, you may suddenly find that you are extremely uncomfortable for a good stretch of time. It’s important to know what effect you ultimately want. We always suggest that first time users start with our elixirs (tinctures) as they have very small amounts of THC, so a person can work up from there.”\n\nAlthough cannabis products often come with recommended dosages, it is highly dependent on the person as well as that particular batch of medicine. The percentage of THC and CBD can vary from strain to strain, crop to crop and batch to batch. Lab testing has shown that not all products are accurately labeled. In addition, the FDA does not currently regulate cannabis products. Brant gives the following advice:\n\n>“Edibles are a great example of where microdosing is imperative.  A typical dose may be 85 mg but often a person will not tolerate more than 10mg. It can take up to an hour for an edible to take effect so often people will eat too much of a chocolate bar for instance, and then feel terrible for a 3 to 6 hour time period. Read the label, use caution and start small.”\n\n**Organic vs. Industrial Farming**\n\nAccording to Brant, it is important to know how your cannabis is grown. He says:\n\n>“Outdoor, organic farming creates a full flower medicine, which also equals healthier medicinal marijuana overall. The stars and the soil and the air are integrated systems, which help in the creation of that superior medicine. This is opposed to an industrial setting in an artificial environment, artificial lighting and hydroponics. Ultimately, this is a laboratory creation made on top of concrete.”\n\nThere is no doubt that non-organic, industrial farming sometimes relies on the use of pesticides and other dubious chemicals to produce larger more visually appealing buds. Brant says:\n\n>“Often non-organic flowers sell better because they actually look better. It is analogous to a body building competition. Before the competition the body builder will use more steroids, spray tan and artificially pump themselves up before going on display. This is the same with cannabis flowers for sale. We live in the age of Frankin-Weed. All of this can be avoided, by finding the right collective to join and trusted advisors to guide you along your way.” \n\n**Do Your Homework**\n\nIn summary, doing your homework and proceeding with caution will most likely result in finding the best medicinal marijuana for you.  Seek out a trusted advisor, whether that is your primary care doctor, a medical cannabis doctor, a naturopath or a reputable dispensary with a knowledgeable bud master. Taking the time to find the right medicinal marijuana for your symptoms can often give excellent results and be a pleasurable rather than confusing experience.\n\nIf you are interested in attending one of [Herba Buena’s Social Club](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) events in the San Francisco Bay Area, [become a member](http://herbabuena.com/the-collective/membership-application/) of the collective. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png","srcSet":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/69585/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/497c6/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f3583/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f90fa/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/61e93/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/1f5c5/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/99238/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/5e0b8/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1932-markdown","title":"Cannabis Coffee and Tea - A New Frontier in the Edibles Market","slug":"cannabis-coffee-and-tea-a-new-frontier-in-the-edibles-market","content":"HelloMD sat down to chat with Jill Amen, co founder of [House of Jane - Jane's Brew](http://www.houseofjane.com/), to learn about her company’s fast and furious rise within the cannabis-infused edibles market. House of Jane offers a variety of high-end gourmet coffees, teas, hot chocolates & edibles to a wide variety of cannabis consumers. To date, Jane's Brew is offered in 127 dispensaries across the state of California and has been a trending brand since winning their first award at the Hempcon conference in 2014. Jill is upbeat and passionate about the Jane’s Brew product line and is a strong believer in and advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis.\n\n**What was the inspiration for starting Jane’s Brew?**\n>My grown son Trey and I were in Amsterdam a few years ago and I was very inspired by the coffee houses there and the array of cannabis products that were offered. However, I don’t like to smoke pot. So what I really wanted was to find a method of ingestion that made sense to me. I don’t have a sweet tooth as I don’t eat sugar, so I thought, ‘What do I drink every day?’. That’s when it hit me, I drink coffee and tea and that this could be a great vehicle for a cannabis-infused product. When we came back to the States I started to do R&D for our product line and to get back into the industry and well, here we are today! We started out in 2014 and did a very soft launch that year with a small group of clubs in the Orange County area. Afterwards, we did our actual launch in January 2015.\n\n**Soon after you launched, Jane’s Brew won an award at Hempcon. You have been going through the stratosphere ever since that happened, right?