CBD Product Information & Reviews

Medterra

When it comes to the “old dogs” of the CBD industry, Medterra is one of the best around. Their product line has expanded immensely over the years since starting in 2017. Originally, only carrying isolate products that contained 0 THC, they now have every hemp processing level to best meet your needs. When talking about concerns like stress or anxiety, we direct people towards Medterra for their quality products, limited ingredients, and great price point. They also offer formulated products geared more towards pain and inflammation by including full spectrum CBD oil in some of their options.

If you are curious about how we use Medterra products and which have been our go-to, you should check out our Medterra CBD Review blog. There you can read a review of all of the products that we carried up to this point, to familiarize yourself with the brand before their reformulation of some fan favorites.

In this blog, I am going to go through all of the products that Medterra is discontinuing, what they’re changing, and what is totally new to check out. All of this change can be confusing, especially with packaging changing in conjunction with their CBD formulas, but it doesn’t have to be. Hopefully this way you will be able to find the best product to meet your needs.

Out With The Old

It is always really difficult when you’re favorite product is discontinued, and unfortunately Medterra is getting rid of some of our favorite products. We have done our best to ensure that we carry replacement options. We know that you love their products as much as we do, but we are here to help.

Here is the list of all of the products that Medterra will no longer be producing:

Pets

• Salmon Calming Pet Chews
• Chicken Pet Tincture Drops

People

• 25mg CBD Gel Capsules
• 100mg CBD Gel Capsules
• Broad Spectrum Drops
• CBD Chewing Gum
• Citrus Full Spectrum Gummies
• Old Formula Isolate Gummies

If you are anything like me, I panicked when I saw this list. For years I have found relief with the Keep Calm gummies to help level out my mood and make life a bit more manageable. I know that many of you feel the same about the 25mg softgels. Luckily we work with several vendors, so we have other options.

What You Can Swap

Like I mentioned before, just because you might not be able to buy the above products doesn’t mean you’re stuck. We have comparable products that you can use in lieu of these discontinued Medterra products.

Pets

• Salmon Calming Pet Chews → Bacon Calming Pet Chews
• Chicken Pet Tincture Drops → Beef Pet Tincture Drops

People

• 25mg CBD Gel Capsules → 33mg Social CBD Rest Softgels are a great fit if you’re taking these in the evening. If you’d prefer a daytime swap, we would recommend moving to a liquid or gummy option.
• 100mg CBD Gel Capsules → The 50mg Gel Capsules remain available, but you’ll need to take two of them for that same serving size
• Isolate Gummies → Fantastic new 0 THC gummy options for sleep, calm & focus
• Broad Spectrum Drops → cbdMD Broad Spectrum CBD Oil 
• Full Spectrum Drops → Citrus Full Spectrum Drops remain available
• Citrus Full Spectrum Gummies → Hemplucid CBD Gummies
• Chewing Gum → MedCBDx CBD Chewing gum

We still have many of the original Medterra products available, so if you want to stock up on your favorites before they’re gone, now is the time. When that inventory is gone, that is the end of that product, but that isn’t the end of your relief. If you have any questions about our recommended swaps, please feel free to reach out to us. You can find us locally at 616-275-1039 or 888-772-7875 toll-free and by email at support@greenwellnesslife.com.

What’s Changing?

There are still more changes to some of Medterra’s beloved products. They have perfected and improved upon their gummies, which I have been taking the last month. I used to take the old formula of the Keep Calm gummies to help with my anxiety, but for the last month I have been taking the new formula.

I found that the quality of anxiety relief that I have been accustomed to for the last year did not change much. I still found the same relief, but I found myself enjoying the sugar coated gummy much more. I am used to taking gummies, but I would get genuinely excited tot ake these new gummies as the better flavor feels more like a treat than a vitamin. I also really appreciate the inclusion of ashwaganda that was not previously in the L-theanine gummies.

I also tried the new Focus gummies for a month and found them to be rather energizing. They are not like a cup of coffee or the Lazarus Naturals energy gummies, but I found them to boost my mental state in an invigorating way. They offered a similar stress releif to the Keep Calm gummies, but I did find myself craving more of the calming ashwagandha.

