How Hemp CBD Oil May Benefit Your Health

/in /by

The top 10 benefits of hemp CBD oil and best practices

Research has exploded in recent years on cannabidiol (CBD), one of more than 100 active compounds called cannabinoids found in hemp. What this research is showing is that we have ignored the benefits of CBD for far too long. 

The human body creates cannabinoids like CBD and uses them through what is called the endocannabinoid system. We now know the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in supporting overall health and that CBD can help, too. Research suggests CBD may offer a variety of health benefits, from improved sleep to reduced pain and stress. 

At Haleigh’s Hope we know first-hand that CBD can improve health, thanks to the inspiration behind our work, Haleigh Cox. When we first met Haleigh, she had been given only a few months to live due to intractable epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy. Her seizure medications weren’t helping, and she had as many as 200 seizures per day. After transitioning to CBD oil, that number reduced to only a few, and she only continues to improve. 

There are countless potential benefits to hemp CBD oil–see our Top 10 here:

  • Improved mental health. The brain has many chemicals that constantly interact, called neurotransmitters, which play a large role in mood and behavior. Hemp CBD oil may help to regulate these brain chemicals, which means it also may support overall mental health. Research has found that CBD can have antidepressant effects, increasing levels of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin in the brain. 
  • Improved sleep. Research suggests CBD may help with sleep issues stemming from rapid eye movement (REM) disorders, like insomnia. REM is a stage of deep sleep where dreams are most vivid and is important to the health and development of the brain. CBD oil may also help reduce nightmares in those with post-traumatic stress disorder. 
  • Reduced stress. When you feel stressed, your body has elevated levels of a chemical called cortisol. High cortisol levels can have symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, high blood pressure, trouble sleeping and more, which makes stress tough on the body. Research suggests CBD can significantly reduce cortisol levels, helping to reduce overall stress and improve health. 
  • Anti-seizure. Seizures are caused by sudden brain disturbances that can result in changes in behavior, movement and feelings. Frequent seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. CBD has been shown to be effective at reducing the frequency of seizures in those with treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy. It can reduce seizure frequency by around 50% according to many studies. 
  • Neuroprotective. Neurons are special cells that transmit signals through the brain and central nervous system. They are responsible for proper brain function. When neurons degenerate, people can develop diseases such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Studies have found that CBD may protect neurons from damage caused by many factors, such as oxidative damage from free-radicals. 
  • Anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the body’s response to injuries and infection, often resulting in redness and swelling. However, sometimes there is too much inflammation that can cause pain and stiffness while exhausting the immune system. Some research suggests CBD can reduce this kind of inflammation, especially in those with osteoarthritis, a joint disease that develops over time through wear-and-tear of protective cartilage between bones. 
  • Pain relief. This benefit goes hand-in-hand with reducing inflammation. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, reduce pain primarily by reducing inflammation. Multiple studies suggest that CBD may be a safe and well-tolerated pain reliever. For example, one study found that CBD-rich hemp oil was able to significantly reduce overall body pain for girls experiencing a nervous system disorder that causes chronic pain.
  • A balanced body. The endocannabinoid system is important for regulating a variety of systems in the body, including the nervous system, immune system and endocrine system. These systems help maintain balanced energy levels in the human body, creating a healthful steady-state called homeostasis. Hemp CBD oil may help support the body’s endocannabinoid system in maintaining internal balance. 
  •  Improved health and well-being. All these potential CBD oil benefits often have crossover — for instance, reducing inflammation often also results in reduced pain. Human health is holistic: if one thing is wrong in the body, others may follow. CBD oil may help support overall health through the whole body’s important systems, resulting in many individual benefits that combine to create overall health and well-being. 

How to Use Hemp CBD Oil

Most studies have shown positive results when CBD oil is taken sublingually, meaning under the tongue. Haleigh’s Hope hemp CBD oil products are recommended to be taken under the tongue for most conditions, though it can be taken orally, rectally or by feeding tube. You can find our CBD oil for sale on our products page. 

There’s Hope in Hemp CBD Oil

/in /by

Top Three Benefits Those with Epilepsy Experience from Hemp CBD Oil  

Epilepsy is a common brain condition and seizures are the main symptoms. There are 65 million people around the world with epilepsy, many with unknown causes. Almost one in three patients with epilepsy have a treatment-resistant form, according to recent research.

