Building Resilience with Herbal Allies to Support Women and Modern Day Mounting Stress

Hey Beaute’ - thanks for joining me!

When we take small moments and care for ourselves, we get relief from not beating ourselves up for some past transgression or feeling anxious about meeting future expectations.

We get free to experience contentment and to make authentic connections with others and with our world.

Self love looks different for every woman and far from a one-size-fits-all silver bullet.

One thing I DO KNOW, plant medicinals can make all the difference.

HENCE, I’m sure you’ve been aware of the onslaught of CBD companies on the market.

This wonderful herbal allie can get to the root of a myriad of issues and is becoming a widely available and particularly soothing phyto-friend.

CBD has exploded (and sometimes exploited) in popularity recently and for good reason: not only has it aided so many in managing their disharmonies, diseases, and symptoms, it has provided a held space, a calm center, from which to heal ourselves, from which to love ourselves.

How?
Plant medicine works directly with our endogenous endocannabinoid system (ECS) to down-regulate inflammation, moderate immune response, and maintain overall homeostasis in the body.

Homeostasis is the state of balance and equilibrium our bodies are always striving for, always fine tuning to achieve.

Excessive stress, poor nutrition, and exposure to environmental toxins makes this process more difficult. (PMS, hot flashes, anxiety attack, weight gain, etc).

Much of our trauma, overwhelm, and feelings of frustration or inadequacy manifests somatically, in the body, and CBD helps to unwind some of that tension so we can more effectively find our unique homeostasis.

As stated, there’s no silver bullet, and it’s hard to know how to start, who to trust and how to even read a ingredient label If you find yourself lost on your unique path, then I have something in store for you!

Learning about the various cannabinoids interactions within our body has taken me painstacken HOURS and over 2 years to fully comprehend. From how to find the best (truly organic) sources, how it works within our biochemistry, and helping consumer take their blind-folds off to see who’s in it just for the money.

It’s proven itself by helping both myself and hundreds of women I’ve coached using our pharmaceutical grade CBD - to discover and uncover ways in which to love ourselves and get back in a circadian sync - less anxiety, more sleep, reduced pain and more.

SO THIS IS THE ONLY NEXT STEP. 

I’m beyond excited! (huge grin over here) To make this happen, I’m going BIG and I’m co-creating a space with the women of Ellementa, the fastest growing Women’s Cannabis Network in the nation as their MN Team Lead (your guide if I may).

This year's mission and events, with the theme of "Advancing Women’s Health and Cannabinoid Knowledge", will launch on March 31st as our first cutting-edge event - exclusive to WOMEN ONLY!

It's an honor to take Ellementa's mission and bring it to MN!

I’ll share more in my next post - so stay tuned! Can’t wait?

I’ll scoot you over to a good ol’ PRESS RELEASE right HERE!

&

JOIN our EXCLUSIVE FB GROUP to be notified of what’s to come!

I’ll see you soon - Love n’ Light - Kassandra

How do you dose? The True Bioavailability Between Tinctures, Edibles and Topicals.

Believe me, I know when you’re taking the journey of understanding CBD and how it works - is confusing. If you don’t have neurology or biochemistry degrees, even understanding the basics like your endocannabinoid system, it’s vast network and CB1/CB2 receptors can make you dizzy.

Here’s the truth. Cannabis and CBD is a chemical.

In fact, everything in our universe is built of energy and chemicals - and these chemicals interact with your body’s own chemicals.

So you know the difference between the chemical compounds of THC and CBD:

THC binds most notably to receptors in your brain, altering perception, and CBD doesn’t bind to receptors but alters the communication by activating enzymes and receptors; notably CB2 receptors which are found all over the body regulating everything from mood, skin to menopause to fertility.

At the end of the day, choosing a product with high bioavailability is key. The second is that the “hemp” is activated - reading “Cannabidiol or Diols, Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum.”

Dose refers to how much CBD, CBG, THC, CBN, etc. is in your product and bioavailability refers to how much of that dose actually gets into your body to be considered “active.” Today, we’re breaking down dosing and important definitions to understand.

Bioavailability: when speaking of supplements (hemp falls into this category), bioavailability is the quantity or fraction of the ingested dose that’s absorbed into your body to be considered active.

Two things impact bioavailability:

The application and how your ingest: topical, smoked, oral, edible, or pill are a few common ways to get CBD into your body.

The form of supplement: full spectrum, broad spectrum, isolate and whether these ingredients are “nano.”

A note on nano: Evoq’s Clean Calm and Connected Collection of Nano products whether topically or internally, avoid harsh emulsifications, surfactants, and fillers for two reasons: Some science shows that emulsifications (reclump) in the body; and have harsh driving agents in them defeating the purpose.

Based on the research - let’s look at bioavailability.

While the studies we have don’t outline the rate of absorption (% of bioavailability), look for a product that has transdermal technology or transdermal ingredients to make sure it penetrates the skin. What we do know is that topicals don’t get digested (aka first pass metabolism) meaning it’s stronger and more localized relief.