Here is a list of all of the new additives to the new formulation of the CBD gummies:

• Sleep Tight – Blackberry Lemonade: from 50mg to 100mg of L-Theanine
• Keep Calm – Strawberry Lemonade: from 50mg to 125mg of L-Theanine, from 50mg to 125mg of ashwagandha, and from a CBD isolate base to broad spectrum CBD with minor cannabinoids included
• Focus – Red Raspberry: from 25mg of Gingko Biloba to 15mg of Caffeine and 100mg of L-Theanine

Check out this image that Medterra made to illustrate their rational behind the formula changes!

In With The New

New formulas, better relief, and Medterra was not messing around with their new product line, including a new fast acting formula for their gummies. They used nano technology to make 2 verisons of their gummies fast acting, the Keep Calm and the Sleep Tight.

If you have never tried a fast acting CBD product before, they are very different from your traditional oil based product. What would normally take up to 2 hours to find effect because of the typical digestion time, only takes 10-15 minutes with these nano products. If you’re really struggling to sleep or particularly anxious, that fast relief can make all the difference in the world.

While we don’t carry these nano gummies yet, we will! So keep an eye out for the newest addition to our Medterra line of products. In the meantime, try the new formulas of the tried and true gummies!

What Do You Think?

It can be hard to form an opinion without trying the new product formulas yourself, but that is why we have a 30-day guarantee on everything. We think you’re going to love Medterra’s changes, but if you don’t, just reach out. We can help you find a better replacement or fit for your CBD needs. If you don’t love your purchase, or you totally do, feel free to reach out and call us at 616-275-1039 or 888-772-7875 or email us at support@greenwellnesslife.com.

There are a lot of CBD compounds found in the hemp plant and they are all quite different. We have always been a large proponent of staying as close to the plant as possible, but as the hemp industry expands, so does our knowledge and understanding of cannabinoids. One particular cannabinoid, Delta 8, has gained a lot of popularity but there is also a lot of misinformation.

What is Delta 8?

So what exactly is this highly talked about compound? Delta 8 is a naturally occurring compound in the hemp plant, just like CBD, but in very small quantities. So the Delta 8 that we keep hearing about is not actually the naturally occurring compound on the vine, but rather a synthetically made version of this compound. Just because something is synthetic, that doesn’t make it inherently bad, but there are concerns with synthetic cannabinoids.

There is a form of synthetic CBD that is a pharmaceutical used to treat seizures called Epidiolex. While this is a relatively new drug for the pharmaceutical industry, synthetic CBD has given us a lot of really good insight into the practical uses of CBD.

Is Delta 8 legal?

Somewhat. Some states have begun to start the process to ban Delta 8 products due to safety concerns. Michigan, where Green Wellness Life is located, is one of the states to begin to ban Delta 8 products. In 2021, Michigan passed a piece of legislation that went into effect in October that made it illegal to sell CBD without a proper license. Michigan has chosen to treat all cannabis compounds, like Delta 8 THC, as marijuana which is far more regulated than hemp-based products. However, the way each state treats Delta products is different so you really need to look up your own state’s policy.

If you don’t know if Delta 8 is legal where you are, you should check out your state’s legislature. The regulation and legalization of Delta products is frequently changing, so unfortunately there isn’t a good comprehensive list. Your state’s website should provide the most reliable information for you.

The Difference Between Delta 8 & Delta 9

The Delta 8 compound is a variation of THC, also known as Delta 9 THC. Delta 8 has one less carbon bond and is less potent or psychoactive than traditional THC. That may seem like a really small change, and it literally is, but that makes a huge difference in both the potential effects and way that the cannabinoid is processed in the body. To be clear, though, both Delta 8 and Delta 9 are intoxicating.

When the hemp plant or cannabis plant grow naturally, the quantities of each compound differ greatly. Delta 8 is a minor cannabinoid that only occurs in very small quantities on the vine, which is why the Delta products you see for sale today are synthetically produced.

There is not enough research on cannabinoids in general, but there is a significant lack of research on the Delta compounds. There is more research being conducted on Delta compounds now and a study from this year indicated that the majority of surveyed Delta users described less side effects from Delta 8 than Delta 9.

