CONTENTS FOREWORD: CBD CAN CHANGE LIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI
Introduction: The Rise of CBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 PART 1: UNDERSTANDING CBD THE POTENTIAL OF A PLANT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Roots and Rediscovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Beyond Stigma and Confusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Science behind CBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CBD for a Better You. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 CBD for Beauty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Practical Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Dosages and Individualized Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Be Smart about CBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 CBD for Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 PART 2: GETTING SPECIFIC HOW CBD CAN HELP YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Acne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Addiction to Substances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Alzheimer’s Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Anxiety Disorders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Appetite Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Arthritis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Asthma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Autism Spectrum Disorder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Cancer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Chronic Inflammation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Chronic Pain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
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Contact Dermatitis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Depression. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Diabetes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Eczema. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Epilepsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Fibromyalgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Glaucoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Heart Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Inflammatory Bowel Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Insomnia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Irritable Bowel Syndrome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Menopause. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Migraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Multiple Sclerosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Nausea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Osteoporosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Premenstrual Syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Psoriasis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Schizophrenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 BONUS: HEMP AS FOOD ANOTHER POWERFUL PART OF THE CANNABIS PLANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 ABOUT THE AUTHOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
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FORE WORD
CBD CAN CHANGE LIVES Did you pick up this book because you’ve heard about CBD, maybe from a friend, a neighbor, or a family member? Or because you’re already using and recommending CBD and you want to learn why it works and how else it can help you? Maybe someone suggested that you try CBD. Maybe you have a coworker who started using CBD and you cannot believe how much better he copes at the office. Or you’re just curious. What’s up with these three letters, C—B—D? A lot is the answer. There’s a lot happening with CBD and the plant that it comes from, Cannabis sativa. Yes, CBD is derived from the cannabis plant—the same plant that provides food with its seeds and whose fiber can be used as a building material. It’s the same plant that is the main attraction in marijuana dispensaries—for both medical and adult use—across the country, in Canada, and around the globe. Yes, all these come from Cannabis sativa. When integrated with food, nutrition, aromatherapy, and other holistic modalities, CBD can make a difference—a big difference for some people. Let me be clear: CBD is not a miracle in the sense the term is usually reserved for, as an event that cannot be explained, an unbelievable happening. CBD is not a miracle; it’s science, which you’ll learn more about in this book. What seems like a miracle, however, is the response that some people have to CBD, the significant impact it can have on day-to-day living—in a good way, as my daughter would say. And that daughter, Isabella, is one of the many people whose life has changed, in part, because of CBD. Along with a modified ketogenic food plan, targeted supplements, aromatherapy, energy medicine, and a host of other holistic modalities, CBD moved the needle for Isabella. As with some people who use CBD, the needle’s movement was not insignificant. That’s how I came to CBD. Isabella brought me to the cannabis plant, literally demonstrating the healing properties of this ancient medicine. She showed me how the plant can quell anxiety, help repair the gut, and even improve focus. Isabella has been my best teacher. A genetic mutation, along with a toxic event (and more), left her with an inability to speak, seizures that vi
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were nearly an hour long, delayed development, off-the-wall behaviors, and other issues that prevented her from participating “typically” in life. That’s one way to describe autism. Having become fascinated by the relationship between food and mood, I investigated every nuance of nutrition and brain health. In retrospect, it’s crazy that cannabis and CBD never surfaced. How could that be? We know that many individuals who self-medicate with marijuana are dealing with anxiety and insomnia. It turns out that CBD is considered an anxiolytic, meaning an anti-anxiety compound, by the medical establishment—medical professionals in the know, that is. Throughout my entire journey with Isabella, she taught me how CBD could help her, and I, in turn, taught (or attempted to teach) the special education teachers, doctors, and various therapists in her sphere—of whom there were many. When you have a child with special needs and you want solutions, you never stop looking or educating. It becomes your life mission. Good thing! Without Isabella as my guide, I would not be here to tell you about CBD and its health benefits. Thank you for joining me—and my daughter—to learn about CBD, health, and wellness. Today, Isabella is training to be a barista and never stops talking.
Laura Lagano Hoboken, New Jersey November 29, 2018
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CBD is so much more than a supplement to your lifestyle. It may also help manage conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, colitis, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and epilepsy.
