Categories
Education

Mental Health Awareness

One of the most difficult things some of us may encounter is the realization that sometimes we need to ask for help. It is okay to not feel okay and to reach out for support, empathy, and answers. With that comes another realization: that the friends, family members, and other individuals who you may reach out to, may not be equipped to provide you with the necessary help you are in need of. 

 

May is Mental Health Awareness month. It was established in 1949 by Mental Health America, a group that was founded in 1909. This month serves the purpose of bringing awareness to the millions of Americans who are suffering. The aim is to combat stigma, educate, advocate, and support. To do our part, we want to bring forth resources that may help you or a loved one who may be enduring this agony. 

 

At Realm of Caring, we are not medical professionals nor clinically trained to advise one through their mental health illness. However, we care. We are here to help you find resources. We are also here to support if you are utilizing cannabinoid therapy to bring symptomatic relief, whether that relief is needed psychologically or physically. Those of us who suffer are well aware, mental health illnesses go far beyond affecting mood, physical symptoms may also be witnessed. 

 

Physical and psychological disorders can be cyclically linked, to mean that one may influence the other, repeatedly. This is where cannabinoid therapy may have some potential to provide relief. For example, the cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD) has the ability to modulate. From allowing your body to use the serotonin your brain creates more efficiently to reducing pain, a CBD-based product may be beneficial for you to supplement mental health recovery. 

 

Sometimes we need more help, though, in additional aspects of life beyond what cannabinoids and Care Specialists at Realm of Caring may provide. Talking to a professional who specializes in counseling, nutrition, or physical health is highly encouraged as so many instances can affect our mental well-being. We have listed below some resources that may be helpful in getting started on your mental health recovery journey. There are also research articles to hopefully help bring about an understanding of the various therapies and tools that may provide relief. If you have more information that has helped you, please share with us. We are always looking for ways to benefit our community. We are here for you. 

 

Resources

 

 

Research Articles

 

 

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There is a lot to consider when starting cannabinoid therapy. A Realm of Caring care specialist is here to help with your questions. Contact us today by calling (719)347-5400 or by emailing info@realmofcaring.org

 

Disclaimer

The Realm of Caring Foundation specifically invokes the first amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Realm of Caring always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.

 

The Realm of Caring Foundation is an independent nonprofit with its own governing board. We do not produce or sell cannabinoid products, nor do we receive funds from the sale of other company’s products.

Categories
Education

Cannabinoid Therapy for Pets

If you have ever used a cannabinoid therapy, such as CBD, for yourself, you may have also considered using it for your pet. If they have witnessed pain, stress, or discomfort, it is natural to search for a solution that may provide them with relief. As their caretakers, it is our responsibility to provide them with what they need in a way that is safe and effective. In some cases, cannabinoid therapy may be beneficial to them. 

The most popular form of cannabinoid therapy on the market is CBD tincture (oil). For dogs in particular, CBD has been researched to help with many conditions, including arthritis, anxiety, and seizure disorders. Due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapeutics of the CBD molecule, it may even enhance the recovery time and pain associated with sprains, fractures, and surgeries.

Just as with dogs, CBD may also ease the symptoms of ailments in cats, however, more research is needed to fully understand the benefit and absorption of the molecule that takes place. The fact that cats also have an endocannabinoid system, just as dogs and humans do, may suggest that plant cannabinoids, like CBD, may have therapeutic benefits.

The product you decide to purchase matters. You want to be sure it is a quality product you can trust and that it is consistent and sustainable. Once you have a CBD product for your pet, whether that be a tincture or a treat, it is critical to start with micro-dosing. This means that your pet could be starting off with mere drops of a tincture in a day.

Animals are more sensitive than humans in a number of ways. For example, dogs have been studied to show that the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the brain far exceeds those of humans. This explains why high levels of THC may be toxic for dogs, and further explains the importance of micro-dosing. The best analogy may be to relate THC to Theobromine – the toxic ingredient in chocolate for dogs and cats. Because they cannot metabolize this chemical in the way that humans can, they are more sensitive to the chemical effects as a heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and muscle relaxant. Theobromine is found in cocoa, therefore higher levels of cocoa in a product means it to be more toxic to pets. However, there are also low levels of Theobromine found in carob, which is a safe alternative and tolerable for both dogs and cats. 

