Sometimes I feel like I’m not quite cool enough. Sometimes I feel like I’m not quite popular enough. Sometimes I feel like I don’t fit in the same way other people do.
Sometimes I feel like there is a group who maybe doesn’t really want me there. Sometimes I wonder why I wasn’t invited. Sometimes I walk up to a circle of people and I don’t know whether to force my way in, or be awkward hanging around on the outside, just twiddling my thumbs, kicking the dirt, talking to myself, waiting until I can leave and go home to the safety of my sofa.
Start up a “U”. Make a “U”. Look around who you can invite into the “U”
Circles are great if you’re on the inside. They can be fun if you’re in one, but circles can be awfully cruel if you’re left on the outskirts, looking for a way to get inside.
They can be exclusive. They can be excluding. They can be exhausting.
They can be cliquish. They can be childish. They are far, far too common.
Stop building circles and build a U. Leave room for everyone. Make a way so anyone, any ‘you’ can walk up and feel like they have a place to stand.
Leave room for good people who look different than you, who run in different crowds than you, who like different things than you, who come from different places than you. Differences were never made to divide us. They were made to build us, and to teach us, to fill in the gaps where our own gifts give way and come up short.
Have your few trusted friends. Have your people. Keep them close. Spend time with them. Share your secrets with them. Work on building and maintaining and safe-guarding those sacred sisters.
You can’t be best friends with everyone.
But you can notice everyone. You can make room for everyone. You can be kind and generous and thoughtful and sympathetic to everyone. You can smile to everyone. You can make eye contact with everyone. You can probably even offer a simple ‘hello’ to everyone.
When you are out with a group, when you’re at a meeting, or an event, or a Bible study. When you’re at a kid’s soccer game, or a school function, or absolutely any public setting — lift up your unsuspecting head and look for the lonely. Chat with the new. Invite the introverts who will never invite themselves. Hug the hurting. Make room for more.
turn it around and create a “U”
If you’ve ever felt that excruciating feeling of walking into a new place, of being surrounded with new faces, of being left out of group texts, of being excluded, don’t let those experiences go to waste. Turn it around and use them for something good.
Use it to recognize the hurting among you. Use it to recognize the lonely. Use it to recognize the left out. And then use it to reach out an invite, or a hand, or some kind of nice gesture.
It’s not an easy thing to do — getting out of your comfort zone, getting over yourself enough to help someone else, getting out your saw and your hammer and your nails right there in the middle of a crowd to build a bigger table. It’s not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
We’re all guilty. We’ve all done it at some point. We’ve all been unaware, so there is no purpose in being mad, or angry, and there definitely isn’t any purpose in using it as an excuse to call people names, or tear someone down. Chances are, nobody is being mean. Nobody is being intentional. Chances are, they simply aren’t thinking, and we’ve all been guilty of not thinking before. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay. That doesn’t mean we should keep our blinders on. That doesn’t mean we should continue constructing our closed-off circles.
Be the kind of woman you wish someone had been to you.
Make a U.
Circles were made to be broken, but U’s were made to include everyone, to keep growing bigger and better and stronger.
If you’re a consumer, you’ve heard about CBD. CBD is becoming one of the fastest growing markets in our economy. Bonvera is proud to associate with partners who help provide our consumers with world-class products in high demand markets. Bonvera is proud to launch two additional CBD products with VIVE Mood, including a Joint and Muscle Cream and Pet Tincture product.
VIVE Mood is proud to introduce VIVE Active, a joint and muscle cream made for people seeking an innovative, calming alternative for joint and muscle function.
Here are the key details to know:
An effective topical cream for all skin types
It’s easy to apply
Made with organic ingredients
Utilizes a blend of CBD, fine essential oils, and other skin-nurturing nutrients to create a light, non-greasy joint and muscle cream
Has a fresh and invigorating scent
Additionally, it’s made with key ingredients that include:
CBD Isolate
Coconut Extract
Arnica Montana 12%, which is great for muscle function support
Peppermint, Wintergreen, and Camphor which provides comfort
Frankincense, Osmanthus, and Ylang Ylang which promotes a sense of calm
Helichrysum, Blue Chamomile, and Blue Tansy which soothes and revives
VIVE Mood is proud to introduce VIVE Pets, a CBD tincture product for man’s best friend.
Here are the details to know on this product:
Provides a sense of calm
Promotes proper wellness in pets
Apply to your pet’s favorite treats based on their weight. Recommended amount for dogs and cats: 1-5mg CBD (2-10 drops) for every 10 pounds of body weight, twice daily. Increase slowly as needed.
We are not the only ones that could benefit from CBD. Our furry friends love VIVE Mood. After a long day of running in the yard, chasing the ball, or protecting the home, treat your beloved furry friend to VIVE Pets CBD oil that is made from pure isolate. VIVE Pets is known to provide a sense of calm, support joint function, and encourage overall wellness.
Harley loves his CBD at night, “I sleep better and more relaxed, Mom” Vivemood for pets!!
Keep In Mind
The ultimate divide between hemp and marijuana is that hemp provides practically zero THC. For a plant to be labeled as hemp, a cannabis plant federally must clock in at less than 0.3% THC. Cannabis is the category that consists of both hemp and marijuana. Cannabis sativa is the scientific term of the cannabis plant (Cannabis= genus; sativa= species). Hemp and marijuana are two different “categories” (marijuana and hemp are both “cannabis” plants but “marijuana” would not be referred to as “hemp”).
Not All CBD Is Equal
There are multiple forms of CBD products available. But not all CBD will be manufactured properly. Therefore, it’s essential to commit to a brand that provides a COA or Certificate of Analysis. When shopping, a consumer will notice the terms full-spectrum, broad spectrum, isolate or THC free. VIVE Mood is an isolate CBD that packs a powerful punch. Isolates do not provide a gamete of the ingredients that full-spectrum oil provides, but isolates focus on a pure and beneficial CBD option for the consumer who seeks the effectiveness without the concern of THC. While it is always encouraged to refer to your workplace policy, those who have to consider testing may find a CBD isolate well suited for their needs.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Contact me directly or Get your order on here!! Vivemood.com
Now that you know a little more about what CBD is, let’s take a look at some of the common uses of CBD in dogs and how the CBD hemp oil can help your pooch. All of these health benefits have been suggested and/or proven to a certain extent, and I will use studies with dogs first, followed by any other animal studies and then human trials.
