Chelsea’s Living with CBD
We believe in the power of the plant. That’s why we’ve called upon activist Chelsea Leyland, this week’s Tastemaker, to share with us the power of CBD: how it has transformed her life, and why we need to spread this message to all those who will hear. This workbook will who you how you can incorporate this wondrous compound in your everyday life. enough to start with; allow that one small thing to become a habit…and then think about something else that is small and doable and set your sites on that.”
So what actually is CBD anyway? Cannabidiol (or CBD, as we like to call it) is a a type of cannabinoid, specifically a phytocannabinoid: these are chemical compounds extracted from the hemp plant. These natural compounds interact with a system in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system, which has cannabinoid receptors, and regulates almost all bodily processes. The phytocannabinoid, i.e. CBD, interacts with our own endocannabinoid system when consumed, with an array of potential effects and benefits.
When used as a natural supplement for its healing properties, the way CBD affects the human body can depend on the dosage you take, the strain of hemp used in the product, the ingredients used, and of course
Photography by Benjamin Tietge
Photography by Benjamin Tietge
what you are using it for. It can affect people differently because it is pleiotropic: “it has many different effects through many molecular pathways and activates or binds to multiple receptors throughout the body”, explains Sarah Neidler, PhD, for KLORIS. According to Sarah, the effect is similar to that of paracetamol: an experience of the easing or absence of symptoms, and “a return back to a more ‘normal’ state – more ‘you’”.
Because of its unique interactivity with our endocannabinoid system, CBD is known for this vast range of purposes, health benefits and healing properties: it has been proven to help sufferers of seizures and epilepsy, like Chelsea, as well as those of anxiety, depression, ALS, chronic pain and PTSD. It has even been proven to enhance creativity, by increasing blood flow to the brain’s frontal lobe.
The effect of CBD also depends on how you choose to consume it, as this will determine which biological system it goes through. Ingesting it, for example in food, will likely take the longest to feel the effects, whilst sublingual consumption (putting drops under your tongue) will have a quicker impact because the membrane under the tongue can absorb it into the bloodstream quicker than the gut.
Hemp is a botanical class of the cannabis plant, grown specifically for medicinal or industrial use. It has a mind-blowing variety of uses, from building eco-housing, to making biodegradable plastic, paper, milk, fabric, clothing, chocolate… Here’s a guide to the wonderfully versatile properties of this miracle plant.
Properties: Full of iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, fibre and amino acids.
Uses: Medicine.
Properties: Contains glycoside, an organic molecule that rids the body of toxins.
Uses: Medicine and healing–it has treated cramps, inflammation, burns, eczema, digestive problems.
Properties: Rich in Omega 3, Omega 6, Vitamin B & E. A nutritious ‘superfood’, and fuel for vehicles as well as humans: a sustainable alternative to petrol.
Uses: To create a milk alternative, or eaten raw. The oil extracted can be used for paints, varnishes, soaps.
Properties: Strong, durable.
Uses: Fiber–materials such as plastics, cordages, canvas and hempcrete.
Discovering CBD was a life-changing moment for Chelsea who has been suffering from epilepsy since the age of 13: after trying some medicinal CBD drops she realised that she had, for the first time in her life, forgotten to take her medication; medication that was having severe mental and physical health impacts. She bravely made the decision to wean herself off it, and with the help of CBD, she has not had an epileptic seizure since. She is also an advocate for women’s reproductive health, raising awareness of how CBD can help sufferers, like herself, of endometriosis and here shares her routine to help soothe menstrual pains.
“I use it topically on my lower back area and pelvic region to help with cramps. I also use it sublingually (a few days before to allow it to accumulate in your system) and most importantly I use cannabinoids in the form of suppositories which I have developed for LOONI,the new women’s health company I’ve co-founded launching in 2022. ”
Why not incorporate CBD into a favourite cookie recipe? Just add a few drops of CBD oil, and your standard chocolate chip cookie is transformed into a CBD cookie: the same delicious taste and chewiness, but with all the added health and healing benefits.