When searching for products for your pet, you may find ones marketed specifically for dogs. These will likely be flavored to appease dog palates, of low concentration, and contain little to no THC. If the bottle is marked “full-spectrum”, that means all of the hundreds of cannabinoids of the cannabis plant are in the product, including THC, following the federal guidelines of equating to 0.3% or less. A bottle marked “broad spectrum” will contain all of the cannabinoids with the exception of THC. A CBD “isolate” will only consider the CBD cannabinoid. 

In short, when considering supplementing your pet’s diet with CBD; invest in a quality product, start low and go slow, and consult your veterinarian for medical concerns.

If you have any questions about this topic, a Realm of Caring Care Specialist is here to help. Call us at 719-347-5400 option 1 or email us at info@realmofcaring.org

Disclaimer

The Realm of Caring Foundation specifically invokes the first amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Realm of Caring always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.

The Realm of Caring Foundation is an independent nonprofit with its own governing board. We do not produce or sell cannabinoid products, nor do we receive funds from the sale of other company’s products.

Categories
Education

Cooking with Cannabinoids

It is no new thing that cannabis has been infused in edible products. Dating back to even before Bartolomeo Platina completed the first printed cookbook in the 15th century, where he had several dishes that included the ingredient of hemp seeds as well as one for “cannabis nectar”, cannabis has been consumed in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes. 

 

When we think edibles, typically we think about marijuana baked into gummy bears, cookies, chocolate bars, and more. There are also those pot brownies that are not only famous for being delicious but revolutionary. But what about cooking with the other cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, like CBD? 

 

CBD can be found everywhere these days and more individuals are experimenting with ways in which to self-administer it for the potential benefits. Here we would like to discuss what CBD and its health benefits are, supplementing with CBD, and tips for cooking with it. If you should decide to make a CBD-infused treat, we have a recipe below for you to try!

 

What is CBD?

 


CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is a phytocannabinoid (a cannabinoid from plants) found in cannabis that has been researched to have many therapeutic effects. These include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-anxiety
  • Analgesic
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-depressant
  • Anti-emetic
  • Anti-spasmodic
  • Anti-ischemic
  • Neuroprotectant

 

CBD is available to purchase in many, many forms. For cooking, I would stick with a tincture (oil) as it is more concentrated and already contains an ingredient we are used to cooking with – oil! CBD tinctures contain a carrier oil, which can be olive oil, sesame oil, fractionated coconut oil, or others. Some CBD tinctures will be labeled as an isolate, meaning that the only cannabinoid considered from the hundreds of cannabinoids of the cannabis plant is CBD. A CBD tincture labeled full-spectrum will consider all of the hundreds of cannabinoids, with an emphasis on the ratio of CBD. 

 

Why Supplement with CBD?

 

Our body naturally produces cannabinoids that bind to receptors in our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Sometimes, when our body does not produce enough cannabinoids, we may have what is called Endocannabinoid Deficiency. Therefore, by supplementing with phytocannabinoids like CBD, we may be able to mimic the actions of those natural cannabinoids to produce the same therapeutic benefits. 

 

Tips for Cooking with CBD Oil

 

  • Quality. You will want to be sure the product you are using is of high quality that you can trust. The quality of your product matters. The company you are purchasing from should be able to produce a Certificate of Analysis, or Batch Results, to show that the product you have in hand has the concentration of CBD it displays and has been tested for molds and pesticides. 

 

  • Start low and go slow. CBD works through the accumulation of the ECS. In order for it to provide day to day relief from your symptoms, you may want to explore consistent dosing. When cooking with it, you will want to have enough to where it may provide some added benefit but not too much so that it will:
    • Overwhelm the taste of your recipe
    • Be too high of a “starting dose”

 

For the recipe below, you will find that I chose to use a lower-concentrated formula. This allowed me to add a little more to not only get benefits from the cannabinoids, but the extra carrier oil made for a more delicious consistency. 