**\n>Yes, thank goodness! One of the products we entered into Hempcon was our [creamer](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!janes-brew-cannabis-non-dairy-creamers/c1ld); everyone loves our French vanilla creamer. I think it was the regular hot chocolate that won. We invested so much time and energy in creating our products right before we even launched and we continue to make adjustments along the way. This is an interesting industry and an interesting time. There are a lot of little things that happen in our industry every day. I believe the saying is ‘every 3 weeks in this industry is 6 months [in any other]’. \n\n**Do you feel that your product is a good introduction for people who are trying cannabis for the first time?**\n>Yes, absolutely. We are conversing with patients all of the time. They want to know and understand the benefits of cannabis, especially those who are trying it for the first time. Many people are intrigued by the consumption of cannabis through our coffees and teas because it seems like a very natural way to take medication. We do get a lot of feedback from people who have tried our products who say, “Oh my goodness, I am so glad you are here.” It makes me feel really good to hear the positive feedback.\n\n**Since you have started, whom have you found to be your target demographic?**\n>Our core demographic is people like you and me, people in the forty plus market. We are professionals, we are busy with some stress in our life, and we have families: that is our target market.  Also, a lot of our target market hasn’t even tried cannabis yet, or doesn’t even know what [CBD (cannabidiol)](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e12afb6539390006040000/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis) is. Our goal is to educate people and let them know what the positive effects of CBD may be for them. Many of our products are CBD-focused without any psycho-activity at all. Many people do not realize that you can take cannabis for medicinal reasons and not get high or stoned. When we launched, I knew that we would hit a slightly older demographic because of interest in wellness as well as experience with illness. The one thing that did surprise us is that people in their 20s also seem to really appreciate and seek out our products.\n\n**Do you associate your products as being helpful for any specific illnesses?**\n>We have stayed away from all claims. I believe that as more people are educated about cannabis they will absolutely understand how our products can be helpful to them and their condition specifically. In terms of education, we want to teach people about the benefits of consuming edibles verses inhalation, but we don’t talk about specific illnesses.\n\n**A lot of your products have a high CBD component, with that I’m assuming some of your products may have higher levels of THC as well. How do you go about dosing a tea or coffee beverage practically?**\n>Our products come in multiple doses. For example, our [chamomile tea](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!janes-brew-cannabis-infused-teas/c1gh9) comes in 20mg tea bags. The first time, someone may want to share a glass of that 20mg, or put half of it away for the next day. You can also brew the tea in a communal format. Say, I am having a 420 evening with other medical patients, I may brew a 200mg container of tea, but I’ll make 12-20 servings out of that when I add ice and dilute it some. \n\n>Our new bottled beverages are coming out dosed at 80mgs. In the future we want to include a small dosing cup in the package so people can actually measure out a unit to try it before they continue to drink the rest of the bottle. Secondly, we have a CBD version of the bottled product that will come out soon, as well as a 20mg bottle.  We introduce by market demand, 80mgs is not a very high dose for most of the market we are serving at the present time.\n\n**There is a lot of negative media these days surrounding the edibles market and the potential problems with dosing. Do you find that putting yourself in the category of edibles is beneficial to Jane’s brew?**\n>The truth is that we are classified under edibles because our cannabis products are consumed orally. I have often thought about coining my own name for our beverages as a new category in the market. I have a few ideas, but I haven’t done anything with it yet. So at this point in time, our goal is to best educate people regarding the benefits of our edibles and how to dose appropriately. \n\n>The most important thing I think we do is to educate the bud masters who are responsible for selling our products in the dispensaries. We do not want our product abused or for people to have a bad experience. In everything we publish, we talk about beginning with doses as small as 5-10mgs per serving, waiting at least an hour, then evaluating if dosing needs to be adjusted. Our [Jane’s Brew Oath](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!join-janes-army/c209p) is really our philosophy that encompasses all of these ideas. \n\n**Could you explain the Jane’s Brew Oath philosophy for us?**\n>I think there is an element about who Jane is; Jane is a very free, but responsible, spirit. We ask that people, if they choose, to take an oath for responsible consumption of cannabis. We believe people should have a right to do what they choose, as long as it is not harming others. They should have an opportunity to be inspired, creative, energized, and strive for wellness. They should also be very responsible when communicating this message with others. Essentially, I would say that is a lot of what the message is about. It is all to enjoy the benefits of cannabis. \n\n\n**Do you do laboratory testing on the products you bring to market? How do you manage the consistency of your products?