Health

Author: BloggingPro

I did a spin class a few days ago and the trainer announced happily that it was a retro 90 s music unique. I enjoyed the class (due to the fact that who does not wish to sweat pails while cycling double-speed to Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’?), however later on the concept of it made me feel about850 When the background music to your young adulthood becomes a theme, it hits you like a sucker punch.

As a teen, I keep in mind going to 70 s-themed discos in outrageous flared pants bought from charity stores and sensation that it was a far-off historic era. Now I understand there’s a stack of Gen-Zedders who feel the exact same way about the 90 s and are no doubt making fun of my music taste and long-ago fondness for battle pants, relationship bracelets and aligning my hair to within an inch of its life like the Appleton sisters did.

After the spin class, I understood we all have to handle the ultimate appropriation of our developmental decades, and it’s just as you grow older that you fall under the inescapable trap of sounding dated instead of cool when you go on about seminal Dr Dre albums and why Clueless is the greatest Jane Austen adaptation of all time.

However then I considered Jennifer Lopez It was partly because I ‘d just viewed her half-time efficiency at the Super Bowl, where she took to the phase in sequins, leather and tulle, and sang and danced and mounted a pole like the remarkable queen she is.

If there is somebody I connect with the late 90 s, it is indubitably J-Lo. I remember her dating Ben Affleck, and it being the hottest gossip for months on end (I still do not comprehend why we were all so het up about it). I remember her duetting with Marc Anthony in Spanish and starring in seriously well-known movies and launching eponymous perfumes. I keep in mind the video for ‘Jenny from the Block’ like it was yesterday.

Back then, I wasn’t a particular J-Lo fan. As I grew older, I began to value her more. I liked the way that she was able to switch between her different professional functions without attracting derision, and at a time when it felt that only guys were permitted to be multidisciplinary moguls.

Jennifer could not be criticised as a starlet due to the fact that she was proficient at it. And she was a dazzling musical performer and dancer. As time went on, it ended up she could not be criticised for aging either: she turned 50 last year and shortly afterwards landed a Versace style campaign. In the movie Hustlers, she delivered an efficiency that ought to have been Oscar-nominated however wasn’t, in a year when the absence of diversity amongst the shortlists was roundly condemned. She offered out an arena trip, then got on phase at the Super Bowl and nailed a 15- minute cardio-heavy performance while looking incredible. She’s likewise the mom of 12- year-old twins.

The reason I like J-Lo now is that she represents a timeless sense of aspiration and possibility. Her body is lovely because it is strong rather than uncomfortably thin. She is aware of her roots and proud of her heritage. She throws herself into all elements of her expert life without worrying about whether her choices make good sense to anyone however herself. And she works actually difficult.

Of course, not everyone can hope to be lovely super stars when we’re50 However isn’t it terrific to have a woman in the limelight who has stayed appropriate over the past 30 years without ever jeopardizing who she is? She might not have been nominated for an Oscar, however Jennifer Lopez is my undisputed queen of the 90 s– and 2020.

Today I’m …

Scrubbing my face with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. My tried-and-tested restroom staple– the very best face wash you’ll ever utilize.

Running around in Adidas Stan Smiths: my 2nd favourite fitness instructor after anything by Nike. These ones include a snazzy rope trim.

Sleeping like an infant given that taking PureKana CBD Oil every night prior to bed. I can’t think just how much distinction it’s made.

But I think it is even more important to design a life that is in line with and supports how you want to feel.

When it comes to our emotional and physical health, intentionally designing how we live in our home is an opportunity to increase our overall well-being.

I’ve been thinking a lot this year about my daily choices. Not just thinking about them, but asking myself hard questions about my choices. And not just asking myself questions, but taking action on what I know I need to do.. Even when it’s hard.

Am I creating enough boundaries in my life or schedule so I have time to rest and the energy to play and recharge?

When my naturopathic doctor recommended I take detox baths, particularly if I ever feel run down, I decided to make it a once a week priority.