 

  • Increase bioavailability with a fatty recipe. The concept that meals increase the absorption of any medications, supplements, or vitamins is called bioavailability. This concept applies to CBD. CBD bioavailability is the percentage of CBD that is absorbed into the bloodstream. The more you absorb, the more potent it is. 

 

The CBD molecule is a fat-soluble compound, meaning it dissolves in fat. Therefore, when eating CBD along with another fatty ingredient it may be more easily dissolved and broken down. This decreases the amount of energy your body needs to use to break it down and potentially increases the bioavailability. In the recipe provided you will find peanut butter, chocolate, and coconut oil – all great sources of fats!

 

  • Heat. You will want to avoid heating CBD oil too quickly or at too high of temperatures in your recipes. Once heated, the CBD compounds may begin to break down as it evaporates. Therefore, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds along with CBD may be lost. The boiling point of CBD is around 320℉ to 356℉ (160℃ to 180℃) so you will want to stick with recipes that are unbaked or gradually heated so you can better control the temperature. You may even want to try to add CBD to the finished product of a recipe, such as a topping on a salad or popcorn or drizzled into an icing. 

 

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Hemp Bars

 

BASE

 

1 ½ cups smooth, natural peanut butter (or any nut butter substitute)

⅓ cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon salt

½ cup hemp hearts (raw, shelled/hulled hemp seeds)

3 cups crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies or other gluten-free options)

 

TOPPING

 

1 ½ cups chocolate chips (any variation of your choice: vegan, sugar-free, dark chocolate – they will all be good!)

1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil

2-4 droppers of full-spectrum CBD oil (I used a 17mg formula in a “natural flavor”. The amount I used was 4 droppers or 2 mL, that equals about 34mg of CBD)

Sprinkle of sea salt

 

HOW TO

 

Line a 13×9 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

 

FOR THE BASE. Mix together peanut butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt until smooth. Then add and combine hemp hearts and crispy rice cereal. Press firmly into the lined pan.

 

FOR THE TOPPING. Melt together chocolate chips and coconut oil until smooth. You can do this over low heat on a stovetop or by heating 15-30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring between each increment. Only after the mixture has been removed from heat, add in droppers of CBD oil, mix well. Pour on top of base and spread evenly, top with sea salt. 

 

Cover and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Bars can be cut and stored in the freezer for 2 weeks or in the fridge for 1 week. Once at room temperature, they will begin to soften within 30 minutes (they are best kept cold!).

 

Categories
Stories

Testimonial: Cannabis and CBD from Stratos Helped Me With Several Injuries and Issues

After serving in the military and sustaining a back injury and head trauma, I was prescribed several pharmaceutical drugs to treat multiple symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and PTSD. Pharmaceutical options often left me groggy and became ineffective over time. After discovering Stratos THC and CBD products, I have been able to cease the use of pharmaceutical drugs and experience meaningful symptom relief and restful sleep. 

– Daniel Lloyd

When did you first try Stratos?

I first tried Stratos products in June 2019 at Apothecary Farms, my local dispensary.

What products do you use?

I use Stratos Sleep tablets 500 mg and Stratos Relax tablets 300 mg, both of which contain THC and CBD, and Stratos Soothe CBD Full Spectrum, a topical salve. 

What do you use Stratos for?

The Sleep tablets help with insomnia and sleep apnea symptoms, and induce quality sleep. The Relax tablets help with anxiety and depression and Soothe helps with localized pain and inflammation.

How have Stratos products helped you?

