Summer is Here!

Finally, summer has arrived. Well, depending on where you live, it may have been here weeks ago. But don’t worry! There are all sorts of hemp-based products to have you feeling (and looking) good in the summer sun.

Thirsty?

Number one concern for most people during summer is staying hydrated. I often hike on the various nature trails near where I live. It is a great way to get away from the city for a while, but I often find that I have to carry water with me (that summer sun dehydrates quick!). So how can I both stay hydrated and take my CBD? With Hempdrinx! Just like other mix-in powders, Hempdrinx can easily be added to any bottle of water (like the one I often carry with me while hiking) and comes in convenient, single-serving packages. As for the flavor… I’m biased; I love orange almost as much as I love ginger, and the mix that we offer combines the two. I’m swooning.

Sunburn easily?

The problem with loving to hike is how it leads to my getting sunburnt on the trails. So how does hemp help me with this? A hat! I had never tried using any hemp clothing prior to three weeks ago, and I regret not having tried it sooner. It breathes so well, and shades my face!

While I’m talking about hemp clothing, I have to mention my t-shirt as well. I have to admit, I was skeptical. When I had thought of hemp clothing, I always thought of those baggy, itchy sweaters that stoners wear. Nevertheless, I got a t-shirt that was a 50/50 blend of organic cotton and hemp. Wow. I don’t think that my mind has been so drastically changed in my entire life. After receiving it in the mail, I wore it for 4 days straight (I’m not kidding; don’t ask about the smell).

And if I burn?

So we don’t offer any CBD sunscreen (yet), but we do offer an Endoca body butter that I have been using both before I go out (with sunscreen added over-top) and to soothe any sunburns that I may acquire while at the beach or out on the trail! This latter use is what helped me relieve my sunburn after only a couple of days just 3 days ago (I got it while hiking, big surprise!).

My poor, tired feet

I find that, after long days outdoors, my feet are sore (even if I wear my Birkenstocks). Lately, I’ve been soaking them in a bath filled with our Empower soaking salts. They’re pretty good for rejuvenating my feet, keeping pesky blisters at bay, and keeping me moving when I have so much to do outdoors (seriously, I love summer weather).

Think of the furry children!

Summer wouldn’t be complete without our best friends (or fur babies, whichever suits you best). While I don’t have a dog anymore, I often find myself stopping to pet every German Shepherd and Husky in sight. I’ll regularly give treats to my friend’s dog, as well. But shouldn’t I treat the dogs in my life to CBD? Of course! That’s why I really like Treatibles dog treats (I’ve tasted them: not too shabby!), and, judging by the dogs’ reactions, they also do! But please enjoy the picture of one of the many fur-less babies to visit the office (thank you Brandy).

Who’s hungry?

I love snacks. Most people seem to also love snacks. CBD snacks? Yes, please. I had the pleasure of trying Weller Caramel Coconut Bites (which contain 25mg of CBD per package) and was impressed. It was the perfect bite-sized snack for a trip to the beach or a day spent sitting in the park with a nice book. A few cookies per package, it is small enough to carry in my back pocket and take anywhere I go. Here’s to more adventures with Weller Bites!

Go out and enjoy the summer!

No matter what CBD product you enjoy this summer, make sure to go out and take advantage of the great weather! Have fun, be safe, stay hydrated, maybe get a tan, and connect with mother nature in one of the best seasons that the year has to offer; we at Green Wellness Life hope for nothing more than for you to have the best summer that you could have.

There is no better way to help others navigate the world of CBD than to maneuver the waters ourselves. Everyone at Green Wellness Life has tried many, if not all of our products. This is what some of us had to say about a few of the CBD capsules we carry:

Hannah’s Take Away

• Endoca Raw: 50 mg capsules

Her Thoughts:

Although I may look like the average teenage girl, I suffer from chronic pain. At only 16 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Soon after I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I had avoided medication for as long as I could, but once I was given that dreaded Fibro diagnosis, I could no longer get by with just yoga and eating healthily. I was quickly started on Cymbalta and I  tried a bunch of different muscle relaxers. I can honestly say, it was not fun!

