A few years ago, CBD became a household name, with products often seen at gas stations, party stores and Family Video. However, many people still have a false impression of what CBD is, how it can help and who it's for.
With the help of Brandy Palmer, owner of Green Wellness Life in Caledonia, we get the facts straight.
What is CBD, really?
CBD is the short name for cannabidiol, a major compound (C21H30O2) found in the cannabis plant. THC is the other major compound you've heard of, but they do very different things. Cannabis has hundreds of compounds—it just so happens these two have uniquely noticeable impacts on our bodies. In THC's case, that impact is getting you high, but not so for CBD.
What does it do?
It can't cure all your problems—however, if you struggle with sleep, anxiety, inflammation, pain, stress or even seizures, CBD products might be right for you. In Palmer's words, "CBD is part of maintaining daily wellness for my family. It's really a neutralizer. I think we're all looking for balance in our lives, and this starts that at the cellular level."
Does it really work?
More research is coming out every day. Studies strongly trend toward legit CBD products having a noticeable positive impact on the body. If your problem can't be addressed by CBD, you might be better off with THC, or a combination of the two. And you should always consult a medical professional. But Palmer got into the CBD business after seeing the impact it had on herself and others, and her anecdotal evidence is mounting by the day.
"We have people that call us and say they've been able to stop taking their anxiety medications. We've got a customer just last week telling us her son has been seizure-free for almost a year."
Where do I start?
"We want to focus on educating people first," Palmer said. "I think a lot of people get frustrated with CBD, because they don't know what they're buying, how much to take or how to take it. And then they end up saying, 'This was no good, it didn't work for me.'
"Well, either they were buying lousy product, or they didn't have the education they needed to make sure they gave it time to be a good fit."
Stores like Green Wellness Life can help you with all of that, and if it doesn't work the way you were hoping, they can help course correct.
Written by Josh Veal, Contributing Writer for West Michigan Woman. Edited by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Jun/Jul 2021 issue of West Michigan Woman.
