PAIN MANAGEMENT - IS CBD OIL THE ANSWER?

Summer is almost here again, which for me, lately, is not really something I look forward to.  If you have followed my blog before, you may already know that I am a brain tumor survivor. If not, well, now you know. 

As a result of the craniotomy (brain surgery) I had in 2013, I ended up with what people call "barometer head."  Basically, when the weather changes, I get thrown for a loop! "Weather changes almost always cause changes in atmospheric pressure. So, my headaches or migraines are caused by  changes in the weather, which are officially called barometric or pressure headaches or migraines. Also, because our sinuses are filled with air, any change in that pressure can affect headaches. Barometric pressure headaches tend to occur after a drop in barometric pressure.  When you first start suffering through this, it is hard to gauge when the headaches will actually occur. (NOTE: If you happen to be suffering from headaches as well, I recommend that you start a journal. Write down when you get a headache, how long it last and what weather pattern was occurring on that day (before or after your pressure headache.)

So, although I was born and raised in Florida, and I love it, these last few years have really been an adjustment. As fun as summers have always been my whole life, especially, after having kids, lately, I tend to dread this time of year. The headaches increase for me during the summer because of the rain and humidity and then my pain is compounded by flare ups of my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. I know I sound like a mess but for the most part, I am really not. I am just in search of a way to keep things under control, especially when summer rolls around.

So, why am I writing about all this?  Although I could sit here and kvetch, what I am really looking for is recommendations and some constructive input - homeopathic, organic remedies to alleviate these symptoms. I had been reading up on something called Migraine Magic, that helps alleviate migraines by spraying yourself with a mist or using a roll-on your head and I am seriously considering ordering this, simply because I have read such great reviews on that product. However, I feel like I need something that will help me treat my overall symptoms.  Sure, I take vitamins, but when real pain hits, I need something stronger and I don't want to continue to take OTC's (over-the-counter) pain relief medicine. I have tried a lot of different supplements over the course of the last few years but I need something different and effective!

For the most part, I am a happy, healthy mom, working on my writing, my side hustle businesses and network marketing.  However, when those "mama said there'd be days like this" hit me, well, I just feel like I want to shut down the whole world! Realistically, that is not an option, so hence my willingness to try something new.  People have suggested essential oils, acupuncture, yoga and more. I know a combination of all those things would probably be helpful as well but I have been going down a different route of research lately.

A while back I ordered an Anti-Aging Cream with Apple Stem Cells from a company called Hemp Genix and I loved it! "This cream helps to prevent age related skin degradation, along with the regrowth of healthy skin cell formation." They combined 30mg of pure CBD oil to provide natural healing properties.  Now, you must be wondering what does anti-aging cream have to do with my headaches and pain symptoms?  Well, because I loved their cream so much and I got a lot of compliments when using it, I started reading about the company, which lead me to my research on hemp and CBD oil. CBD is short for Cannabidiol.

This is what I found out from their website:

"Cannabidiol called CBD for short, is derived from hemp, which is the male cannabis plant. CBD hemp oil from this plant may contain trace amounts of THC, but WON'T get you high at all. It is just one of over 85 cannabinoids presently identified in the cannabis plant and is the second most abundant cannabinoid in marijuana after THC. In hemp, however, THC is only present in trace amounts, while CBD dominates the plant’s makeup. CBD interacts with our naturally occurring systems, but is non-psychotropic, it doesn’t cause a high. This makes it a safer, less controversial alternative, while still offering significant health benefits.

CBD hemp oil is produced using high-CBD, low-THC hemp, not at all like medicinal weed items, which are typically produced using plants with high groupings of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since hemp contains just follow measures of THC, these hemp oil items are non-psychoactive."

So, why do I think CBD oil might help me?  My research online has lead me to many articles but basically, what I learned is that "CBD may prevent the body from metabolizing anandamide. This is a compound associated with pain regulation." And regulating my pain is most certainly something I need! Maintaining high levels of anandamides in your bloodstream, may reduce feelings of pain and also, CBD is known to limit inflammation within the body, which may also help reduce pain and other immune-system responses, like for people who have rheumatoid arthritis or other auto-immune diseases. 

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cannabis has been used for nearly 3,000 years in alternative medicine. Some of these uses include the management of pain, neurological symptoms, and inflammation. 

So the other day I was doing all this research on CBD oils and other options to find pain relief and my teenager overhears me discussing it with a family member and later tells me, "Yea Mom, you should try smoking pot. Try it." (as she laughs,) She tells me a lot of people she knows are "vaping."  (Geez, now I need to go do more research! LOL!)