**\n>We triple lab test our products using three different labs because it is very important to us to make sure that all lab results are consistent with one another. We test at our oil stage to make sure the product is calibrated for what we understand the percentage of components to be and for microbes and other additives. Our second level of testing is at powder stage, we convert all of our oils to a powder form for the manufacturing of our product, where we test for similar components as the first stage. Lastly, we test at the finished product level. We post lab results every month--not all of them, however, because we have far too many--on our website so people can look at the results and feel secure that our products are free of pesticides or microbial issues. \n\n**Do you feel that rigorous lab testing sets you apart from some of the other product companies out there?**\n>Yes and no. I think the industry is changing quite a bit. I think that anyone who wants to be taken seriously in the market will lab test. The dispensaries that we work with require lab testing and will lab test independently themselves. It’s important for the health and safety of our consumers.\n\n**What are your favorite products from Jane’s Brew?**\n>I love our bottled products, especially the unsweetened ones because I don’t drink sweetened tea. For the evening, my favorite beverage is our chamomile tea. Every night I drink a cup of chamomile tea and watch some TV, then I head to bed and I am ready for a good night’s sleep. The tea is very natural and herbal; there is never a hangover when you wake up after drinking cannabis tea like there is with some sleeping pills. \n\n**Where can people buy Jane’s Brew products?**\n>We have our products in127 different dispensaries, as far north as Shasta and all the way down to San Diego, and everywhere in between. We also work with a delivery service that distributes to  individual patients in California regardless of their location. So if you go through our website it will take you to an online ordering page. \n\n**Wrapping up, is there anything else you would like to say?**\n>I really think people need to educate themselves. They can go on our site or a number of quality sources online to learn more about cannabis. It is not only about Jane’s Brew products, patients should know what products are and understand them before medicating.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/14b42/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/f836f/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/2244e/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 400w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/14b42/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 800w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/47498/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/7d1a7/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 1218w","srcWebp":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/58556/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/61e93/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/1f5c5/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 400w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/58556/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 800w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/99238/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 1200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/cedc7/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 1218w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1954-markdown","title":"Auntie Dolores: The Forefront of the Gourmet Edibles Movement","slug":"auntie-dolores-the-forefront-of-the-gourmet-edibles-movement","content":"[Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/), a gourmet cannabis edibles company, was founded by Julianna Carella in 2008. The idea was hatched in the ever popular Dolores Park in San Francisco during a time when the cannabis industry was still in its infancy. Except for the ubiquitous home made ‘pot brownie’ and the odd gummy bear, Julianna was hard pressed to find other edible choices in the marketplace. Inspired by the gourmet foods movement in her hometown, Julianna surged forward to provide gourmet edibles to a sophisticated crowd of cannabis patients and enthusiasts. Auntie Dolores took off quickly and is now represented by hundreds of dispensaries across California with big plans for future expansion. HelloMD spoke with Julianna to get to know more about her company and the philosophy behind it. \r\n\r\n\r\n**When you launched Auntie Dolores, what were your first products offered?**\r\n>The first unique product that became very popular was the savory pretzel. They are vegan and low glycemic. After the pretzels became popular, we developed our chili lime peanuts and the caramel corn. We’ve always had brownies and cookies, which are a staple in most dispensaries. Yet our brownies are vegan, low glycemic, and made with coconut oil and coconut sugar. We wanted to make something that not only tasted great, but was healthier than other products out in the market. We wanted to appeal to a wider clientele with both great flavors and new savory products. At the time we started Auntie Dolores, everything was made with white sugar and white flour and with extremely unhealthy ingredients.\r\n\r\n\r\n**I read on your website that the Latin root of Dolores is ‘Dolore’ which means pain. Naming your company Auntie Dolores is meant to represent anti-pain. When you created your company were you thinking about targeting the medicinal community?**\r\n>Absolutely, there are many, many people who are using cannabis as medicine and we wanted to reach those people. However, we also want to appeal to a wide array of people, whether they are using it for pain management, anxiety, epilepsy, or just to feel good.\r\n\r\n**Is it fair to say that you are aiming to create gourmet foods that are also healthy?