We live in a world filled with toxins. Cosmetics, personal care products, cleaning products … layer upon layer these toxins build up in our body and damage our health. A detox bath will facilitate and enhance your body’s natural detoxification process. A bath boosts well-being and is so relaxing!

Make this experience about setting aside time just for you. A time to focus on your well-being. A bath means you can say good-bye to the internet, turn down the lights, turn on the candles and soft music so you are able to relax and wind down.

There are so many variations and recipes you can use for your detox bath. There’s no right or wrong recipe, but it is super important that the ingredients you use in your bath are pure (use quality Epsom salts with no additional ingredients, pure essential oils without fillers, etc). Most pre-made bath products contain toxic ingredients, artificial colors or perfumes that are harmful to your body, so definitely stay clear of those!

To take your bath, make the water hot (as hot as you are safely comfortable with) and stay in the bath (with your head out) for about 20 minutes. Then when you get out, wrap yourself up in a warm bathrobe and get a good night’s sleep!

2 cups of quality epsom salts
1/2 cup baking soda
Add 10-20 drops of your favorite pure essential oils (I love to use Stress Away and Lavender!)
Stir together

Bonus tip: If you have a Young Living membership (the brand of oils and non-toxic household products I use and recommend, you can get a membership here) I highly suggest adding a few drops of their Relaxation massage oil and/or Citrus CBD oil, or one of their bath bombs to your bath! TRUST ME, WITH THESE ADDITIONS YOUR BATHROOM WILL SMELL HEAVENLY!

Drop your bath salts into the hot running water to dissolve.

I like to use a bath pillow for maximum comfort!

Enjoy!

Groton — A Connecticut-based CBD company is proposing to renovate the former Poquonnock Bridge fire station at 13 Fort Hill Road into a gathering space with drinks and food, live music, and a CBD retail operation.

New England Hemp Farm would turn the building into its headquarters, dubbed “The Barn,” for people to socialize and also learn more about CBD, said Brian Edmonds, the company’s CEO and co-founder.

“We hope to create a very welcoming space that is very inclusive of the community,” Edmonds said.

The company plans to renovate the 1944 building, including installing a metal roof, a side entranceway, enhanced landscaping, and a roof deck off the back of the building that overlooks the Poquonnock River. Edmonds said the building has “a lot of character,” and the company wants to maintain the open floor plan with high ceilings.

The proposal calls for a bar featuring local craft beer, a small retail operation for CBD products, and plans down the road to add a small-scale, “artisanal” extraction area in which people can observe the process of turning hemp into CBD oil, he said.

The site plan application is scheduled to go before the Groton Planning & Zoning Commission at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Town Hall Annex – Community Room 2. The application does not require a public hearing.

New England Hemp Farm

Last year Edmonds and his business partner, Keith Bunovsky, started the business that sells a line of CBD products: tinctures, topicals, and edibles, as well as smokables, Edmonds said.

The company, which grows hemp in Canterbury, has a retail store in Westport and this spring plans to open two additional stores — one in Fairfield and one in Port Washington, N.Y. — if not more, Edmonds said. The company has licenses to both grow hemp and manufacture CBD products.

“CBD stands for cannabidiol, a compound naturally found in hemp and cannabis plants,” the company’s website states. CBD is “non-intoxicating” and “does not produce a high.”

The company makes CBD products from hemp, which contains less than .3% THC, the ingredient in cannabis that produces a high, according to the website.

New England Hemp Farm promotes the therapeutic benefits of CBD and is looking at the 7,550-square-foot Groton facility as not only a spot for people to buy CBD products, but a place for people to have drinks and food, socialize and learn about CBD, he explained.

He likened it to a version of a brewery for the CBD world. He said it will be a great place to promote CBD in a variety of different ways, including with music, entertainment, lectures and information, and to answer people’s questions.

The proposed hours of operation haven’t been set yet, but Edmonds stressed it will not be a “nightclub” and will not be open very late. He said it will be a great place for afternoon and early evening live music and social gatherings.

The specifics of the plan will be set at a later point, but the live music would likely be slated  for Thursday through Sunday, he said.