1. Epilepsy and Seizures
It’s estimated that about 1-5% of dogs (PDF) will suffer from either idiopathic or symptomatic seizures. CBD can be used to reduce seizure activity in dogs with seizure disorders and epilepsy that does not respond to typical treatment (1, 2, 3).
CBD is also utilized for drug-resistant seizures in humans with Dravet Syndrome where fevers are induced by fever or hot temperatures (4).
2. Tumors
Cancerous tumors can be reduced in size before surgery or killed off completely with the application of CBD for dogs. A multitude of studies have demonstrated anti-tumor effects of CBD (5, 6, 7, 8).
While this needs to be studied more in canines, there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence from pet owners, including my own experience. A friend of mine used this approach to her Labrador retriever’s oral tumor. Application of CBD oil killed off the bottom parts of the tumor where the oil was applied. Once dead, the tumor tissue turned black and fell off much like a scab would.
3. Chronic Pain
CBD can be used to control chronic pain resulting from illness or injury that cannot be treated with traditional methods of pain control in dogs. This has been confirmed in many human and some animal studies (9, 10, 11, 12), but there’s a lack of research with canine models.
That said, veterinarians have been discussing the use of CBD for dogs as a pain reliever for quite a while. For example, a canine with heart rhythm abnormalities may be unable to take traditional pain relief medications, but using CBD for dogs and its oil application has been proven to provide pain relief without the cardiovascular effects of narcotics.
4. Arthritis Pain
In clinical trials, CBD has been shown to have a significant impact on pain caused by severe arthritis (13, 14, 15, 16, 17).
The reason this is important is because arthritis pain doesn’t always respond to traditional dog pain relief meds, but CBD has a direct effect on arthritis pain by reducing inflammation and mediating pain with its own unique mechanism.
Additionally, because statistically most dogs that suffer from severe arthritis are senior dogs, the use of traditional pain management medications may be contraindicated due to cardiac weakness. CBD does not have the same type of cardiac effect and is therefore much safer for at-risk populations.
5. Anxiety
CBD can be used to mediate anxiety in dogs with severe anxiety issues, with some hints that it may even help with depression (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).
Studies have shown how CBD for dogs provides relief from anxiety, and is particularly useful in pets that do not respond to or are unable to take the more traditional psychiatric medications due to side effects or existing health conditions.
The calming effects of CBD are thought to be the result of the action of cannabidiol on serotonin receptors in the brain, and CBD’s ability to help the hippocampus regenerate neurons in canines.
6. Joint Pain
Arthritis aside, Cannabidiol may also be used for joint pain in dogs caused by sprains, strains, and tears, particularly in older canines. This has been confirmed in many studies with animals like rats and human trials, but little evidence is available with its use on dogs (25, 26, 27, 28, 29).
Once again, the CBD here works to mediate pain without the dangerous side effects associated with narcotic medications.
7. IBS
CBD may be used to treat dogs with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (30, 31, 32, 33).
Because CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, it can be beneficial for reducing the inflammation associated with this condition. This not only reduces the pain your dog experiences, but it also reduces symptoms of IBS to cut back or potentially eliminate the disease altogether.
8. Glaucoma
Unsurprisingly, dogs with glaucoma have also been treated successfully with CBD according to vets and pet owners, as this is one of the most well-known health effects of the marijuana plant. There’s some research on the positive effects of CBD on glaucoma (34, 35, 36).
The ingestion of CBD sublingually has been shown to reduce the pressure in the eye of patients with glaucoma. Note that this reduction in pressure may or may not be permanent, but it does provide temporary relief.
9. Cancer
Treatment of dogs with CBD doesn’t just kill off tumor tissue as mentioned above, but it can also stop and destroy cancer in its tracks. This is a result of CBD blocking cancer cells from producing energy, prohibiting cell growth, and helping the immune system to more effectively kill cancer cells.
Studies show how CBD can slow down and even stop cancer growth altogether (37, 38, 39, 40). Veterinarians have been paying especially close attention to this possible health benefit and how to use CBD for dogs on the path of dying from cancer.
10. Anorexia
Dogs can also suffer from anorexia, and using CBD can help remedy this condition (41, 42, 43, 44).
Whether caused by illness or treatment of illness (chemo in particular), anorexia in dogs is a real issue, and particularly so in older dogs. CBD can stimulate the appetite by increasing sensitivity to the smell and taste of food in dogs, making eating a more rewarding experience for your pooch.
11. Heart Health
There are several heart health benefits that can be achieved from using products of CBD for dogs, but of most important note, CBD can improve cardiac function in dogs with arrhythmia (45, 46, 47, 48, 49).
CBD has been proven to act as an anti-arrhythmic in animals when it is administered following the use of a CB1 receptor antagonist (AM-251). Reducing the incidence of arrhythmia then lowers the incidence of a cardiac event and improves blood flow to major organs in canines.
12. Bone Health
CBD is also beneficial to dogs with serious bone breaks or severe osteoporosis (50, 51, 52, 53).
Studies observed how the use of CBD stimulates new bone growth as well as serves to strengthen bones that have been damaged by osteoporosis. The added anti-inflammatory and pain killing properties of CBD are also of benefit here.
13. Nausea
The use of CBD oil has also been beneficial in reducing nausea in dogs (54, 55).
Many chronic health conditions, as well as heavy-duty medications, come with nausea as a side effect. This is unpleasant, but it can also lead to more detrimental health problems like significant weight loss which is particularly dangerous in some populations of dogs. CBD use has shown to reduce or at least delay the feelings of nausea.
14. Brain
CBD is a powerful neuro-protectant, meaning it serves to protect dog’s nerve cells from different types of damage, degeneration and impairment of their function (56, 57, 58, 59).
