My Journey with CBD
A few months ago I shared that I was post-op for the second time after Endometriosis ablation surgery and was deeply disappointed to still be experiencing chronic pain. The first time I had surgery my symptoms improved almost overnight - this time, not so much. Now that I’ve had more time to reflect, I’m sure that having a toddler to chase this time around (even with a lot of family help!) had an impact on my recovery as well as the fact that I pushed it and returned to work way too soon. Regardless, I was feeling really overwhelmed and over-medicated and finally just threw my hands in the air and decided to start with a clean slate. I want to caveat this post to say that I am by no means a doctor or a medical professional and you should absolutely talk to your own doctor before making any changes or additions to your healthcare routine. I am simply sharing my story with the hopes of other chronic pain sufferers hearing that they are not alone and also hopefully providing some confidence with a story with a positive outcome!
I won’t get into my full medical history but essentially one-month post-op I was still experiencing debilitating pain that restricted my ability to commute to work, both in my right shoulder, my intestines and bowel, and in my lower back. I was experiencing severe night sweats that would soak through multiple pillows. I was following a 2400 mg/day ibuprofen protocol and my surgeon was recommending I started taking an aggressive dose of a hormonal therapy that would put me into “temporary” menopause. Research on the drug is limited but it’s similarity to Lupron points to 1) no long-term decrease in endometriosis disease and 2) significant evidence that it can permanently impact hormonal function + fertility. Every doctor was telling me my night sweats were from anxiety, not hormones, and that they didn’t know why I was still in pain.
I had a semi-breakdown of sorts (nothing dramatic, just finally admitted my frustration to myself!) and decided to take back control of my health. I made appointments with two of my doctors that I really trust (my regular OB-GYN and our reproductive endocrinologist) to get a baseline of their long-term predictions on my health. With their blessing, I went back to basics. Dropped the ibuprofen, focused on my low-inflammation diet but without the stress of trying to be perfect and never have wine. I stopped trying 235234 drugs to manage my night sweat “anxiety” and instead took a break from birth control for a month to re-regulate my hormones (like magic, the sweats went and have stayed away…) and did a ton of research on what supplements support decreasing inflammation and improving gut health. Slowly but surely my head started to clear up. Unfortunately, my pain continued in my lower back and shoulder. With a clearer mind and a sense of more control over my health, I asked on Stories for any recommendations from you all regarding chronic pain. Over 200 (!!) of you recommend trying CBD. I wasn’t surprised but I was encouraged to hear so much support!
After a ton of research to confirm that hemp-derived CBD is 100% legal (I’ve never even smoked a cigarette - total rule-follower over here!), I did some MORE research and tried three different CBD protocol over the next eight weeks. One brand utilized CBD isolate and could be used at any time of day, one brand boasted supplemental benefits from additives like Valerian root for sleep, and the third was a three-part protocol that included ingesting, applying, and absorbing CBD from an oil, cream and softgels. All three met my requirements and followed the advice of many of your recommendations: produced from single-source hemp, could name their source farm, and were THC-free/contained less than .3% THC (i.e. were legal). Other than that the industry felt a bit like a crapshoot - VERY unregulated and SO many options making SO many claims. In the time since I started writing this post a week ago for example, two additional CBD companies have approached me about working together and none of them had the credible expertise of the protocol I ended up preferring. Kind of a scary space, especially if you’re already exhausted by traditional medical disappointments! Anyway, a friend of mine had directly introduced me to Equilibria, who was already on my list as the third option but immediately jumped in to help. Full disclosure, they sent me one month’s worth of protocol to try, but I’ve had such a great experience that I’d happily pay them back for the value of the products and would still write this review. Long story short, my Equilibria experience blew the other two brands out of the water. After mulling it over, I actually pitched the brand about doing a sponsored review and offering exclusivity over any other CBD brand because I had no need or desire to try any others. Here is why.
They are unbelievably knowledgeable about a very complicated space. I just checked my inbox and we’ve emailed back and forth 21 times (sorry guys). I had SO many questions and they not only got back to me right away, they proactively followed up to see how I was doing.
How it worked: the Equilibria team sent me a box containing 10 mg softgels, a vial of their 10 mg oil, and a glass container of their relief cream. They started me off by taking one softgel in the am and one before bed along with a dropper of the oil.
Five days after I started the protocol they followed up with an email asking how I was doing and I responded that I was still waking up in the middle of the night (no sweats) and that I felt like my throat was itchy after taking the oil. Maia, the dosing specialist, recommended adding another softgel before bed and taking another dropper in the middle of the night to aid in getting back to sleep.
