The Scientific Holistic

30/06/2023

Recreational cannabis sales start tomorrow, July 1st, here in Maryland! This is a BFD in the cannabis world, and a lot of people who didn't have access to w**d before are going to want to try it.

If you're altogether new to cannabis, haven't used it in a long time, or are just new to the *legal* market, it can be overwhelming. There are so many options! So much terminology! WHAT SHOULD I BUY?

I'm here to be your CannaMom and give you some guidelines. Here's a quick rundown to get new folks started. And if I'm not including the info you're looking for? Ask in the comments! I love talking about this stuff.

TL;DR: Start with low doses of THC, and take your time.

THC is the component of cannabis that makes a person feel high, and it's also the component that can make you feel anxious or paranoid if you have too much. With any drug, the general rule is to Start Low and Go Slow.

A low dose of THC in edible form is 2.5mg to 5mg per serving. If you're trying something edible (meaning anything that you swallow, so this can include anything from tinctures to gummies to drinks), it can take 2 or more hours to kick in, so take one dose and then wait at least two hours before taking more. Once you know what you're looking for and what effect you get from that dose, you can adjust.

If you're interested in smoking using flower or pre-rolls (pre-made joints), look at the cannabinoid content. Most varieties are extremely high in THC - what people were smoking in the 70's was in the 2% - 5% range, whereas most of what you'll find in dispensaries today will be upward of 20%. Start with one small hit and give it a few minutes before going for more. This is not a world where a newbie can smoke an entire joint in one sitting and have a good time.

If you're hoping to use cannabis for medical purposes, especially for pain or anxiety, look for a product that includes CBD. I personally like to use gummies with a ratio of 5 parts CBD to one part THC for my pain issues, but you may need to play around to find what's right for you.

Just remember, especially with THC: Start Low, Go Slow.

10/03/2023

A sad day for cannabis science! We've lost a pioneering researcher who was the first to synthesize THC, among so many other firsts. His contribution to the field cannot be overstated. RIP, Dr Mechoulam.

The news comes from friends and colleagues who have shared their condolences and tributes.

03/01/2023

Here we see a significant problem which is only going to become more pronounced. With increased availability of legal cannabis, real efforts need to be made to make sure that edibles (and other cannabis products) don't fall into the hands of children.

Most states with legal w**d, either medical or recreational, do have regulations in place saying that packaging should be designed in such a way as to not be appealing to children - no cartoon characters, no cute little dancing fruits, or anything else that might make it look like the package contains candy.

Significantly more needs to be done, though, as this article shows. Some of what we need is regulatory, like requiring opaque, child-resistant packaging, warning labels, and consumer education.

But some can be accomplished by consumers being more careful with their w**d products. Especially if you have children, or children come into your home, you should be locking away your cannabis products the same way you'd lock away bleach and prescription medications.

I use a simple, combination lock box. It doesn't need to be fancy or expensive, it just needs to confound little fingers enough that they can't get to those delicious-looking gummies. You can get these for less than $25 on Amazon.

Be careful, and use wisely 😘

The number of young kids, especially toddlers, who accidentally ate marijuana-laced treats rose sharply over five years as pot became legal in more places in the U.S., according to a study published Tuesday.

21/10/2022

It's been a minute since I went on a little educational rant, so I thought that today I'd talk about the labels "indica" and "sativa" and why they're not useful. Fun!

DEBUNKING MEANINGLESS MARKETING LABELS

There have been many studies performed over the last 40 years or so which have shown that chemically there is no difference between indica and sativa plants. Which is really just to say that you cannot look at the chemical profile of a cannabis plant and identify it as either indica or sativa - one indica could have a virtually identical profile to a particular variety of sativa, while it's not even similar to this other variety of indica.

This has to do with how heavily domesticated the plant is, since we've been breeding it for so long that even though those labels still have meaning when you're a breeder identifying growth patterns (what the leaf looks like, when the plant flowers, etc), a user's actual experience is not predicted by those labels at all.