Vaping and smoking appear to have some of the highest bioavailability at between 34-56%. While smoking something like CBD may not have the localized effect you’ll want if you have joint pain, smoking is a good way to get CBD into your system.

Humans are made of water. Most CBD tinctures are made of oil. Your body is hydrophilic and CBD tinctures are the opposite (hydrophobic - oil and water - remember chemistry class). This doesn’t mean nothing will absorb; of all the “oral” methods, this is one of the better ways to absorb CBD. Another repeat here, but how is the product made, what surrounds it to help it drive further to the blood brain barrier for efficiency and absorbance. So, when the bottle says hold under your tongue for 30 seconds, you might want to overachieve and hold for 60 seconds.

Who doesn’t like a good chocolate CBD edible? Unfortunately, the oral bioavailability of CBD in edibles is low due to something called “first pass metabolism.” If you want something that “hits,” you’re going to need to down a lot of edibles. With food products, you’re looking at anywhere from 6-20% bioavailability with pills being more towards the 6% end.

Now that you’ve mastered bioavailability by product type, let’s talk about the different versions of supplements you find in the CBD world:

Full spectrum means you maintain all ingredients found in the hemp flower. This means that full spectrum products have .3% or less THC because it doesn’t strip anything out.

For potency consistency and reduction of “bell curves” (consistent results), some may choose to formulate with CBD extracted alone, which would be called isolate.

Broad Spectrum is when only the THC is removed but all other ingredients and cannabinoids are maintained. The best way to think of full spectrum and isolate is an orange versus a vitamin C pill, with broad spectrum acting more like a full spectrum product.

BAM! You’re now a PRO!

WAIT! At this point, you’re probably wondering “but how much should I take?”

Through my own experience coaching clients and broad data, it all comes back to testing and good to start at 20mg (and bill upwards to 100mg a day), and journal how you feel.

CBD a pharmacological drug. It’s a plant. Use it daily with consistency and be honest about how you feel and if you have serious concerns about your health, please - please go see a doctor.

Thanks for following along, Awakened Beauty!

Love n’ Light - Kassandra (Leave me a comment, what have you found to work best for you? I’m curious!)

Resource: ChillHouse

How to Know if Your Skin Products Contain Hemp Oil or Active CBD Oil

Hello Awakened Beauty!

Unless you’re living under a rock burrowed deep within a cave on a remote island with terrible cell reception, you’ve heard of CBD. Touted as a “miracle drug,” everyone from doctors to stressed-out city dwellers are excited about its therapeutic potential. While we tend to err on the side of science, both anecdotally and in studies, CBD has been shown to help with conditions ranging from anxiety, stress, inflammation, and, as demonstrated by the drug approved by the FDA, childhood epilepsy.

We’ve talked about how topicals can help with pain (remember: most cannabis creams don’t meaningfully enter your bloodstream), but we haven’t talked about why inflammation happens, why it’s important, and how cannabis can help the process.

Think of inflammation like your body’s personal police force and hospital all rolled into one operation. It’s your first line of defense when you cut yourself, get an ingrown hair, or destroy your feet with a pair of five-inch heels. Your immune system is kicking in to protect and repair hurt areas with increased blood flow and white blood cells. This causes area to swell up, but it’s for a good cause

. A certain level of inflammation ensures bacteria is kept under control and cells are hard at work to heal the area. However, there is such a thing as too much inflammation. The root of excruciating chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, excess inflammation can also cause damage to tissue, cells, and your skin.

Now, onto another form of inflammation that causes great strife in human populations—zits. A pimple is your body’s response to trapped bacteria. Zits are how your body deals with bacteria that’s become sealed in your pores—whether it’s from excess oil production or dead skin cells.

While popping said pimple can be deeply therapeutic, it never solves the root problem: the bacteria getting entombed. Whether it’s overactive sebaceous glands that create an oil imbalance (remember, not all oil is bad, particularly when it comes to your products) or dead skin creating a fossilized layer on your face, poking and prodding a zit can actually worsen inflammation and spread the bacteria to other pores for more mounds, more bumps, more pus.

Delicious.

CBD has been theorized to be the next wunderkind in skincare. Let’s DEBUNK how to know what you’re getting when buying “CBD skin care.”

Both are good for your skin but hemp seed is used for its deeply moisturizing abilities. CBD is the active compound in cannabis that fights inflammation, bacteria, and cell turnover. Hemp seed oil is already used in products throughout Europe and the U.S., and is akin to a common carrier oil like rosehip. If the brand doesn’t list CBD, phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, or full-spectrum hemp (which are all indications of CBD in legal chemical terms) on their packaging, you’re just buying hemp seed, which has no active CBD.

Like with all active compounds, you need enough of it to work. Ever try taking an eighth of an Advil? Dr. Caroline Hartridge, an osteopath and founder of Dr. Hartridge’s Healthcare Solutions, notes that 200-mg per ounce of product is effective for pain and anti-inflammatory effects. Lower doses are still powerful for cellular repair among a host of other benefits but if you're seeing lower than 25-mg per ounce, or the company is hesitant to share levels, be wary.