Whether administered following a neurological event or as ongoing treatment for patients with a high likelihood of a neurological event, CBD was shown to protect the brain from damage and reduce the likelihood of an event taking place.
15. Diabetes
CBD can regulate blood sugar levels, help with apetite control and mitigate some of the symptoms of diabetes, according to research with animals and humans (60, 61, 62, 63, 64).
When used correctly in diabetic dogs or dogs with trouble regulating their blood sugar levels, CBD was shown to have multiple benefits. With type 1 diabetes, CBD can regulate the immune system to reduce damage to the pancreas which results in worsening of diabetes symptoms. In type 2 diabetes, CBD can also improve sensitivity to insulin.
16. Immune System
Products of CBD for dogs can help with some of their auto-immune illnesses (65, 66).
CBD oil was demonstrated to regulate the overactive immune system and reduce the damage it has on the natural functions and structures of the body.
17. Infections
Different types of bacterial growth can be slowed down by CBD, and some studies found Cannabidiol to act as bactericidal substance, killing bacteria fully (67, 68, 69, 70).
For dogs with chronic bacterial infections or stubborn bacterial infections that are unresponsive to traditional treatment, CBD can prove to be beneficial in slowing or even eliminating bacterial growth altogether.
18. Healing
It’s been shown how CBD for dogs application may speed up post-surgical healing and deal with surgery-associated pain or inflammation, as demonstrated in several animal studies (71, 72, 73, 74).
The reduction in inflammation, pain control, and bone support CBD provides makes it ideal for speeding up the process of dog’s healing after serious surgery. This method is particularly effective following orthopedic surgeries.
19. Muscle Spasm
CBD use may decrease the frequency and severity of muscle spasms (75).
Muscle spasms in dogs can be the result of allergies, injury, neurological damage, physical injury, or a reaction to many different medications. Most of these localized spasms can be remedied with the use of CBD oil as demonstrated in studies.
Canine cognitive dysfunction (dementia) in dogs often results in confusion between day and night, interrupting sleep patterns among other things. CBD use has proven to have a positive impact on sleep patterns inducing drowsiness.
21. Blood Flow
Circulation improves with the use of CBD, according to research (78, 79, 80).
There are numerous causes of poor circulation in dogs including heartworm and problems with the valves of the dog’s heart. The application of CBD for dogs, however, has shown to improve circulation and reduce complications associated with poor blood flow.
22. Psoriasis
Although rare, dogs can suffer from the infamous skin condition psoriasis, and CBD can help treat this disease (81).
Like other conditions that result from inflammation and immune response, psoriasis can be knocked out by the potent anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory responses using products of CBD for dogs.
23. Muscle Relaxant
As expected, CBD was shown to work very well as a muscle relaxant for pets (82, 83, 84, 85).
In addition to treating muscle spasms as noted above, CBD also works effectively to treat conditions that cause muscles of the dog’s body to tighten up. Such conditions include muscle hypertonicity, meningitis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis.
Like other antioxidants, CBD reduces cell damage in the dog’s body that results from free radicals. This makes CBD for dogs a great source of relief, especially for those with severe allergies, skin conditions, and dogs with age-related deterioration.
25. Anti-proliferative
CBD is now also considered to be a powerful antiproliferative substance which comes with several health benefits of its own (88, 89, 90).
In addition to preventing tumor growth and thwarting cancer, CBD oil for dogs can also play a role in preventing the migration of tumor cells and the adhesion of tumor cells to tissues and organs in the canine body. This makes CBD a powerful treatment in modulating the metastasis of cancerous cells.
While animal studies and particularly those with canines are still in its infancy when it comes to using CBD for dogs, it’s very clear that we’re heading in the right direction. There are more health benefits of using CBD oil for dogs than we have initially thought a decade ago, and it’s possible that even more will be discovered as research continues.
If you think that your dog might benefit from CBD oil and it is legal for use in your area, give your pooch the gift of VIVE MOOD
It’s still summer, so cellulite is still on the minds of many women (and some men!) With that in mind, I thought I’d send you an email about how to holistically treat this common issue. Surveys reveal that nearly 90% of women and 10% of men have cellulite.
So what exactly is cellulite?
Put simply, cellulite is a combination of dimpling, loose skin, and swollen fat pockets that most commonly occur on the thighs and buttocks. Although genetics can contribute to the presence of cellulite, lifestyle factors can impact it as well, including what a person eats. Yes, the food you eat can affect how much cellulite you have.
SOME FOODS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CELLULITE:
White Carbohydrates: White carbohydrates are refined grains, where basically the fiber and other nutrients are stripped away. This causes them to be digested very quickly, resulting in blood sugar spikes. Chronic spikes in blood sugar damage the collagen in our skin by creating inflammation. This can worsen cellulite.
Margarine and Butter: One study found that people who ate lots of butter and margarine had worse skin than those who ate less. This is because eating large amounts of saturated fats causes inflammation.
Potato chips, French fries: We can’t ignore what the salt in these foods does to us. Consuming large amounts of salt causes our body to retain water and the fatty pockets of cellulite to expand, worsening dimpling.
drink flush drink flush drink flush At least half your weight in clean water!!
SOME FOODS THAT REDUCE CELLULITE:
Green Tea: Green tea is packed with anti-oxidants, the body’s prime mechanism in fighting cellulite-worsening inflammation. Ideally you want to consider drinking 2-3 cups of green tea every day, but be aware that it contains caffeine.
Salmon: Oily fish like salmon are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, which act as protectors to the skin, causing it to be smooth, moisturized, and healthy. They also have general anti-inflammatory effects.
Water: Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is the best way to flush out free radicals and other toxins that contribute to the damaged skin and bloating of cellulite.
This is exactly what I would do! Thanks goodness it can leave. I also recommend KELP to break down the calcified Fat. That is what makes cellulite bumpy!!
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR CELLULITE
Dry Brushing: This is a favorite among the holistic crowd, and a great way to exfoliate the skin of your body and (modestly) improve cellulite. Basically, you take a massaging brush with organic bristles and brush your skin towards your heart. So you brush from your fingers to your elbows to your shoulders. And do the same for your legs and torso. Then take a nice, warm shower. Your skin will feel softer and smoother afterwards.