**\r\n>Yes. The first thing we always start with is the flavor of our foods. Cannabis can usually be tasted so we are interested in finding ingredients that can mask the flavor of cannabis really well. We have found that the savory products do a great job of that. We also include super-foods in our products because it is a way of making edibles an overall healthier experience. \r\n\r\n>Coconut oil, which is a common ingredient for us, and cannabis have a lot of the same health benefits and they work well together. A lot of the super-foods, like cacao for instance, are really good for you and have a strong flavor that helps to mask the cannabis flavor, so that is an example of how we might select an ingredient. Almost all of our products have coconut oil in them. We love coconut oil! \r\n\r\n**It sounds as if you were ahead of the coconut oil movement which is so popular now.**\r\n>Coconut oil used to get a bad wrap as a saturated fat, but it has a lot of health benefits, as we all know now. It also does a great job of extracting cannabinoids because of the high fat content. We use CO2 extracted cannabis oil infused into coconut oil to bring cannabis into our products.\r\n\r\n\r\n**What is good about CO2 extracted cannabis oil?**\r\n>It is so concentrated so you can really achieve a better flavor with that product, because you are using such a small amount. You end up with high potency, without the flavor of cannabis, which is ideal. With CO2 cannabis oil, you’re using a lot less oil because it is so concentrated which creates more consistent potency and an overall better flavor. \r\n\r\n\r\n**Elderly patients are beginning to discover cannabis as a form of medicine for a variety of ailments. How do you educate  a less experienced patient population on how to use your products effectively and safely?
**\r\n>Over the years we have gained insight into the elderly community and how they use our products. For instance, I recently heard from an elderly woman who told me that she eats one caramel corn a night right before bed to help her sleep. A lot of elderly patients choose to use our products for arthritis, and they tend to only need one or two savory crackers at a time because their tolerance is fairly low. \r\n\r\n>Our products are designed so you can eat a little bit or a lot, but it also depends on the person’s tolerance level. The dosage is on the package, each pretzel has 3 mg so you may only need 3 or 4 of those pretzels to give you a 10 mg dosage, which is often enough. You can experience the analgesic effects without feeling high, if you know how to regulate your dosage. I think people who have had difficulty with edibles, who have had a bad experience with them, find our products a lot easier to work with because they can eat 2 pretzels and have the effect they are looking for. It’s important to start slowly as everyone is different but we do state dosages on our packaging very clearly.\r\n\r\n**You have some new CBD (cannabidiol) products coming out, can you tell me a little about that?**\r\n>We have secured a great source for CBD and it took us a long time. Now that we have a consistent source, we are in the process of developing new products. We hope to sell our CBD edibles worldwide. \r\n\r\n**Is the CBD hemp derived?**\r\n>Yes, the CBD we use for our international products is derived from Hemp.  We chose to use hemp-derived CBD so that we can sell this product outside of California, being that it is below the legal THC threshold. That way, if someone is interested in the CBD products, you will perhaps have better access to those products. Also, you can independently mix them with THC if you want. Our 50mg CBD brownie and our 10mg THC brownie combined will create a 5:1 ratio (CBD:THC) or you can take a 100mg THC brownie and our 50mg CBD brownie for a 1:2 ratio (CBD:THC). The brownies are small and low in calories and many patients combine to get the effect they are looking for.  There are many different combinations you can create or you can just have the CBD brownie on its own. \r\n\r\n**Are the hemp derived CBD products as effective as cannabis derived CBD products on the market today?**\r\n>Yes, CBD is CBD. There are a lot of misconceptions about CBD. We have sourced a superior form of CBD that is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. Usually the concentrations of THC in marijuana are going to be hard to take out, but if you start with CBD in hemp, where there is no THC present, it is easier to get a pure CBD product. It is advantageous to have both CBD and THC in a product, but that is not something we can ship it across the country. \r\n\r\n**What is most exciting development within Auntie Dolores right now?**\r\n>We are extremely excited about launching our line of CBD products. We’ve only had the CBD brownie out for a few weeks and the response has been overwhelming. We are also looking forward to when the price of CBD comes down to the price of THC. CBD has a lot of great applications but it can be 4 times as expensive as THC, so we are having to charge so much more for our CBD products. We look forward to the day when we can give access to everyone who wants CBD products at a fair and balanced price point.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2903225806451613,"src":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/f836f/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/2244e/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 768w","srcWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/61e93/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/1f5c5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 768w","sizes":"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1849-markdown","title":"Does Marijuana Ease Anxiety?","slug":"does-marijuana-ease-anxiety","content":"Many people use medical marijuana to ease anxiety and stress; for some,\r\nit works better than medications like antidepressants. In fact, records\r\nof [Indian folk\r\nmedicine](http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Medical-Use-of-Cannabis-2012-en.pdf)\r\nshow that cannabis has been used to relieve a variety of ailments,\r\nincluding anxiety, for thousands of years. With interest growing in\r\nmedical marijuana, more research is being done to measure whether these\r\nancient uses stand up to scientific investigation.