Eden Organics, Author at Eden Organics Idaho

January 22, 2020

HEMP IS AN ANSWER TO PLASTIC POLLUTION

Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

Plastic was hailed in 1907 as the solution of a wide range of problems. Today, we now see plastic as creating a wide range of environmental problems. Obviously, we can’t do away with plastic. That would create more problems than it would solve. There is no doubt we need the many benefits of plastic in our modern life. So, what is the answer. Hemp is the answer.

HEMP PLASTIC IS BIODEGRADABLE.

The cellulose fibers in hemp is used to produce several varieties of biodegradable plastic. These plastics can be used in a variety of applications. Henry Ford used hemp plastic panels in his Model T Ford. This plastic was extremely hard and durable. Having biodegradable plastic would solve most of the environmental problems associated with our current Petro-chemical based synthetic plastic.

HEMP IS A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT.

Unlike Petro-chemical based synthetic plastic which relies on vast stores of oil, hemp can be regrown for an unlimited amount of times. Hemp is a natural source of non-toxic biodegradable plastic that actually helps to keep the soil fertile. It needs less water than cotton and one acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four acres of trees. Hemp averages two crops per year and trees take thirty to fifty years to regrow.

HEMP HAS MANY MORE USES

As we have mentioned in previous posts, hemp can be used for a variety of products such as bio-fuel, medicine, clothes, wood products, paper, ropes, sails, etc. The medicinal side of hemp, CBD, has been outlined here in this blog on many occasions, extolling the growing number of benefits of CBD. So then, why would it have been illegal for so many years?

HEMP AND ITS COUSIN, MARIJUANA

The reason for the ban on hemp has been the association of its cousin, marijuana. They are both from the cannabis family and because of that association, hemp was banned as a possible psychoactive drug. Once it was determined that a person cannot get high or intoxicated from using hemp or CBD, and the benefits of hemp were made clear to those in power, hemp was declassified as a schedule one drug and the 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to grow in the United States.

PLASTIC IS ONE MORE REASON TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF HEMP

In conclusion, we should be encouraging our legislators in Idaho to legalize hemp production as it is in forty-eight other states, to help in the mainstreaming of its use in all products, including plastics. We can do something to help the environment by encouraging the use of hemp in plastic’s production. It will require a great deal of effort to combat the large and powerful oil and gas lobby in Washington.

January 21, 2020

IDAHO FARMER LOBBIES FOR HEMP PRODUCTION

An article in today’s Post Register reported that a Magic Valley farmer, Tim Cornie, had recently returned from a trip to Canada to learn about hemp production from Canadian farmers and researchers. Tim and his cousin, Kurt Mason own a farm and a new food company, Springs Mill, that specializes in organic and non-genetically modified food.

TOM WANTS TO GROW HEMP

Talking about his recent visit to Canada he said, “I came back thinking hemp was a very viable thing for Idaho.” He and his cousin want to grow hemp for the seeds to sell as food. He said the Magic Valley needs another crop.

HEMP HAS MANY USES

As we have mentioned before in this blog, hemp has many uses and benefits. It can be used for food, as the seeds are rich in important unsaturated fats, full of fiber and protein-dense; it has uses in wood products, for paper, clothes, fuel, and medicine, to name a few.

HEMP AND MARIJUANA CANNOT OCCUPY THE SAME FIELD

The article explained how hemp and marijuana are not compatible and if they are grown in the same field, they will render each plant an unusable hybrid. Many Idaho legislators are misinformed about this and think that there is a danger of people hiding marijuana in hemp fields. They could do that, but the marijuana would be then be unusable.

SOME LEGISLATORS HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS TO MAKE HEMP LEGAL TO GROW

Rep. Dorothy Moon has presented legislation to legalize hemp production. She said she thinks people are getting tired of missing the financial opportunities. Sen. Jim Patrick said he expects the Legislature to pass hemp legislation this session.

IDAHO NEEDS TO CATCH UP WITH THE REST OF THE NATION

It is time for Idaho to allow hemp production and to give Idaho farmers another crop and to compete with the rest of the nation.