Now, while I don't care if other people smoke pot, this is definitely not something I want my kid doing (smoking pot or weed or whatever the correct terminology is,) this is simply about me finding an alternative method to manage the pain when it hits me. Actually, I would prefer before it hits me!

I have certainly learned a lot in my research about CBD oils and hemp.  Vaping CBD oil is one of the preferred methods to ease side effects for many people who suffer from things like all types of cancers, stress, anxiety, joint pain, seizures, inflammation, sleep-apnea, high blood pressure and the list goes on.

I was curious...

How I should use CBD oil if I opted for this method. 

What I learned is that CBD oil is taken via vaping or ingestion. Oral CBD is less likely to cause side effects, so as a beginner I may want to start here. You can put a few drops of the oil under your tongue, or you can  take CBD capsules, or even eat a CBD-infused treat.  

Next question...

Will I get high from CBD oil?   

 

CBD oils are made from marijuana, but they don’t always contain tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). THC is the component that makes users feel “high” or “stoned” when smoking cannabis. Conclusion is, CBD oil doesn’t have psychoactive properties.

Hmmm, decisions, decisions...

Now, in all seriousness, if you are reading this and can relate or if you have tried an alternative method for pain management, especially CBD oils, I'd love to hear about it.  Any recommendations, suggestions. (Serious comments only please.)

Thanks for joining me on my journey (quest) to find pain relief!




Sources:

Hemp Genix
Healthline 
Made by Hemp
CBD Oil Review



FYI - CBD does not cause a high, unlike THC. The reason why CBD is non-psychoactive is due to its lack of affinity for CB1 receptors. CB1 receptors are found in high concentrations in the brain, and are the pathways responsible for the psychoactive effects of THC.

DOES MY KID HAVE ADHD?

Recently, during my son's parent/teacher conference, his teacher told me how poorly he is doing in school and how he has trouble focusing and "staying on task" and has a poor attention span.  I was thrown for a loop, as his grades are all A's and B's.  She also emphasized how bad, his "test-taking skills" are.  She went on to explain how one time he scored extremely poorly on a reading test and then weeks later, scored above grade level? So, I have a smart kid who gets A's & B's but sucks at test-taking and can't focus during test. Is this her conclusion? What am I to do with this kind of information?

I know my child does not have a learning disability and honestly, I am not oblivious to my child's behavior, because I do know that he is not the "best listener" around, but I never expected such a gloomy outcome to the conference.  

In recent weeks, I have noticed, a change in his behavior, pushing the "limits" more and more, but I thought perhaps he was testing his "behavioral boundaries" with me combined with his near entrance into his "pre-tween years.  Regardless, now I must do something immediately to help him, both academically and emotionally, so he does not fall behind because I know very well, that even if you have a smart child, once a teacher and the "system" start labeling your kid, it does not go well or in the favor of the student.

Since having had my parent/teacher conference, I have already looked into resources at our local school district and I plan on making some calls to a couple of his previous teachers to consult with them, as he had a great rapport with these teachers, as well as the ESE Specialist and the principal of the school, which I have known for years.  Independent of all these things, the conference and the teacher's comments left me wondering now, if my kid actually could have ADHD,(Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.)   

I know that poor-test taking does not equate ADHD,  but it is the combination of the symptoms and patterns of behavior I have noticed, coupled with the teacher's very specific details of his classroom behavior and his overall demeanor recently, that has lead me to my reading and research. Plus, to top it off, I read a list of symptoms that are common in children that have ADHD and I was able to check the majority of the bullet points. Yikes!

Symptoms in Children

Symptoms are grouped into three categories:
Inattention. A child with ADHD:

• Is easily distracted
• Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks
• Doesn't appear to be listening
• Doesn't pay attention and makes careless mistakes
• Forgets about daily activities
• Has problems organizing daily tasks
• Doesn’t like to do things that require sitting still
• Often loses things
• Tends to daydream

Hyperactivity. A child with ADHD:

• Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
• Doesn't stay seated
• Has trouble playing quietly
• Is always moving, such as running or climbing on things (In teens and adults, this is more commonly described as restlessness.)
• Talks excessively
• Is always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”

Impulsivity. A child with ADHD:

• Has trouble waiting for his or her turn
• Blurts out answers
• Interrupts others

My online research regarding the topic of ADHD, lead me to an interesting post on alternative (homeopathic ) ways to try to deal with a child's ADHD or at least try to lessen some of the symptoms. I know obviously, these are not cures and many kids have much more serious problems but, I found it to be quite informative and a good alternative to try, even if my child has not been officially diagnosed with ADHD or other behavioral issue.  

I always appreciate alternative methods to medicine and believe that some of these tips can benefit many children, independent of whether they officially have ADHD or not.