Before you get dazzled by CBD, make sure the other ingredients are OK for your skin. Perfumes, additives, and thickeners may trigger allergic reactions or be the key ingredient that helps your skin.    

Chemicals are chemicals are chemicals. The battle between isolate and full-spectrum CBD are valid as isolates are difficult to trace, but, if your beauty company is transparent about where the CBD comes from, isolate might be better for your face. Full-spectrum is like a wine crop: Each vintage varies. CBD’s terpenes or essential oils can vary from crop to crop. While that’s okay for food, for your face, you may want something that’s more consistent.

Whether you’re slapping it on your face or ingesting it orally, evidence points to CBD helping with inflammation, oil production, and restoring moisture balance.

One study showed that ingested CBD helped normalize oil production, leaving acne sufferers with better skin as pores wouldn’t get blocked. If you’re looking for a topical, make sure it has a high dose. If you’re looking for an oral CBD, make sure you’re not allergic to anything in the tincture.  

Shop Clinical Grade CBD @beautyecology and online www.evoqbeauty.com

**Thank you for this great resource and editorial by Nice Paper

Avoid CBD Greenwashing & How to Take Full Control of Skin Inflammation

Talk about a new era of GREENWASHING.

The onslaught of “CBD heals everything,” that can amount to a bunch crazy.”

Curious exactly what CBD oil can do for your skin?

Ever wondered if hemp seed oil is the same as cannabis oil?

Great questions my friend.

Let’s debunk and get clear on some skin facts .

Come get your skin love baby - come and get your love …

Groundwork: What Is CBD Oil?

CBD (cannabidiol oil) is not hemp oil, and it’s not technically cannabis oil  either. Lastly, no it’s not going to get you high. So what the heck is it?

CBD oil vs hemp oil vs cannabis oil.

What you need to know: cannabidiol (CBD) oil is naturally found in hemp oil – but in extremely small amounts.

Here’s the most important CBD  “green washing tip-off:”

The majority of “CBD” Skincare Hemp oil is contain cannabis sativa oil.

SO is it Hemp or CBD Oil?

Both are good for your skin but hemp seed is mostly used for its deeply moisturizing abilities.

CBD is the activating compound in cannabis that fights inflammation, bacteria, and cell turnover.

Hemp seed oil has been used for centuries in skin products and is similar to a common carrier oil like rosehip oil, but its not the same as active cannabidiol.

What to look for when wanting ACTIVE Cannabidiol in your skin products.

If the brand doesn’t list CBD, phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, or full-spectrum hemp (which are all indications of CBD in legal chemical terms) on their packaging, you’re just buying hemp seed, which has no active CBD.

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HOW CBD OPTIMIZES AGING & SKIN HEALTH

The Imperative Cross Talk Between CBD and Your Skin

Fact: CBD oil regulates over 1000 gene expressions in your biology. This is great news! The impact of positively creating a healthier short and long term epigenetic interaction brings potential for both aging and ailments.  

A recent study completed by a clinical research company called Genemarkers showed CBD oil – when in the right formula – has potential to speak to up to 165 of your skin’s genes via your cb2 receptors.

This gene pool party can have a splashing impact on:

• How quickly your skin heals

• Hydration

• Skin barrier health

• Pigmentation (aka age spots or acne scars)

• Inflammation (huge in eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis)

• How oily your skin is (and therefore acne – impressive studies on this)

• Ageing

• Your skin’s response to stress

• Skin cell renewal aka how youthful your skin looks

Inflammation is a biggy for skin. Now let’s hit how CBD oil helps.

Inflammation - A Sight Unseen

All skin types can benefit from anti-inflammatory actives. Your skin can be triggered into inflammation quickly and we go about our life not even seeing it.

For example: UV light causes inflammation, stress causes inflammation, too little sleep causes inflammation, sugar causes inflammation – ever got red skin after a hot shower? Yup – inflammation.
Imagine your skin’s like a disco band concert DJ volume panel.  There’s hundreds of buttons, dials and sliders. You can push them up and you can push them down.   When the party of Cytokines which are messengers that impose stress and inflammation, your skin’s biome and genome visibly becomes agitated, aged, dry and eczema. This is also when you go from having patches of flaky skin to psoriasis.

To sum it up, when your skin’s inflammation volume gets turned up – genetic vulnerabilities to developing chronic skin conditions get switched on.

A geeky way of saying your skin is stressed.  Not the disco dance we want to experience. >> Where’s John Travolta when ya need him?

Pull in Your Oil Control - Anti-Acne Affect

CBD benefits are pretty awesome considering over 90% of us will experience acne and oily skin and some point in our lives.  I’m not talking about a drying astringent effect which temporarily absorbs or cuts through grease/sebum. Cannabidiol has proven to turn down your skin’s volume of sebum production.

Not only does this mean less oily skin, this also means a reduced chance of breakouts, acne and pimples.  Shine from your heart, not your face! The goal here is to make your skin less oily and your skin’s microflora balanced.