January 20, 2020

IS CBD FOR YOU?

As CBD seems to be all over social media and national television shows, you may be wondering if CBD is for you. Will it help you with your ailment or condition? You may be curious about how it works, or if it works. You are not alone.

14% OF PEOPLE NATIONWIDE HAVE USED OR ARE USING CBD

That percentage is roughly 51 million people who are using or have used CBD. As more and more research projects are in the works, we are finding more ways in which CBD can help us. Yet, it has not hit mainstream America and has to contend with some of the negative press of its cousin, marijuana.

CBD IS LEGAL AND SAFE

The research on CBD has proven it safe for human use. And, it is legal in 48 states as of this writing. However, there are some cautions that can be given in purchasing CBD. First and foremost, is the Certificate of Analysis (COA) that must accompany any CBD product. The COA will give you the amount of CBD in the product, the other ingredients and also what is not in the product such as heavy metals, pesticides, and THC. THC, Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the ingredient in marijuana that makes you high and will show up on a drug test. Though there is not enough THC in any CBD product to make you high, always insure there is a COA for the product you intend to purchase in the event you will need to pass a drug test.

FIND THE RESEARCH

If you have a particular ailment or condition, you can find a great deal of research on it on the internet. Be sure you are looking at research on a legitimate web site that has the actual research report and not just someone who is paraphrasing. You can find many of the research papers on our site. For pain reduction, insomnia and anxiety control, there is a prodigious amount of research indicating that CBD can help with those conditions.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY CBD, TALK TO THE SPECIALISTS

Talk to someone who specializes in CBD to find out if it is something you would like to try. They can help you in your decision and help you find the correct product for you.

January 16, 2020

VETERINARIAN SEEKS AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS CBD WITH PET OWNERS

Veterinarians are not allowed to initiate the discussion of CBD with pet owners due to a provision in the law that prohibits them prescribing or initiating a conversation on a product that is not FDA approved. As a result, they cannot recommend CBD as a treatment.

MICHIGAN VETERINARIANS SEEK TO HAVE THE LAW CHANGED

Dr. Kellie Holmstrom, a Marquette veterinarian helped inspire the legislation. She explained that questions about CBD are asked on a daily occurrence but not being allowed to initiate the conversation about CBD limited her ability to offer informed medical advice to the pet owner.

IDAHO HAS THE SAME LAWS

Because Idaho has the same laws, veterinarians here are faced with the same predicament as those in Michigan. Regardless of the absence of the FDA approval, certainly a veterinarian should be allowed to discuss the use of CBD with a pet owner. This can certainly happen without the veterinarian writing a prescription, but merely stating the facts surrounding the use of CBD for pets.

AMPLE RESEARCH TO INDICATE THE USE OF CBD FOR PETS

There is enough evidence surrounding the use of CBD for pets to allow veterinarians to initiate the discussion of how it may help with a particular condition. The studies that have been conducted have shown promising results, especially for pain relief in dogs. Veterinarians need to have the freedom to offer CBD as an alternate treatment for pain in dogs. As mounting evidence continues, we will see that CBD will also be a help for cat owners as well.

January 15, 2020

JANUARY SNOW SHOVELING BLUES

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

January in Idaho means we will be shoveling snow. In fact, it seems as if we are shoveling snow everyday during January. And when you add in the Idaho wind, you end up shoveling a lot of snow, over and over again as it blows back to the area you just shoveled.

SNOW AND PAIN

All this shoveling can add up to a lot of back, shoulder, hip and neck pain. CBD can help with inflammation and muscle and joint pain. Several studies have indicated that taking CBD can be an effective method of reducing pain. You can see some of the research on our Research page.

HEART ATTACK THREAT WHEN SHOVELING SNOW

Because we are usually moving snow in the early morning hours and because of the stress of shoveling snow, the threat of a heart attack is increased. According to an article on WebMD, the most common time of day for heart attacks is the morning and new research suggests that morning heart attacks are also the most serious. Although CBD can’t prevent a heart attack, it has shown some promise in cardiovascular health and can help promote a healthy heart. We need to be careful when out in the early morning shoveling snow and to pay close attention to any symptoms of a heart attack.