Fascia Blaster: This is a popular treatment that many people swear by. Unfortunately, it hurts like hell! I think there are easier ways to improve cellulite without putting yourself through this.
Body FX: This in-office treatment combines radiofrequency heating with deep tissue massage to effectively smooth cellulite. After ten treatments the results can last upwards of six months.
EndoPharm: There is an injectable treatment for cellulite currently in the FDA approval pipeline. I’m excited about this one and will let you know when it gets approved!
from Dr Youn. thanks for the tips and glad to share! Jenn
CBD, short for cannabidiol, has become one of the hottest wellness trends. It’s popping up in cafes, gift shops and pharmacies as a component of oils, tinctures, soaps, lotions, food products and even pet food. Coffee shops are offering to add CBD shots to your latte, while juice bars will add CBD oil to smoothies. Proponents of CBD claim it can help with a variety of ailments,including anxiety, depression, pain, stress, inflammation and more.
CBD is an active compound derived from the hemp plant, a variety of the cannabis plant that marijuana comes from. While marijuana plants contain high levels of THC — the psychoactive ingredient that produces the marijuana “high” — hemp plants have very little THC. CBD isolate (just the CBD compound) contains no THC, while full-spectrum CBD (CBD in addition to other compounds from the hemp plant) contains less than 0.3%, or trace, THC. For comparison, marijuana contains anywhere from 5% to 20% THC. CBD isn’t psychoactive, so you don’t get the “high” feeling like you would from marijuana.
CBD is commonly found in oil or tincture form. CBD is extracted from the marijuana or hemp plant then diluted in an oil such as hemp seed or coconut oil. As of December 2018, hemp-derived CBD containing less than 0.3% THC is legal in all 50 states under federal law. However, state governments may impose restrictions on the growth and sale of CBD products.
CBD and Anxiety
Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. It’s something most of us experience to some degree throughout our lives. This differs from anxiety disorders, in which the anxiety does not go away, gets worse over time and interferes with daily activities like job performance and relationships.
For the low-level anxiety, coping mechanisms like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, exercise, journaling or working with a therapist may help. But for some people, that’s not enough. “Of all the wellness tools in my toolbox, CBD oil has been the best addition to my life for anxiety,” said Carlene Thomas RDN, dietitian and author of the upcoming recipe book “CBD Drinks for Health.”
“It worked immediately, effectively and effortlessly in a way that adaptogens and years of meditation hadn’t.” (Adaptogens are herbs, roots and mushrooms that theoretically “adapt” to what your body needs and help protect against various stressors.)
Anecdotal evidence abounds for CBD and decreased anxiety, but scientific research remains limited. Up until recently, because of the federal regulations around CBD usage, research had been difficult to do. The research that does exist on CBD for anxiety use was either done on animals or with small groups of people. From what we know, there seems to be evidence that CBD has a calming effect in the central nervous system.
One study looked at mice and found that CBD had comparable effects to imipramine, an antidepressant medication, in producing antidepressant-like effects. A similar study looked at the effect of CBD on humans with social anxiety disorder and found that the people who took 400 milligrams of CBD had significantly decreased subjective anxiety compared to a placebo. Earlier this year, a study of 72 adults found that anxiety decreased in 79% of the participants.
The exact way by which CBD may help lower anxiety is not well understood, but it appears to be related to CBD binding to and activating a serotonin receptor, which can result in a calming, mood-boosting effect. It’s also unclear what is dosage is necessary to see the anti-anxiety effects. Many studies used dosages of 300 to 400 milligrams per day, while most over-the-counter CBD products have labels that suggest 10 to 15 milligrams per day.
buy now at : www.vivemood.com. use code “shopthefrontdoor”for free shipping at checkout This Brand is. THC FREE ZERO THC, BATCH TESTED, SAFE FOR BLOOD TESTING, PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE AND ORGANIC. 1000mg Strong to do what this article is promoting!
In short, CBD’s effect on anxiety is still unclear and more research needs to be done. Plus, we have to remember that there is a difference between the quality and amount of CBD used in research settings and the CBD products that are available on the shelves.
Side Effects of CBD
CBD may be from a plant, but there are still some potential side effects to be aware of. Some people have reported dizziness, nausea, fatigue, dry mouth and diarrhea while taking CBD. Also, CBD may interact or interfere with certain medications, so it’s important to talk to your doctor before taking it.
Non-prescription CBD products are not regulated the FDA, so what’s on the label may not be what your getting. One review done in 2017 found that close to 70% of CBD products sold online were improperly labeled and either contained less CBD, more THC or different ingredients than what was stated on the label. In addition, the way the CBD is consumed – whether that’s in oils, edibles, capsules or lotions – affects how it’s absorbed in the body, and not all forms are absorbed as well. “Sublingual CBD oils are a great delivery method – they’re bioavailable, fast-acting and bypass the digestive system, unlike edibles,” says Thomas. “Edibles are a fun experimental way to add CBD to a routine, but your body doesn’t absorb as much CBD and it can take longer to kick in.”
Bottom Line
While there are a lot of positive anecdotal reports from people who’ve taken CBD to help manage anxiety, and the research we have is promising, we still need to see larger, longer-term studies. CBD seems to be mostly safe for humans, but its effect can vary greatly from person to person. It also comes with an expensive price tag. If you decided to try CBD, make sure to purchase it from a reputable source (email me here or find me on facebook) and talk to your doctor before starting it.
Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, CDN, CSCS, is a nationally recognized, award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist who has been contributing to U.S. News since 2017. She is the founder of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness, where she specializes in intuitive eating, helping people ditch diets and cultivate healthy relationships with food and their bodies. Her philosophy is rooted in the anti-diet and Health at Every Size (HAES) movement, as she believes true health comes from nurturing behaviors to enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. As a writer, speaker and spokesperson, she frequently appears in national media including NBC Nightly News, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Food Network, SELF and Women’s Health. She is a past-spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and in 2017 she was awarded the Media Excellence Award from the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Alissa holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in dietetics and exercise science and a Master’s of Science degree in health communications from Boston University. In her spare time, she can be found traveling to far-off countries and, as a self-proclaimed “foodie,” exploring the expansive New York City food and restaurant scene.