Sleep is elusive, sometimes for days at a time. After using Stratos regularly for the past 10 months, I have been able to start winding down and I am typically in bed before midnight and able to sleep through the night. Sometimes I have sleep interruptions, but it’s mainly due to a deviated septum which causes my sleep apnea. Most of the time I feel refreshed upon waking up, which is phenomenal since prescribed sleep medications usually left me feeling groggy in the morning and melatonin lost its effects after prolonged usage. I use Relax when I feel overwhelmed or anxious. My PTSD symptoms have improved significantly. Soothe topical absorbs well, works fast, and the formulation doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy. I use this product for pain and inflammation, specifically for neck pain and bulging discs in my lower back due to injuries from the military.

Why did you choose Stratos over the other options out there?

I chose Stratos because of quality, efficacy, affordability, and it offered an easy delivery method.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I am very impressed by how fast the products work. Within 15-20 minutes effects can be felt and they last for hours. I am so thankful to have found Stratos. This product line has been life-changing for me and my family! Thank you!

Categories
Research

Research Version 2.0 is Here!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new research registry version 2.0 in partnership with Johns Hopkins University! 

If you haven’t been involved in our observational research programs before, now is the time to start. We make it simple for you and every survey can be completed on your computer or mobile phone. 

Why is version 2.0 so much better?  First, you’ll notice improved overall user experience including shorter surveys to save time, and auto-generated research ID’s. 

Certain data is saved on follow-up surveys to speed up the process for you and general and condition-specific surveys are now combined into one. Automatic, unique email reminders will keep you on track, and our Care Team is available to answer your questions. 

So, let’s get started! 

  1. Log in to your Client Portal
  2. Access the Research Portal

Our Observational Research Registry (ORR) is the largest cannabinoid therapy research program in the US and with your help – it will soon be the largest in the world. Bringing more data to light regarding cannabis therapies is REALLY important. Be a part of the movement! 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at 719-347-5400 option 1. 
Thank you for your help,

Realm of Caring Team

Categories
Education

5 Tips for Caregivers

For most caregivers, being there when a loved one or client needs you is a core value and something you wish to provide.

Shifts in roles and emotions are almost certain. It is natural to feel angry, frustrated, exhausted, alone, or sad. Caregiver stress — the emotional and physical stress of caregiving — is common. It’s normal to feel guilty sometimes, but understand that no one is a “perfect” caregiver. Believe that you are doing the best you can and making the best decisions you can at any given time. 

To help manage caregiver stress:

Set realistic goals. Break large tasks into smaller steps that you can do one at a time. For me, trivial things like folding laundry and organizing emails and paperwork (appointments, reminders, bills, junk, ahhh!) are my least favorite things to do. However, I noticed I became more stressed when I didn’t do these tasks because my house and my brain started to become cluttered, disorganized, with a clothes mountain that I have to dig through to find a pair of socks. It can be easy to go down this path so make sure to prioritize, make lists, and establish a daily routine. I use a gamified app called Habitica to help create lasting habits, increase productivity, manage my household, and my life in general. This app makes it fun to get things done.

Get connected! Make an effort to stay well-connected with family and friends who can offer non-judgmental emotional support. You can also join a virtual meet up group. This can provide validation and encouragement, as well as problem-solving strategies for difficult situations. Connecting with others who are going through similar scenarios. A group can also be a good place to create meaningful friendships! Check out our Facebook event page for Caregiver Connect and Community Connect – both are virtual and private meet up groups hosted via Zoom.

Set personal health goals. For example, set goals to establish a good sleep routine, find time to be physically active on most days of the week, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. Find ways to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Mindfulness meditation practices, body scanning exercises, breathwork (I personally enjoy the Wim Hof Method), and restorative movements are amazing tools for managing stress. Schedule intentional check-in’s with yourself to feel and release emotions. While yoga and meditation can be beneficial, I do realize it can be difficult for caregivers to find time for such activities. However, there is time if you make time! Set a timer on your phone or watch 3 times a day for a 7-minute workout or stretch to keep you active and resilient to stress. I personally enjoy Lucy Wyndham Reed’s 7-minute 1,000 step workout. I use an app called Calm for free 10-minute meditations.