CBD vs Delta 8

With stress and anxiety being one of the most common reasons customers turn to Delta 8, how does that compare to CBD? Both cannabinoids store in lipids (fat cells) and are pulled by the endocannabinoid system as needed, but they are still wildly different compounds. Our current understanding of how each cannabinoid is processed by the body is ever changing the more research is conducted, but THC variants have very different side effects than CBD variants. Some side effect concerns on the FDA website regarding Delta 8 are:

• hallucinations
• vomiting
• increased anxiety
• confusion
• tremors

CBD is not FDA approved either, but the side effects most commonly reported are significantly less severe:

• dry mouth
• drowsiness
• diarrhea
• reduced appetite

We have historically always recommended CBD isolate for stress and anxiety, but as the CBD industry expands and more research is done, that may change. As of now, isolated CBD with 0 THC is still our recommendation for anxiety and general stress.

What Are Your Favorites?

Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different and what relief we are looking for is all different. If you really like Delta 8 or not so much, let us know. We are always curious what helps you and what your CBD journey has been like. You can reach out to us at 616-275-1039 locally or 888-772-7875 toll-free and by email at support@greenwellnesslife.com.

Resources

• https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc
• https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8
• https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc#
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700

Holiday Stress

The holidays can be a wonderful time, filled with gratitude and love, but that isn’t always the case. For many, including myself, the winter holidays can be the cause of a lot of stress. I find a lot of benefit in turning to CBD for a bit of calm. Whether it be stress about getting everyone gifts and not breaking the bank, seeing extended family at holiday gatherings, or simply driving in the Michigan snow; stress is a common part of the holidays for me.

I hope that the holidays are a time of joy and love for you, but if they bring up a little bit of dread, I want you to know that you’re not alone.  While I have had a lot of very fond holiday memories throughout my life, that doesn’t negate the difficult emotions that also come up. I have personally felt isolated by feeling stressed or sad at a time when most others are observably cheery. You are not alone if you feel this way. I turn to CBD for stress relief and it may help you, too.

When I visit my extended family, I can’t help but feel tense and sometimes overwhelmed, especially now with COVID. I can’t help but think about the health and safety of my family, worrying if hugging Grandma could negatively impact her health. It is in those situational moments I rely on fast-acting CBD for stress relief.

Fast-Acting CBD for Stress Relief

Fat-acting CBD can be pretty amazing because it’s typically water soluble and thus gets into your system really quickly. However you take fast-acting CBD – usually, within 10-15 minutes, you can find benefits.

Lazarus Fruit Tarts

The Lazarus Fruit Tarts are one of the strongest fast-acting options with each tart being 25mg. I also find that the bitterness of the tarts is really helpful in pulling me out of my head and into my body. Sometimes when I am lost in thought, and I don’t want to be, I need that shock of a tart to get me back on track.

The fruitiness of the tarts is also really nice because I don’t feel like I’m sucking on a lemon. The mango is my personal favorite and is the sweetest of the certs to my tastebuds. The high amount of CBD gets into my system quickly and I keep one of these tins in my purse, my car, and pretty much everywhere I do during the holidays.

Medterra Gum

Medterra CBD gum is a great option for those of us who struggle with stress. I find that the act of chewing gum helps prevent me from having a locked jaw that can come from holiday stress. Each piece of gum has 20mg of CBD and other additives like vitamin B6, L-Theanine, and L-Tyrosine to aid in relation. As far as CBD for stress relief, I would highly recommend checking out this handy pack of gum.

Oil-Based CBD for Stress Relief

Oil-based CBD stores in your lipids (fat cells) and lasts a lot longer in your system. Your endocannabinoidal system will pull that CBD when needed and hang out in your body for anywhere from 24-36 hours. We recommend taking your CBD around the same time each day so that your system never runs out, but if you need help with general stress/state of the world, an oil-based option might be the right fit for you.

Medterra Keep Calm Gummies

One of our most popular products, for good reason, is the Medterra Calm gummies. These 25mg gummies are a great serving and just like the gum, the gummies include L-Theanine to aid in the calming effect. I also find the turmeric that they add to be beneficial in addressing the whole body. Often we think of stress as something contained in our heads when really stress is a whole-body physiological occurrence, so the whole body needs to be addressed.