My obsession with skincare is a fact!. This story below intrigues me. I have been adding a drop or two of VIVE MOOD CBD to my skin care routine and am finding similar results. From a blogger, Early into 2018, I was perfectly content with my no-nonsense routine of washing my face with a drugstore cleanser morning and night. But as they say, a lot can happen in a year. In my case, I owe my newfound appreciation of a rigorous skin regime to add CBD to skin care routine
When I first received an email from a Skin Care Company last fall asking if I’d like to try a few products—including the current holy grail CBD in moisturizer and serum, was more than apprehensive. Here I was, a college student with minimal experience in the cannabis department, being asked to test-drive serums and masks containing some mystery, weed-related compound I’d never heard of. I still don’t know why I did it(possibly for the sake of journalism), but I agreed, and one week later I set off to incorporate cannabidiol into my daily routine.
Like any good student, I took my fascination with CBD to the internet, where I quickly learned that the substance has absolutely nothing to do with the high-inducing THC—what we know conventionally as marijuana, weed, the devil’s lettuce—also derived from the cannabis plant. In fact, CBD comes from an entirely different part of the plant, resulting in its anti-inflammatory, non-psychoactive properties. (I heard from a functional doctor call it from ROPE NOT DOPE.) Armed with that knowledge, I felt totally comfortable slathering a pump or two of CBD all over my face and neck for a consecutive 30 days.
How, you ask? In addition to buzzy CBD, serums formulated with powerful ingredients like marine collagen, argan oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to firm, hydrate, smooth, and brighten skin. Plus, free of fragrance, sulfates, and parabens, so it’s safe for sensitive skin types, too. The bottom line: It’s the trendy skincare concoction of the gods.
As I started using the Serum + CBD before bed, I did what any wellness devotee would and took pictures of my skin every single day for the next month (all in the name of progress). The word “results” doesn’t even begin to cover the transformation my skin underwent. I’m not exaggerating—after only a few nights of applying the serum with a jade roller, my skin looked and felt smoother than ever.
If you use the code “shop the front door” you will get free shipping!
My bad habit of picking at my skin didn’t even stand a chance. I’d apply the serum at night and wake up with an unbelievably smooth and glowy complexion, sans dark marks or irritation from prodding on my face. There were days when I had to scroll back through post-picking selfies (documentation, remember?) to make sure I wasn’t just imagining my face’s miraculous recovery. It was like my skin woke up one morning and said “Acne? I don’t know her” in the voice of Mariah Carey.
ICYDK, today just so happens to be National CBD Day, so celebrate by trying VIVE MOOD CBD for yourself. Now if you use this link it will send you to a most powerful blend of CBD. 1000mg. While it might be a splurge, all it takes is a pump’s worth each night (or even weekly) to see a major difference in your skin. Trust me, it’s totally worth it. =
I just love this story! When you try CBD in your serum or moisturizer, send me some before and after pics!! Jenn
The researchers tested CBD against a wide variety of bacteria, ”including bacteria that have become resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics,” says Mark Blaskovich, PhD, senior research officer at the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia.
The development is important, as antibiotic resistance is reaching dangerously high levels, according to the World Health Organization.
What the Research Shows
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound taken from cannabis and hemp; it does not produce the high that regular marijuana does. To date, the FDA has only approved CBD for treating rare and severe forms of seizure, although it is promoted for many other health benefits.
Blaskovich presented the research Sunday at the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting. The research includes work in test tubes and animal models. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
“The first thing we looked at is CBD’s ability to kill bacteria,” he says. “In every case, CBD had a very similar potency to that of common antibiotics.”
CONTINUE READING BELOW
The researchers tested the CBD against some strains of staphylococcus, which cause skin infections, and streptococcus, which cause strep throat.
They compared how effective CBD was compared to common antibiotics, such as vancomycin and daptomycin. “We looked at how quickly the CBD killed the bacteria. It’s quite fast, within 3 hours, which is pretty good. Vancomycin (Vancocin) kills over 6 to 8 hours.”
The CBD also disrupted the biofilm, the layer of ”goop” around bacteria that makes it more difficult for the antibiotic to penetrate and kill.
Finally, the lab studies showed that “CBD is much less likely to cause resistance than the existing antibiotics,” Blaskovich says.
The CBD ”is selective for the type of bacteria,” he says.
He found it effective against gram-positive bacteria but not gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria cause serious skin infections and pneumonia, among other conditions. Gram-negative bacteria include salmonella (found in undercooked foods) and E. coli (the cause of urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and other ailments), among other bacteria.
In another study, also presented at the meeting, the researchers tested topical CBD to treat a skin infection on mice. It cut the number of bacteria after 48 hours, Blaskovich says, although it did not clear the infection. That research is ongoing.
How It Might Work, Caveats
The researchers can’t say exactly how the CBD may prove to be a superbug infection fighter. “We thought it might work by damaging the outer membrane of the bacteria, to make it leaky,” Blaskovich says. “It doesn’t seem to do that. It might be a completely new mechanism of action.”
The study was funded by Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., which is researching uses of CBD for skin conditions *(see my next post on this subject!!!!), and the Australian government.
Perspective
Brandon Novy, a microbiology researcher at Reed College in Portland, OR, calls the study findings ”very promising,” since the results show the bacteria were not able to form resistance to the CBD, and since the bacteria were not able to form a biofilm.