A few days later they followed up again and we decided to drop the oil and go with a 25 mg softgel before bed (none in the am, and no more oil) and continue with the relief cream. At this point I started to really feel relief. I’d been applying the relief cream nightly to my shoulder and for the first time in six months I woke up with no shoulder pain. It’s important to note that it wasn’t immediate (this was after a few weeks of combined CBD therapy) and had gradually gotten less severe, but then… it was gone. I also slept through the night for the first time I can remember. Realistically, I made a lot of changes at once so I don’t doubt that the supplements + lessened anxiety from eliminating so many other “test and fail” medications also helped, but I can’t dispute chronic pain that I’ve had for YEARS slowing ebbing to nothing as we found the CBD protocol that worked best for me. For the first time since Nell was born, I am no longer taking 800 mg of ibuprofen 3x/day. I think I’ve taken ibuprofen three times total since we landed with the right CBD plan for me - and it was not for endometriosis-related symptoms. The decrease in anxiety from that alone is priceless to me.
That said, there were a few things I had to get used to:
I think one of the reasons Equilibria worked best for me is because it’s a full-spectrum CBD oil that contains terpenes… only one of the other oils did (and it was mixed with other herbs). I definitely did not expect the smell/taste to be so strong! I got used to it and it doesn’t bother me anymore but you can definitely expect a strong natural hemp smell.
The cost :( I will be using the softgels and relief cream regularly moving forward and can expect to spend about $100-150/mo with my monthly subscription (click here for 15% off or sure code: meghall). Quality CBD is expensive. I actually asked the team about their perspective on cost before talking about a partnership and their response was really helpful for me: “I know budget and cost can be a barrier here. There is a huge variety of quality out there. Even companies who are third party lab testing (something you should always look for), are using multiple farms; so the quality is not consistent. We have our own organic farm in CO, so you'll get the same product batch to batch to batch. I liken it to wine. Our products are as high quality, top shelf as you can get. We have 3-5 times more cannabinoids and terpenes (the therapeutic benefits) than most products on the market--in fact, they're even using our product in clinical trials around the country! That said, often times people need a larger dose to start; and then once their own body is functioning a little better, they need less. Everyone's body chemistry is so different, so there's no one-size-fits-all protocol.” For comparison, my monthly ibuprofen refill was $4. This is one of my biggest frustrations with modern medicine - we’ve made it cheaper and faster to rely on big pharma. I’m hopeful that as more studies are published, utilization of CBD will be considered for insurance coverage (a girl can dream!)
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Equilibria and rave about it to anyone that will listen. Based on how many questions I/they have had, I thought you guys might too, so I sent over the questions you all submitted on my stories last week to the Equilbria team. Here’s what they came back with:
Can you tell us more about quality differences? There are fairly cheap ones and expensive ones:
There are so many options out there, and we know it can be overwhelming! That’s why we have a team of dosage consultants to help you navigate your options. Our product tends to have 3-5 times the cannabinoid and terpene content (the beneficial parts of the plant) than most products on the market, so we encourage you to start low and build up.
When looking for a high quality product,here are a few things to keep in mind:
1/ Lab reports!! In this rapidly growing non-regulated industry, manufacturers are cutting corners right and left by offering industrial hemp-derived oil that’s (best case) not efficacious because it is not bred or harvested to be therapeutic, or (worst case) is actually dangerous because it contains pesticides and heavy metals. Industrial hemp as a crop is actually used as a mitigant to clean fields in between crop cycles, so manufacturers who aren’t asking detailed questions about their supply could even unknowingly be putting these harmful chemicals into customer’s products. Not all CBD oils are created equal so look at lab reports to ensure your products DON’T contain harmful chemicals and DO contain maximum cannabinoids and terpenes, the therapeutic agents of the cannabis plant.
2/ Full-spectrum oil!! There are over 100 different cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD works best when combined with other cannabinoids and terpenes, including its more well-known sister THC (which serves a critical function in opening up receptors on the ECS and making your body more ready to accept the CBD). Full-spectrum oil refers to the expression of as many cannabinoids and terpenes as possible, producing what is known as “the ensemble effect” which maximizes therapeutic benefit and helps the CBD work better!
3/ Make sure it’s all coming from the same farm. Would you take medicine that was a different strength every time? No! So why would you use a company that combines products from multiple farms?
Do you know how it affects anxiety?
Anxiety is the number one reason members start using Equilibria. While the anecdotal evidence has been around for awhile, mounting scientific evidence is catching up!
A 2010 study found that cannabidiol could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). In this study, CBDl not only made participants feel better but also changed the way their brains responded to anxiety.
Members looking to manage their anxiety get the best results from a combination of our Daily Softgels, for a slow steady release all day and night, and our Daily Drops, for fast acting relief when they need it.
Would it help with migraines?
Migraines are in the top 5 reasons our Members are using CBD.
We know that Migraines can often be triggered by stress and anxiety, which CBD has been shown to be helpful managing. Additionally there is some evidence that CBD can manage pain regulation and inflammation; which can also have applications towards managing migraines.
The results can vary, some members report noticing a big difference right away, and some take time. It's certainly worth a try!
I’ve been using it for a stress fracture but feel like it’s just a mental thing. Thoughts?
It’s definitely not all in your head! CBD has been shown to lead to improvement in fracture healing and bone strength. Several animal studies have shown that CBD not only increased the speed at which injuries were healed, but it also made the process of healing a lot easier!