JANUARY DEPRESSION

We are all aware of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This disorder has the same symptoms of depression and usually occurs during winter when we get reduced sunlight. Because it has the same symptoms of depression, CBD may be able to help alleviate those symptoms. CBD does help with anxiety and depression and may be a way to manage Seasonal Affective Disorder.

CBD CAN HELP US GET THROUGH JANUARY

CBD can be a way we can alleviate some of the negative aspects associated with January and the winter aches and pains and the blues.

January 13, 2020

AFRAID OF PUBLIC SPEAKING?

The fear of public speaking is extremely common among people of all ages. It even has a name, Glossophobia. Many people, when surveyed, have indicated they are more afraid of speaking in front of an audience than they are of death.

CBD CAN HELP WITH FEAR AND ANXIETY

In a recent double-blind study, 60 men and women, ages 18 to 35 were divided into five groups that either received CBD, a placebo, or Clonazepam (a medicine used to treat panic disorders)

After each participant gave a speech, they filled out a questionnaire on anxiety level and had their blood pressure and heart rate measured.

THE RESULTS

Clonazepam was effective, as it consistently reduced anxiety in a more sedative way. However, CBD was also effective and didn’t have the potential for the side effects of Clonazepam which are: muscle weakness, drowsiness, indigestion, loss of muscle coordination, slurred speech.) There are others, but I think you get the picture. CBD has none of these side effects. The placebo group wasn’t as successful as the Clonazepam and CBD.

CONCLUSION

CBD can be used to reduce anxiety and fear of public speaking without the serious side effects of Clonazepam. In addition, CBD can be effective in a variety of other ways and can help reduce several other conditions and ailments.

January 10, 2020

CBD AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA

In an article posted on the web page, Dementia Care Central, they stated:

“Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects one’s nervous stem, with the average age on onset at 60 years old. Simply stated, brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine, which are responsible for transmitting messages to the body in relation to movement, become damaged and die. This results in a variety of movement issues, which may include tremors, lack of facial expression, difficulty balancing, and stiffness of muscles. In addition, PD may develop into Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), which impacts one’s cognitive functioning, such as the ability to remember things, make good decisions, and pay attention.”

CBD CAN HELP WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON’S

The article went on to mention how studies have shown that CBD may offer much needed relief from the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s affects the brain’s ability to produce dopamine. Researchers Alyssa S. Laun and Zhao-Hui Son from the University of Kentucky found that CBD acts as an “inverse agonist” on CPR6 receptors. This indicates that CBD responds within the receptors to provide therapeutic effects against the symptoms of Parkinson’s. This important discovery is chronicled here.

CBD, PARKINSON’S AND DEMENTIA

The article went on to talk about how CBD can help with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. In addition, CBD can help with many of the other symptoms of Parkinson’s. As we have mentioned in previous posts, there is continuing studies on CBD use for Dementia and relief of its symptoms.

RESEARCH CONTINUES ON THE MANY FACETS OF CBD’S BENEFITS

As the research continues, we are seeing more and more how important CBD is and is going to be in a wide variety of diseases, conditions and ailments.

January 8, 2020

CBD AS A TREATMENT FOR AUTISM

A recent webinar presented at the University of California at San Diego on CBD use for autism, three presenters spoke of the use of CBD for autism. Dr. Keith Vox, a pediatrician working with autistic patients for the last two decades, offered a history of cannabis use as a medicine in the United States. He offered accounts of major successes in treating epilepsy with CBD. In addition, he suggested that CBD has been used to treat autism with some success.

A STUDY IN ISRAEL HAD MIXED RESULTS

The study that was sponsored by the University of California at San Diego, was fueled by a recent study in Israel where some children with autism saw significant improvement after using CBD, and some children did not see a major improvement.

A NEW STUDY AT UCSD

Dr. Alysson Muotri, Ph.D., Director of the Stem Cell Program Department of Pediatrics & Cellular Molecular Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine detailed the multi-discipline study of 30 children with autism to determine the mechanisms of CBD treatments for autism. He went on to detail the tests that would be performed on the subjects as the study progresses.