All About CBD Oil
1/14What Is CBD?It’s short for cannabidiol, and it’s a natural compound found in both marijuana and hemp plants. There’s some evidence that it might help treat pain, seizures, and some other health problems. But much more research is needed for doctors to know for sure what it can do.3/14Does It Make You High?CBD doesn’t — another substance in marijuana called THC does that. If you use a CBD product, check the label and make sure that’s the only cannabinoid listed. In states where marijuana is legal, some companies put product information online that lists the amount of each ingredient.4/14Is It Addictive?CBD oil by itself is not. But CBD products that also have THC can be. The key again is to know the source and check the ingredients and the amounts so you know exactly what you’re using.5/14Where Is It Legal?Forty-seven states now allow some form of CBD. Only Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska ban all marijuana use. Legal details are different by state, so do your research to make sure you’re on the right side of the law.7/14Can It Ease Pain?Scientists are working to see if it might help with arthritis, and some people with HIV say it helps relieve nerve pain (also called neuropathy). There’s some evidence that it may help muscle spasms linked to multiple sclerosis, too. More research is needed to know for sure.8/14Does It Help Blood Pressure?In normal conditions, CBD doesn’t seem to affect this one way or the other. But researchers are studying whether it might help keep your blood pressure stable when you’re stressed. More work needs to be done before scientists fully understand its effects. 9/14Does It Help Inflammation?Early studies show that CBD might help with this, especially if it’s related to arthritis, MS, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s. But scientists are still trying to prove that and figure out how it works.10/14Does CBD Help Cancer?In studies done on lab mice, CBD oil showed promise at killing breast cancer cells and making chemotherapy drugs work better. But researchers have much more work to do to see if CBD can help people in that way.11/14Is It Good for Your Skin?There is evidence that CBD might be a treatment for acne. It seems to help with both the inflammation that can lead to breakouts and the amount of fatty acids in the blood, which can make them worse. It also may protect skin cells from damage. (see my next upcoming post)12/14Does It Help Psychosis?One study showed it helped ease the symptoms of psychosis in people with schizophrenia, but more research is needed to know just how well it might work. Keep in mind that THC, which is found in a number of CBD products, can have the opposite effect, and product labels aren’t always accurate.13/14Does It Help Addiction?Much more study is needed, but early studies show that CBD may help people who want to break their addiction to cigarettes as well as drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. This may be in part because it seems to help with anxiety and muscle tension.14/14Are There Side Effects?So far, CBD doesn’t seem to cause serious ones. When it’s used to treat epilepsy or psychotic disorders, people reported tiredness, diarrhea, and changes in appetite. But CBD can affect how other medications work, so be sure to tell your doctor about everything you take, including vitamins and supplements.
Both findings are important. “The biofilm is an important part of the whole infection process,” he says. “It helps the bacteria attach [to whatever surface or host] and survive.”
At the same meeting, Novy presented a preliminary study, finding that CBD also looks promising to fight some gram-negative infections.
“It is an important study that deserves to be followed up on,” says Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease doctor and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
He was not involved in the new study. But he cautions that ”it is important to keep it all in context. I think it is a good thing that people are looking at the use of CBD for infectious uses in a systematic way.”
But the work so far is only in test tubes and animals. Many question remain, such as looking at whether it is toxic, doses, and the best way to deliver the CBD, Adalja says. He, too, cautions against self-treating with CBD for infections.
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I started dancing at night with my family! I sometimes get the pleasure of dancing with my dog Selleck or my hubby Mark, but for the most part it is me dancing when I hear a song that inspires me! It has brought me joy and I sleep better! I love it! We try to do out to a dance at a minimum 1x a month. Well I dance and Mark listens. So music can just make you happy, You may be wired to move or listen to music, no matter try dancing and see if it helps make you happier!! Enjoy
“Without music, life would be a mistake”, said Nietzsche, and he wasn’t entirely wrong because we have a natural instinct that leads us to follow the rhythm of the music. In fact, most children move and clap their hands when they hear a song they like. It is a spontaneous response related to our need to communicate and express our emotions through the movement and the body.
There is no doubt that music is a universal language and everyone, except the people who suffer from amusia, is able to appreciate and enjoy it. In fact, it was discovered that people of different cultures react emotionally in the same way when listening to different types of music. So, it is no coincidence that anthropological studies indicate that groups who were more likely to survive were those who had developed a particular dance and were able to share their feelings dancing.
Of course, music and dance not only serve as social glue, but are also very useful for our physical and mental health. Recent studies revealed that one of the keys to happiness and satisfaction is right on the dance floor.
Steps that heal, movements that make us happy
In 2013, psychologists at the University of Örebro realized an experiment with a group of teenagers who suffered from anxiety, depression and stress, in addition to presenting psychosomatic symptoms such as neck and back pain. Half of these were asked to attend two dance classes a week, while the rest continued with their daily routine.
After two years, those who continued to attend the dance classes (where emphasis was on the pleasure of the movement rather than performance), not only showed a significant improvement in psychosomatic symptoms, but also reported to feel happier.
In another study conducted at the University of Derby, the psychologists worked with people who were suffering from depression. These people received “salsa” lessons for a period of nine weeks. The improvements began to be appreciated after four weeks and, after finishing the course, the participants said they had fewer negative thoughts, better concentration and a greater sense of peace and tranquility.
But the truth is that dance is not only an excellent therapeutic resource. A study at Deakin University revealed that dance has a very positive effect on our daily lives. These Australian researchers interviewed 1,000 people and found that often those who were dancing not only reported feeling happier, but also more satisfied with their lives, especially in relationships, health, and the goals achieved over the years.
Interestingly, also the psychologists at the University of New York discovered a similar effect in children. These researchers worked with 120 children, aged 2 to 5 years old, who were exposed to different types of sound stimuli, some were rhythmic and imitated the rhythm of the music, others were completely arrhythmic. They could appreciate that children who were moving following the rhythmic movements showed more positive emotions and felt happier. Therefore, these researchers concluded that not only we have a tendency to move to the beat of the music, but also that dancing improves our mood.
Why dancing makes us happy?
Donna and I love to Dance!!! This was a great night of tearing up the dance floor!!!
When we dance our brain releases endorphins, hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance do not only activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, but also the pleasure centers.
Indeed, neuroscientists at Columbia University say that when we move in tune with the rhythm, the positive effects of music are amplified. Therefore, a little secret to make the most of the music is to synchronize our movements with the beat, so we will be doubling the pleasure.
However, the magic of dancing can not simply be reduced to brain chemistry. Dancing is also a social activity that allows us connect with the others, share experiences and meet new people, which has a very positive effect on our mental health.