After the first few days, I noticed that I had significantly more energy in the morning than I typically do. After laying down for a full night my body tends to fight back against the standing position. After taking Endoca Raw I was walking around the office annoying Brandy and Cara.  However,  I will admit that I often have a post coffee burp that has a slight hemp aftertaste. This doesn’t bother me because I see so much benefit from taking it, but I can see how others would find it annoying. The Endoca Raw 50mg Capsules are a great fit for me and as a poor college kid, I can safely say that I will purchasing this product for many months to come.

Brandy’s Take Away:

• Entourage Hemp : 15 mg full-spectrum capsule
• Panacea Daily : 75 mg full-spectrum capsule
• Select CBD Boost : 33.3 mg isolate capsule with moringa and yerba mate

Her Thoughts:

I am lucky in that I am not someone living with chronic pain. I find that CBD helps me with mood stabilization and it does cut down on the daily aches and pains that apparently come with being a woman in my 40’s.  Boo.  I’ve been taking daily CBD in some form or another for the past three years. I try LOTS of products so that “form” varies. As such, this capsule challenge was kind of perfect.

For about the past year, Entourage has been my go-to.  I was taking 1 (15 mg) capsule daily. I felt that balance I was looking for and didn’t feel like I needed to step it up. I like that Entourage focuses on the whole plant and keeps their processing really simple.  I did find that I had to take it with food or I would burp up that grassy, earthy, “hempy” flavor. Yuck.

My husband swears by the Panacea Daily 75 mg.  No hempy aftertaste and his ankles, knees, and feet, which have taken a lot of abuse, haven’t felt this good in years.  So I gave it a try. While there was no “high,” moving from the 15 to the 75 mg capsule definitely made me feel different.  I felt almost a body looseness and a little nauseous. I think that was my body’s way of telling me that I didn’t need quite that much.  I stuck with it for 5 days.

Select Boost was the last capsule I tried and my favorite.  This was my first consistent dive into a CBD product with added ingredients.  I have a low metabolism and not as much energy as I’d like, so I went with the boost capsule that contains yerba mate and moringa.  It’s mid-range in terms of strength, 33.3 mg per softgel. It’s also an isolate, meaning that it contains CBD but not the other naturally occurring cannabinoids in the hemp plant.  I’ve always been a whole-plant advocate, so I didn’t think that I’d love this one. Surprisingly, it works really well for me. I take one capsule in the morning. No hempy taste. I get a nice (ok, fine, it’s in the title) energy “boost.”  So much so that I can function on just one cup of coffee daily rather than two or three. I’ve seen a real improvement in my mood stabilization as well. This one has been a great fit for me!

Quinton’s Take Away

• Charlotte’s Web: 15 mg hemp extract capsule
• Plus CBD Oil: 15 mg full-spectrum hemp softgel

His Thoughts:

I’m a bit too young to deal with chronic aches or pains and I’m fortunate enough to not have any serious conditions, but due to a busy schedule, I often have difficulty sleeping and dealing with anxiety. I started taking CBD capsules and softgels around a year ago, and I believe in them enough to keep taking them.

I started taking the Plus CBD Oil 15 mg around a year ago, and have taken it since. It’s small, easy, doesn’t have a strong or off-putting aftertaste, and I find that taking one in the morning is perfect for relaxing my mind and helping me to stay calm and focused throughout the day. While taking them, for the year, I have not had any difficulty with the normal “hempy” burps or the flavor of the capsule; I find that I can even take them without a glass of something to drink, which is very useful for mornings when I’m in a rush (often because I’ve slept in!). I’ll probably be sticking with this one for a few more years to come!

I started taking another capsule, Charlotte’s Web 15 mg, about a month or two ago. I wasn’t crazy about the size of the capsule (it’s not large, but I do find that I need a glass of water to swallow it), and the taste of the capsule wasn’t the best. After I had taken it, it did have that effect on my stomach that caused hemp burps to bubble up every now and then… no thank you. The bottle recommended that I take one to two daily as a supplement, so I added it in at the end of my day, as the Plus CBD was already my morning CBD supplement. While I did find that I could sleep a little better, I’m still not able to get past the gassiness and the size/flavor of the capsule.  I guess I’m a softgel guy.

