There’s been a surge over the last year in the wellness industry of companies offering cannabidiol products for retail and for usage in services—there are over 80 CBDs unique to cannabis, which can be extracted and used in treatment of countless conditions.
Cannabinoids, also known as CBDs, are the chemical compounds cannabis flowers secrete that provide natural protection to the plant.
“It is industrial hemp that is set to have the greatest impact on the Wellness industry, due to the numerous beneficial effects,” Sherrie Tennesse, president of the Spa SOS, a national wellness consulting business, told me in an email. “Scientific studies, mainly outside of the US, have found anxiety, pain, inflammation, seizures, muscle spasms, and many more issues have been reduced with the use of CBD.”
To clarify, cannabis rich in THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) makes people high and is called marijuana. Cannabis which is low in THC is called hemp.
Dr. Brazelia Lazzari, owner of Brazelia Medical Spa in Boca Raton, is a huge proponent of CBD. She primarily prescribes CBD products to assist with pain, inflammation, anxiety and insomnia, and shares her message nationally as a speaker before audiences of orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and other healthcare providers.
There are over 20,000 peer reviewed articles regarding the medical benefits of CBD.
CBD comes in a variety of delivery systems including: tinctures, topicals, capsules, vapes and edibles. All have multiple benefits and the preferred type of CBD varies from person to person and depends on personal choice.
Lazzari’s line of CBD products is Pure eZentials, and always one to try anything new and natural, I decided to try both the topical cream for shoulder pain and the tincture liquid for overall calming and sleep improvements. The topical I chose almost immediately relieved some of the pain in my shoulder and it had a nice peppermint scent. I use a couple pumps when it is acting up and it seems to help.
The liquid for relaxation is dispersed with a dropper and I drop the hemp oil underneath my tongue and hold there for maximum absorption. I feel a sense of calm relatively quickly. My sleep is still a challenge, most likely due to having so many things on my plate, so cannot say for sure it benefits that or not. I’ll continue to use CBD as part of my wellbeing arsenal of natural products to use as needed.
Regarding contraindications, it is always best to check with your own healthcare provider before using CBD.
“Hemp CBD is an organic phytonutrient that is natural to the body due to its cannabinoid profile,” Lazzari says. “However, as a homeostatic regulator, it’s important to monitor anyone on prescription medications while taking hemp CBD.”
It’s important to note that prescriptions are not always necessary for CBD as they are for medical marijuana. For that reason, it is essential to ensure you’re receiving a legitimate, quality product. As the popularity of CBD products increase, new companies will continue to open and distribute it more freely.
“The best recommendation I can share regarding CBD is to do thorough research so as to not purchase ‘snake oils’ and to ensure [you are getting] authentic and powerful CBD oils,” Tennesse says.
Though the number of states with both medical and recreational usage is growing, CBD usage doesn’t typically require a medical card. Check with your local laws to be sure.
Dr. Brazelia Lazzari, 101 Plaza Real South, Suite G, Boca Raton; 561/353-2267; facebook.com/brazeliamedspa