What’s more, as we move, our muscles relax to the music, which allows us to free ourselves of the tension built up during the day, especially the one accumulated in the deepest part of the musculature.
I found this article so helpful. Wish I had it years ago. I (we) was in the path of a Narcissist. He mentally abused us with kind of language too many times. I eventually learned how to combat it with ideas like the ones below. This made me stronger and more aware. I can now spot this abuse much quicker and have my “judo” moves to combat the incoming from others who try to silence me. I hope you find this helpful to gain sanity back. It took way too long to wake up and take care of myself. You are not crazy. Just like me!!
Gaslighting is an insidious erosion of your sense of reality; it creates a mental fog of epic proportions in the twisted “funhouse” of smoke, mirrors, and distortions that is an abusive relationship. When a malignant narcissist gaslights you, they engage in crazymaking discussions and character assassinations where they challenge and invalidate your thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and sanity. Gaslighting enables narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths to exhaust you to the point where you are unable to fight back. Rather than finding ways to healthily detach from this toxic person, you are sabotaged in your efforts to find a sense of certainty and validation in what you’ve experienced.
The term “gaslighting” originated in Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play, Gas Light, where a manipulative husband drove his wife to insanity by causing her to question what she experienced. It was further popularized in the 1944 film adaptation, Gaslight, a psychological thriller about a man named Gregory Anton who murders a famous opera singer. He later marries her niece, Paula to convince her she is going crazy to the point of being institutionalized, with the agenda of stealing the rest of her family jewels. According to Dr. George Simon, victims of chronic gaslighting can suffer from a wide array of side effects, including flashbacks, heightened anxiety, intrusive thoughts, a low sense of self-worth, and mental confusion. In cases of severe manipulation and abuse, gaslighting can even lead to suicidal ideation, self-harm, and self-sabotage.
Gaslighting can take many forms – from questioning the status of your mental health to outright challenging your lived experiences. The most dangerous culprits of gaslighting? Malignant narcissists, who, by default, use gaslighting as a strategy to undermine the perception of their victims in order to evade accountability for their abuse. These perpetrators can use gaslighting callously and sadistically because they lack the remorse, empathy, or conscience to have any limits when they terrorize you or covertly provoke you. Gaslighting by a malignant narcissist is covert murder with clean hands, allowing the perpetrator to get away with their mistreatment while depicting the victims as the abusers.
I’ve spoken to thousands of survivors of malignant narcissists who have shared their stories of gaslighting, and below I include the most commonly used phrases malignant narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths employ to terrorize and deplete you, translated into what they really mean.
These phrases, when chronically used in the context of an abusive relationship, serve to demean, belittle and distort the reality of abuse victims.
1. You’re crazy/you have mental health issues/you need help.
Translation: You’re not the pathological one here. You’re just catching onto who I really am behind the mask and attempting to hold me accountable for my questionable behavior. I’d rather you question your own sanity so you believe that the problem is really you, rather than my own deceptiveness and manipulation. So long as you believe you’re the one who needs help, I’ll never have to take responsibility for changing my own disordered ways of thinking and behaving.
Malignant narcissists play the smirking doctors to their victims, treating them like unruly patients. Diagnosing their victims with mental health issues for having emotions is a way to pathologize their victims and undermine their credibility; this is even more effective when abusers are able to provoke reactions in their victims to convince society that they are the ones with mental health problems. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, some abusers will even actively drive their victims to the edge to concoct proof of their instability. The Hotline estimates that around 89% of their callers have experienced some form of mental health coercion and that 43% had experienced a substance abuse coercion from an abuser.
“Most survivors who reported their abusive partners had actively contributed to mental health difficulties or their use of substances also said their partners threatened to use the difficulties or substance use against them with important authorities, such as legal or child custody professionals, to prevent them from obtaining custody or other things that they wanted or needed.” – The National Center on Domestic Violence and the Domestic Violence Hotline
2. You’re just insecure and jealous.
Translation: I enjoy planting seeds of insecurity and doubt in your mind about your attractiveness, competence, and personality. If you dare to question my numerous flirtations, affairs, and inappropriate interactions, I’ll be sure to put you back in your place in fear of losing me. The problem, as I’ll convince you, isn’t my deceptive behavior. It’s your inability to remain confident while I perpetually put you down, compare you in demeaning ways to others, and eventually cast you aside for the next best thing.
Manufacturing love triangles and harems are a narcissist’s forte. Robert Greene, author of The Art of Seduction, speaks about creating “an aura of desirability” which stirs a frenzied sense of competition among potential suitors. In abuse survivor communities, this tactic is also known as triangulation. It grants malignant narcissists a depraved sense of power over their victims. They actively provoke jealousy in their intimate partners in order to control them and paint them as unhinged when they finally react. When a victim calls out a narcissist’s infidelity in any way, it is common for them to label the victims insecure, controlling, and jealous to avoid suspicion and to continue to reap the benefits of multiple sources of attention, praise, and ego strokes.
Remember: to someone who has something to hide, everything feels like an interrogation. Narcissists will often lash out in narcissistic rage, stonewalling, and excessive defensiveness when confronted with evidence of their betrayals.
3. You’re too sensitive/you’re overreacting.
Translation: It’s not that you’re too sensitive, but rather that I am insensitive, callous, and unempathic. I do not care about your emotions unless they serve me in some way. Your negative reactions provide me stimulation and pleasure, so please, do keep going. I enjoy putting you down for having legitimate reactions to my abuse.
According to Dr. Robin Stern, one of the effects of gaslighting include asking yourself “Am I too sensitive?” a dozen times a day. Claiming that victims are overreacting or oversensitive to emotional abuse is a popular way for malignant narcissists to override your certainty about the severity of the abuse you experienced.
Whether or not someone is a sensitive person is irrelevant when it comes to cases of psychological or physical violence. Abuse affects anyone and everyone of varying sensitivity levels, and its impact should not be taken lightly. A mark of a healthy partner is that they give you the space to feel your emotions and provide emotional validation, even if they do not agree with you. A malignant narcissist will excessively focus on your so-called sensitivity and consistently claim that you are overreacting rather than own their horrific actions when called out, regardless of how “sensitive” you may be.