Poquonnock Bridge location

Edmonds and Bunovsky, who both have ties to the local area, coincidentally found the Groton spot right around the time that Edmonds moved from Fairfield to Mystic last summer, Edmonds said.

Edmonds said the site will be a great addition in helping Groton enhance business and entertainment in Poquonnock Bridge. The Poquonnock Bridge area was recently rezoned as a Mixed-Use Village Center, intended to “accommodate demand for mixed-use development … on a smaller, “village” scale with neighborhood-serving retail and services, and places to accommodate artisan production,” according to a description on the town’s zoning rewrite website.

“We’re in a really prominent location right along the Poquonnock River with a public accessway along the riverfront right here and we think we’re in a great spot to help revitalize this particular part of Groton,” Edmonds said.

The Planning & Zoning Commission has until March 21 to make a decision, said Groton Assistant Planning Director Deb Jones. 

The project also will need building permits, a state Department of Transportation permit, and approvals from the local health district for the food operation, said Jones. It will also need a state liquor license, Edmonds said.

Edmonds said that as long as the local Planning and Zoning approval goes smoothly, he anticipates opening by mid-summer. 

“We are very interested in working with the town and locals to really make this a great place that people really can enjoy,” Edmonds said.

More information about New England Hemp Farm is available at www.newenglandhempfarm.com.

[email protected]

Over the last year, the UK has seen some major changes to cannabis regulation, as cannabis-based medication has finally been approved as a treatment for specific types of epilepsy and MS on the NHS. Meanwhile, a whole host of new products containing CBD have flooded the wellness market, from CBD infused beauty products – like moisturiser and lip balms – through to calming tinctures. On top of that, some British MPs predict that the UK will legalise weed in five to ten years – although whether this will actually happen remains to be seen. 

Either way, as we follow in America’s footsteps, CBD products are not just becoming more normalised, but more ubiquitous. Many people are self-diagnosing products either as an everyday aid or as a more serious medical treatment, especially when they have exhausted more well-trodden clinical routes.

Below, we talked to five of these people, from the UK and US, and ask them to share their stories of using CBD to treat conditions from epilepsy to anxiety to period pains.

JADE, 26, DUNDEE 

What do you take CBD for?

Jade: I take CBD for a whole host of reasons, most regularly to manage anxiety and panic attacks, but also during my period! I discovered this was a thing about six months ago now and haven’t looked back.

Where do you get it?

Jade:  I was sent a package at work from a brand called Ohne, who sell 100 per cent organic tampons and a CBD cramp care kit. So I get my tampon, put a couple of drops of their ‘Holy Cramp’ CBD oil on there, and put it in as normal. I’ve got super heavy and sore periods and I found this is really effective for pain relief almost instantly. I imagine for conditions like endometriosis these things can be a real game-changer. There’s also a brand in the UK called Daye who will sell similar products – the difference is that theirs come infused with CBD so you don’t manage the application of it yourself. I was worried that a CBD oil up there might disrupt the pH balance, but surprisingly it didn’t at all. It’s a high potency, but really gentle. 

Has it made a difference? 

Jade:  Yes, it really has. It’s strangely comforting – the same way as using a hot water bottle during your period is. It doesn’t feel invasive at all. For me, it’s the same as taking two paracetamol and lying in bed with a heat patch. OHNE also sell a “Yours, hormonally” edible CBD oil which can be used every day to manage hormones. I use this near enough daily. I’m really interested to see what other products femme care brands bring to this space in 2020.  

Would you use CBD for anything else? 

Jade:  Mental health is my main reason to use it, alongside period pains! I also take Quetiapine, a bipolar medication, which is also pretty strong so I guess it’s a little tricky to tell what the benefit of CBD is versus that. The one major benefit of CBD is that it has an almost immediate effect so it can help almost instantly if I feel anxious, whereas Quetiapine is something that is always in my system. 

CHELSEA, NEW YORK 

Can you tell me about your condition? 