Cara’s Take Away

• Natural Leaf: 25 mg broad spectrum soft gel
• Bluebird 15 mg Full Spectrum soft gel

Her Thoughts:

Prior to working at GreenWellness, I had never tried CBD. I love it now.  As I age (I am now closer to 50 than 40 – shhh…), I am noticing more pain in my joints and other changes in my body which I need to attend to. This is where CBD comes in.

When we first on-boarded Natural Leaf broad spectrum soft gel, I tried it for a month. It was easy to swallow and very convenient. However, although it is a broad spectrum, I did not find the relief I was hoping for; my knee joints were good, but I have a significant old shoulder injury (snowboarding!)  I found that, although it impacted the pain a little, it was not completely gone; it still aches, especially on a bad day. I know others really like it but I seemed to have needed the .3% THC and saw a bit of a difference when I switched back to my regular tincture. All in all, I think it is a quality product that one would need to try to determine if it is a good fit for them.

One of my favorite brands is Bluebird, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed taking their full spectrum soft gel.   When I started taking the 15-milligram soft gel I began to notice a change in my discomfort level. It is 15 mg a soft gel and has 60 capsules per bottle and is priced at $75.00. It is easy to take, even though I personally take two capsules (30mg), I was pleasantly surprised by the relief I found in my shoulder.

By Brandy Palmer Founder and Owner of Green wellness Life

When I started working in the hemp industry 4 years ago, it was a whole new world for me.  I could name maybe 5 uses for hemp – and none of them had anything to do with balance in our bodies. The CBD industry at that time was still new. I definitely couldn’t spell cannabidiol and my family and friends hassled me with a lot of pot jokes!  Fast forward to 2019 and it seems that CBD is becoming a common household item. It’s everywhere – from your inbox (seriously – I have three emails TODAY inviting me to participate in CBD studies, from companies I can’t pronounce) and Facebook feed, to your local discount shoe store and hair salon. That is awesome and challenging all at the same time. This is a compound that we are putting in and on our bodies. Many of the people hawking CBD today don’t know a thing about it. This is bad for both the people that are buying and selling it. CBD can be confusing especially for someone trying to find the best choice for their unique system and circumstances. Here’s hoping that this article can help you to know what to look for when buying CBD.

Time in the Industry

New companies that manufacture CBD products are popping up daily. The 2014 Farm Bill made it legal to grow and produce a multitude of products with hemp in the United States. This bill also came with a number of restrictions. These restrictions created some barriers for manufacturers. Many of these restrictions were effectively wiped out with the 2018 Farm Bill update, and the floodgates are effectively opening. Some of these new companies offer great products; However we also know that in the US 1 in 3 businesses will fail in the first year. They may have an awesome product, but marketing and managing a team is an entirely different animal to tame. There’s nothing worse than coming to rely on a product for your family and then learning that it’s no longer an option for you! I’m still pretty angry at TGI Friday’s for getting rid of their grilled vegetable sandwich and there was significantly less at stake there, than on the CBD I take daily. So make sure that the company you’re buying from has been in business for a little while.

Product Knowledge

There are a lot of areas that I am not knowledgeable about. Ask me about computers or why your car engine is making a funny sound, and I’ll stare at you blankly. Ask me about CBD, though, and I know some things. You need that knowledge if you’re new to hemp and the compounds it’s made up of.  It’s great to start with a company that you heard about from friends or family, but your needs may be unique from theirs. It is key to call that company and ask them questions. You’ll know pretty quickly if they know what they are talking about or NOT! If it’s the latter, steer clear! You need an knowledgeable company to help you to be an educated consumer.

There’s a tanning salon in my town that’s selling CBD. They have big posters in their window and a cutesy display on their counter. I went in and asked some questions and knew in about 1 minute that the adorable girl working had NO CLUE what she was selling. That’s not only bad business, it’s likely a turn off to people who will try products. It is easy to take CBD but when you do not know which kind or how much you need to take and how to increase in order to see results you can easily get frustrated and deduce that you saw no results…“CBD doesn’t work!” Make sure that the company you’re working with knows the product.

