Aging Gracefully

Cultural perceptions are often paradoxical: on the one hand we are taught to respect our elders, on the other hand youthfulness is the goal and we complement each other by saying, “How young you look ! Unchanged !” In reality, aging gracefully is about maintaining our mental and physical health and cannabis can help us do just that.

Aging is a natural process that affects every human being. As we get older, our bodies undergo various changes; a potential decrease in cognitive function, loss of muscle mass, and increased risk of chronic diseases. While changes in the aging body  are inevitable, cannabinoids support our integral health and help us to maintain a good quality of life. 

Cannabinoids are compounds found in plants, most plentifully in cannabis, they interact with our body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is responsible for regulating various bodily functions, including sleep, appetite, mood, and immune response. 

Different cannabinoids have their own unique properties, CBD offers significant benefits for the aging process by reducing inflammation throughout the body. Chronic inflammation is a common problem in older adults and can lead to various health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. CBD’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of developing these conditions.

Another way that cannabinoids help with aging is by improving sleep quality. Sleep is crucial for overall health, and as we age, it can become more difficult to get a good night's sleep. CBD, on the other hand, can help with sleep by reducing anxiety and stress, which are common causes of insomnia. Another lesser-known cannabinoid, CBN, also has a soporific effect and is widely used for sleep disorders.  Blended CBD/CBN is the formula that Synergy Wellness offers for sleep issues, combining the values of both cannabinoids for maximum effect.  

Cannabis also alleviates pain, from aches and strains to chronic pain conditions. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years for pain management, with the advantage of scientific research we now understand more about how cannabinoids work to relieve pain and how to prescribe and administer the best treatments. Topical cannabinoid salves will relieve pain by penetrating the skin and activating cannabinoid receptors in the dermis. Topical application of CBD and THC cannabinoids has a dual action, CBD relieves inflammation in the tissues, while THC reduces the pain. Ingesting THC and CBD through edibles, tinctures and capsules are the most popular and effective methods for pain relief. Tinctures and inhalation of cannabinoids will bring the quickest relief of symptoms while edibles and capsules and, absorbed in the gut take effect more slowly, they are longer lasting. For those who have digestive issues, or extreme pain, cannabinoid infused suppositories work well on internal pain issues.

Clinical trials on the effects of cannabinoids on cognitive health  are yielding positive results,  protecting our brain functions from declining with age. New research from the Salk Institute in San Diego has shown the neuroprotective capability of CBN; the mitochondria of brain cells which deteriorates with oxidative stress and leads to Alzheimer's was protected by CBN. CBD, too, has been shown to have neuroprotective properties, easing inflammation in the brain. CBD has been indicated in restoring neuron building capacity in the brain after a stroke.

Finally, as we age, we naturally look older, the elasticity and texture of our skin changes and we become more susceptible to sun damage. Topical cannabinoids can help with skin health in a variety of ways. Cannabinoids support the dermis by regulating the surface of our skin from the damaging effects of UV rays, by maintaining the PH balance of the skin and preventing dryness. Eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis can also be treated with topical  cannabinoids. Using topical cannabinoids, will support the tone of skin, CBG, CBD and CBN are all recommended for general skin health and the healing of damaged skin. 

In conclusion, cannabis is a panacea for the aging body, by reducing inflammation, improving sleep quality, managing pain, and improving cognitive function, cannabinoids have the potential to improve our overall health and quality of life as we age. 

 Leonard Leinow, the author and founder of synergy Wellness along with  Ruth Hill, a long-time nurse and cannabis medicine educator for the aging, recently recorded a discussion on this topic. These seasoned veterans of cannabis medicine advocacy share their knowledge and experiences here. 

Link to Aging Gracefully Presentation

https://vimeo.com/815037871

by Billee Sharp

Recommended Synergy Wellness products:

For aches and pains, topicals:

#552,554 Synergy Salve 1:1 CBD:THC,

#556 SuperSalve, double strength recipe.

Sleep Aid tinctures:

#220 3:1 CBD:CBN #210 1:1 THC:CBN

#135 Indie Moon 1:3 CBD:THC

Mental Agility

#107, 108, 109 Black Beauty 3:1 THC:THV

#135 Cleopatra’s Blend 5:3:1 CBD:THC:THCV

Synergy Member Testimonial: Reducing Blood Pressure with CBD and Exercise

My Mother is in her 80’s and generally in very good health, recently her blood pressure has risen and she is having regular six monthly check ups with her doctor.

Over the winter months, with all the rainy cold weather, getting out and exercising has been impossible for her. A couple of weeks ago Mum took her blood pressure reading on her home equipment and it was demoralizing high.

I suggested that she should take some of her CBD tincture as research has shown that CBD can have a positive effect on high blood pressure. Mum has CBD tincture in her medicine cabinet and she uses it occasionally for inflamed hip or back pain and to relieve stress and elevate mood.

So despite taking her customary 3 drops of CBD tincture the blood pressure reading showed no improvement.