Flash~ acne causing bacteria get pushed out.

CBD oil studies have been shown to;

• Suppress skins sebocyte manufacture – these are the cells which make sebum

• Help stop skin reacting to testosterone – a hormone which makes skin more oily

• Help balance sebum production – sebum made by oily skin is different to sebum made by normal skin

So to review what benefits for oily, acne prone skin can experience….

1. Your skin becomes less oily.

2. Your skin therefore becomes less loved by acne bacteria.

3. Your skin experiences less acne, spots and pimples.

4. You can fly your skin plane steady and regain skin confidence!

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How Much CBD is Needed for Results?

Like with all active compounds, you need enough of it to work.  Dr. Caroline Hartridge, an osteopath notes that 200-mg per ounce of product is effective for pain and anti-inflammatory effects. Lower doses are still powerful for cellular repair among a host of other benefits but if you're seeing lower than 25-mg per ounce, or the company is hesitant to share levels, be wary.

Bidirectional cell talk brings an impressive anti-inflammatory and anti-acne affect by downregulating cytokines. Since almost every skin condition in existence is caused, worsened or made to happen more quickly by inflammation – the skin benefits of active diols, not just a seed oil are why myself and top formulators are evolving the anecdotal proof to largely reach women in the free market.

Is Full Spectrum or Isolate best for skin?

Chemicals are chemicals are chemicals. The battle between isolate and full-spectrum CBD are valid as isolates are difficult to trace, but, if your beauty company is transparent about where the CBD comes from, isolate might be better for your face. Full-spectrum is like a wine crop: Each vintage varies. CBD’s terpenes or essential oils can vary from crop to crop. While that’s okay for food, for your face, you may want something that’s more consistent.

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Get the SKIN HEALTH you deserve, NOW!

Remember, you are what you absorb.

1. Look for Organic and a COA.

2. Filler Free

3. Bioavailable through terpenes and low molecular fatty acids to assure you're avoiding the P450 Pathway - in which all your plant medicine is being stolen from Enzymes.

Want to get started on bringing your skin back to equilibrium?

Learn more and shop Nano CBD and top-selling topicals that are bioavailable, organic and sure to be a win-win on keeping your outer most protective barrier in top shape.

Awaken Beauty Podcast Mini Episode

How to Know if Your Skin Products Contain Hemp Oil or Active CBD Oil

Hello Awakened Beauty!

Unless you’re living under a rock burrowed deep within a cave on a remote island with terrible cell reception, you’ve heard of CBD. Touted as a “miracle drug,” everyone from doctors to stressed-out city dwellers are excited about its therapeutic potential. While we tend to err on the side of science, both anecdotally and in studies, CBD has been shown to help with conditions ranging from anxiety, stress, inflammation, and, as demonstrated by the drug approved by the FDA, childhood epilepsy.

We’ve talked about how topicals can help with pain (remember: most cannabis creams don’t meaningfully enter your bloodstream), but we haven’t talked about why inflammation happens, why it’s important, and how cannabis can help the process.

Think of inflammation like your body’s personal police force and hospital all rolled into one operation. It’s your first line of defense when you cut yourself, get an ingrown hair, or destroy your feet with a pair of five-inch heels. Your immune system is kicking in to protect and repair hurt areas with increased blood flow and white blood cells. This causes area to swell up, but it’s for a good cause. A certain level of inflammation ensures bacteria is kept under control and cells are hard at work to heal the area. However, there is such a thing as too much inflammation. The root of excruciating chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, excess inflammation can also cause damage to tissue, cells, and your skin.

CBD and THC have both been shown to help with inflammation. These cannabinoids stop your body from over-firing inflammatory substances, balance blood flow, and have antibacterial properties. They also help with cell regeneration. There’s evidence that both compounds may reduce pain while healing damage.

Now, onto another form of inflammation that causes great strife in human populations—zits. A pimple is your body’s response to trapped bacteria. Zits are how your body deals with bacteria that’s become hermetically sealed in your pores—whether it’s from excess oil production or dead skin cells.

While popping said pimple can be deeply therapeutic, it never solves the root problem: the bacteria getting entombed. Whether it’s overactive sebaceous glands that create an oil imbalance (remember, not all oil is bad, particularly when it comes to your products) or dead skin creating a fossilized layer on your face, poking and prodding a zit can actually worsen inflammation and spread the bacteria to other pores for more mounds, more bumps, more pus.

Delicious.

CBD has been theorized to be the next wunderkind in skincare because it tackles zits at every level. Not only is it hemp a non comedogenic oil (meaning it won’t trap oil, skin, or bacterial juices in your pores), but CBD is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory meaning it can help speed up that healing process. In one study in the U.K., CBD was found to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

As mentioned earlier, CBD also regulates white blood cell count by fighting the infection, calming your body’s alarm system while regulating blood flow. This can help bring your skin, and zits (in theory), to a more balanced homeostasis. A study in 2007 from the Journal of Dermatological Science showed CBD and cannabinoids can help treat psoriasis. Read: it has the potential to balance your skin.