Use CBD daily. Research suggests CBD may improve or alleviate symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, pain, inflammation, irregular sleeping patterns, changes in appetite, and immune function. These conditions are all common ailments that occur with caregiver stress and burnout. Check out our research library for condition-specific research articles. If you need product and administration suggestions contact the Care Team

Reduce personal stress and increase self-awareness. Ask yourself, “What is causing stress for me?” Sources of stress might be that you have too much to do, family disagreements, or the inability to say no. Identify what you can and cannot change. When you try to change things that you have no control over, you will only increase your sense of frustration. Ask yourself, “What do I have some control over? What can I change?” Even a small change can make a big difference. 

Journaling can be helpful in identifying your needs, wants, fears, goals, and aspirations. It is not selfish to focus on your own needs and desires when you are a caregiver—itʼs an important part of the job. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to care for anyone else!

I hope you found this article to be helpful. From my experience, establishing a self-care routine can be challenging with many ups and downs so be patient and have compassion for yourself. If you want to connect with me you can do so at lacie@realmofcaring.org 

Categories
Education

5 Reasons Why Cannabinoid Therapy Might Not Be Working For You

Many people often give up on cannabinoid therapy because they are not seeing the results they are looking for. We see it a lot, people who try a product for a week and then decide it is not for them because they find no relief. So they stop taking CBD but continue to suffer from symptoms. We want you to be able to find success with your product(s), so we thought it might be helpful to discuss the five most common reasons why your cannabinoid therapy might not be working for you. 

 

#1: Poor Quality of Product

 

A very common problem is that many CBD products are not regulated. You may actually find yourself with a product that contains little to no CBD. This has been shown on Washington Post, CBS News, NBC News, and more. 

 

You will want to confirm the quality and consistency of a product before buying. To do this, the company should be able to provide you with a certificate of analysis or a batch report from a third party lab for the specific product you have bought or intend to buy. This testing is done to verify that what the label says is what you have in your bottle. It is also done to show that the product has been cleared for molds and pesticides. Cannabis is safe, research proves that. What is not safe is inconsistency, misleading labels, and lack of testing. 

 

#2: Your Dose May be Off

 

Have you been taking your product for some time and have yet to find relief? Maybe you are taking a dropper-full of a tincture here and there. Maybe you tried a capsule and “didn’t feel anything”. CBD works through the accumulation of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Through consistent, twice a day dosing, we may be able to replenish our ECS with the cannabinoids it needs to bring our bodies to homeostasis. For most, this means it will take a few increases over the course of some weeks or months to find a true “therapeutic dose”. Every individual is different so what dose works for one may not be enough (or might be too much!) for another. 

 

One other thing to keep in mind is that the CBD molecule is bi-phasic. Imagine a bell curve. Where you want to be is at the peak of said bell curve. This is where you are finding relief from your symptoms. Too little CBD may have no effect, so it may be a bit of a climb to get to that peak. On the flip side, too much CBD may tip you over to the other side. If this happens, from an oversaturation of cannabinoids, you may see exaggerated or new symptoms. 

 

In short, this reason for cannabinoid therapy not working can be summed up by the Goldilocks principle. You do not want to have a dose that is too low or too high, you need to find your individual dose that happens to be just right.

 

#3: Expectations

 

It is hard to know what to expect of cannabinoid therapy, especially when it seems so many are claiming it to be a “cure-all”. The truth is, it may take time to find relief. When someone is experiencing chronic pain or in need of seizure control, that is not necessarily something that they want to hear. However, for cannabinoid therapy to be able to consistently show day to day relief, it first needs to accumulate in the ECS. If, after giving some time, no relief is felt then it is possible you may need an increase as was mentioned in the last point. All in all, we do not want you to expect too much upfront. Just as with any lifestyle change, progress takes time. It could take days, weeks, or months before that difference is realized.

 

#4 Interactions

 

Another thing to be mindful of when starting out with CBD therapy is the other medications that you may be taking. Joanne Doyle Petorongolo, a pharmacist at the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital states “as the number of medications increases, the potential for drug interactions goes up, and there’s an increased potential for side effects”. CBD is not advised for everyone depending on the medication being taken, the amount of medications being taken, or the treatment one is going through.