Living with epilepsy can mean living in fear. Seizures can strike without much warning at any point, leaving many feeling out of control. Those with intractable epilepsy are resistant to medicine, exacerbating the fears of an attack. 

These symptoms are all intertwined — uncontrolled epilepsy can mean more frequent epilepsy attacks, resulting in fear and anxiety. Hemp CBD oil may help with managing all of these symptoms and more. 

What is Hemp CBD Oil?

Hemp is a type of cannabis, the plant family commonly known as marijuana. Cannabis contains more than 100 active compounds called cannabinoids with medical potential. 

The cannabis plant has been essentially banned in the United States since 1937, stifling innovation in the medical field, though at the time the American Medical Association objected to the strong regulations. 

As attitudes and laws change throughout the country, we’ve discovered more about the ways cannabinoids might help support health. For instance, we now know that the human body makes and uses its own natural cannabinoids through what is called the endocannabinoid system. Plant-based cannabinoids bond to endocannabinoid receptors and are used similarly by the human body. 

There’s one cannabinoid in particular that has recently grown a body of research — cannabidiol (CBD). It has become known for a variety of effects, such as reducing inflammation and anxiety and supporting healthy sleep. However, some of the strongest evidence supports the use of CBD for seizures, especially for those with treatment-resistant epilepsy. 

The Top Three CBD Oil Benefits for Epilepsy: 

  1. Reduced seizure frequency: Research has shown that CBD can reduce seizure frequency and provide a safe alternative to traditional epilepsy medications, which have a variety of unwanted side effects. One study found that CBD can reduce seizure frequency by 50% after three months, while others have found similar results. Evidence is so strong that the FDA approved a drug comprised of CBD for treating severe forms of epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome) in 2018.
  2. Reduced anxiety: Many use CBD oil for anxiety. For those with epilepsy, the unknown nature of when a seizure will strike can cause anxiety. Anxiety is a powerful negative emotion that impedes in daily life, affecting things like work and school performance, sleep and social relationships. Epilepsy is known to already disrupt daily living, making the compounding struggles with anxiety even more difficult. Many studies suggest that CBD can significantly reduce anxiety, supporting overall health and well-being.
      
  3. Improved brain function: Since epileptic seizures are often the result of overly excited neuronal activity, drugs that treat seizures often suppress brain activity.  This can have negative effects on the brain, such as reduced attention span and trouble with learning. CBD doesn’t harm the brain like other epilepsy drugs can — in fact, some research suggests it actually helps the brain. CBD may have neuroprotective properties, meaning it supports the health of brain neurons and overall brain function.

Success With CBD:

Haleigh Cox, the inspiration behind Haleigh’s Hope, had around 200 seizures per day until she transitioned to treatment with CBD oil. After one month, Haleigh had her first seizure-free day in years. Now she only has a few seizures (on a bad day). 

Haleigh’s Hope was created to provide safe, effective, high-quality products to health-focused individuals worldwide. You can find our CBD oil for sale on our products page. Thanks to Haleigh, we can provide hope for others, too.

This time, science weighs in on a Capitol debate over medicinal marijuana

/in , /by

For the sixth year in a row, the General Assembly has taken up legislation addressing the legal status of medicinal marijuana in Georgia.

This year is different. Political skepticism, while not disappearing, is clearly on the wane. Perhaps more important, the state’s scientific and medical communities are weighing in as never before.

“We never had that. The medical support is here,” said state Rep. Micah Gravley, R-Douglasville, author this year’s effort, House Bill 324.

Which means the incremental steps taken so far by the Legislature haven’t turned people away. “What we’re seeing is that the sky hasn’t fallen in,” Gravley said.

State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, introduced the first medical marijuana bill in 2014, moved by stories of constituents who said that low-THC oil, a non-intoxicating ingredient drawn from marijuana, had helped children who suffered from epilepsy and other seizure-inducing conditions.

“Haleigh’s Hope Act” was signed into law the next year. Over the next three sessions, Peake was able to get the list of patients who could use the oil expanded.

Peake retired from the Legislature last year, his work unfinished.

Marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug by the U.S. Justice Department. And Peake was unable to persuade the Republican leadership at the state Capitol — Gov. Nathan Deal, in particular — to embrace legislation that would permit the cultivation of low-THC marijuana in Georgia.

That would allow families in need of it to escape the possibility of federal prosecution as felons when they cross state lines with their cannabis oil in hand.

Gravley, who served as Peake’s lieutenant in past battles over medical marijuana, has picked up that particular torch.

“My mission is to get lab-tested oil into the hands of the patients who are registered in the state, without requiring them to incur the expense of traveling to another state,” Gravley said.

Given the expense, many who do seek low-THC oil elsewhere can only afford to make the trip once or twice a year. They load up. “What happens if you get caught in Kansas? What happens if you get caught in Oklahoma? They’re having to bring a quantity back that could send them away for a good long while,” the lawmaker said.

Gravley, like Peake before him, opposes legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

HB 324 is a “seed-to-sale” bill that would allow 10 licensees to grow and process low-THC marijuana under high-security conditions. All plants would be grown indoors, under 24/7 video monitoring.

Sixty dispensaries would be allowed across the state. No one without a state-issued card would be allowed to enter the retail outlets. In advertisements, these stores would be prohibited from using the word “marijuana” or words like it — pot, weed, and such. Even signs with green lighting would be banned. And no vaping.

HB 324 passed the House last week, on a veto-proof 123 to 40 vote. An impressed Gov. Brian Kemp hasn’t said a word against the measure. “When it passes with a constitutional majority, it might not matter what I think,” the governor quipped this week.

Leaders of the GOP-controlled Senate say some changes to HB 324 might be demanded, but legislation to allow in-state cultivation of low-THC oil is likely to pass the chamber in coming weeks.

Opposition to medicinal marijuana legislation has been led by social conservative forces in the state Capitol — the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and the Faith and Freedom Coalition, in particular. The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association has also remained an implacable foe.

What’s changed is the attitude of what might be called Georgia’s lab coat crowd. Physicians and other academics are no longer on the sidelines, as they were in 2014. It is possible they were provoked.

Two weeks before House passage of HB 324, opponents brought Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter, before a House committee. Berenson is out with a new book on the hazards of marijuana: “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence.”

“I think cannabis is a much more psychiatrically destructive substance than is commonly understood. There is very strong evidence that cannabis can cause psychosis,” Berenson said. “There is also strong evidence that cannabis can produce schizophrenia.”

The author conceded that marijuana may help with nausea caused by chemotherapy, but dismissed other beneficial claims. “The idea that it can be a solution to the opioid crisis goes against generations of evidence that it’s a gateway drug, and is based on very, very weak epidemiological data,” Berenson said.

The trouble is, several people at the University of Georgia have been studying that very thing. One of them is David Bradford, a professor of public administration and policy.

In one paper, Bradford and his fellow researchers — his own daughter among them — found a 14.7 percent reduction in opioid use under Medicare Part D in states in which medical cannabis is offered through dispensaries. Other academics have found that opioid-related deaths fall by 25 percent in states where patients have access to cannabis.

“The evidence of cannabis’ value, clinically, for a number of conditions, is unassailable at this point,” Bradford told me. He acknowledged that there was slight merit in the argument Berenson lays out in his book.

“There are some hints about associations with schizophrenia, and some people with mental illness probably shouldn’t use this option to treat chronic pain, but for a wide range of people, the clinical evidence is now pretty clear,” Bradford said. “This book does misrepresent the science rather substantially.”

Gravley has a letter from Bradford in hand to that effect. Other endorsements come from ranking figures at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, and Emory University. And the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

So sayeth the lab coats. But this is the Georgia General Assembly. Personal testifyin’ and outright conversions — not science — make the best impressions.

Gravley says his strongest letter of support has come from Bob Starrett, chief of police in the city of Austell and a longtime foe of medicinal marijuana legislation.

Joe Jerkins is the mayor of Austell, and has been for 29 years. But he has decided not to seek re-election this year, citing health concerns.

“Our mayor was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Starrett wrote on official city stationery. Tremors and uncontrollable shaking made had made mayoral work difficult for him.

“He recently obtained a low-THC oil registration card. His symptoms improved after he began using the oil,” Starrett wrote. “Access to this medication has allowed him to function more normally, including signing his name to this letter.”