Avoiding Medical Claims

I know I’m a broken record here, but there really is no “one size fits all” with CBD. Can I promise it will heal your <insert problem here>? No, I can’t. No one can. If they promise a specific medical result, that’s not only unethical – it’s potentially predatory. Many people see a real benefit from CBD, once they have determined the right product and serving size and are taking it consistently. “Many” doesn’t mean everyone. I’ve told people directly that I don’t think that they will see what they are looking for from CBD, which is not an easy thing to say. I’ve also told people that I thought they would see a real benefit and they didn’t. At the end of the day, every system is unique and each person will see varying results with CBD. If the company that you are working with tells you anything other than that, find a new company.

Customer Service

As the CBD market grows, it can be easy to find multiple companies selling the same products.  When that happens, the key difference will be the service. Look for customer reviews and check out their return policy. If your initial choice isn’t a great fit, make sure that the company you’re working with will, at a minimum, swap it out for another product. Be sure to ask if all sales are individual or if you’re signing up for a monthly subscription program? There’s certainly nothing wrong with subscriptions – I get my vitamins like clockwork and that’s pretty convenient; but they can get us into trouble sometimes. I like those meal subscription services. They do pile up quickly and I tend to forget to cancel a week. This results in lots and lots of cooking and freezing meals. Oops. Make sure that you have some flexibility and are fully aware of the cost if you do go the subscription route.

Product Options

I like to buy as many products as I can from one source. I blame Amazon for spoiling me, but it’s reality. If I can find one source I trust, I stick with them. The same should be true for CBD. I give cannabidiol to my dog and two cats, my son, and my husband. We use a variety of products from tincture to e-liquid and salves and there is a real value in being able to get them from one place. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to CBD, so when a company has a variety of options, it means that I have a better chance of finding my best fit without having to look to another source.

Clear Labeling & Descriptions

CBD is one of the more than 80 different compounds in hemp and marijuana plants. Many CBD products that you buy contain all of those compounds, while others are strictly the isolated CBD. You should know that from a clear label and product description. We go into greater detail in another blog…see more. The amount of CBD in a product should not be a guessing game. While some manufacturers do call it different things (Hemp Extract, Phytocannabinoid Blend, Phytocannabinoid Rich Oil to name a few,) you should always see the total milligrams of that active CBD on the product label.  You should also know that test data is available and be able receive that detail when you ask for it. That test data will show you that what you want is in there, and what you want to avoid (think high THC, pesticides, heavy metals) is not present. If the label and description aren’t clear, and you can’t get the detail you need from Customer Service, take a pass.

Cost

The old adage “you get what you pay for” is true here to a point.  You want to be looking at the cost per milligram of CBD. That cost per milligram will be higher on things like gummies and chocolate because of the other ingredients. Some manufacturers have a perceived brand value and will charge more per milligram, but you should otherwise see fairly close pricing for the same type of CBD. It’s important to compare apples to apples – a CBD isolate product will not be the same cost as a full-spectrum, but if you’re looking at two 1000 mg bottles of full-spectrum tincture (even if those bottles are different sizes!), they should be fairly close in price.  If not, ask why and steer clear of both overpriced and under priced products.

These are exciting times, where we as consumers have more access to information than anyone who came before us.  We can take control of our own health and well-being and that of our families. Was it Spiderman that said “With great power comes great responsibility?” I may have my superheroes mixed up, but you get the point. Making smart choices about what we put in and on our bodies is definitely a great responsibility – here’s hoping that this article has helped lift that burden, if even a little bit.

Check Out Some Of Our Family Favorites!

By Cara Oorbeck & Brandy Palmer – The Green Wellness Crew!

Isolate, Full Spectrum or Raw?

Finding the right CBD for your needs and body can be confusing. We answer customer questions all day long and we have found that there is no one size fits all. Each individual is different and finding the right fit for you can be confusing. So let’s take a look at the different forms of CBD: What is the difference between them? Who would use which version, and why?

What exactly is CBD, and where does it come from?