 

The first possible step to avoiding potential interactions is to space the administration of CBD and pharmaceuticals away from each other. You can also check what those potential interactions may look like with your doctor, a pharmacist, or an online drug interaction checker. 

 

#5 Method of Delivery 

 

We are sure you know by now, there are so many types of CBD products out there. From tinctures to capsules to edibles to topicals to vaping and everything in between. The percentage of CBD that is absorbed by the bloodstream, also known as bioavailability, will change depending on which method you are using. A tincture that is taken under the tongue, therefore can be absorbed mostly in the mouth, may have increased bioavailability. A product that needs to be broken down by the digestive system may have decreased bioavailability. That is not to say that edibles, capsules, and other methods that need to pass through the digestive system are not effective. For some, this can be the method that works best. It all depends on you, the individual. So if you are finding that one way “does not work” or simply is not a regimen that works for you, there are plenty of other options to try before ruling CBD out. 

 

 

If you have any questions about this topic, a Realm of Caring Care Specialist is here to help. Call us at 719-347-5400 option 1, email us at info@realmofcaring.org, or sign up for a free client account HERE.

 

Disclaimer

The Realm of Caring Foundation specifically invokes the first amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Realm of Caring always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.

The Realm of Caring Foundation is an independent nonprofit with its own governing board. We do not produce or sell cannabinoid products, nor do we receive funds from the sale of other company’s products.

Categories
Education

Stratos: Bringing Pharmaceutical Accuracy to Cannabis

Helping people powers everything we do. 

It’s our mission to offer people safe, pure, and reliable cannabis and CBD products they can trust.

Our careers didn’t start out in cannabis, they began in the pharmaceutical industry. When people go to Walgreens or CVS, they trust that what they buy is safe and will help them get better. And while the pharmaceutical standards for manufacturing and production are well-trusted, some of the motives behind pharmaceutical companies are not.

We get it. And we got out because of it. 

We started to see some of the highly controlled drugs we were developing to “help” people being abused by patients, doctors and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Instead of helping people, we started to see the drugs hurting them. 

We knew there had to be an alternative to truly help people that didn’t involve potential long-term damage. 

When we learned about the healing effects of cannabis, it reinvigorated our passion to help people. From that day forward, we’ve worked to create cannabis and CBD products with the same pharmaceutical standards as what you’d find on pharmacy shelves.

What We Do

Before our team spends months developing a product, they spend time at the drawing board. After comparing the different ways to ingest cannabis and CBD, we narrowed the options down. Our research found that tablets, tinctures and topicals are the best options for rapid onset, longevity, and body receptivity. 

Because health and safety are top priorities, our focus is on products that are vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free, and our topical products are paraben-free. Excipient ingredients are pharmaceutical grade, and all of our hemp and cannabis are grown in Colorado.

Every product is tested multiple times during the manufacturing process. This includes pesticides, microbial growth, heavy metals, potency, and residual solvents to ensure your safety.

You can put us to the test by reviewing a Certificate of Analysis for our CBD products. We include one with each online purchase. We want to earn your trust, and we will go to any length to earn it. We are grateful that nearly 700 dispensaries in Colorado have entrusted our THC products to their customers by adding them to their shelves.

We’d also like to share a bit about our products for you to consider.

Tablets:

This option is portable, discreet, reliable, convenient and long-lasting. Unlike infused food products such as gummies, which may require 90 minutes to take effect, tablets have an onset of 15-30 minutes and can last up to 8 hours.

Tablets can be halved or quartered based on your dosing needs. Be sure to take the tablets with a fat source (such as a spoonful of peanut butter) to experience the maximum benefits. Cannabinoids are fat soluble so they need to bind to a lipid to absorb into the body.