Chelsea: My type of epilepsy is called Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy and I was diagnosed when I was 16. I also grew up with an older sister, who had a different type of epilepsy. I was put on anticonvulsant medication, anti-seizure drugs, which I took for over a decade. I dreamed of coming off them but I was told that I would have to take drugs indefinitely, even in pregnancy. 

Three and a half years ago, I was introduced to Cannabidiol, which is known as CBD. I had a few drops and there was an immediate and profound effect: that evening I forgot to take my traditional pharmaceutical drugs. I started taking CBD in conjunction with my medication, and during a six month period, I began to feel well again. My brain was functioning in a very different way, I was sleeping 12 hours a night, my memory was better. 

Against my doctor’s wishes and without any medical support, I decided to wean myself off my prescription. I haven’t had one seizure since, so I owe a 100 per cent of my life to this plant because it gave me so much of my life back. It’s not just about seizures with epilepsy, it’s the insomnia from being always on drugs, the deep anxiety, not being able to finish a thought or a sentence.

“Until the public health sector is on board, patients who are the most vulnerable have to live without and so that’s what I am focusing on: fair patient access through the public health care system in my advocacy work” – Chelsea 

You self-prescribed originally, but now that you live in the US, do you get it from your doctor? 

Chelsea: Yes. As a medical marijuana patient, I have access to standardised pharmaceutical products and I currently use a CBD rich extract, in the form of a vape oil, that is prescribed by my doctor. I also use a one to one, which is equal parts CBD to THC. 

Because my sister lives in the UK, she remains without access. It’s been two and a half years of fighting for her and other patients who need a neurologist to sign off on everything that they take. Until the public health sector is on board, patients who are the most vulnerable have to live without and so that’s what I am focusing on: fair patient access through the public health care system in my advocacy work. Even though we have had a change in the situation in the UK, legalising cannabis as an epilepsy treatment, there are only four patients that have prescriptions. 

I am currently working on a documentary called Separating The Strains that draws attention to this issue. I had to find CBD from many different sources, and other patients should not have to go down the route I did, self-medicating, where there was no one to give me advice. A lot of CBD products are mislabelled, you don’t know if they have been third-party tested. It was really a colourful and textured journey for me, trying different products and now I am using a product that I know is good quality. It’s really important when you’ve got epilepsy to take a tested and standardised product. 

JAMAL, LONDON, 24

When did you start taking CBD and in what form?

Jamal: About a year and a half ago properly. Oil. Originally I started with one someone purchased for me from an independent holistic stall in the North which was under a tenner. Now I use CBDPure but it’s not cheap. It’s about 40 quid but it seems to have the best results.

What do you take it for and why?

Jamal: A mixture of things, mainly anxiety. Also to help with muscle relaxation – sometimes I forget to unclench my jaw and fists for hours at a time which is all linked to my anxiety. It came in handy when I first started taking hormones too (to transition) – my social anxiety peaked so it’s a quick thing to pull out your back pocket.

“I’ve seen a huge change in my anxiety and how it manifests but also a healthier way of controlling it” – Jamal

What switched you on to CBD as a treatment, and what changes have you seen?

Jamal: Honestly, mainly as an alternative for weed. I was smoking the most I ever have and I was smoking really heavy skunk which was making my anxiety worse. CBD gave me the calming feeling I needed and also let me function. Before hormones, I had to go cold turkey and stop everything (any illicit substances) for at least a month before. Afterward, I was a bit of a mess and CBD became the accessible healthy fix I needed. I’ve seen a huge change in my anxiety and how it manifests but also a healthier way of controlling it. Self-medicating with reliable and controlled sourced products is so vital for my well being.

How do you feel about whether the UK government should legalise CBD for more medical conditions?

Jamal: I have a very strong standpoint on medical marijuana and products derived from it. I think people forget the amount of shit we put into our bodies daily, and it’s extremely easy for the government to use the criminalisation of weed to push another agenda – surrounding who is and isn’t incarcerated. I think making CDB legal would have a huge impact on the amount of skunk on the street. Access is so important for health and CDB should not be exempt from that.