\r\n\r\nTherapeutic Components of Cannabis\r\n----------------------------------\r\n\r\nTwo main components of cannabis are THC and cannabidiol.  They are\r\nfocus of tremendous interest and research across many fields. THC is the component most familiar\r\nto people and is responsible for marijuana's euphoric effect. The other component,\r\ncannabidiol (CBD), is thought to relax the mind and body and is the\r\ncomponent medical marijuana producers suggest should be present in\r\nhigher concentrations in the cannabis used to treat anxiety.\r\n\r\nCBD and the Brain\r\n-----------------\r\n\r\nStudies carried out at [Vanderbilt University Medical\r\nCenter](http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/03/discovery-sheds-new-light-on-marijuana-anxiety-relief-effects/)\r\nsuggest that \"the natural endocannabinoid system regulates anxiety by\r\ndampening excitatory signals.\" [Animal\r\nstudies](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24923339) indicate that\r\nendocannabinoids interact with type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the\r\ncentral amygdala of the brain, the area that controls anxiety. Stress\r\nand trauma appear to reduce the production of endocannabinoids and the\r\nresponsiveness of the receptors, causing an increase in anxiety. Because\r\nthe cannabinoids in marijuana interact with CB1 receptors, it's thought\r\nthat marijuana's effect on anxiety is a function CBD's interaction with\r\nCB1 in the amygdala.\r\n\r\nMarijuana and Anxiety Symptoms\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nAnxiety disorders produce a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including\r\nmuscle pain caused by physical tension, panic, uneasiness, nausea, and\r\nsleeplessness. The calming, relaxing effect of CBD counteracts many of\r\nthese symptoms, while THC has been shown to be [effective against\r\nnausea](http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Medical-Use-of-Cannabis-2012-en.pdf).\r\n\r\nThe preferred delivery method when using medical marijuana to treat\r\nanxiety is smoking or vaporizing. In order to avoid the negative effects\r\nof smoking, many people use smoke-free vaporizers. These deliver the\r\ncannabinoids more efficiently than smoking and allow patients to control\r\nthe exact amount they receive.\r\n\r\nRecent attention on medical marijuana is causing many to re-evaluate its\r\nuse in treating a number of health problems, particularly those such as\r\nanxiety, where it has a history of success.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/porsche-linn/5561412422/in/photolist-9trGa5-dMzfiB-rmZagF-sqfopG-a7Kx8E-fL322Q-sexL7-5D2Ka5-ehh3kN-qGYUpT-6ttBdu-8cxspx-mDEcgp-isdZt4-53NF1V-hXUudV-rCGQp6-9qbjJz-8nw2Am-pgPnty-5c57JJ-8oP9TF-2KMeqn-jnXBzx-eju4hv-73q5oC-2k7YLg-hnYQwr-mDB9Nz-5xQkex-fPPrJt-9kbA8-paZkT2-QUUzH-tuZQA-6PKeLA-2TNmpw-aEp1St-2esJN4-9ZDUjY-Vji9T-pqrdAQ-bzAjoZ-cuz3kL-cuz2YS-5iZ9R9-nwqnF6-gyjiv8-8ZU5Y5-86PTqn)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/14b42/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/f836f/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg 200w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/2244e/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg 400w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/14b42/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg 800w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/47498/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/6e9c2/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.jpg 1526w","srcWebp":"/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/58556/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/61e93/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp 200w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/1f5c5/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp 400w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/58556/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp 800w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/99238/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp 1200w,\n/static/673717f8655ecac1f47c46136d8dfdd7/dfc81/68c86fcd1dfea8d9c39915753d77034f.webp 1526w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1855-markdown","title":"How Medical Marijuana Tinctures Helped Melt Away My Anxiety and Stress","slug":"how-medical-marijuana-tinctures-helped-melt-away-my-anxiety-and-stress","content":"It is common knowledge that the United States is recognized as the wealthiest country in the world, but the other title the United States holds is the most anxious. The World Health Organization has ranked the US as having the highest percentage of our population with anxiety disorders by a wide margin. One third of US citizens have suffered an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, which is the highest percentage of all psychiatric disturbances in the US. Anxiety disorders cover a wide range of mental conditions including: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and a wide range of panic disorders or phobias. There is some countrywide discussion about the prevalence of certain anxiety disorders, but many people with anxiety disorders follow normal daily lives, which can become overwhelmingly hard at times. \n\nThough anxiety rates in the US have doubled in the last 20 years, they have been raising steadily in the past 70 years as a whole, in times of good and bad economic and political fortune. The rapid