STUDY ON INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS’ BRAINS

Gabriel A. Silva, Professor of Bio Engineering and Neurosciences and Founding Director, Center for Engineered Natural Intelligence, spoke about how signals move through a network and the speed at which it moves. The study will examine the measured signaling in the patients’ network of neurons, the signaling breakdown in autism, and the effects of CBD in autism on the signaling network.

This study will give the science community a great deal of information on how CBD helps patients with autism and will help physicians to know what is happening in the patients’ brains when CBD is administered and how to determine the efficacy of CBD treatment.

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020

CBD – AN ANSWER TO OPIOID ADDICTION?

A report found on the web page of Northwestern Medicine addressed a recent study that has promising information about CBD helping those who are addicted to opioids. The article quotes Dr. Melinda R. Ring, executive director of Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, speaking about how CBD may help manage triggers for cravings and anxiety in people who use heroin due to its inhibitory effect. She said, “From a research perspective, there’s interesting data that needs to be confirmed.”

THE STUDY’S FINDINGS

In a short-term study, 42 patients taking CBD reported reduced cravings for up to one week after their dose of CBD. Dr. Ring suggests the findings are significant, suggesting that CBD could be a powerful tool in helping individuals seeking help for addiction

The study concluded, “CBD’s potential to reduce cue-induced craving and anxiety provides a strong basis for further investigation of this phytocannabinoid as a treatment option for opioid use disorder.”

A DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

This study’s results were, “Acute CBD administration, in contrast to placebo, significantly reduced both craving and anxiety induced by the presentation of salient drug cues compared with neutral cues. CBD also showed significant protracted effects on these measures 7 days after the final short-term (3-day) CBD exposure. In addition, CBD reduced the drug cue–induced physiological measures of heart rate and salivary cortisol levels. There were no significant effects on cognition, and there were no serious adverse effects.”

CONCLUSION

CBD, after more research, will be one of the major treatments for those with opioid addiction. This is due to the success of helping people addicted to opioids stop the craving and the fact that there is little or no side effects from the CBD.

January 6, 2020

IS CBD FOR YOU?

Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

When anything new is introduced, we can often be overwhelmed by all the hype intrinsically found in advertising and marketing. All too often, we are bombarded by false and overblown claims about a product’s capabilities which leave us unbelieving and cynical about the product and its benefits. Unscrupulous businesses can try to misrepresent and exaggerate leaving the general populace confused. I hope this blog can help dispel some of the hype and confusion.

WHERE IS THE RESEARCH?

When claims are made, I always want to see the actual research backing the claim. If the research is not available, I then become somewhat skeptical and start to take whatever is said with a grain of salt. Seeing the research, or references to research indicates to me that the claims made are at least based on scientific principles. In addition, I will search out the research on my own before I even think about purchasing a new product, especially one that claims medicinal properties.

WHAT ARE OTHER PEOPLE SAYING?

In addition to scientific research, I like to seek the opinions of those who have used the product, looking for corroborating evidence to the research. In the absence of scientific research, anecdotal evidence can be a compelling argument for or against a product. This should be from trusted sources, if possible.

WHERE DO YOU PURCHASE IT?

Purchasing from trusted sources can help us when trying a new product. Do they stand behind their product? Do they have scientific evidence of its ingredients? Do they specialize in the product or genre of the product, or is the product just a side business? These are important questions when deciding where to purchase a product, or where to go for information about a product. My advice is to buy from the specialists to insure quality and purity.

TO ANSWER THE INITIAL QUESTION – IS CBD FOR YOU?

If you struggle with pain, insomnia or anxiety, then I would suggest you begin your research and discover for yourself the benefits of CBD. At Eden Organics, we have the research and anecdotal evidence that you can read and make an informed decision if CBD is something you would like to try. In addition to the above-mentioned issues, there are many other ailments and conditions that CBD can help with. It just may be that CBD can be a blessing to you. It is worth the time and effort to find out.