Social CBD Softgels

If 25mg isn’t enough CBD for you, don’t worry, because the Social CBD Rest Gel Capsules have your back. This CBD for stress relief comes in a 33mg softgel and includes herbs like valerian root and passion flower to help with restfulness. I have taken this softgel both in the morning and at night, I would probably recommend this as an evening softgel if you’re sensitive to drowsiness. Luckily the CBD in this softgel will store in your lipids so even if you take it at night, you will find benefits during the day as well.

Lazarus Energy Gummies

If you aren’t struggling with rest and are looking for an assist to get going during the day, the Lazarus Energy gummies might be the perfect fit. With 25mg of CBD for stress relief and additives like caffeine, L-Theanine, and Vitamin B12, you could feel energized and relaxed.  Sometimes the holidays make me feel really lethargic and unmotivated, so I take one of these when I start to feel that way.

Topical CBD for Stress Relief

When thinking about stress, a lotion may not be the first thing to come to your mind. While something you apply to your skin won’t get into your bloodstream, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find benefits. When I’m stressed, I clench my jaw, leaving my head and neck stiff and sore. Relieving that muscle tension only helps me better handle the holiday stress.

Social Muscle Balm Stick

Lavender is a well-known herb to help with relaxation, so the Social Balm Stick is a great option. There are also calming herbs like chamomile flower, arnica, and bergamot peel to aid in relaxation. I most often apply this stick to my neck, shoulders, and temples whenever I’m stressed. I also find that applying the stick to my neck and temples can help me when I have a stress headache. This stick also has 1000mg of CBD, so it’s got a substantial amount of CBD to soothe those tight muscles.

What Are Your Favorites?

The above products are what help me manage my stress, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll work for everyone. No two bodies are alike and what works best for me might not be what’s best for you, that is why we guarantee all of our products. I would love to hear what your favorites are. What do you do to help combat holiday stress? Do you have a favorite type of CBD for stress relief? You can reach out to us at 616-275-1039 locally or 888-772-7875 toll-free and by email at support@greenwellnesslife.com.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

If you have not heard of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you likely live in a temperate climate. Here in Michigan, we are well acquainted with how the weather can impact your mental health or mood in general. This disorder is a specific type of depression that changes depending on the seasons, worsening during the colder months.

Michigan daylight is an average of just 3-4 hours per day in the winter and 9-10 hours per day during the summer. While that may not sound like a drastic difference, it is hard to not feel the difference sunlight makes. Those working a traditional 9-5 job (myself included) can leave for work before the sun rises and the sunlight will already be gone by the end of the work day.

While fall & winter seasonal affective disorder is most common in Michigan, spring & summer seasonal affective disorder is also a concern. Both forms of seasonal affective disorder are prevalent and have different symptoms to note. If you believe that either of these forms of depression applies to you, please consult a mental health professional.

Symptoms for fall & winter SAD are as follows:

• Oversleeping
• Appetite changes, often craving carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Lack of energy

Symptoms for spring & summer SAD are as follows:

• Insomnia
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation or anxiety

These symptoms, in conjunction with traditional depression symptoms, are more than just a “seasonal funk” and need to be treated seriously. I cannot express enough, if you feel like this, please seek and accept help. You don’t deserve to feel like this and you don’t have to.

Can CBD Help?

While seeking the help of a mental health professional is paramount, there may be some benefits to taking CBD during your rough months. Seasonal affective disorder does have an off-season; during that down period, CBD might aid in keeping you on a level playing field. We are not doctors and cannot give medical advice, but studies have found that CBD may be beneficial for anxiety, depression, and general mood stabilization.

Isolate CBD vs Whole Plant

The processing level of the CBD you take can have a huge impact on the relief that you do or don’t find. There can be a right and a wrong answer when buying CBD and for mood stabilization, we always recommend an isolate. An isolate product means that there is just that 1 CBD compound instead of the 100+ compounds in the whole plant. Isolates tend to cross the blood-brain barrier a little easier, as there is no other plant matter in the way, potentially offering more relief.

