By: Elizabeth Redhead Kriston
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Sometimes I act like I know more than I really do. Though I am a skeptic, I also really want certain things to work to help me and the people I love with the pain and suffering our bodies and minds inflict upon us.
I never liked the feeling of the high from pot. I only ever smoked it a handful of times. That’s pretty impressive since I lived with and around a bunch of pot-smoking hippies for a big chunk of my life.
When all of my chronic sleep and pain issues began and then persisted, years ago, I tried virtually everything and anything to bring me relief. I was open to all types of traditional and non-traditional methods. The only thing I couldn’t do was smoke or eat pot.
People tried to convince me that this was the answer. “Eat a brownie made with pot butter, it’ll knock you out,” they pleaded. Reluctantly, I accepted the suspicious pastry and then gagged violently at the smell. Disgusting.
My doctors prescribed pill after pill and I took them trusting they were giving me a scientifically sound, safe and thoroughly tested drug. I mean my insurance company paid for it and my medical doctor prescribed it so it must be great. Yeah, not so much.
In addition to my multitude of health problems, I have another annoying trait. I suffer from all of those side effects listed on the package or recited in gibberish on the commercials. Though I have never had anal leakage. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
What this boils down to is, I am not a good candidate for drugs, prescription or otherwise.
When all the talk of medical marijuana started to become part of our nation's conversation, I was intrigued but not excited. I heard the stories of children not having seizures after doses of this “schedule 1” drug. I've heard of cancer patients gaining relief from nausea. I've heard of combative children on the autism spectrum being able to calm and focus. I've heard of folks with anxiety not needing to take psychotropic drugs after trying a form of cannabis-derived medicine.
The game changer for me was when I heard of people suffering from chronic and severe pain, finding real relief for the first time in their lives. This hit home. I started to pay more attention. Many in my family suffer from severe and debilitating chronic pain. I inherited the back disorder that my mom, aunts, uncles and cousins also live with.
Still skeptical and reluctant to try the pot I knew from the past, I opened up my mind to the possibilities of the new cannabis alternatives. I started to listen, to read and to think. The form of cannabis that intrigued me the most was the easily accessible CBD oil or Cannabidiol.
Many of my coworkers and friends started to share anecdotes of how this oil change their lives by helping with their personal pain and suffering or that of their child/children. Being a believer in alternative medicines and using natural approaches as much as possible, such as diet and exercise as well as aromatherapy or medicinal oils, it didn’t take much to convince me that this was a method I needed to try.
The major roadblock for me was fear of the unknown. Where did I go to find it? Who did I buy it from? How much did it cost? How did I take it? What did it taste like? Would it actually help me?
I thought about going to my local health food store and buying some but my ignorance caused my confidence to waiver. I didn’t want to be given something I didn’t want or need. Since I didn’t have time to read, or I would forget to research it until somebody reminded me of its existence, I continued to suffer from my daily pain.
So, what changed? Like most things, someone who I respect and know reached out and offered information. Through my work and my kids, I have met amazing and knowledgeable professionals and parents whom I trust. These women have kindly shared with me their experience, knowledge and wisdom for so many things over the years.
My friend Sharon introduced me to therapeutic botanical oils. Now my allergy symptoms and hot flashes are under control. My friend Tereasa reached out and shared her very personal experiences with CBD oil. Knowing she is not one to jump into things blindly and that she takes the health and welfare of her children and herself very seriously, I was confident that if she was using CBD oil, then I should be too.
One week ago, I started ingesting cinnamon flavored CBD oil produced by the company Green Horizen. My friend Tereasa started to sell the oil because not only does she believe in the product, but she needed a way to help cover the cost so she and her family can benefit from its amazing effects.
Click here to learn more about Tereasa and her journey
To be invited to the group, just tell her I sent you.
Since taking the oil, I have experienced a drastic reduction in my chronic pain from degenerative disc disease. I can bend to do mundane tasks like tie my shoes or switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Moving from a sitting to a standing position used to cause shooting, horrible pain through my body. Those days are over!
More of my day is pain-free than it has been in years.
For about $60.00 (including shipping) for a mid-strength dose which might last me a month, I am no longer suffering. I used to pay 4 or 5 times that a month in chiropractor, acupuncture and/or massage treatments!
It is not perfect, I am still trying to figure out how to manage my sleep with this new oil. Overall, I highly recommend you doing the research for yourself and deciding if this might help you. I am still learning so much myself and am reading more every day.
Find someone you trust and ask all the questions you have.
“Facts” of CBD Oil
-Not US government regulated
-Should not get you high as many have no significant amounts of THC
-Different doses and applications exist
-The cinnamon flavor I chose is yummy
-More research needs to be done to determine its effectiveness and safety
-Like all medications, natural or not, tell your doctor.
-Like all medicines, natural or not, they can interact negatively with other medications so be smart and safe.
-Not everything works the same for everyone
-Side effects both positive and negative are possible
-Read, question and read more
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