Both are good for your skin but hemp seed is used for its deeply moisturizing abilities. CBD is the active compound in cannabis that fights inflammation, bacteria, and cell turnover. Hemp seed oil is already used in products throughout Europe and the U.S., and is akin to a common carrier oil like rosehip. If the brand doesn’t list CBD, phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, or full-spectrum hemp (which are all indications of CBD in legal chemical terms) on their packaging, you’re just buying hemp seed, which has no active CBD.

Like with all active compounds, you need enough of it to work. Ever try taking an eighth of an Advil? Dr. Caroline Hartridge, an osteopath and founder of Dr. Hartridge’s Healthcare Solutions, notes that 200-mg per ounce of product is effective for pain and anti-inflammatory effects. Lower doses are still powerful for cellular repair among a host of other benefits but if you're seeing lower than 25-mg per ounce, or the company is hesitant to share levels, be wary.

Before you get dazzled by CBD, make sure the other ingredients are OK for your skin. Perfumes, additives, and thickeners may trigger allergic reactions or be the key ingredient that helps your skin.    

Chemicals are chemicals are chemicals. The battle between isolate and full-spectrum CBD are valid as isolates are difficult to trace, but, if your beauty company is transparent about where the CBD comes from, isolate might be better for your face. Full-spectrum is like a wine crop: Each vintage varies. CBD’s terpenes or essential oils can vary from crop to crop. While that’s okay for food, for your face, you may want something that’s more consistent.

Whether you’re slapping it on your face or ingesting it orally, evidence points to CBD helping with inflammation, oil production, and restoring moisture balance.

One study showed that ingested CBD helped normalize oil production, leaving acne sufferers with better skin as pores wouldn’t get blocked. If you’re looking for a topical, make sure it has a high dose. If you’re looking for an oral CBD, make sure you’re not allergic to anything in the tincture.  

Shop Clinical Grade CBD @beautyecology and online www.evoqbeauty.com

**Thank you for this great resource and editorial by Nice Paper

A Non-Scientist's Intro to the Endocannabinoid System | Easy as A B C

Living in Minnesota, cannabis is recreationally illegal, but I believe on it’s way as the rest of our nation leads by example in legalization. Case in point, states applying cannabis use for opiate addictions are seeing 30%+ in a reduction of overdoses and opiate abuse.

Medically, cannabis brings hundreds of health benefits to both the body and the mind. Studies share it can help quell anxiety, relieve pain, and decrease epileptic symptoms, and these are just a few possible cannabis perks. Cannabis isn’t for everyone, and it’s not a miracle drug. As a avid cannabis coach, the rewards is different for every consumer.

How Cannabis Effects on The Human Body

The reason why cannabis can seem like a magical healer has to do with the endocannabinoid system. This system is present in all mammals. I love the beautiful story of how we’ve existed and relied on plant medicine rapport for ions and ions.

Alright, let’s awaken beauty, here’s how the ECS works, and why it plays a major part in the way we process cannabis and CBD.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

You’re probably familiar with the different organ systems of the human body—the skeletal, muscular, and circulatory systems, to name a few—but you might be less aware of the endocannabinoid system, also known as the ECS. Its main function is to ensure homeostasis in the human body, meaning it exists primarily to maintain balance. It was discovered in 1992 when researchers discovered that the body creates its own cannabinoid, called anandamide, which is the Sanskrit word for bliss. The ECS is made up of three different components: endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes.

Let’s dive into these biological relationships!

the first discovered naturally-occurring endocannabinoid, which attaches to the same mammalian brain-cell receptors as THC. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit word for “bliss.”

what makes the endocannabinoid system one of the most important systems in the body because its main function is to maintain balance and homeostasis.

​sit on the surface of cells and transmit information to the inside of the cell, kick-starting the appropriate cellular response.

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A Non-Scientist's Intro to the Endocannabinoid System

Endocannabinoids

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that play a major part in ensuring that the body’s central nervous system functions correctly.

There are three different kinds: endocannabinoids, which are created naturally by our bodies; phytocannabinoids, which mimic the ones in our bodies and are also found in cannabis plants; and synthetic cannabinoids, which are lab-created. Endocannabinoids are known as our “Bliss Molecule,” representing anandamide, and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These two receptors either bond or send a messaging signal to the ECS, signaling to the cells just what they need to do. (Best boss in town)!

Cannabinoid Receptors

The next aspects of the ECS are the cannabinoid receptors, otherwise known as CB1 and CB2. Many refer to these as the “locks” where the endocannabinoids are the “key.” CB1 receptors are located in the brain, particularly in the parts responsible for mental and physiological functions. CB2 is located throughout the immune system, peripheral nervous system (outside of the brain and spinal cord), and the digestive system. Signaling these receptors allows the body to regulate many important functions, such as digestion, appetite, immunity, inflammation, mood, sleep, fertility, memory, and more.