changing world has been named one of the leading causes of anxiety increase in Americans young and old. As of 2009, 117 million adults experience anxiety symptoms and 40 million take pharmaceuticals to help ease or cure their anxiety issues. Drugs like Xanax are widely used by people to manage stress and anxiety. Yet, they are known to have their consumers zoned out and living life in zombie like shells. Increased anxiety in the United States has lead to a countrywide reliance on prescription medication. Unfortunately, anxiety drugs can be harsh and have numerous unwanted side effects. I, like many Americans, have suffered periods of deep anxiety and stress. Not wanting to rely on Big Pharma, I began to search for a natural alternative to relieve my anxiety. I looked into medical marijuana and found a key to helping alleviate my anxiety symptoms. Cannabidol, otherwise known as CBD, which is found in marijuana, has been found to greatly decrease anxiety.\n\nAnxiety issues are one of the primary reasons people look to medical marijuana, and the results have been extremely positive for people who explore this avenue. Both THC and CBD are the primary cannabinoids within the marijuana plant but their effects on people could not be more different. Unlike THC, CBD has no physco-active properties. CBD is becoming widely known for its medicinal properties and the ability to provide relief without the ‘stoned’ feeling THC promotes.\n\nMarijuana products grown for their CBD levels have provided great strides for people suffering from anxiety. Cerebral blood flow levels after the consumption of CBD in people point to its anti-anxiety affected on the brain. One study even suggests that the use of CBD leads to neurogenesis within the brain, which means it can create new neurons. Compared to a placebo group, CBD also greatly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in patients. My personal opinion is that medical marijuana use for anxiety is far favorable to traditional pharmaceuticals because of its quick efficiency and lack of severe side affects or withdrawal symptoms.\n\nI am practically THC intolerant, so smoking marijuana with high percentage of THC is out of the question. As I began to look for a CBD product that would help give relief during times of stress, I discovered sublingual products such as a tinctures, which are increasingly popular. \n\nAs a mom of three kids who also works a full time job, life is good but it can also be overwhelming. In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, I wanted to find a medical solution that could address both stress and anxiety. Ideally, the solution would be more natural than a pharmaceutical drug and would not leave me feeling strung out and unlike myself. After some initial research into medical cannabis alternatives, I settled on sublingual tinctures as a possible solution to my problem. A sublingual tincture is a liquid extract made from the whole marijuana plant that is taken orally and most often held under the tongue for easiest absorption into the body.\n\nChoosing the correct product was important to me because I did not want psycho-activity or drowsiness, but I did want anxiety and stress relieving qualities. Though marijuana overall has shown itself to be successful in easing stress and anxiety for many people, there are certain variables to be aware of. Different strains and delivery methods, coupled with your own unique body chemistry, can cause different affects in different people. Knowing that I am very sensitive to the effects of THC, I knew I needed to be cautious with the balance between CBD and THC. Finding the right product that properly eases anxiety required striking a delicate balance.\n\nAlta California Tinctures\n-------------------------\n\nOne of the first products I tried to ease my anxiety was Alta California’s Tincture. Alta’s products provided some nice relief by taking the edge off of my anxiety. I initially tried the Anxiety Relief Tincture. The tincture was very mellow and I felt like it overall had a very positive effect. The San Francisco dispensary I visited also recommended Alta’s Spasm Relief Tincture. To my surprise the Spasm Relief Tincture really did work for a muscle spasm I had at the time. A word of caution however, the Spasm Tincture is best to use in the evenings as it makes you feel looser and a little sleepy.\n\n\nHerba Buena Tinctures\n-------------------------\n\nThe next product to hit my radar is called Rock & Roll by Herba Buena. Herba Buena is a brand new California Medical Cannabis Collective that offers a health-centric approach through artisanal, organic cannabis products. Founded by one Silicon Valley professional and one Napa Valley wine professional, Herba Buena strives to offer a more refined cannabis experience through a social club atmosphere. They also employ a team of herbalists, organic farmers, doctors, and holistic health practitioners to create naturally grown products free of any chemicals or solvents.\n\nI recently got a chance to chat to the Alicia Rose, a co founder of Herba Buena, who described the Rock & Roll tincture (or what they call elixirs) as “providing a sense of overall well-being and a connected, functional, and present high — which makes it particularly good for anxiety and stress.”.\n\nThe Rock & Roll tincture, has been nicknamed ‘Mommy’s little helper’ and the magical elixir did not disappoint. Rock & Roll provided both an uplifting and mellowing effect within 5 minutes. It only required 3–5 drops of the yummy tasting tincture to help me dissolve tension and feel more refreshed. The product made me feel lighter, happier and neither tired or worn out. As a side note, I also used it a few days later when I had a bit of a headache, and it also helped alleviate the ‘tension band’ I felt surrounding my head.