Princeton's Ask the Doctor November-December 2019

QUESTION: I have beenwanting to try CBD. I’ma little nervous to do it but I see it sold everywhere. From the gas station to the supermarket I see signs, “CBD sold here!!!” How do I go about finding a safe and high-quality product? ANSWER: “CBDproducts” are amixture of cannabidiols and other compounds from the hemp plant, Cannabis. Hemp plant products contain extremely low levels of THC and do not produce a “high”. In 2018, the US Farm Bill made hemp-derived CBD products legal at the federal level. People are using CBD for depression, insomnia, anxiety, pain, migraines, arthritis, and nausea. Research has shown it is effective for reducing inflammation and pain, modulating the immune system, enhancingmood, protecting the brain, and improving libido. It is being studied for its use in supporting opioidwithdrawal. But how can you be a wise consumer when both the FDA and a recent JAMA article have shown that many CBD products are not true to their label? When buying a CBD product you should be guided by a knowledgeable expert. You should ask for a Certificate of Analysis showing the components of the product as tested by an independent third-party lab. You should look for a USDA Certified Organic label. You will want a product that has been extracted by Super Critical CO2, not chemically extracted. It should be chemical, solvent, herbicide and pesticide free. It should be distilled for purity, odor and bioavailability. Full spectrum hemp products have shown better health benefits than the CBD isolate products. 252 W. Delaware Ave Pennington, NJ 08534 E E • N O W A C C E P T I N G A P P L I C A T I O N S • S C H Y F E E • N O W A C C E P T I N G A P P L I C A T I O N S • S C T R Y F E E • N O W A C C E P T I N G A P P L I C A T I O N S • E N T R Y F E E • N O W A C E P T I N G A P P L I C A T I O ST. MARY’S WINTER SPECIAL Move in b for January 1, 2019 and get the 2nd month fr e! You will need to understand the dose you will be taking because the labels are confusing. The amount of CBD inmg on the front of the product label is usually the amount in the entire product. You need to divide that by the number of servings in the product AND understand what the product considers a serving (5 drops? 1 dropperful?...). And, after all that, be sure to start with a low dose and increase slowly with each successive dose until you achieve the effect you are looking for. CBD can interfere with some medications and there is some evidence that high doses can affect the liver in some people. It is best to let your health care provider know you are taking CBD so that the proper surveillance can be achieved. Most of all, do your homework. Choose your products wisely. Dr Kate Thomsen’s office for holistic health care is located in Pennington, NJ. She is trained in Family Medicine, and Board Certified in Integrative Medicine, and is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. She has been practicing Functional Medicine for 20 years. For more information see www.drkatethomsen.com or call the office at 609-818-9700. Our Continuum of Care Com Our Continuum of Care Co Our Continuum of Care Our Continuum of Car T. MARY’S WINTER SPECIAL Mov in before January 1, 2019 and get the 2nd m nth fre ! Campus shared with St. Lawr Campus shared with St. Lawre Ready to take t THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROACHTO N Meaningful Life • Real Home • THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROACHTO Mea ingful Life • Real Home TH GREEN HOUSE® APPROACH Meaningful Lif • Real Ho THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROAC Meaningful Lif • Real Morris Hall Se Campus shared with St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

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