Think of it this way. Imagine I'm looking to buy a house, and you're my realtor. I say to you, "I would like a house just like the one I grew up in. I had a very happy childhood and I want that same experience for my kids." You say, "Terrific! What kind of house was it?" To which I reply, "It was a house, not an apartment," and I'm unable to give you any more information than that.

If we were to start looking at houses based on that level of information, we might hit on something similar to what I'm looking for, but most likely not. It will be a random collection of row homes and Cape Cods and urban condos, and it will be frustrating for everyone involved.

But if I answer, "It was a mid-century bilevel in the suburbs, with three bedrooms upstairs, a garage, and a large backyard with a great climbing tree," that really narrows things down. Now we can look in a targeted way, without all the frustration.

So think of your cannabis products from a nitty-gritty, chemical perspective.

Which cannabinoids are present, and in what amounts? Which terpenes are present, and in what amounts?

You can find that information by asking at your dispensary (if they don't know, that's a MAJOR red flag and you should find a better dispensary), or by requesting a certificate of analysis from the distributor (if online, this should be available either on the website or by request). Websites like Leafly also provide this information, but theirs is generalized by strain name and may not match the batch you are buying.

If you find that you've had a particular result with a variety that's 12% THC, with high myrcene and terpinolene, then you've got a profile that's likely to give you more consistent results. You can use that to find other varieties and products that are likely to give you similar results. If you're just looking at "sativa" or "indica," the results you get are likely to be a lot more random and you're setting yourself up for frustration.

Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to buy myself this fantastic mug, because I've been a very good girl and I deserve it.

Scientists have found that the strain name of a particular type of cannabis basically doesn’t mean much of anything at all.Now you can wear this message loud and proud and educate others while looking good at the same time! High quality ceramic mug Dishwasher safe Microwave safe White gloss 11 oz ...

14/10/2022

Having the piece of paper in my hands makes it feel so much more official! Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Cannabis Science: Therapeutics, Product Design, and Quality Control. I'm extremely proud of myself for this rather significant accomplishment! Slowly filling my Natural Medicines toolbox, one modality at a time 🌹

06/10/2022

This is absolutely huge. This alone has brought us several steps closer to rational federal and state regulation of cannabis - something that has long been stymied by its classification as a Schedule I controlled substance. A federal-level pardon and acknowledgment of the terrible harms caused by the "war on drugs" is also a necessary first step to dismantling an unjust, unnecessarily punitive system that disproportionately incarcerates black and brown Americans, and I am Here. For. It. Nobody should be unable to get a job because they were caught with w**d. Thank you, President Biden!

30/07/2022

What's this? A post? It sure is. This is a little rant I shared on my personal page. I'm *thisclose* to being finished with my Cannabis Science program, which means I'm adding another facet to my educational mission here at TSH. Lots of changes happening, but one thing is constant: me getting mad about people giving bad information. Enjoy!
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Goodness, I am the WORST in dispensaries.

TL;DR: A budtender at Maggie's Hampden gave someone some very terrible advice in my hearing. If that patient follows that advice, they're likely to have a REALLY bad day.

So. I was at the dispensary buying my stuff, minding my business. Mostly minding my business. When I overheard the budtender at the next register talking to her customer about edibles. Specifically, about low-dose (2.5mg THC per piece) gummies. What she said was, "Yeah, it's a low dose, so it's great! You can just, like, snack on them and wait a bit and see what happens!"

Deep. Breath. Don't call out the person in her place of business. Deeeeeeep breath.

And I didn't say anything. Trying to remember that it isn't my business. However, for the sake of other people who might benefit from learning this, I'm going to talk a little bit about edibles and how to take them so that you don't have a horrible experience.