\n\nI was pleased with my experimentation with both Alta California’s products as well as the Rock & Roll by Herba Buena. In particular, the Rock & Roll tincture felt to be a natural and easy alternative to harsh pharmaceuticals, and ultimately provided me with more relief and zero side effects. As one of the many Americans who suffer from anxiety issues regularly, I have seen the positives of medical marijuana through personal use. If you are like me, and are searching for a new way to relieve your anxiety in a natural way, then medical marijuana tinctures are definitely worth the exploration.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":2.4691358024691357,"src":"/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/ee604/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.png","srcSet":"/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/69585/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.png 200w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/497c6/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.png 400w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/ee604/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.png 800w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/e56b8/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.png 850w","srcWebp":"/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/58556/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/61e93/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.webp 200w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/1f5c5/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.webp 400w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/58556/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.webp 800w,\n/static/47dd535a3cdf17a0d9d5fd02abe6e516/5c1d9/ced0deed82811f594bb5080a546ee3bd.webp 850w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1874-markdown","title":"Migraines: How I Got off Pain Meds & Found Relief With Cannabis","slug":"migraines-how-i-got-off-pain-meds-and-found-relief-with-cannabis","content":"Have you ever considered using cannabidiol (CBD) for chronic pain relief? I didn’t. Sure, I read some stuff in the news about marijuana’s awesome healing properties, but to be honest I always thought that it was a bunch of BS. I pictured myself smoking a big spliff, getting really paranoid, feeling out of my head and still having a seriously bad migraine. Oh, and going to bed and not sleeping because I’m spinning and, did I say it before, so incredibly PARANOID. Not my happy place. \n\nMy perception of medical marijuana was way off base. There are multiple different types of cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, and CBD is almost exclusively used for medical relief. CBD, unlike its twin sister-from-a-different-mister tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), doesn’t get people high or stoned. Based on a personal friend’s recommendation, I ended up trying CBD for migraine pain relief, and to my great surprise, it worked.\n\nIf this is of interest to you, then you should read on, because this is my story of how I got off Vicodin and started using CBD to manage chronic pain caused by crazy, intense migraines.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)  \n\n### More Than 2 Dozen Years of Intense Migraine Symptoms\n\nI’ve had migraine headaches since I was 14. Head-splitting, painful whoppers that can leave me in bed for days. The first time I had a migraine, I was swimming a 100-meter race on the high school swim team. I nearly won (almost), but when I got out of the pool, I actually fell to the ground. I was struck by migraine lightning that left me blinded, vomiting and out of my head for the next 12 hours. That was the start of it all.\n\nFor the last 25 or so years, it’s been much the same, although I learned that hormonal spikes most often cause migraines along with stress, diet, lack of exercise as well as other triggers. Getting pregnant? A really bad idea if you get hormonal migraines. Several pregnancies later, I found my headaches were as bad, if not worse, than in adolescence. So was my mood.\n\nWhen you feel chronic pain this badly, I believe most people are willing to do just about anything to get pain relief (I’m included in that group). This led me to try out a barrage of drugs to find a cure (by the way, there isn’t one unless you consider cutting off your head) and/or something that might provide significant pain relief.\n\nRELATED: [BEST CBD STRAINS FOR MIGRAINES](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57f283d9e4b4f6000a8dba0e/the-best-cbd-marijuana-strains-for-migraines)\n\n### Treating My Migraines With Imitrex & Vicodin\n\nYoga, Pilates and CrossFit helped me. Other than drugs, adding more exercise to my weekly routine and making a significant change in my diet, including dropping gluten and soy, helped alleviate the worst kinds of migraine headaches. That is semi code for the migraines that blind you and give you the dreaded-dotted-panic-attack-inducing aura. That said, no matter what changes I made, a migraine still seemed to rear its ugly head. Enter migraine treatment with narcotics and heavy-duty migraine medications such as Imitrex.\n\nFor the most part, I found the migraine meds like Imitrex too debilitating. I ended up foggy, drooling and practically comatose in bed, unable to do much, but still with a nagging pain in the gulliver. Vicodin is a combination of the narcotic hydrocodone and non-narcotic pain reliever acetaminophen. On a monthly basis, I found that taking Vicodin at the onset of a migraine headache helped to both stop it from getting worse while also giving significant pain relief with minor side effects.