Enzymes

Once the messages are sent between the endocannabinoids and the receptors, enzymes enter the picture and break these messages down before the party gets out of sync and intuitively transitions the moving parts.

Enter Cannabis!

When we use cannabis and/or CBD, we’re inviting phytocannabinoids into our body, which mimic our natural endocannabinoids to help preserve homeostasis. If for some reason your body is out of whack and cannot bring itself to balance, this is where cannabis proves itself beneficial. It’s know that 20% of society has a ECS Genetic Deficiency, while sub-immune ailments are also now being linked to a sub-par ECS system.

It’s kinda like an adaptogen. Let’s say you’re in pain: cannabinoids will help modulate that pain; if you need help stimulating appetite, cannabinoids can make you hungry. Even beyond the ECS, cannabis effects multiple physiological processes and does what it is needed to get things on the right track.

So that’s the long and short of the KEY PLAYERS between cannabis, CBD and our biology!

Follow along @beautyecology and connect to our Youtube channel to listen up while ya work!

Is Alkaline Water or Hydrogen Water Better?

Hello rays of light!

The issues around water quality are not new, but research that is abrupting the scenes, is. Water quality can detriment a women’s thyroid, to possibly increase fluoride toxicity.

Today’s topic is on the MYTH of pH water, and how H2 Molecular Hydrogen differs.

If you want to tag along via audio, head over to our Youtube channel and LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE so you can be the ‘early adopter’ you are with all the top shelf science and research delivered straight to your handheld.

So let’s dive in with Dr. Mercola’s teardown on H2 and pH Water!

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Alkaline Water or Hydrogen Water — Which One Is Better for You?

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Alkaline water is water that has been separated into alkaline and acid fractions using electrolysis

• Many promoters and marketers claim alkaline water can correct excess acidity in your tissues, which can then prevent or reverse cancer, arthritis and other degenerative diseases, yet this is not supported by science

• The higher the pH, the fewer free hydrogen ions (H+) it has; the lower its pH, the more free hydrogen ions (H+) it has

• Hydrogen ions (H+) are not to be confused with molecular hydrogen (H2 gas); they are completely different from each other. Molecular hydrogen is a gas with very unique and selective antioxidant effects that specifically target damaging free radicals

• The alkaline ionized water fad was an unfortunate outgrowth of its successful use coupled with a misunderstanding or ignorance of the therapeutic property of the water (e.g., benefits falsely attributed to alkaline pH and not the actual H2 gas)

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Understanding pH

The concept of the acidity or alkalinity of your body — or of water — is based on the pH scale. What is pH? It's simply a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions.10 In fact, the acronym "pH" is short for "potential of hydrogen."

The higher a liquid's pH, the fewer free hydrogen ions (H+) it has; the lower its pH, the more free hydrogen ions (H+) it has. One pH unit reflects a tenfold change in ion concentration, so there are 10 times as many hydrogen ions available at a pH of 7 than at a pH of 8.11

The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, and a pH of 7 is neutral. Anything with a pH below 7 is considered acidic, and anything with a pH above 7 is alkaline (or basic).

But the real reason why alkaline water is a scam is that it has no buffers to maintain its pH. The instant the alkaline water hits your very acidic stomach, the pH is neutralized as there are no buffers. Truly alkaline water would have an alkaline buffer like baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which is also our body's natural alkaline buffer.

Some have claimed that as the stomach acid neutralizes the alkaline water, the bicarbonate ions are released into the blood and thus it has an alkalizing effect. This would be true if the alkaline water effectively neutralized all the stomach acid (like baking soda would), but alkaline water doesn't neutralize any significant quantity of stomach acid; the stomach acid completely neutralizes the alkaline water. So, there is no "net alkalizing effect."

Natural water on our planet ranges in pH from around 6.5 to 8.5, depending on surrounding soil and vegetation, seasonal variations and weather, and even time of day responses to sunlight. Human activities further influence the pH of our water, from the barrage of toxic industrial pollutants.

Most aquatic animals and plants have adapted to life in water with a very specific pH and will die from even slight changes. For example, Michigan State University found that when the pH of greenhouse media is too high (greater than 6.5), it increases the chances of micronutrient deficiencies in the plants, and too low of a pH (less than 5.3) results in calcium and/or magnesium and/or manganese toxicity.13

Similarly, Ohio State University Extension Service reports that alkaline water affects a plant's ability to obtain nutrients from the soil and can alter the soil's pH over time.14 Your body also requires a relatively stable pH, or else you'll run into problems. This was demonstrated in a Swedish well water study,15 which found both pH extremes to be problematic.

Notably, pH appears to have a major influence on your mitochondria.16 Research has shown normal cells die under extremely alkaline conditions, as a result of altering mitochondrial function.17

So, as noted by Fenton, "alkaline water is a solution to a problem that doesn't need solving." Indeed, it makes sense that you are designed to drink water that occurs naturally, which excludes alkaline water with pH levels of 9.5 and above.