A lot of people who are new to cannabis start with edibles. They're friendly, they don't involve special equipment, they don't stink up your house. They're great! But the thing with edibles is that they don't "hit" for a LOT longer than smoked forms. If you're smoking a joint or a pipe, you'll feel it within minutes. Edibles, because they have to be digested and pass through your liver before they hit your blood stream, can take hours. So when you take an edible, you need to wait AT LEAST THREE HOURS before you say, "Huh, no effect! Guess I should take some more."

A disproportionate number of people who go to the ER because they've taken way too much cannabis are people who didn't wait long enough for the edibles to kick in, and they took more, leading to getting WAY more high than they really wanted to be or should have gotten.

So when someone asks, "How do I take these low-dose edibles?" The correct answer is NOT "Just snack on them and see what happens."

The correct answer IS: Start low and go slow. Take one, wait three hours, and then if you want to, take another one. Once you're used to the effect and the time frame involved, you'll be able to judge for yourself how many to take at one time. This is not "micro-dosing," it's just DOSING.

And that's it, that's my rant. For today. What should I rant about next? Maybe I'll go to the High Times comment sections and rain hell on the cannabros who think they know things.

Edibles are foods or drinks containing cannabis extract. They tend to give a more intense 'high' than smoking cannabis. Learn more, including how long they take to kick in.

04/05/2022

BlackForager knows what's up. If you're not angry, get angry. Herbs should not be something that people use out of desperation because necessary medical care is being denied them.

03/01/2022

Hey everyone! Long time, huh?

Well, I'm not dead. I'm working on graduate school, trying to improve my science-based herbal practice.

SPEAKING OF WHICH. This is a PSA not to follow The Herb Society, a UK-based organization which is supposedly dedicated to education. They're spreading misinformation, telling people that wearing masks is dangerous and unnecessary, in spite of a SLEW of recent studies showing the opposite.

You want me to see red? Say that you're dedicated to healing and then go on a COVID misinformation rant. Jackasses.

ANYWAY. Don't follow these idiots. Wear your masks. Get vaccinated if you haven't already, or boosted if you're eligible. Do what you can to end this miserable pandemic.

❤ TSH

20/06/2021

H/t Tisserand Institute

13/04/2021

TL;DR: There's bad science on both sides of the aromatherapy argument. While I tend to highlight bogus claims in favor of overuse of essential oils, there are plenty of equally bogus claims that essential oils are all risk and no benefit. Check out this excellent article for a breakdown of an often-cited study that is simply bad science.

"That essential oils can be dangerous is not disputed. However, the article under review contains methodological flaws, inconsistencies, and misleading statements which make the conclusions unreliable. ... This is not a systematic review; it is at best a narrative summary of adverse events as presented in single case studies, or case series, most of which have limited relevance to the practice of aromatherapy. At worst it is an example of bias aided and abetted by sloppy science."

In 2012 a systematic review was published, which “was aimed at critically evaluating the evidence regarding the adverse effects associated with aromatherapy” (Posadzki et al, 2012). However, it is an article awash with inaccuracy and offers a text-book example of what a systematic review is not.

18/03/2021

H/t to Tisserand Institute:

"The current mood around aromatherapy is complex. There are companies and company representatives making ludicrous health claims which are damaging to the reputation and therefore the development of the practice. In contrast, there are the vocal cynics and critics who, using mostly offensive, ignorant language, insinuate that all complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice is sham, there is no evidence that it works (a very broad statement), those who practice it are quacks, and those who research it are pseudoscientists. Finally, there are practitioners who strongly support research, and then there are those who don’t. In between, some agree a little, but they do not necessarily trust the intentions of the people who conduct the research. This is the climate we are all operating in."

Author TamaraAgnew Tamara Agnew holds a PhD from the University of South Australia following her study on the effect of essential oils and aromatherapy on the physical and psychosocial symptoms of acne vulgaris. She is a lecturer at the University where she teaches research methods, Global National....

18/02/2021

This is fascinating! And it gives me the chance to talk a little about scientific research and aromatherapy.