The signature of Mayor Joe Jerkins is indeed at the bottom of the letter, shaky but legible. And Starrett says he has changed his mind about cannabis oil.

 

Originally from AJC News

What Makes Haleigh’s Hope Different From Other Products on the Market?

/in , /by

Why our hemp CBD oil may be the best choice for you 

Advocates of natural health have a lot to say about cannabidiol, also known as CBD. The public is awakening to its many benefits, so there’s many different CBD products trying to break into the market. 

With all the options to choose from, how do you know what will be best for you?

At Haleigh’s Hope, we value health education. We want our consumers to be armed with knowledge when they make important decisions about their health. So, if you’re in the market for a CBD supplement, here’s what makes Haleigh’s Hope different — and why it may be the best choice for you.

What is Haleigh’s Hope?

Haleigh’s Hope® is a high quality, whole-plant hemp extract that contains naturally occurring cannabinoids from 100% organic, non-GMO ingredients. Haleigh’s Hope was created from a proprietary genetic strain of hemp that was carefully bred and cultivated over seven years to achieve a specific profile of compounds, making the extract a CBD rich hemp oil. All Haleigh’s Hope products are lab tested for quality and safety.

The primary ingredient in Haleigh’s Hope is cannabidiol (CBD), and it contains less than 0.3% THC. Independent research has shown that CBD is a neuroprotectant and encourages healthy cells to reproduce. 

How Haleigh’s Hope Compares:

Extract: Other product manufacturers often just sell purified CBD oil from unknown sources, but Haleigh’s Hope is a whole-plant extract containing a variety of naturally occurring compounds in addition to the CBD. Research has shown the over 480 other components of the cannabis plant, working in synergy, exert a substantially greater therapeutic effect than any single compound alone. This concept, known as “the entourage effect,” was coined by the legendary Dr. Raphael Mechoulam of Israel. We have spent the past seven years breeding our proprietary strains of hemp to contain the specific ratios of cannabinoids and terpenoids that are found only in Haleigh’s Hope and associated with our customers’ success stories. 

Quality: Haleigh’s Hope grows, extracts, produces, packages and ships 100% of our product from our facilities in Colorado. Because we have exclusive control over our products from seed to sale, we ensure the highest levels of quality and consistency in the industry, unlike many of our competitors who import their hemp oil from foreign countries such as China, or use the clothing byproduct industrial hemp paste. Every batch of our product is lab tested for safety and quality.

Safety: CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been shown to provide numerous therapeutic benefits without causing the high that users typically associate with cannabis, which comes from the cannabinoid THC. We can assure you that there is less than 0.3% THC in Haleigh’s Hope. With some other CBD products, THC content can range drastically, making our hemp CBD oil a safer choice. 

Legality: Rest assured that Haleigh’s Hope is completely legal. The United States Farm Bill of 2014 classified industrial hemp as containing less than 0.3% THC on a dry-weight basis, and U.S. Federal Courts have ruled that naturally occurring cannabinoids derived from hemp with less than 0.3% THC are not included in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) under the definition of marijuana. Haleigh’s Hope contains THC levels of 0.3% or less and is legally classified as a hemp extract, making it legal to ship to all 50 states. We can also ship to many international countries.  

The Real Difference:

We strive to make to provide safe, effective, high-quality products to health-focused individuals worldwide. We strive to make a positive difference in the lives of every customer we work with. Our company exists today because we made a difference in the life of Haleigh Cox. 

Haleigh is the inspiration behind Haleigh’s Hope. She was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Haleigh had around 200 seizures per day until she transitioned to treatment with hemp CBD oil. After one month, Haleigh had her first seizure-free day in years. Now she only has a few seizures (on a bad day). 

If you choose Haleigh’s Hope, you are buying from a company that cares. You can find our hemp CBD oil for sale on our products page. 

 

Studies Shows that CBD Oil May Improve Heart Health

/in /by

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 77.9 million American adults have high blood pressure. People affected by this condition have an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. They may also face a shorter life span and see a decrease in their quality of life. The medical community routinely treats this condition through medication, diet, and exercise, but they may now have a new weapon to fight hypertension. A recent study has shown that cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce both resting blood pressure and blood pressure response to stress.