  • Stratos CBD tablets are available in Full Spectrum 300 (30 tablets of 10mg each), Full Spectrum 750 (30 tablets of 25mg each), Isolate 300 (30 tablets of 10mg each), and Isolate 750 bottles (30 tablets of 25mg each). 
  • Stratos THC tablets are available in Sleep (Indica THC), Energy (Sativa THC), Relax (Hybrid) and CBD 1:1, CBD 2:1, CBD 15:1, CBD 25mg (THC and CBD). Tablets come in doses of 5mg, 10mg, or 50mg. Available in bottles of 75mg, 100mg, 300mg, or 500mg. 

Tinctures:

We want you to get the most out of your tincture, and quickly. To increase absorption and speed up onset, we use high-shear technology to break down cannabis and CBD molecules into smaller particles. This allows the plant to take effect in less than five minutes and last 3-4 hours. 

Placing a tincture under the tongue (sublingual absorption) is up to 10x faster than anything you chew or swallow (first pass digestion absorption). Place the tincture under your tongue, wait 30 seconds, then swallow. The tincture then heads straight to the bloodstream. 

  • Stratos CBD tinctures are created with hemp-derived CBD oil and MCT oil and are available in 500mg and 1000mg quantities for Full Spectrum or Isolate.
  • Stratos THC tinctures have two options:
    • A tangerine tincture created with MCT oil and cannabis oil available in Sleep 1:1 (Indica, CBD), Energy 1:1 (Sativa, CBD), Relax 1:1 (Hybrid, CBD). Each come with 100mg of THC and 100mg of CBD. There is also a 15:1 CBD option with 100mg CBD and 6.67mg hybrid THC.
    • A chocolate mint tincture created through a phospholipid emulsion of water, MCT oil and cannabis oil. This special emulsion offers the highest bioavailability tincture option available and must be mixed well before taking. It is also available in Sleep 1:1, Energy 1:1, Relax 1:1 and 15:1 CBD.

Topicals:

If you’re looking to target a specific part of the body, such as your back or legs, then a topical salve is perfect. Our salves are infused with a whopping six essential oils, shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax, so it’s like a big hug for your skin. This smooth, silky salve can be massaged wherever you need it, and you’ll feel the benefits within minutes. For those concerned about any psychoactivity, it’s important to note that you won’t “feel high” by applying a THC product to your skin (it must be ingested).

  • Stratos CBD topicals have 500mg each, and are available in Full Spectrum or Isolate.
  • Stratos THC topicals include Soothe 1:1, which is infused with 100mg THC and CBD, and Soothe ER, which includes 300mg THC and 300mg CBD.

We hope we’ve piqued your interest. If you’re still reading, we’d like to say thank you: visit www.stratoscbd.com 

Want to see if you’re eligible for discounted products?  Have questions about how to use Stratos’ products? Call Realm of Caring’s Care Team 719-347-5400 Option 1 

Learn more about what we offer or reach out with questions or comments at info@stratoscbd.com or info@stratosthc.com – we’d love to hear from you.

Categories
Education

CBD, Liver Damage – Rebutted

Forbes recently released an article called Marijuana Study Finds CBD Can Cause Liver Damage. It focuses on a recent research article from the journal Molecules, called “Hepatotoxicity of a Cannabidiol-Rich Cannabis Extract in the Mouse Model.” The researchers made their own CBD extract and took findings from GW’s Epidiolex clinical trials to give equivalent dosages to mice to observe the short-term effects. Keep in mind that their COA showed residual hexane, which is a known hepatotoxin.

The author uses this study to claim that CBD might be just as dangerous as alcohol or acetaminophen (Tylenol). These substances both have safe daily recommended amounts that do not harm the liver. But while alcohol’s abuse is well known and acetaminophen toxicity has replaced viral hepatitis as the most common cause of acute liver failure in the US, CBD has zero abuse potential because it is non-intoxicating, so its users have no incentive to approach similar levels.

GW observed that 20 mg/kg is the safe maximum daily dose of CBD. That’s 9 mg/lb. For a 100 pound person, that would be 900 mg a day. That’s between 1-2 grams for most adults.