TL;DR: Science is cool, and good aromatherapy is based in science.

One of the challenges aromatherapists face is that the vast majority of the research that has been done on essential oils has been done in vitro -- meaning, in a petri dish. A few studies have been done in mice or rats. Comparatively, very few have been done using actual, living, human participants.

This makes it hard to translate scientific research to actual practice, leading responsible aromatherapists to adopt a "less is more" mentality and to err on the side of caution when it comes to using essential oils with clients. Yes, there is evidence that lavender oil reduces anxiety in mice, but how best to administer it to humans? Would it work the same way? Could it have side effects in humans that didn't appear in mice? Best to be cautious.

It also leads less responsible practitioners and casual users to occasionally make some pretty ridiculous logical leaps. It's one thing to take research done on mice as being indicative that an oil might be useful for anxiety, but it's a whole other thing to take that same kind of research as being indicative that an oil might be an effective cancer treatment.

(PSA, no, you cannot treat cancer with essential oils. Focus on managing things like anxiety and nausea while the patient undergoes conventional treatment.)

And that's why studies like this one, as explained by Tisserand Institute, are so interesting and exciting. This was done with human participants. It directly indicates a means of use and gives statistical evidence of efficacy. This is practical, usable information that I can incorporate into my practice immediately.

I suppose the punchline here is to keep things in perspective. If someone suggests that essential oils can be used in ways that seem too good to be true, ask to see the research. Shoot me a message. Get a second opinion from a qualified aromatherapist. Because sometimes the research really does suggest something exciting, as with this study -- but sometimes it mostly just means that we need more studies and that we need to continue being very cautious in our use of essential oils.

A clinical trial by Hawkins et al and published in 2019 looked at the effects of aromatherapy on fatigue in women aged 18 - 55 with diagnosed hypothyroidism. The study ran over two weeks, and fatigue was measured by means of a questionnaire – the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory (MFSI) - which assesses 10 types of fatigue. 41 participants completed the study – 21 in the aromatherapy group and 20 in the placebo group.

Participants were instructed to put three drops of a liquid preparation into a personal inhaler and inhale for 15 minutes once a day. At the beginning and the end of week one there was little difference in MFSI scores, but by the end of week two, only the aromatherapy group showed significant improvements in some measures of fatigue, especially “general fatigue” (p=0.015). It is notable that this effect was seen only from a few minutes of daily inhalation.

This study was faced with a particular combination of challenges. One, the placebo effect is notoriously good for pain, and two, the study involved essential oil inhalation (and establishing a genuine placebo for aromatherapy is difficult). The researchers addressed this by having the placebo group sniff avocado oil, while the intervention group sniffed a blend of essential oils. The exact blend is not reported, but consisted primarily of Peppermint, with smaller amounts of Black Pepper, Clove bud, Grapefruit and Bergamot.

All participants knew they were in one of two groups in an aromatherapy study, and at one point during the study, they were asked if they had any comments about the essential oil blend. From the responses it was clear that some in the placebo group thought they were in the intervention group, and vice versa. This helped to establish the authenticity of the placebo group.

Hawkins et al (2019) Aromatherapy reduces fatigue among women with hypothyroidism: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31437124/

11/02/2021

Let’s talk about bad essential oil practices!

*TL;DR: Don’t use essential oils internally. That’s a nope.*

One of the biggest issues of unsafe usage that I come across is internal use of essential oils. Basically, people are putting them in their water, in their food, drops under the tongue, taking them in capsule form.

This. Is. Not. Safe.

The argument is that essential oils occur naturally in a lot of the foods we eat, so therefore they must be safe to use this way.

Thing is, essential oils are highly concentrated. Think of the difference between eating an apple and drinking spoonfuls of concentrated apple juice straight from the can. From the apple, you’re getting a small amount of the juice and it’s in its natural context. From that can of concentrate, you’re getting what would be a WHOLE LOT of juice if it were properly diluted.

