Naturopathic Doctor Reveal How To Keep Your Sanity Through The Current Self-Quarantines And Isolations

The current COVID-19 crisis is keeping the world in an indefinite quarantine that has gradually affected the mental health of a large percentage of the population. The desolation, the anguish, and the desire to be able to continue our lives have made it even more difficult to focus on the present and on everything we can create and plan for our future.

Luckily, exist a lot of resources that can help us focus on self-care. Jen Palmer, ND, Director of Education for Charlotte’s Web, shared with Latin Times ways to take back control in unpredictable situations.

• How to keep calm during stressful times

Now is a good time to take a step back to regroup and remember what really matters- family, friends and our health. Focus on self-care and don’t pressure yourself to be ultra-productive, and be gentle on yourself and others. Stress is one of the biggest impediments to the immune system, so it can potentially make us vulnerable to becoming ill.

We all have different activities that help us relax during this difficult time; personally, I find meditation and getting out into nature, while social distancing, to be really beneficial. I also take CBD to support my efforts to remain calm. Charlotte’s Web has a Calm Gummy which contains CBD, L- theanine (an amino acid to support relaxation) and lemon balm (a calming herbal extract) which makes a great addition to my daily routine.

• How to keep your sanity through the current self-quarantines and self-isolations

Many of us are struggling with a sense of loss during this time; we’ve lost the lifestyle we’re accustomed to, missing family and friends, and many have lost jobs. Instead of focusing on what we’ve lost, we need to try to count our blessings even if they are small things or things we usually take for granted. It’s also rewarding to take a moment to express gratitude to someone else, it’s amazing how good it feels to make others feel good!

• How does CBD help zen out people and help?

CBD and other phytocannabinoids made by the hemp plant all support the endocannabinoid system. If you’ve never heard of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), don’t feel bad; I know many physicians who haven’t learned about it either! The ECS is made of receptors located all over the body, and it helps balance all the systems of the body, such as the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and immune system for example. The ECS also makes its own cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids) which are a similar chemical structure to the phytocannabinoids in hemp, and both work with the ECS receptors to bring about balance. You may not need to take CBD if you’re already making plenty of endocannabinoids, but just in case, we have CBD and other phytocannabinoids as a backup. Unfortunately, many common, everyday factors, such as poor diet, aging, stress, and environmental toxins impair the production of endocannabinoids, which explains why so many people need and benefit from taking CBD extracts.

• What are the biggest mysteries surrounding CBD?

The first question I usually get from someone who is new to CBD is, “Will it get me high?”. The answer is that CBD derived from hemp will not get a person high because it is different than THC, the compound in cannabis which causes a euphoric effect. CBD is non-intoxicating and creates balance throughout the body. New users who have this concern often start with a topical CBD product, such as the new Charlotte’s Web Stick Balm or Cooling Gel. After experiencing how well that works, they become believers and go on to take it as a capsule or gummy.

Many people remain confused about the legality and safety of CBD. That’s probably because hemp was only legalized (and removed from the Schedule One Controlled Substances list) in 2018. The World Health Organization (WHO) assured us that CBD is safe and beneficial in a review paper published a few years ago.

• The benefits of full-spectrum CBD vs. isolate

Full-spectrum hemp extract is comprised of all the beneficial compounds that hemp has to offer, including phytocannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. All these naturally occurring compounds work together to create the “Entourage Effect”. This means that CBD gets an extra boost from these compounds, and research shows that this makes a full spectrum hemp extract superior to a CBD isolate. As the name implies, a CBD isolate contains nothing but CBD, and because it lacks the Entourage Effect, you need to take a larger serving size of the isolate as compared to a full spectrum hemp extract to get similar benefits.

• What is the current and future state of the industry?

CBD has been a booming industry from day one, and the number of companies that decided to get into the industry has ballooned to over 3500! Unfortunately, because the FDA has hesitated in clearly establishing CBD as a dietary ingredient and creating adequate regulations, there are huge variations in quality among the many brands. It’s confusing to consumers on which brand to try, so it’s important to confirm that the manufacturer practices strict quality controls and actually provides the amount of CBD that is stated on the label.

Charlotte’s Web actively supports the movement to regulate the CBD industry and create strict standards for manufacturing and testing.

• How do I choose the right CBD product for my needs?

To make it easy to pick a high-quality CBD product, I recommend looking for a full spectrum hemp extract made from hemp grown organically by the manufacturer. Make sure the product has been through rigorous testing for solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals. Also look for the Certified Seal of the U.S. Hemp Authority on the packaging, as that association has established quality standards for CBD manufacturing.

• How does CBD fit into an overall health routine and how can it fit into mine?

CBD fits well into an overall healthy lifestyle, including exercise, sleep, and good nutrition. Charlottes’ Web offers an extensive line of products to fit into anyone’s daily routine. There is a new line of topical products that include gel, cream, and balms. Also, have gummies which not only taste delicious but also include additional functional ingredients for even more benefits.