If you are on anti-anxiety meds, how is the interaction?
While many of our members are on pharmaceuticals, CBD and some pharmaceutical medications can use the same liver enzymes, which can result in making your medication more (or less) effective. We always encourage you to speak with your doctor whenever adding CBD into your routine.
Is it safe for pregnancy?
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD when used topically (like with our 500 mg potent Relief Cream) can bring incredible relief to pregnant and nursing moms. When rubbed on the body, CBD only enters the blood-stream minimally but can still bring powerful pain relief to those sore muscles and joints during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
There are more questions than answers when we talk about ingested CBD as pregnant and breastfeeding women are always the last group to be studied in clinical trials. There's very little data around pregnancy and nursing, so it ultimately comes down to personal choice. Our co-founder Marcy plans to use it while pregnant & nursing (and we do have other members who choose to do so), but the absence of data leaves us unable to fully answer the question! New CBD studies are published monthly so we are keeping an eye on it. For many women, it comes down to whether CBD is helping them reduce the amount of pharmaceuticals they’re taking. Some women decide it’s the lesser of two evils during pregnancy and nursing months, and some women decide to abstain.
Can it be taken occasionally for a bad day or does it have to be a consistent regimen?
Equilibria recommends taking it daily and consistently, like you would a medication or vitamin. Daily use is best. Just like you would work out or eat healthy in a consistent manner for optimal health same is true for your CBD routine. The goal is to get you to a place where you’re taking CBD preventatively and not reactionary. That said, everyone has bad days; and members love reaching for their CBD to help them get through!
Recommended dosing for different ailments, perspective on time of day etc?
Everyone’s body chemistry is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all. Much of this process is about trying a few different doses and routines and figuring out what works best for you. The good news is we have a team of dosage consultants available to help you dial into your dose once you’ve had a chance to try it.
The Daily Drops and the Daily Softgels work differently within the body, so we recommend starting with a Balance Box which has both the Daily Softgels and the Daily Drops. That way you can gauge how your body reacts to each of the products.
The Softgels are swallowed, like you would a vitamin, which means you lose some of the absorption to your digestive system; but it also stays in your system for longer. Members use them to help them stay asleep, set a consistent baseline for the day (used in tandem with the Drops), and for digestive issues (where it can act like a topical).
The Daily Drops are held under the tongue, which allows it to mostly bypass the digestive system; which means it hits you harder and faster, but it also leaves your system sooner. The oil is great for microdosing, helping you find your correct dose. Members use the Drops for all kinds of things including regulating mood and anxiety, helping them fall asleep faster, inflammation, and hormone regulation. It's fast acting properties also make it great for episodic relief as well.
We recommend starting off with a full dropper (10mg) of the oil in the evening, following dinner, and gauging how you feel. If you don't feel anything at all, take another full dropper. In the morning take a softgel. Repeat that regimen for 3-5 days and then make a one-on-one dosage consultation.
Many of our members end up switching their dose and regimen following their consultation, but that's a good place to start!
I always wondered if topical or ingesting was better?
We recommend both! Our Relief Cream can be great for applying topically wherever you need it, but for best results we always encourage an ingested product to help manage inflammation and the root cause of the issue.
I know it isn’t THC, but I feel like I’ve heard mixed answers about it and drug testing… what’s the deal?
Every woman’s body chemistry is different, so this is kind of a grey area. It's highly unlikely, but it COULD. However, no members of the EQ team have tested positive for THC when using Equilibria products. If you're not sure, you can definitely pick up a drug test at your local pharmacy to see how it affects your body personally.
Does it increase appetite?
Phytocannabinoids, such as CBD, work with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which is said to be one of the most important physiological systems in the human body. It acts as your body’s master system, keeping all your other systems in balance, including sleep, mood, and yes – appetite.
This study suggests that the ECS is capable of stimulating specific areas of the body involved in metabolism. Since the Endocannabinoid System is constantly maintaining balance, or homeostasis, if you need to gain weight, CBD can help you improve your appetite; but if you are overweight, it may be able to help curb it.
Again, studies are early but promising. CBD can be used to help us maintain balance in a lot of different areas in our life – potentially even our weight!
What are the specific trials and research for this product?
Up until December of 2018, CBD was classified by the federal government as a Schedule I substance (along with marijuana), making it extremely difficult to study. As a result the anecdotal evidence has remained far and beyond the scientific evidence. Now that CBD is federally legal, and new studies are coming out every day, that’s finally starting to change! If you’re looking to read up on CBD I recommend this site: https://www.projectcbd.org/
If you are interested in trying Equilibria, they have generously offered 15% off your first order. You can simply click here or use code: meghall.
Thank you to the Equilibria for working so closely with me to find relief, and for partnering with me on this post. Please remember that everyone’s health journey is different and you should speak to your doctor before trying any remedies. Equilibria makes no claims that CBD can cure or treat symptoms.