To continue following that particular metaphor, common wisdom holds that apple juice makes you fart (thank you, South Park!) The juice in one apple might produce a couple of little t***s. No big. An undiluted can of concentrate, though? You’d better stay close to a toilet!

Back to essential oils. Research has shown that many essential oil components have therapeutic properties when used responsibly. Research has also shown that there are risks to using oils, including:

Allergic reactions

Drug interactions

Damage to tissues

Liver damage

… the list goes on. So as with conventional medicine, we have to walk a line with essential oils, using the smallest amount we can to get a good therapeutic result, while avoiding causing any side effects.

Internal use of essential oils results in very heavy use of the oils, and a greatly increased risk of all those side effects listed above.

Now, let’s talk about the people who are telling you to use the oils this way. They may be your trusted friend, or a family member who you know to have your best interests at heart.

But if their education in essential oils came from a company whose goal is to sell essential oils, THEIR EDUCATION IS SUSPECT.

Let me be clear here. Large companies which sell essential oils are primarily interested in making money. Their practices and educational endeavors reflect that. You know what internal use of essential oils does, in addition to putting people at risk of illness? It uses the oils really fast. Which results in people buying more oils. This is about money.

I don’t blame the people who are individually selling the oils, really. Your Aunt Sue who sells an MLM brand doesn’t know what she doesn’t know. But if you want to know the real story, what is actually safe and what is not, you need to talk to someone who doesn’t have a financial stake in any particular oil company, and whose education comes from someplace that likewise doesn’t have a financial incentive to fudge the safety recommendations.

So. Internal use of essential oils is an unsafe practice, and it’s mostly being pushed in order to make money. Please don’t buy into that.

Got questions? I’m always happy to answer them. Feel free to hit me in the comments!

10/02/2021

I'm finally finished!

This pandemic threw me for a loop. Although I signed up for the Advanced Graduate Program at Aromahead Institute, School of Essential Oil Studies at the end of 2019, it took me until today to finish it. I have now completed roughly 500 hours of aromatherapy education, which fulfilled the requirements for the Scholar's Program and then some!

Infinite thanks to Aromahead Institute and Andrea Butje for the wonderfully in-depth courses of study which have filled my last two years, and to all the friends, family, and clients who have supported and worked with me during this time.

Am I done with my holistic wellness education? Not by a long shot! But for tonight, I think I'll take a break.

Good night!

18/01/2021

To be silent is to be complicit.

17/01/2021

Well, I'm mad again.

An aromatherapist with exactly the same qualifications as I have, from the same school even, just blocked me from her page because I (and at least a dozen other followers of hers) called her out on irresponsibly suggesting that essential oils can be a substitute for wearing a mask in public. The post has been deleted, but I took a screenshot. I recommended that she post a mea culpa and provide her 73,000 person following with some education as to why this is not appropriate. Since it seems that she's chosen rather to avoid responsibility, I'll go ahead and provide that education to my 150 followers and hope that you all will help other essential oil users to understand good practices.

There is NO SCIENCE WHATSOEVER to support the idea that an antiviral inhaler will in any way reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Or any other virus, for that matter.

There have been studies published that support certain components of essential oils having antiviral properties in vitro. What that means is that the oils have been shown to kill viruses in petri dishes. This is intriguing, but it does not IN ANY WAY suggest that these results might translate to use in the human body. The controlled circumstances of a lab are not the same as the body, and you can use oils in far greater concentrations in a petri dish than would be safe to use with an actual living person.

If you have a cold or the flu, sure. Use an antiviral inhaler along with any other remedies you may choose. Used properly, it can't hurt, and it might help you to feel better more quickly.

But NO ESSENTIAL OIL IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WEARING A MASK DURING A PANDEMIC.

ABSOLUTELY NONE.

This recommendation is unethical, irresponsible, and dangerous.