However as the weather began to improve Mum decided to take a walk and take 3 drops of CBD tincture for good measure. When she got home she took another reading and was delighted to see her blood pressure had dropped substantially into a healthy range.

I must add that my mother has a healthy diet ; moderate meat and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables are her mainstay with just a little chocolate on the side!

She plans to continue this protocol and keep her blood pressure where she wants it. Using CBD in concert with a healthy lifestyle and diet helps us to live the healthy lives that we want.

Jeanette S as told to Billee Sharp, April 2023

Can CBD Help You Maintain Heart Health?

Growing Evidence Suggests It Can Lower Blood Pressure and Much More

By Dan Reich

Heart health is one of many areas being explored to determine the therapeutic health benefits of CBD. Nearly 655,000 Americans die from heart disease every year, accounting for one in every four deaths – the largest single cause of death in the US. The term “heart disease” is often used synonymously with cardiovascular disease, an umbrella term for all medical conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels in the body.

Heart disease can have many causes, including high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries due to plaque, autoimmune disease, bacterial infections, diabetes, diets with too much sodium, refined carbohydrates or trans fats, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stress and viral infections. Unfortunately, according to the American Heart Association, the majority of people (82%) who engage in diets or lifestyles that put them at risk, choose not to make any changes until heart disease strikes.

CBD is perhaps best known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Research suggests that inflammation may be at the root of many chronic illnesses. Heart disease is associated with inflammation. Inflamed blood vessels make it harder for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. CBD also has antioxidative properties that may help reduce risk factors that can lead to heart disease. It may also be helpful in reducing the risk of related conditions, such as stroke.

Researchers have found that CBD is a vasodilator, meaning it can lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels and enabling the blood to flow more easily. During a 2017 study by the National Institute of Health, researchers learned that one dose of CBD reduced blood pressure in healthy participants.

An Effective Stress-Buster

Epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between long-term stress and the development of cardiovascular disease. A 2017 study in the UK involved a group of men who were tested for the effect of stress on blood pressure. Those who were given CBD had significantly lower spikes in their blood pressure after being subjected to stress.

Reducing the harmful effects of stress can also address factors such as social isolation, low socioeconomic status, depression, stressful family and work life, and anxiety…factors that are associated with an increased risk of the development and accelerated progression of existing cardiovascular disease.

CBD may also protect against cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, where the heart beats too fast, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. Arrhythmias can be brought on by long-term stress, as high cortisol levels can raise blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, and other risk factors for heart disease in general. CBD also has well-documented anti-anxiety properties which can help combat stress, lower cortisol, and protect against arrhythmias related to those causes. Sativa type THC, on the other hand, often exacerbates arrhythmias, causing the heart rate to quicken and increase the blood pressure.

In summary, CBD can mitigate cardiovascular disease through stabilizing blood sugar levels, easing inflammation, lowering blood pressure in the face of acute stress, and protecting the arteries from oxidative stress.

Additionally, CBD possesses neuro-protective abilities, which can minimize the chances of having a stroke, limit the damage if one occurs, promote recovery and improve survival rates.

How to Use CBD to Protect Your Heart

Seek out companies that use all natural organic hemp and avoid those that don’t list their third-party lab results publicly on their website. Any contaminants in low-quality oils could make underlying causes for heart disease worse, so it’s critical to ensure you only use high-quality products.

There are three main types of CBD products:  

1. Full-spectrum, which contains multiple naturally occurring cannabis plant extracts, including terpenes, flavenoids and up to 100 other cannabinoids. Hemp will have less than 0.3% THC,

2. Broad-spectrum, contains CBD and other components/ cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, but does not contain any THC.

3. Isolate, is pure CBD and is the only cannabinoid contained in the product,

Of these three, Full-Spectrum is considered the most effective, as they offer the benefits of the “entourage effect” providing the synergy with the other cannabinoids and terpenes increasing their effectiveness. At Synergy Wellness, we offer a wide range of highest quality full-spectrum CBD products.

CBD products can take the form of sublingual (under the tongue) tinctures, edibles, capsules, topicals and flower, which is either smoked or put into capsules. People at risk for heart disease, or already suffering from it, are not encouraged to smoke CBD flowers. Topicals offer relief from various skin and muscle issues, but won’t penetrate deep enough to address cardiovascular problems. That leaves tinctures, edibles and capsules. Tinctures are the fastest-acting of the three (20-30 minutes), and are easiest to measure dosages in drops. Edibles and capsules take slightly longer to achieve their effects(30-60 minutes), but are equally effective and often last longer.

Everyone, particularly if they already are suffering from cardiovascular disease, should discuss CBD with their health team to make sure that it won’t have any undesirableUsually interactions with medicines they may already be taking. Usually there are on interactions at low to normal doses of CBD. However, there can be rare interactions at super high doses of CBD. For the vast majority of people, CBD can be an invaluable ally in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

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