Early Days of Hydrogen Water Production Shed Light on Alkaline Water Myth

Interestingly, aside from Young taking the acid-ash hypothesis and running with it, there's another piece of history that helps explain why the alkaline water myth gained hold. The Molecular Hydrogen Institute explains the history of electrolyzed reduced water or ERW (the most common term used for alkaline water in the scientific literature):18

"Studies on ERW began in the 1930s in Japan, and in 1965 the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved ERW as a medical substance with potential to improve gastrointestinal symptoms …

Over the ensuing decades, anecdotal and scientific evidence accumulated substantiating many other benefits of ERW such as: protecting DNA from radical damage, increasing glucose uptake, improving diabetes, preventing premature cell death, offering liver protection, preventing lipid oxidation and others. However, it was uncertain as to how ERW was producing these benefits."

Unfortunately, this is how the misunderstanding about pH came about. However, as noted by the Institute, "It is now well-recognized that the primary agent responsible for the benefits is attributed to the dissolved molecular hydrogen gas." So, in a nutshell, the benefits, when there are any, are actually due to the presence of molecular hydrogen, and has nothing to do with the pH of the water. Dr. Kyu-Jae Lee, a hydrogen gas researcher, says:

We later discovered that the benefits in this model were mediated by H2-induced gastric ghrelin secretion via a ß1 adrenergic receptor-dependent pathway. Although hydrogen's effect in Parkinson's disease has now been confirmed in a human clinical trial, more research is necessary to reveal the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic benefits of H2.

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What Is Molecular Hydrogen?

Molecular hydrogen (H2) — two hydrogen atoms combined together — is a gas with very unique and selective antioxidant effects that specifically target the most harmful free radicals. It works primarily by improving and optimizing the redox status of the cell when needed.

As a result, you see improvements in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione levels, for example. Not only does hydrogen selectively reduce the most toxic radicals, but it can help prevent an excess (which becomes toxic) of the free radicals from being produced in the first place.

H2 also activates the Nrf2 pathway when needed. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that, when activated, goes into the cell's nucleus and binds to the antioxidant response element in the DNA. It then induces the transcription of further cytoprotective enzymes such as glutathione, superoxide dismutase catalase, glutathione peroxidase, phase II enzymes, heme-1 oxygenase and many others.

A landmark paper  on molecular hydrogen came out in Nature Medicine in 2007, showing 2 percent hydrogen gas was effective at preventing brain damage from ischemia reperfusion and, as an antioxidant, has powerful therapeutic applications.

Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe, and is neutral and nonpolar, which is why its bioavailability is so great. It does not dissociate into its electrons and protons when dissolved in water, so it will not alter the pH of water or your body and has nothing to do with the alkaline water concept.

More than 1,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications have collectively demonstrated that H2 has therapeutic potential in over 170 different human and animal disease models. In fact, hydrogen is shown to benefit virtually every organ of the human body, and the reason for this is because hydrogen actually targets and mitigates the root causes of inflammation and oxidation.

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Hydrogen Water Versus Hydrogen Peroxide

Due to the similarity in names, many confuse hydrogen water with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and I often get asked if one can get the benefits of molecular hydrogen by drinking hydrogen peroxide in water. This is a dangerous mistake to make, so let me make this point abundantly clear:

Never ingest hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution).

Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution) — the stuff you use to disinfect wounds — is not the same as molecular hydrogen or hydrogen (H2) water. Hydrogen peroxide is for topical use only. You could potentially use it is as a mouth rinse for gingivitis, provided you spit it out and do not swallow, and you can pour a few drops into your ear canal as a remedy to combat cold and flu symptoms. But you should never ingest hydrogen peroxide.

Another common misconception is that adding hydrogen to water will form hydrogen peroxide. As explained by the Molecular Hydrogen Institute:23

"Water has the chemical formula H2O, and hydrogen peroxide has the chemical formula H2O2, which by comparison contains an extra oxygen, not hydrogen. So, it does not, indeed it cannot, form hydrogen peroxide.

The fact is, hydrogen gas does not bond to or react with the water molecules, it just dissolves into the water. It does not create some novel molecule like H4O, which would in fact be chemically impossible to form.

Therefore, hydrogen water and hydrogen peroxide are completely different substances. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide cannot be used to generate H2 gas or make hydrogen-rich water."

Alkaline Versus Alkalinity

Yet another source of confusion is the issue of alkaline versus alkalinity. These two words are not interchangeable, as from a scientific standpoint as they refer to different things. This too may be part of why people have placed such undue value on alkaline water. As explained by Mark Timmons, CEO of U.S. Water Systems:24

"To alkalize your body means that you give the body the ability to maintain a proper pH, but in order to do that you need water with alkalinity not alkaline water. pH merely measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity, not the capacity to neutralize acid … You also don't alkalize your body based upon pH, but rather on alkalinity.

Alkalinity measures the ability to neutralize acid with buffers which are the sum of bicarbonates. Alkalinity is measured in mg/L (milligrams per liter). Alkaline mineral compounds include … calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, manganese [and] iron. So, you need to add alkalinity to your body, but you need to realize that pH has no relation to that alkalinity.