After reading the list below, I have to say that I have to make a very conscious effort to implement some of these, especially, No. 1, regarding food-coloring!

1. Forgo food colorings and preservatives

Alternative treatments may help manage some symptoms associated with ADHD, including:

• difficulty paying attention
• organizational problems
• forgetfulness
• frequently interrupting

The Mayo Clinic notes that certain food colorings and preservatives may increase hyperactive behavior in some children. Avoid foods with these colorings and preservatives:

• sodium benzoate, which is commonly found in carbonated beverages, salad dressings, and fruit juice products
• FD&C Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow), which can be found in breadcrumbs, cereal, candy, icing, and soft drinks
• D&C Yellow No. 10 (quinoline yellow), which can be found in juices, sorbets, and smoked haddock
• FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine), which can be found in foods like pickles, cereal, granola bars, and yogurt
• FD&C Red No. 40 (allura red), which can be found in soft drinks, children’s medications, gelatin desserts, and ice cream

2. Avoid potential allergens

Diets that restrict possible allergens may help improve behavior in some children with ADHD.
It’s best to check with an allergy doctor if you suspect that your child has allergies. But you can experiment by avoiding these foods:

• chemical additives/preservatives such as BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxy-anisole), which are often used to keep the oil in a product from going bad and can be found in processed food items such as potato chips, chewing gum, dry cake mixes, cereal, butter, and instant mashed potatoes
• milk and eggs
• chocolate
• foods containing sali-cylates, including berries, chili powder, apples and cider, grapes, oranges, peaches, plums, prunes, and tomatoes (sali-cylates are chemicals occurring naturally in plants and are the major ingredient in many pain medications)

3. Try EEG biofeedback

Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback is a type of neuro-therapy that measures brain waves. A 2011 study suggested that EEG training was a promising treatment for ADHD.
A child may play a special video game during a typical session. They’ll be given a task to concentrate on, such as “keep the plane flying.” The plane will start to dive or the screen will go dark if they’re distracted. The game teaches the child new focusing techniques over time. Eventually, the child will begin to identify and correct their symptoms.

4. Consider a yoga or tai chi class

Some small studies indicate that yoga may be helpful for people with ADHD. Research published in 2013 reported significant improvements in hyperactivity, anxiety, and social problems in boys with ADHD who practiced yoga regularly.
Some early studies suggest that tai chi also may help improve ADHD symptoms. Researchers found that teenagers with ADHD who practiced Tai Chi weren’t as anxious or hyperactive. They also daydreamed less and displayed fewer inappropriate emotions when they participated in tai chi classes twice a week for five weeks.

5. Spending time outside

Spending time outside may benefit children with ADHD. There is strong evidence that spending even 20 minutes outside can benefit them by improving their concentration. Greenery and nature settings are the most beneficial.
A 2011 study, and several studies before it, supports the claim that regular exposure to outdoors and green space is a safe and natural treatment that can be used to help people with ADHD.

6. Behavioral or parental therapy

For children with more severe cases of ADHD, behavioral therapy can prove beneficial. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that behavioral therapy should be the first step in treating ADHD in young children.
Sometimes called behavioral modification, this approach works on resolving specific problematic behaviors and offers solutions to help prevent them. This can also involve setting up goals and rules for the child. Because behavioral therapy and medication are most effective when used together, it can be a powerful aid in helping your child.
Parental therapy can help provide parents with the tools they need to help their child with ADHD succeed. Equipping parents with techniques and strategies for how to work around behavioral problems can help both the parent and the child in the long term.

What about supplements?

Treatment with supplements may help improve symptoms of ADHD. These supplements include:

• zinc
• L-carnitine
• vitamin B-6
• magnesium

However, results have been mixed. Herbs like ginkgo, ginseng, and passionflower may also help calm hyperactivity.

Supplementing without a doctor’s oversight can be dangerous — particularly in children. Talk to your doctor if you’re interested in trying these alternative therapies. They can order a blood test to measure current levels of a nutrient in your child before they start taking supplements.

There are a lot of natural remedies out there, and each day, different natural remedies come out promising great things. Caveat emptor! Discuss treatment options with your doctor, as some natural remedies may interfere with remedies that your physician is providing.

– Timothy Legg, PhD, CRNP

(Note:  Read more on L-carnitine)


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ADDENDUM:   Also, if you have a child who happens to have a learning disability, here is a
guide that provides information on specific rights and services offered to help families of children with learning disabilities such as:

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Individualized Education Program
• 504 Plans

Sometimes families may be forced to pay out of pocket for treatment costs so their child can get the help they need. To help with this issue, The Simple Dollar created a resource that outlines treatment plans and how to afford them based on the type of disability, including ADHD.