Product Recommendations

We carry a lot of different isolate products that may help you. An internal product, that is something you digest, will store in your lipids (fat cells) and work for you all day long. We always recommend an internal product and adding something known as a booster for fast relief. Boosters are water soluble and get into the bloodstream quickly, but they only last 2-6 hours, making them a good addition to an internal product for those days when you need a little extra.

Softgels

Social CBD Softgels

There are a few versions of these softgels that may help, but I would recommend the Boost softgels. Seasonal affective disorder is associated with increased lethargy, so the added herbs of yerba mate and moringa may be beneficial. These soft gel capsules are also 33mg of CBD isolate, and most people fall between 10-50mg needed daily, so this can be a good middle-of-the-road soft gel to help with mood stabilization.

Medterra CBD Softgels

If you’re looking for that mood stabilization without the additional herbs, the Medterra soft gel capsules are a perfect fit. They are just CBD isolate, MCT oil (coconut oil), and a little gelatin. These softgels come in either a 25mg, 50mg, or 100mg version so you can find the best serving size for you. Easy, simple, and effective.

Tinctures

Lazarus Blood Orange tincture

Tinctures can be awesome to give yourself more control over your serving size, but they don’t always have the best taste depending on the processing level. The Lazarus isolate tincture is blood orange-flavored and delightful. The light citrus notes are not too sweet or overpowering while still being flavorful and packed with 1500mg of CBD. You can take up to 50mgs a day and the bottle will still last you 30 days.

Medterra Tincture

If you want something unflavored, the Medterra unflavored tincture is the way to go. The MCT oil-based tincture is truly flavorless, it’s almost like taking water, but with a lot of CBD packed in. The tinctures range from 1000mg to 3000mg, giving you a plethora of serving-size options. When addressing mood concerns like seasonal affective disorder, higher serving sizes are often needed, making the 3000mg tincture a great fit.

Gummies

Lazarus Energy Gummies

The Lazarus energy gummies are isolated CBD and have additives like vitamin B12, caffeine, and L-Theanine to help get you through the day. These 25mg gummies are blackberry flavored and come with 40 gummies per container. Seasonal affective disorder can make you feel robbed of your energy, so these gummies are intended to help you get some of that energy back.

WYLD CBD Gummies 

The WYLD CBG gummies might be a great fit for seasonal affective disorder. CBG is a cannabinoid associated with mental clarity, along with many other benefits, in addition to the 20mg of CBD per gummy may be a great fit. The pear-flavored gummies are delicious and spot an additional 10mg of CBG, making these 30mg gummies a good strength.

Boosters

Lazarus Fruit Tarts 

For those moments when you need to find relief fast and can’t wait the 2 hours for your body to digest CBD ingestible, these 25mg fruit tarts are a great option. The flavorful tarts offer fast relief through the membranes in your cheek and allow you to get back to living life. In either mango, strawberry lemon, raspberry lime, or pineapple orange, there are flavor profiles for every palate.

Medterra Keep Calm Gum

If something tart and fruity is not your jam, then the Medterra gum will be a perfect alternative for fast relief. Just chew on this mint-flavored gum and find relief from 20mg of CBD, vitamin B6, L-Theanine, and L-Tyrosine. Some CBD gums have an abnormal texture, but this gum is like any other pack except it might offer more relief from stress and anxiety, common struggles with seasonal affective disorder.

Tell Us How You Feel

When struggling with your mental health is often difficult and isolating, know that you are not alone. 211 is always a resource for mental health. 211 conversations are confidential and can be made anonymously. Seasonal affective disorder can be overwhelming, so let us know if we can help. You can reach out to us at 616-275-1039 locally or 888-772-7875 toll-free and by email at support@greenwellnesslife.com.

CBD Flower

When I think of CBD, one of the first things that come to my mind are tinctures or CBD oil. The hemp plant may not be the first thing you think of, either, but we should all think about the CBD flower and how to use it. CBD comes from the hemp plant and the hemp flower, which have a lot of healthy cannabinoids that we can use.

How to use it?