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INTRODUCTION
THE RISE OF CBD Balance is a state that everyone seeks in life, yet it can be challenging to achieve. Daily obligations pull us in numerous directions, disrupting our balance. Various areas of life, including work, family, friends, and self-care, among others, frequently become unbalanced. Being in balance feels better, doesn’t it? Could CBD, a compound found in the ancient plant Cannabis sativa, help us find that balance? Research scientists, healthcare practitioners, and consumers have reported that cannabidiol, or CBD, may help: hhContribute hhCalm
to overall wellness
anxiety
hhRelieve
chronic pain
hhReduce
overall inflammation
CBD has captured national attention and is rapidly sparking interest around the globe. This cannabis compound has permeated popular culture—in television shows, in articles in magazines and newspapers, online, at your local retailer, basically everywhere. Society is seeking remedies that work in response to the rising costs and scary side effects of healthcare and pharmaceuticals. It seems that CBD is a step in the right direction!
Demystifying CBD, Cannabis, and More Let’s start off by setting the record straight. Cannabis sativa refers to the plant itself, both with and without THC. You may already be familiar with the abbreviation THC, for tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis. It is historically the most well-known compound found in cannabis. To simplify, the cannabis community refers to the cannabis plant with THC as marijuana and the cannabis plant without THC as hemp. More specifically and as defined by the U.S. Farm Bill, marijuana contains more than 0.3 percent THC and hemp contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
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CANNABIS WITH AND WITHOUT THC FOR HEALTH Did you know that more than half the U.S. states have approved medical marijuana to be sold in dispensaries? Several of those same states have also sanctioned marijuana for adult use. “Adult,” rather than “recreational,” use is the preferred terminology because many individuals who use cannabis are actually self-medicating—typically for mood disorders, chronic pain, or insomnia. When used properly cannabis is a healing plant. Although CBD can be awesome for health and wellness, cannabis with THC (marijuana) is what started the CBD craze in the first place. Let’s be mindful of that. In fact, in some cases, individuals may have better results with medical marijuana than with CBD alone.
STORES AND CLINICS VERSUS DISPENSARIES CBD from hemp is what you can purchase from healthcare practitioners and at retail stores. You do not need to go to a dispensary for cannabis with CBD, because it contains zero to 0.3 percent THC. The legality of hemp-derived CBD products was previously fraught with debate, but in late 2018, Senate and House agricultural leaders reached an agreement in principle on the 2018 Farm Bill. It’s anticipated that hemp will be completely removed from the Controlled Substances Act. (Refer to page 8 for more info.) CBD from marijuana, or from the cannabis plant containing over 0.3 percent THC (and much higher), can only be purchased in states that have approved medical marijuana or have sanctioned marijuana for adult consumption. Remember that hemp is the Cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3 percent THC. CBD oil, which is what this book is about, can be extracted from either marijuana, the cannabis plant that contains THC, or hemp, the cannabis plant that virtually does not.
Integrating CBD with a Wellness Lifestyle Plan Integrate CBD with an anti-inflammatory food plan, movement activities, and mindfulness practices and you’ve created a winning wellness lifestyle plan! With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that 2
THE CBD OIL MIRACLE
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rival the most popular lotions and potions, CBD is also primed to become a key player in your beauty routine. Even your pets can benefit from this plant extract. Yet CBD is so much more than a supplement to your lifestyle. It may also help manage conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, colitis, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and epilepsy. In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, researchers have found that CBD has amazing anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective qualities.
GETTING STARTED WITH CBD The CBD market is exploding, which means two things for the consumer. First, you have more products that feature CBD, meaning more ways to incorporate this wellness supplement into your life. You can find oils, gel caps, concentrates, lotions, balms, foods, beverages, sprays, and suppositories that feature CBD for all parts of your body. Second, more choices means more questions and more confusion. Consulting with an integrative healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about CBD before adding the supplement to your routine is recommended.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The following pages will give you a taste of the incredible history of the Cannabis sativa plant, a few compounds in cannabis, the healing nature of the plant, and how incorporating CBD into your wellness routine may be beneficial for your health. Learn about CBD products (Practical Products, page 33), general guidelines for using CBD (Dosages and Individualized Medicine, page 38), and how to distinguish CBD products (Be Smart about CBD, page 43). You will also discover the various health conditions for which cannabis may be helpful (Part 2, page 55). And let’s not forget the beauty applications of CBD (page 30) and how the plant can help our pets (page 49). There is also a bonus section about the seeds of the cannabis plant—Hemp as Food (page 221). When you are ready to dive in deeper, meet with a holistic-minded practitioner who can guide you on your journey with CBD and help you navigate the intricacies of your individual biochemistry to achieve balance.
THE RISE OF CBD
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