4. It was just a joke. You have no sense of humor.
Translation: I love disguising my abusive behavior as just jokes. I like calling you names, putting you down, and then claiming you’re the one who lacks the sense of humor to appreciate my depraved “wit.” Making you feel defective allows me to say and do whatever I wish, all with a smile and a derisive laugh.
Disguising cruel remarks, off-color comments, and put-downs as “just jokes” is a popular verbal abuse tactic, according to Patricia Evans, author of The Verbally Abusive Relationship. This malicious tactic is very different from playful teasing which takes a certain amount of rapport, trust, and mutual enjoyment. When malignant narcissists dole out these unsettling “jokes,” they can engage in acts of name-calling, taunting, belittling and contempt while evading the responsibility of issuing an apology or owning their vicious verbal assaults. You are then gaslighted into believing that it is your inability to appreciate the “humor” behind their cruelty, rather than the reality of its abusive intentions.
“Just jokes” are also used to test boundaries early on in an abusive relationship; what you may have rationalized as a tone-deaf or off-color comment in the beginning can escalate into psychological violence quite quickly in the hands of a narcissist. If you find that you have a partner who laughs at you more than they laugh with you, run. It will not get better.
5. You need to let it go. Why are you bringing this up?
Translation: I haven’t given you enough time to even process the last heinous incident of abuse, but you need to let it go already so I can move forward with exploiting you without facing any consequences for my behavior. Let me love-bomb you into thinking that things will be different this time around. Don’t bring up my past patterns of abusive behavior, because you’ll then recognize that this is a cycle that will just continue.
In any abuse cycle, it’s common for an abuser to engage in a hot-and-cold cycle where they periodically throw in crumbs of affection to keep you hooked and to renew hope for a return to the honeymoon phase. This is a manipulation tactic known as intermittent reinforcement, and it’s common for an abuser to terrorize you, only to return the next day and act like nothing has happened. When you do recall any abusive incidents, an abuser will tell you to “let it go” so they can sustain the cycle.
This form of abuse amnesia adds onto your addictive bond to the abuser, also known as “trauma bonding.” According to Dr. Logan (2018), “Trauma bonding is evidenced in any relationship which the connection defies logic and is very hard to break. The components necessary for a trauma bond to form are a power differential, intermittent good/bad treatment, and high arousal and bonding periods.”
6. You’re the problem here, not me.
Translation: I am the problem here, but I’ll be damned if I let you know it! I’d rather subject you to personal attacks as you bend over backwards trying to hit constantly moving goalposts and arbitrary expectations of the way I think you should feel and behave. As you spend most of your time trying to fix your fabricated flaws while always coming up short of what I deem “worthy,” I can just sit back, relax, and continue to mistreat you the way I feel entitled to. You won’t have any energy left to call me out.
It’s common for abusive partners to engage in malignant projection – to even go as far as to call their victims the narcissists and abusers, and to dump their own malignant qualities and behaviors onto their victims. This is a way for them to gaslight their victims into believing that they are the ones at fault and that their reactions to the abuse, rather than the abuse itself, is the problem. According to Narcissistic Personality clinical expert Dr. Martinez-Lewi, these projections tend to be psychologically abusive. As she writes, “The narcissist is never wrong. He {or she} automatically blames others when anything goes awry. It is very stressful to be the recipient of narcissistic projections. The sheer force of the narcissist’s accusations and recriminations is stunning and disorienting.”
7. I never said or did that. You’re imagining things.
Translation: Making you question what I did or said allows me to cast doubt on your perceptions and memories of the abuse you’ve experienced. If I make you think that you’re imagining things, you’ll start to wonder if you’re going crazy, rather than pinpointing the evidence which proves I am an abuser.
In the movie Gaslight, Gregory causes his new wife to believe that her aunt’s house is haunted so she can be institutionalized. He does everything from rearranging items in the house, flickering gas lights on to making noises in the attic so she is no longer able to discern whether or not what she’s seeing is real. He isolates her so that she is unable to gain validation. After manufacturing these crazymaking scenarios, he then convinces her that these events are all a figment of her imagination.
Many victims of chronic gaslighting struggle with the cognitive dissonance which occurs when their abuser tells them that they never did or said something. Much like reasonable doubt can sway a jury, even the hint that something may not have happened after all can be powerful enough to override someone’s perceptions. Researchers Hasher, Goldstein and Toppino (1997) call this the “illusory truth effect” – they discovered that when falsehoods are repeated, they are more likely to be internalized as true simply due to the effects of repetition. That is why continual denial and minimization can be so effective in convincing victims of gaslighting that they are indeed imagining things or suffering from memory loss, rather than standing firm in their beliefs and experiences.
The Big Picture
In order to resist the effects of gaslighting, you must get in touch with your own reality and prevent yourself from getting entrapped into an endless loop of self-doubt. Learn to identify the red flags of malignant narcissists and their manipulation tactics so you can get out of disorienting, crazymaking conversations with malignant narcissists before they escalate into wild accusations, projections, blameshifting and put-downs which will only exacerbate your sense of confusion. Develop a sense of self-validation and self-trust so you can get in touch with how you really feel about the way someone is treating you, rather than getting stuck attempting to explain yourself to a manipulator with an agenda.
Getting space from your abuser is essential. Be sure to document events as they happened, rather than how your abuser tells you they happened. Save text messages, voicemails, e-mails, audio or video recordings (if permitted in your state laws) which can help you to remember the facts in times of mental fog, rather than subscribing to the distortions and delusions of the abuser.
Engage in extreme self-care by participating in mind-body healing modalities which target the physical as well as psychological symptoms of the abuse. Recovery is important to achieve mental clarity. Enlist the help of a third party, such as a trauma-informed therapist, and go through the incidents of abuse together to anchor yourself back to what you’ve experienced. Malignant narcissists might attempt to rewrite your reality, but you don’t have to accept their twisted narratives as truth.
