Since legalization in Canada in 2018, we’ve seen accelerated interest in cannabis as medicine and how it can play a positive role in one’s natural health lifestyle. However, many of those who would love to take advantage of its health benefits often look for alternatives, since they associate cannabis with the high often sought out by recreational users.

The great news is, there are many other compounds in cannabis that can bring about those same health benefits without the high. While much of the focus has been on cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, etc., which are all strictly regulated in Canada and not legal for sale outside of government-licensed cannabis dispensaries), another class of compounds called terpenes are gaining attention, with numerous publications considering it equally important, if not more important, than the cannabinoids.

Terpenes

In fact, terpenes from the essential oil component of cannabis are the reason why different strains of cannabis offer different effects for the user—the reason why some strains are better for sleep, while other strains are better for pain relief. Those same terpenes found in cannabis are also found in a number of other plants, and the reason why the essential oils of plants can offer such a wide range of health benefits.

Cannanda™, a multi-award-winning brand, now makes it easy for consumers and patients to leverage the power of terpenes in a manner that’s completely legal for sale in any store, including health food stores. However, unlike essential oils that contain a mix of various terpenes—many of which may not contribute to the effect you’re looking for, or just function as a scent—Cannanda starts with isolated terpenes to create blends where 100% of the formula is committed to the therapeutic effect you’re after. Think of these blends as super-potent essential oils that are highly targeted to specific biological processes. For example, the award-winning CB2™ products effectively target the endocannabinoid system[i] (ECS) in a manner similar to THC and CBD, but without the high.

For Pain, Anxiety, and So Much More

Since these CB2™ products effectively target the main receptor of the ECS, called CB2 receptors, they can have a wide assortment of benefits. While most will use these products for either pain or anxiety, some other examples include:

• insomnia and sleep problems
• migraines and headaches
• fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and other types of chronic pain
• insulin sensitivity, obesity, and other metabolic conditions
• neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
• autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis
• digestive disorders
• and the list goes on.

With or Without CBD

The benefits of CB2™ and CBD are very comparable, but at the cellular level, they work in different—but complementary—ways. While most users find that CB2™ works well on its own, many CBD users find that adding CB2™ greatly improves their response to CBD, especially for those not getting the expected results from CBD alone.

For those already getting good results from CBD, however, adding CB2™ can help achieve the same results while minimizing the dose of CBD. Considering the cost of CBD, this can significantly help reduce overall spending.

All Without the High

Many will be wondering if it’s possible to get a “high” from CB2™ or Cannanda’s other terpene blends, and the answer is absolutely not. The “high” associated with cannabis comes from the activation of another receptor called CB1. Activating just the CB2 receptors, without activating CB1 receptors, can offer many of the benefits of cannabis, without the high, and this is exactly how CB2™ works.

Personalized Medicine

The amazing thing with CB2™ is that it benefits your body wherever it’s out of balance. This is because CB2 receptors are increased in those areas needing balance, essentially making these products your own personalized therapy. Your body tells these terpenes where to take effect. This is also the reason why many times people use these products for one reason, but find other aspects of their body or health are improved.

Small Investment for Fast Results

While many products on the market can take months to notice a benefit (and in that time, cost a considerable amount on a monthly basis), CB2™ products often work within the first week or two—with many users reporting that they work from the very first use, almost instantly! Whether these products work with your body or not will only require an investment of one bottle. You won’t need to buy many bottles over months to finally determine whether it’s a product you want to continue with or not, so give these award-winning products a try—your health and wallet will thank you.

Footnote: [i] The endocannabinoid system (ECS) functions as the master regulator of homeostasis—balance within the body—and is within every tissue and organ. It’s made up of two main cannabinoid receptors (called CB1 and CB2) and “endocannabinoids” (which are produced by the body and mimic compounds from cannabis). When the normal functions of our tissues or organs are disrupted, that specific area of the body produces more cannabinoid receptors, which are then activated by our endocannabinoids to bring things back into balance.

Lee Know is an award-winning naturopathic doctor and the author of the best-selling book Mitochondria and the Future of Medicine (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018). He’s held positions as medical advisor and director of R&D for major organizations, and is regarded as an expert on the ECS. For more information see the display ad on page 13 of the 27.2 July/August issue of the WHOLifE Journal.