CHARLOTTE, 32, NEW YORK

Charlotte: I’m the co-founder of Nice Paper, a weekly weed newsletter and CEO of Dieux. I used to take CBD for anxiety but found that I needed tinctures and smokables that were more balanced with THC to feel an effect. Unfortunately, I live in New York so I’ve only really been able to find safe products and use them when I’m in LA.

How do you take it? What do you buy? 

Charlotte: I smoke some form of CBD every night to go to bed because it’s more bioavailable and hits you within minutes. My favourite way is to smoke a very high CBD cannabis strain: 6:1 (CBD:THC). My favourite brand is Pure Beauty’s CBD flower – they have incredible THC products and I was introduced to their CBD strain. When I  first started using CBD I found some hemp tinctures worked but, as I got to know my body better, I realised I always need more THC than what’s in most brands. When I’m in New York I’ll use Tonic CBD. Their prices are incredible and they are a transparent brand.

Is it normal to self diagnose CBD among your friendship group?

Charlotte: My friends are a bunch of overachieving, type-A power bitches. If they came to me with a problem and I told them “but have you tried CBD,” they would check if I had a fever. Quite a few of them, who are scientists and doctors, think it’s promising but the hype around it being a panacea is exaggerated. I would agree with the latter. Brands have found an incredible opportunity to make money with no oversight. Whenever someone I’m close with has an overactive brain at the worst times (aka right before bed even though they’re tired), or having issues with feeling overwhelmed/inflammatory pain, I’ll just buy them my favourite tincture or topical from Tonic CBD and tell them to try it under their tongue (it increases bioavailability).

“For every story on someone being helped by CBD, I know plenty of people that felt nothing. The brain is weird, our bodies are all different and it’s not a panacea” – Charlotte

CBD isn’t a cure, it’s an aid. I’ve heard incredible stories about it helping people reduce the amount of medication they needed, but others have had issues after trying to go off their meds (if you want to try CBD and are on medication, consult your doctor). Since I’m not a doctor I’m wary of acting like one. For every story on someone being helped by CBD, I know plenty of people that felt nothing. The brain is weird, our bodies are all different and it’s not a panacea. Some people like THC, some like CBD, some like none of it at all. 

Do you think that legalising CBD for medical use in the US has been a good thing? 

Charlotte: It’s federally illegal to sell CBD as a supplement in the US according to the FDA, in New York Cuomo signed the hemp bill. Topically you can sell things containing CBD, but there are a host of issues with that industry due to the lack of oversight. A plant that everyone uses but only black and brown people get in trouble for could turn into a revenue stream for an industry that has made healthcare and wellness increasingly inaccessible for America’s most vulnerable populations. It’s fucked up. 

Both CBD and cannabis need to be regulated but made accessible so more people can participate in the industry. While the marketing on CBD has gotten wild, it’s still an incredibly beneficial plant when farmed well, respected and, most importantly, tested. I’m mostly excited to see what research comes out, cannabis becoming federally legal and reparations made to every person that’s still sitting in jail for a cannabis “crime”. 

CLAUD, LONDON, 29

Why do you take CBD?

Claud: I take CBD to help with my medical condition, Crohn’s disease. My condition is triggered mostly by my mental and physical health. I started taking CBD oil about five to six years ago and then eventually using it in a vape. I heard about it from a few friends and a homeopath in natural medicine that I see – they suggested that it could have benefits to help my condition.

How long have you had your condition and what other treatments?

Claud:  I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2009 and there is no known cure for the condition. There are many medicines I’ve tried to relieve myself of some symptoms. I had to have an operation in 2013 as my condition deteriorated so much and it was around this time I looked into CBD treatments.

Has CBD helped?

Claud:  I feel that it does help with my mental health which helps to alleviate a lot of my symptoms, but I think high-quality CBD is unaffordable in the UK. I think it could have more of an effect than it does.

How do you feel about the gradual legalisation of CBD in the UK?

Claud:  I think it will start to have more of an impact when more research is done into it. I feel that it is still at an early stage but can help a lot of people in the near future.