Hemp CBD oil Blood Pressure Study Results

In a recently conducted study by investigators from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, nine male volunteers were given either 600 milligrams of CBD or a placebo in a double-blind, crossover study. The results published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation showed that those taking the CBD had a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure.

During the study, a single 600-milligram dose of CBD was found to reduce systolic blood pressure by an average of 6 mm HG at rest. Lowering blood pressure by just 5 mm HG can lessen the risk of stroke by 34 percent and the risk of ischaemic heart disease by 21 percent. It can also decrease the likelihood of other complications that can result from high blood pressure like mortality, dementia, and heart failure.

CBD Also May Reduce Infarct Size

In addition to its potential use in lowering blood pressure as a preventive step toward heart health, CBD may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Another study found that CBD produces a substantial cardioprotective effect from ischemia, reducing infarction size.

And, It’s an Anti-Arrhythmic

CBD may lower blood pressure, protect against ischemia and help regulate heart rhythm. A 2010 study found that not only does CBD reduce infarct size after an ischemic attack, it may also minimize the severity of arrhythmias during an acute attack.

How to Take CBD

CBD can be used in several ways. Some users apply it directly to the skin to be absorbed into the body. Others take CBD capsules or mix drops into their food or drink. CBD hemp oil is easy to use and affordable, even for people with limited financial resources. CBD does not have any dangerous side effects, but some users report minor issues with irritability, nausea, and sleep.

Hemp CBD oil Conclusions

Although the medical community continues to research the efficacy of CBD, evidence of its effectiveness is mounting. The presence of a safe, affordable, and effective natural remedy for high blood pressure may seem too good to believe, but it is already here. Those with chronic medical issues can particularly benefit from this oil.

The prejudice against hemp and marijuana products has been waning in recent years as consumers have become more educated about their potential therapeutic benefits. CBD hemp oil will not make anyone high, and it is legal to use. Hemp CBD oil can provide relief to consumers that are suffering from a variety of conditions that adversely affect their quality of life. In fact, CBD may extend the lives of those suffering from high blood pressure and other serious illnesses.

 

New Study Supports CBD’s Antiepileptic Effects for Those with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

/in /by

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most abundant chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is known for delivering the “high” that users commonly associate with marijuana, CBD does not produce any hallucinogenic or psychedelic effects.  Research has shown CBD to effectively reduce seizures in epileptic patients.

CBD and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

In the lead-up to their 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, the American Academy of Neurology released the results of their recent clinical study of CBD for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS).

LGS is a type of severe epilepsy which typically begins in early childhood and persists into adulthood. Individuals suffering from LGS often have an intellectual disability and suffer from different kinds of seizures – from tonic-clonic seizures to drop seizures.

Tonic-clonic seizures are generalized seizures that affect the entire brain and cause convulsions of the whole body; while drop seizures are characterized by a temporary loss of muscle tone causing the patient to collapse suddenly. These types of seizures are hard to treat because they don’t respond very well to antiepileptic medications.

The study involved 225 patients, ranging in age from 2 years old to 55 years old, all with drug-resistant, intractable LGS. Participants were divided into three groups. One group received 20 mg/kg of CBD daily; the next group received 10 mg/kg of CBD daily; while the third group received a placebo with their current antiepileptic drugs.

During the clinical trial, patients who were in the 20 mg/kg CBD group reported a significant 42% reduction in their seizures, while those in the 10 mg/kg CBD group reported a 37 decrease in seizure frequency. On the other hand, those who were in the placebo group experienced only a 17% decrease in seizure activity. These effects were sustained throughout the 14-week treatment period.

This study proved that CBD is an effective antiepileptic treatment.  Furthermore, CBD was well-tolerated by the participants, with side effects reported as mild to moderate.

More Studies Proving CBD’s Benefits in Treating Epilepsy

Other recent studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of CBD in treating epilepsy include:

There are some types of epileptic disorders that conventional anticonvulsant and antiepileptic medications can’t control. Patients with these types of epilepsy suffer from numerous seizure activities daily, affecting their physical, emotional and intellectual growth.

These studies confirm that CBD can control these intractable, drug-resistant seizures and that it may be an effective treatment option for people suffering from this debilitating disorder.