The mouse researchers tested the effects of giving this max dose in a single day, and separately, the effects of giving it for fourteen days in a row. They then went on to perform the same test using triple the recommended safe daily dose and then once more using 10 times the limit.

In the same-day phase of testing, all of the detrimental effects occurred at the 3x and 10x levels. No negative effects were reported for the recommended safe maximum dose.

In the two-week phase, detrimental effects occurred only at the highest level. The author leaves a strong implication that CBD killed some of the mice, however, that isn’t the case. Some mice in the highest dosage group became so lethargic and anemic that the researchers decided to kill them on the third day. Mice in the lower two levels exhibited no visible signs of toxicity throughout the two weeks.

Because GW Pharma already determined a maximum recommended dose, it should come as no surprise that amounts higher than that can cause problems. Most people who regularly use CBD can’t or won’t ever come close to the “maximum” recommended amount due to cost, access, or simply needing less because of using whole plant extracts.

The author goes on to point out the warning on Epidiolex packaging that there is a risk for liver injury because 5-20% of patients in recent clinical trials experienced elevated liver enzymes. The overwhelming majority of increases in enzymes were at the 20mg/kg dose in combination with Valproic acid, another known liver toxin. Their published article cites three specific studies to support the case for elevated enzymes. In all three studies, the risk of elevated enzymes mostly applies to users who are also taking other medications, the risk isn’t severe, and the problem resolves itself for most. The author somehow conflates that to say all CBD users will develop a disease.

The fact that CBD can interact with other drugs in the liver is well-known and practices are already in place to avoid or minimize negative reactions.

As long as a reasonable amount of CBD is taken, and it isn’t taken at the same time as other medications, then there is a minute chance of a negative reaction occurring.

The author begrudgingly concedes that there is research on the positives of CBD. He brings up a study showing that cannabis users have a significant dose-dependent reduction in the odds of developing each of the four major stages of alcoholic liver disease. He quotes a doctor who said cannabis can lead to progression of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C, however, “cannabis” isn’t defined here and there is no citation provided by Healthline. The RoC Research Library has more studies showing the positives of cannabinoids for the liver.

One of his final warnings about CBD is actually a testament to its therapeutic potential. “CBD regulates 50 genes.” The keyword here is “regulate.” CBD works to regulate the rest of the body and help bring it to homeostasis. CBD actually has over 80 mechanisms of action.

The author concludes by saying that due to all the harms that CBD poses, users may as well be taking vodka to ease what ails them. Equating CBD to vodka is not a fair comparison. This article highlights why it’s important to do your own fact-checking and not accept everything you read at face value.  

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#QualityofLifeMatters Meet Dara and her daughter Maddy

Episode 5 of 7

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfusKuCMAPM]

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Maddy was born prematurely and after extensive testing, her doctors concluded that she suffered brain damage due to a stroke in utero. Her team of doctors didn’t know exactly what would happen and their predictions ranged from her not developing further or she could grow into a healthy girl and maybe have a limp from the stroke. Dara’s only option was to take everything one day at a time.

At age 1 Maddy was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy on the right side of her body. She started working with different therapists to regain control and was doing really well. Although delayed, she hit every milestone and started reading at a very young age.

“We were warned by her neurologist that there was a possibility of her having seizures, but the doctor thought it would happen before she turned the age of 5,” says Dara. Maddy was almost 6 when she had her first seizure early one morning. Dara didn’t know what was happening because the only seizures she had ever witnessed were on TV and they looked more like a grand mal. Maddy’s seizures looked very different. She didn’t act like herself, wasn’t coherent, and made strange swallowing noises. Dara wasn’t knowledgeable about cerebral palsy (CP) at the time and thought maybe Maddy’s CP was getting worse because she walked slanted and her body would clench up.

It turns out the types of seizures Maddy has are partial complex and she can talk and walk through them and they mostly affect the right side of her body. After her first seizure, Dara knew their lives were going to completely change.

Tune in tomorrow for episode 6 of 7 and dive into the next chapter of Dara and Maddy’s journey.

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