nurse jenn My Story
By: Nurse Jenn When people think of consuming cannabis, most don’t relate it to doing physical activity. For me, however, this is a topic I’m eager to discuss since cannabis is a tool I use to help me have a physically active lifestyle. I was born with a hip disorder that required my legs to be immobilized by a spica cast, and it kept me from walking until the age of three. The physician told my parents not to worry because it was temporary; I wouldn’t have any problems after I got the cast off my legs and learned to walk. This wasn’t the case though. In eighth grade I began experiencing chronic pain in both my hips especially during basketball practice. I was taken to a specialist who discovered I had arthritis/ degenerative changes in both of my hips and spondylolisthesis (a slipped vertebrae in my back that causes pain in my back and down my right leg). I was told I would no longer be able to play basketball or participate in any other sports except swimming. They even gave me a “get out of gym” pass that worked through high school… NO GYM! Sounds great, right? For me, though, it was devastating. My back and hips constantly hurt and got increasingly worse because I wasn’t able to do exercises to strengthen my abdominal or back muscles, and this led to an inactive lifestyle and depression. It wasn’t until I discovered that cannabis could get me through that pain threshold that my life began to change and I became active again. Some medical professionals view cannabis as a last-resort medication. Others dismiss it altogether because they are unaware of the homeostasis-promoting benefits of cannabis since the topic isn’t even covered in medical school. I, however, believe it should be the first line of defense to pain and be used as a preventative medicine. Cannabis is said to be a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that anecdotal evidence suggests to be effective in treating chronic pain. In my own case, cannabis has allowed me to
visit: www.EssenceVegas.com work out and keep my weight down and muscles toned, which kept the pain from becoming worse. THC and CBD potentially work better for pain relief, and when combined, work even more effectively for alleviation than just THC alone. Cannabis also has terpenes (smell and flavor profiles) that can play a role in mood, including limonene, which is said to be a powerful antidepressant and reduces anxiety, and myrcene, which is an
that today I live virtually pain free and am physically in the best shape of my life. My disorder still exists, which is something I will live with my entire life, but with the assistance of cannabis and natural homeopathic regimens such as a nutritional diet, regular exercise and ice/heat, my quality of life has certainly improved. If you would like more information on strain and terpene profiles or to schedule an appointment with Nurse Jenn, please stop by one of our three Essence locations or call 702-9982191. Patients may have more than one consultation as Essence wants to make sure that patients have the education they need to make the best decisions for their health. Essence Cannabis Dispensary Locations: Essence West 5765 W. Tropicana Las Vegas, NV Open 10am-10pm Essence Strip 2307 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV Open 10am-9pm Essence Henderson 4300 E. Sunset Rd. Ste. A2 & A3 Henderson, NV Open 10am-8pm For More Information visit EssenceVegas.com.
antispasmodic for muscles and may help with pain. A few strains high in limonene are LA OG and Ghost OG. If you’re watching your weight, the cannabinoid THCv potentially decreases appetite rather than stimulating hunger. Strains that are high in THCv include 98 Open, 98 Open Concentrate and O.penVAPE’s Pineapple Express, Grape Stomper and Golden Goat. Another product to try is the 60mg THC Trokie which is dissolvable in the mouth and is high in THCv. The conclusion to my own story is
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The content provided here is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. We encourage everyone to seek the advice of qualified healthcare providers if you have any questions regarding the content of this article.