There are lots of ways to take advantage of those cannabinoids in the CBD flower, other than just smoking it. In the past, I have written a blog on how to make Canna Flour, which is a baking flour infused with cannabinoids. There are so many other ways to use hemp flower and I would love to share some of my tips and tricks with you.

Topical Recipe

Although ingesting CBD will offer more lasting relief, sometimes achy joints just want to feel better at that moment. My body is often riddled with pain and, on a bad day, I just can’t wait for digestion to find the relief that I need. Here is how to use your hemp flower to make an oil:

Ingredients:

• Cannabis/hemp flower (grams up to your discretion, but we recommend at least 7 grams). We have some great choices from Plain Jane.
• 1 cup of coconut oil
• 1 cup of water

Step 1: Decarboxylation

Preheat your oven to 240ºF. Place your CBD flower on a nonstick, oven-safe baking tray. If you don’t have a nonstick baking tray, you can line it with tin foil (which also makes cleanup easier). Evenly place your buds on the tray and then insert them into the oven when heated. Cook, or decarboxylate, for 30-40 minutes, shaking the tray every 10 minutes to ensure all sides of the flower get decarboxylated. Once done, pull out and allow to cool.

Step 2: Grind 

Next, take your cooked flower and grind it up. You can use a hand grinder or an herb grinder. If you don’t have either of those, break the dried CBD hemp flower or cannabis flower apart with your hands to as fine of a flower shake as you can. Make sure that you wait for the hemp flower to cool before handling it.

Step 3: Melt Coconut Oil

Add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of coconut oil into either a pot or a saucepan. First, heat the pan on the lowest heat setting, and then add the coconut oil and water. You want the coconut oil to melt, but not brown, and the added water will help regulate the temperature.

Step 4: Add the Flower 

As the coconut oil quickly melts, you can begin to slowly fold in the ground CBD flower to begin infusing the oil.

Step 5: Let Simmer 

You want to let your coconut oil and flower concoction simmer on the stovetop for 2-6 hours. Watch the heat because you never want your oil to get too hot. If it heats over 200ºF, you may lose efficacy. Stir the mixture periodically and watch the oil turn green. The longer that you let the oil simmer, the more the CBD flower will turn the oil green, infusing it with those cannabinoids.

Step 5: Strain and Jar

Once your oil is done cooking, you just have to strain out the plant matter and pour your oil into whatever storage container works best for you. I prefer a shallow tin so that I can easily apply my oil to my skin without digging around much.

Step 6: Add Desired Essential Oils 

Now that your oil doesn’t contain any plant matter to alter the texture, you can mix in any essential oils that you prefer. I like to add peppermint oil, lavender oil, and arnica oil to help with my pain. I usually add 10-15 drops per batch. You are welcome to add any essential oils that you prefer to make your topical to your liking. Make sure to add them in before your hemp flower oil cools.

Edible Recipe

If you don’t want to rub your cannabinoids into your skin, but you still want to find benefit, you can make an edible instead! There are a few more factors to consider when making edibles, like serving size and disguising the plant flavor of the canabinoids. If you’re up for the challenge, keep reading to learn more.

Repeat the above steps 1-6

The above steps will create a CBD flower-infused oil that you can use as a base when baking sweet treats. You can replace oil in any receipe with the hemp flower coconut oil that you just made.

Step 7: Mask CBD Flower Taste

While we want all the benefits of CBD flower, we don’t want to necessarily taste them. CBD flower is just part of a plant and therefore tastes a bit like grass and dirt — earthy. I have been baking edibles for years and have found that there are a few herbs and spices that best mask the flavor.

Sweet 

• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Peanut butter
• Nutmeg

Savory

• Cumin
• Rosemary
• Cayenne
• Oregano
• Thyme

Incorporating some of these more flavorful spices will only improve the overall flavor and enjoyability of the edibles or baked goods that you make. Earthy flavors are good sometimes, but not so much when baking brownies or cookies.

Your Turn, Chef!

Please feel free to share your baking experiences, positive or negative, on our social media and we’re always here to help! You can find us on Instagram or Facebook, or email us at: support@greenwellnesslife.com or reach us by phone at 616-275-1039 (toll-free 888-772-7875). Happy baking!