\n\nFinding pain relief with Vicodon was fantastic, but it also had a significant downside. I started snacking Vicodin on a monthly basis —roughly in the neighborhood of two to eight pills per month. It’s important to note that the DEA now classes Vicodin as a Schedule 2 drug, which means that it has a high potential to be abused and for people to become dependent on it. In August of 2014, the DEA changed the regulations around Vicodin and moved it into the same class as Oxycontin, Percocet and Codeine. As a result, physicians have been far more careful when prescribing Vicodin. Honestly, it’s understandable as the doctors now need to watch their own backs based on the new DEA regulation.\n\nLaws changed around Vicodin due to the fact that some seven million Americans seem to adore it as well as other prescription meds; they’re addicted to them and love to Rush Limbaugh (yes, that’s a gross, fat verb I coined). Fortunately, I never had an issue with Vicodin addiction, but it really bothered me that I was so heavily reliant on a narcotic. It seemed so, well, dependent. It was also far less convenient trying to get a prescription as well.\n\n### My Introduction to Migraine Treatment With CBD\n\nAbout a year ago, a friend suggested that I try a CBD mouth spray for my headaches. I was all ears, as she told me that it not only provided her with pain relief, but she was able to fully function; it didn’t make her tired, and she found it a more natural way to medicate. It had seriously never occurred to me that people weren’t necessarily smoking their medicine nor were they getting high.\n\nCBD and THC are two of the most prevalent compounds found in cannabis. There are over 60 other compounds that also make up the marijuana plant. THC is the psychoactive component and is what gets people high, which for some is great.\n\nCBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive and does not affect our CB1 brain receptors in the same way as THC. Both THC and CBD have many of the same medical advantages, but each person reacts differently. For me, THC is like kryptonite. My system simply can’t handle it; I short circuit.\n\n### Get to Know CBD\n\nI was never much into chemistry, but the difference with CBD from THC is that THC is perfectly shaped to bind to our CB1 receptor, whereas CBD doesn’t—hence no psychoactive effects. CBD is now finally coming into the limelight due to its remarkable properties. CBD has been shown to:\n\n* relieve pain\n* fight cancer\n* prevent diabetic neuropathy\n* protect nerves\n* reduce nausea and vomiting\n* suppress seizures\n* combat anxiety \n* alleviate inflammation in the body\n\nAnd the list goes on and on. This is me screaming from the top of my work desk, IT ALSO STOPPED THE PAIN CAUSED BY MY MIGRAINES with zero gnarly side effects!\n\nRELATED: [TOP 6 WAYS TO CONSUME CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57b2182407f595000bf74dd3/6-top-ways-to-consume-cbd)\n\nAnother interesting thing to note about CBD is its unique ability to work in conjunction with THC. CBD is able to stop the negative effects that may be felt from ingesting too much THC. In effect, CBD can reduce any overly intense psychoactivity caused by THC—so if your little brother smokes too much cannabis and locks himself in the broom closet, you give him CBD. It is like Freeze Miser meeting Heat Miser, and Mother Nature stopping the argument so Christmas can go on (excuse the cult TV special cultural reference). \n\nAs a result, you’ll see many products that use ratios of 1:1 CBD to THC, or always greater CBD to THC ratios. The ratio of THC to CBD is very important for the relief you want to feel and your tolerance for the psychoactivity inherent to THC.\n\nAll that said, I’ll leave the topic of ratios and dosage for another posting. If you’re like me, and have a highly negative sensitivity to THC, talk to your doctor as well as a reputable dispensary before buying and trying any new product. If you’re in the San Francisco area or Las Vegas, I highly recommend visiting [The Apothecarium](https://apothecarium.com) as the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable and can readily help with recommendations.\n\nSo to wrap it up, if CBD worked for me, it may also work for you. This story is one of the reasons we started HelloMD. We saw there was a great need for people to gain access to medical cards so they might be able to purchase medical marijuana legally. We advocate for people to try medicinal marijuana for medical needs whether they be small or large, because in our opinion it offers a viable, relatively safe medical alternative to the drugs developed by Big Pharma.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3986013986013985,"src":"/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/14b42/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/f836f/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.jpg 200w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/2244e/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.jpg 400w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/14b42/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.jpg 800w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/16310/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/58556/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/61e93/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.webp 200w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/1f5c5/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.webp 400w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/58556/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.webp 800w,\n/static/59d3e838ee0c312c66bd8871f35811a6/cc834/e8eb9f798fc789c6488e6fde7d6f0f1c.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":24,"numPages":3,"currentPage":3,"id":5788,"name":"Stress","slug":"stress","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}