Alkaline Water Is an Unlikely Cancer Preventive

One of the purported health benefits of drinking alkaline water is cancer prevention. However, much of the research really argues against alkalinity when it comes to treating cancer.

According to Robert Gillies, who has studied tumor formation and acidity at the Moffitt Cancer Center,25 tumors make their own acidity by their very nature, and they do this even in an alkaline cellular structure.

Scientists developing anticancer agent prototypes that selectively kill tumor cells by interfering with the regulation of intracellular pH also report that alkaline treatments do not have the desired effect, whereas strongly acidic treatments do!26

Even more interesting is a 2005 study27 by the National Cancer Institute, which revisits the use of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to treat cancer. They found that, in pharmacologic doses administered intravenously, ascorbic acid successfully killed cancer cells without harming normal cells.

This is yet another example of cancer cells being vulnerable to acidity, as opposed to alkalinity. So, it seems clear that the relationship between alkalinity and cancer has been grossly oversimplified by those jumping to premature conclusions.

Resource: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/12/hydrogen-water-vs-alkaline-water.aspx

Is Hydrogen Water [H2] a Drink Never to Forget?

On the ongoing journey of being obsessed with CBD (cannabidiol) and how to assure the most bioavailable formulas for our customers, I discovered the recent up-roar around Molecular hydrogen (H₂).

View this post on Instagram

#trusiih2 coming to you soon! Cannot wait to share the upcoming news!

A post shared by Beauty Ecology Organic Salon (@beautyecology) on Nov 4, 2018 at 1:32pm PST

Follow the fun and H2 education on the GRAM & WATCH the youtube video to this article below!

“What is so novel about HYDROGEN?” Let’s dive in and discover this unique molecular structure.

Simply put, molecular hydrogen acts as a powerful antioxidant.

Consider hydrogen molecules as the nice police force, helping us fight free radicals as we go about our day.

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IN DEPTH

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is the ultimate antioxidant. H₂ is known to eliminate only the most harmful free radicals, and may reduce oxidative stress to better help put our body in balance.

H2 gas is the smallest neutrally charged molecule on earth, giving it free range to instantly cross your cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier, and possibly further allowing it to access DNA and mitochondria within the cell where it has protective action.

The Free Radical Theory of Aging

The Free Radical Theory of Aging holds that the damage free radicals do to our cells, particularly the oxidative stress that free radicals cause, is what causes our bodies to age.

How H₂ Works

Size

Molecular hydrogen is the smallest molecule and the only antioxidant that can access the mitochondria and cell nucleus under certain conditions. Unlike most larger antioxidants, H₂ instantly passes through the cell membrane that may allow immediate benefits.

Non Toxic & 100% Safe

Molecular hydrogens byproduct is water, therefore you cannot overdose nor store in adipose (fatty) tissue.

Homeostasis

H₂ supports the body’s ability to maintain a condition of balance by neutralizing harmful free radicals while also boosting your own internal antioxidant system. This keeps oxidative stress low, supports homeostasis and decreases chance of disharmony.

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Can we consume TOO MUCH antioxidant content?

YES, and of certain kinds. There’s been studies that correlate TOO MUCH of a consumption of antioxidants can desensitize the bodies innate defence system. It’s much like the Omega studies that reveal our nation is over-consuming Omega 6 in comparison to omega 3, in which increases inflammation.

Selectivity

H₂ target the harmful free radicals without affecting useful free radicals that sustain inner homeostasis. The concern is that we’re “over doing antioxidants common known as Vitamin A, C, E, folic acid, etc),” which can diminish the good free radicals that the body needs.  H₂ does not.

So as you go on and take your supplements, eat more berries, drink tea, or a glass of wine each night with the idea you intake all the antioxidants you need ….. please STOP and read because there’s a NEW SHERIFF is in town - and now found at Beauty Ecology.

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A Free Radical Recap

Free radicals are uncharged or unstable molecules, which make them highly reactive and extremely likely that they’ll pull apart pieces of other molecules to gain stability. In their search for stability, they can damage your body.

H₂ to the Rescue!

So, why am I hooked? When a close Functional Medicine friend of mine threw H2 at me, my eyebrows raised. I was initially skeptical because hydrogen is so abundant, why had we not realized the power of this element before?

With over 1000 clinical studies (for cripes sake), it’s CLEAR this powerful molecule may have potential to contribute to multiple forms of symptoms such as:

*ridding oxidative stress, *better metabolism, *combating brain inflammation, *exercise recovery, *increased energy, *gut healing, *skin clarity, *anti-cancer and more.

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THE 15 GAME CHANGING BENEFITS OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN

Pretty amazing, right?

Stick around and learn more about how these drops of effervescence may be the single, easiest way to introduce a hydrating “well of youth” to improve our inner health and outer beauty.

Take the Free Radical Aging Theory facts and do something about it today.



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Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11510417
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23031079
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26866650
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520831
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24392771
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21512236
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4865993/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21293445 https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1577
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26276082