First of all, it’s important to understand that cannabidiol (CBD) is only one of the major compounds that are present in the cannabis plant – both hemp and marijuana. It happens to be one of the most studied compounds by scientists because of its powerful potential and the fact that it occurs in greater quantities in the plant than some of the other more than 80+ compounds. As evidence of its interest to scientists and researchers, CBD has been used in multiple pharmaceutical solutions. One of the most recent to be approved by the FDA is Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug used to treat childhood epilepsy.

Despite its fame, CBD is not the only major component in cannabis sativa. There are a range of other compounds that make up the plant, though CBD garners most mainstream attention these days.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil: A Rainbow of Compounds

This is a lot like it sounds: full spectrum CBD oil means that manufacturers use the whole plant and all the cannabinoids found therein instead of just the CBD.

Full-spectrum is unique in that it can introduce the user to the possible positive effects of the other components of cannabis working together, often referred to as the entourage effect. Though there are many different cannabinoids in the plant, here are a few of the better-known ones included in full spectrum products.

1. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Full-spectrum CBD from the hemp plant does include trace amounts of THC, which is well-known as the psychoactive element of cannabis – or the part that makes you high. It’s can’t be more a .3% concentration when coming from a hemp plant, so it has no psychoactive effect. There is technology that is isolating the THC out of some full spectrum products making it what is now being referred to as a “broad spectrum.” This means that it started as a full spectrum, but the THC was isolated and removed from the other cannabinoids. These products will usually specify 0 THC. Examples of this are KOI Tincture and Natural Leaf softgels

2. CBN (Cannabinol)
This component of cannabis does not occur in as great a quantity, so we don’t know quite enough about it yet. What science is finding is exciting, though. Some early studies are showing that there may be real benefits for people struggling with sleep issues.

3. CBG (Cannabigerol)
Interestingly, CBG has been shown to stimulate growth of new brain cells and stimulates bone growth. These unusual properties make it a fascinating compound for researchers to study.

4. THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)
THCV has a similar molecular structure to THC and is also psychoactive. Research is finding that it’s very similar to CBD as well, in working to balance and neutralize cells.

All of these compounds—and far more—interact in a full-spectrum product. Who would this form of CBD work for? A full-spectrum CBD oil would work great for someone who wants to work with all the elements of the cannabis plant for a holistic approach. It would be very useful for those who are interested in other compounds, like CBG and THCV, and their effects. It’s important to keep in mind that unless clearly stated to be a 0% THC product (ie broad spectrum,) full spectrum products will likely contain a trace amount of THC. That legal limit, if coming from hemp, is 0.3%.

CBD Isolate: Pure CBD Oil

In a CBD Isolate, only one compound is present—CBD. It’s been individually extracted from the plant without any of the other cannabinoids, terpenes or plant matter. Some might say that the isolate is missing some of the other compounds that make full-spectrum oil special. While this is true to an extent, there are plenty of reasons why someone might want just pure CBD oil.

For one, maybe they’re only interested in specific CBD oil effects. If a user has discovered that CBD works best alone to treat their particular disorder or ease their symptoms, then they would definitely want to stick with what works. Other users might feel uncomfortable with even trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC in full spectrum; in this case isolate CBD is a perfect solution.

Others may actually be allergic or have had bad reactions to other cannabinoids. In this case, a CBD isolate would be the best choice to make sure he or she only consumes a product that’s pure with no trace of other compounds.

Raw CBDA-CBD

“Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is a chemical compound found in the resin glands (trichomes) of raw cannabis plants.” In this case, raw means unheated and uncured. Many of the conditions that respond with CBD also respond well to CBDA but there is a growing body of information that is talking about the benefits of raw or CBDA having a greater affect on people living with chronic pain. There is also a patent pending by GW Parmaceuticals using CBDA in conjunction with CBD for anxiety and psychotic disorders.

Whatever your choice when it comes to CBD, it’s important to make sure you’re thinking with a comprehensive view of what you body needs at a given time. If you don’t have any allergies or issues with compounds in a full spectrum product, maybe compare its effects in your body to pure CBD isolate and see what makes you feel better. Every system is unique. We know it’s heard to hear, but there is no one size fits all. At the end of the day, the best CBD for you is the one that you will reap benefit from!