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Saw Palmetto: A Conversation on Sustainability, Quality, and Authentication with ABC Board Member Steven Foster, ABC’s Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner, Umasudhan Pal., CEO at Valensa International, and Edward Fletcher, President & COO at Native Botanicals, Inc.
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 What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis which is also known as MS is a disease of the central nervous system. Basically, the immune system attacks the myelin, which is a mixture of proteins and phospholipids that form a whitish insulating sheath around many nerve fibers, increasing the speed at which impulses are conducted through the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves (NIH, 2018 & MS). Multiple-sclerosis or MS Symptoms: Often present in the hands and legs..
Multiple-sclerosis or MS is the most common neurological disease affecting those that are 20-40 years of age which is more common for women. There are currently 400, 000 Americans and about 2.5 million people world wide affected (NIH, 2018). There is no cure for MS, so the conventional treatment plans are to improve symptoms, reduce the number of relapses and the severity of those relapses while delay the disease's progression. What is Cannabis Oil? Cannabidiol or CBD Oil is a product from the cannabis plant. CBD oil has non-intoxicating, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipsychotic properties (Rudroff, 2017). The cannabis and cannabinoids have been used medically and recreational for thousands of years. There is continued interest medically and non-medically especially since more and more states are legalizing its use. Alternative medicine and studies have been gaining in strong supportive evidence for its uses. Why use Cannabis Oil with Multiple-sclerosis or MS? Evidence has shown that patients with MS treat the symptoms which cannabidiol or CBD oil can improve some of the symptoms that occur with MS such as mobility issues, pain, muscle spasms, inflammation etc (Rudroff, 2018). However, there appears to be more research needed due to the fact that every person is unique there doesn't appear to be a guideline of the amount to be used other than a 1:1 ratio when considering CBD Oil and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) usage together (Leussink, 2012). Furthermore, cannabinoids (CBD oil) has been found to be generally well-tolerated. Forms for use-
***Warning Information- “Cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk of psychosis and schizophrenia in at-risk individuals, there is growing evidence that cannabis can increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI), hypertension, heart failure, and stroke, and a recently recognized rare adverse effect of cannabis is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome” (Rice, 2018). So like with anything else this is not intended to give medical advice, make diagnoses, or hinder you from seeking care from a licensed medical professional. Please talk to your medical doctor for further information especially if you are unsure if cannabis or the byproducts from cannabis are right for you. References:
Liability… And, of course, here’s the standard disclaimer: The statements expressed herein pertaining to foods and herbs have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This website and related services are not intended to give medical advice, make diagnoses, or hinder you from seeking care from a licensed medical professional. Any of the resources suggested by the owner of this site are for information purposes only, publicly available to anyone, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You are encouraged to consult your healthcare provider before making any changes in diet or lifestyle. The information given by the owner of this site is not intended to replace the services or instructions of a physician, therapist or qualified healthcare provider. It is the individual’s responsibility to evaluate and choose service providers that they believe will satisfy their requirements and provide care that will meet their needs  It's perfectly normal to have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep from time to time which is known as insomnia. However there are times when these sleep problems become more than once in awhile and can linger longer than normal due to a sudden life change or an increased amount of stress. For example, the death of a loved one, a car accident, loss of a job, current life events such as now etc., can interrupt someone's sleep pattern for about a week or two. Anything longer than a week or two becomes a chronic sleep problem.
What is sleep? Well, there are two types of sleep--
Each night a person will go through five or more sleep cycles that include both of the above mentioned types of sleep no matter their sleep pattern. What determines when and how long we sleep? So how do we know when to sleep and for how long-- well, a person has a circadian rhythm or an internal sleep clock that determines a person's sleep pattern. This 24 hour circadian rhythm or internal sleep clock is regulated by light, travel and social factors among various other internal aspects such as body temperature, hormones (melatonin) etc. How much sleep do I need? Now, that we know what sleep is, what determines when and for how long we sleep-- we now need to know the amount of sleep a person should get nightly....right? Well, sleep lengths are unique to each individual and lessens as one increases in age. For example, most 1 year old babies needs 14 hours of sleep while an adult may need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Women need more sleep than men and elderly adults sleep less at night and more during the day compared to those younger (Pizzorno, 2016). Even this information isn't a “one way fits all” because some may need more or less sleep than advised above. It's a matter of what makes you feel rested the next morning. What to do when you can't sleep? There are numerous therapeutic sleep suggestions, behavior modification suggestions, and/or sleep aides available out there. However, only one will be discussed here and most know this sleep aide as Melatonin. It can be obtained over the counter in pill form with daily doses ranging from 0.5 mg to 5 mg at most local CVS or Walgreens. Sound familiar? Did you also know that melatonin is a natural hormone that is produced in the pineal gland located in the brain? Did you also know that this hormone helps regulate a person's circadian rhythm or internal sleep clock? How about that this hormone contains anti-oxidants and that it has free radical removing properties? All questions stated directly above are true aspects about Melatonin.....and you are probably wonder what all that means and why do you need to know this? It's very important to understand a possible product that you may decide to use, especially one that is ingested. So by knowing that melatonin is naturally made in our bodies, it shouldn't surprise you that most studies show the over-the-counter pill form is well tolerated and has little to no-long or short term adverse effects (Zizhen, 2017). That doesn't mean there are no side effects and it doesn't mean it's regulated but that it's overall safe for children and adults (Pizzorno, 2016). Next, it's important to understand what it will do, like it helps regulate a person's circadian rhythm or internal sleep clock. So what does that mean?? It basically means that this hormone follows a similar pattern by increasing at night and decreasing during daylight hours. Hence, why it's recommended to take the pill form at least one hour before bedtime or at night so that it can help with the onset of a person's sleep time schedule. Research has shown that melatonin can decrease the time it takes to fall asleep and increases total actual sleep time especially those experiencing jet lag, insomnia etc (Costello, 2014). However, remember this can vary depending on each person. Lastly, knowing that melatonin has anti-oxidants along with free radical removing properties is just as important. The reason for why it's important is because “sleep is known as the anti-oxidant time for the brain” and during sleep “free radicals are removed” (Pizzorno, 2016). Another way to look at this is that when you are sleeping it's allowing your brain to clean up and clear out harmful aspects that collected during waking hours. By allowing a person's brain this much needed time it prevents neuronal damage and premature aging which occurs with chronic sleep deprivation. Now that you know more about sleep in general and about melatonin you can make a sound decision if it's something you may use or not. Ultimately this is not intended to give medical advice, make diagnoses, or hinder you from seeking care from a licensed medical professional. Please talk to your medical doctor for further information especially if you are unsure if melatonin is right for you. References: Costello, R. B., Lentino, C. V., Boyd, C. C., O'Connell, M. L., Crawford, C. C., Sprengel, M. L., & Deuster, P. A. (2014). The effectiveness of melatonin for promoting healthy sleep: a rapid evidence assessment of the literature. Nutrition journal, 13, 106. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-106 Pizzorno, J. E., Murray, M. T., & Joiner-Bey, H. (2016). The clinician’s handbook of natural medicine (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Zizhen X, Fei, C., William A.L., Xiaokun G, Changhong L, Xiaomei M, Yan F, Wei L & Fengchun Y (2017) A review of sleep disorders and melatonin, Neurological Research. Retrieved February 19, 2019 from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01616412.2017.1315864 Liability… And, of course, here’s the standard disclaimer: The statements expressed herein pertaining to foods and herbs have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This website and related services are not intended to give medical advice, make diagnoses, or hinder you from seeking care from a licensed medical professional. Any of the resources suggested by the owner of this site are for information purposes only, publicly available to anyone, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You are encouraged to consult your healthcare provider before making any changes in diet or lifestyle. The information given by the owner of this site is not intended to replace the services or instructions of a physician, therapist or qualified healthcare provider. It is the individual’s responsibility to evaluate and choose service providers that they believe will satisfy their requirements and provide care that will meet their needs  Lavender has been used for centuries in various ways from calming a person's anxiety to helping someone fall asleep to soothe skin ailments etc. The fragrance of lavender is very popular and this gentle herb is also very powerful. Healing properties of Lavender: As an essential oil it can lift one's mood and ease stress away just by smelling the fragrance. Used in a massage oil it helps relax muscles and eases tension. Lavender also has strong antiseptic properties that can help heal acne or sunburns. It's a perfect scent to use in the bathroom as a means to relax your mind and muscles after a hard day's work along with it's good for your hair and skin. History of Lavender:
What is Used from lavender? The leaves, flowers and the seeds of lavender have a sweet scent with woodsy undertones however, the oil is extracted from the flower. The powerful aroma of lavender comes from the aldehydes it contains. Active Ingredients of lavender in most essential oils: Alcohol- lavender oil has about 50 percent of alcohol linalol. Linalol helps to kill bacteria and viruses. It also helps to heal burns, wounds and sores. Ketones- compound that helps relieve pain, build new skin tissue, and reduces inflammation. This is also the component that helps with sleep. Please note this compound can be toxic and should be avoid especially those that are diabetic, epileptic and pregnant women. Esters- compound helps with swelling and soreness, prevents muscle spasms, fights fungal infections and helps with preventing scarring. This component helps with mood and can help with depression. Using Lavender: Lavender Massage Blend-
Pulse Point Blend-
3 drops of lavender essential oil added to water in a vaporizer bowl to gently create the fragrance needed in any room. Ways to use it for sleep:
Ways to use for skin and hair:
Lavender oil can be used to heal and de-stress especially now during such a stressful time! Liability…
And, of course, here’s the standard disclaimer: The statements expressed herein pertaining to foods and herbs have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This website and related services are not intended to give medical advice, make diagnoses, or hinder you from seeking care from a licensed medical professional. Any of the resources suggested by the owner of this site are for information purposes only, publicly available to anyone, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You are encouraged to consult your healthcare provider before making any changes in diet or lifestyle. The information given by the owner of this site is not intended to replace the services or instructions of a physician, therapist or qualified healthcare provider. It is the individual’s responsibility to evaluate and choose service providers that they believe will satisfy their requirements and provide care that will meet their needs |