Both CBD oil products and LDN have prompted many questions at our pharmacy and we are happy to share experiences and feedback with you. We will provide accurate information regarding the potential benefits of LDN and CBD oil from the experiences of our own patients, as well as to provide a forum to connect with others dealing with the difficulties of autoimmune and chronic pain disorders. 

As you drive around town you will probably see signs advertising CBD Oil everywhere. From gas stations to video stores, how are you supposed to know if CBD oil is right for you? How are you supposed to separate the low quality brands from the reputable? Your Medicine Center Pharmacist is the most accessible health care professional to answer your questions.

What is CBD?

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids that are found in the hemp plant. You will not get “high” from CBD Oil as there is no more than 0.3% THC present.

What is the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana?

Hemp and marijuana are the same plant, cannabis sativa. The difference is that hemp is cultivated for significantly lower amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), less than 0.3% by dry weight. Industrial hemp also has more fibrous stalk and grows taller than marijuana which tends to grow bushy. Marijuana is cultivated to contain much higher percentages, often as high as 10-12% of THC, for psychoactive purposes.

What Kind of CBD Oil Should I Use?

CBD oil products available in the marketplace today can vary in a variety of strengths, ingredients, and dosage forms. CBD oil is available in both oral and topical forms. Oral forms include tinctures and capsules. Topical lotions, salves, lip balms, and massage oils can be applied directly to areas of concern on the skin. The form of CBD Oil you choose would depend on the intended use.

Is CBD Regulated in the USA?

While CBD is not currently regulated by the FDA there are many reputable companies that are setting standards to assure a quality product by testing purity, potency, and safety. The best products are full spectrum, Colorado grown, organic, gluten free, Non-GMO, vegan, cruelty free, highly bioavailable, and undergo independent laboratory testing. The most reputable companies control the process from “seed to sale” meaning that they control the entire chain of command process of planting, growing, harvesting, extracting, and botting. Look for documentation on product packaging for production tracking of testing and certificates of analysis.

Why Do Prices of CBD Vary So Much?

Be wary of lower quality vendors selling cheap CBD products sourcing hemp raw material from China, where growing standards are questionable. These products are often only isolates of CBD and not full spectrum and will not have certificates of analysis available. Higher quality products that have had independent testing and chain of custody documentation will command a higher price, but also have the potential to provide a better therapeutic outcome due to the integrity of the product.

Why Full Spectrum CBD Oil?

Utilizing over 100 of the active ingredients from the hemp plant, the entourage effect is a proposed mechanism by which CBD compounds act together to modulate the receptors in the endocannabinoid system.

Hemp has both terpenes and cannabinoids and plays a role in the expression and flavor of the product.  Terpenes can be damaged in extraction if you are not careful. 

Will CBD Oil Interact With My Prescription Medication?

Cannabidiol is metabolized in the liver by the P450 system and it is possible that CBD Oil could interact with prescription medication metabolism and as a result alter the intended outcome in the body.

How Does CBD Work?

When you ask a pharmacist this type of question you get a technical answer, so here is the technical answer:

The main actions of CBD are centrally; acting on the Endocannabinoid system -specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

• Activates TRPV-1, modulating body temperature, the perception of pain and inflammation.

• Activates Adenosine receptors, promoting anti-anxiety and dopamine/glutamate release.

• Inhibits FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) enzymes, leading to the modulation of the endogenous CB1 receptor.

The simple answer is that this seems to help reduce peripheral pain and inflammation.

Very few licensed drugs act on these receptor groups directly.

• Rather than getting you high, CBD actively blocks the neurological effects of THC (the component removed from all CBD products).

Will CBD Affect My Job or Cognitive Ability?

• CBD has no measurable effect at all on reaction time and can be safely taken when used in our commercially available formulations in recommended doses. It can be taken safely when driving and operating machinery.

• It is possible that you could test positive in a drug screen if you use CBD Oil products for a long enough period of time or in higher doses.

What Medical Conditions Are Patients Treating?

Please consult a health care professional when treating any disease/condition. We are seeing CBD Oil products provide support for the following common conditions:

• Anxiety

• Chronic Pain

• Eczema

• Migraines

• Muscle Pain

• Neuropathy

• Psoriasis

• Sleep Disorders

Have you used CBD Oil and benefited from the therapy? Please share your experiences below so we can all learn together.

CBD Oil In the News:

Arthritis Foundation Statement on CBD Oil 

Are you one of the 9 out of 10 Americans who wish to Age in Place?  Or, maybe you are helping care for a parent or loved one who requires assistance in their home or is considering assisted living.  Estate Planning is ideal for those who want to get a head start on protecting family assets and laying the groundwork for their financial legacy.  It is a uniquely personal process and can be highly individualized based on a person’s desires or needs – and it’s never too late to seek help.  This morning we will be talking with Jim Contini from Krugliak Wilkins.  Jim specializes in both Estate Planning and Elder Law. 

Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy welcomed our guests Jen Griffing and Krista Allison, members of the Great Start for Great Futures Coalition to discuss Brainology.

One step builds on another. The progress in language development made during the first five years of a child’s life is extremely predictive of future school successes and struggles. Kindergarten readiness predicts 3rd grade reading achievement, which predicts 8th grade math achievement, which predicts high school graduation, which predicts postsecondary attainment. Ninety percent of a child’s brain development occurs by age five. Birth to age three is the fastest rate of brain development across his or her lifetime. 

Today’s consensus in the fields of neuroscience, education and developmental psychology reveal that a child’s experiences between birth and age five have an enormous impact on the ability to thrive throughout life; from academic achievement, to health, to future earnings as an adult.

On this podcast we will talk with our friends from the Great Start for Great Futures Coalition about each of our roles in helping the children of Stark County realize their potential for a Great Future.

What is Great Start for Great Futures 

 Formed in December 2016, The Great Start for Great Futures (GSGF) Coalition is a countywide collective comprised of early education providers, agencies, advocates, and community leaders who collaborate to design and implement initiatives to close the early learning gap in the Stark County community.

The Goal of Great Start for Great Futures Coalition

To ensure all children have access and opportunity to high-quality early education to ensure kindergarten readiness in all (early learning) educational domains

One key point we want our community to remember is that:

You don’t begin at 3~

You don’t begin at 5~

You begin before birth.

So therefore, under our theory of change, we actually have an advantage in closing the achievement and opportunity gap in the areas of literacy, numeracy and social-emotional development for children before birth to age three.

 We know that if take advantage of the “advantage” we will see kindergarten readiness and create a solid foundation for academic growth. It’s all about language nutrition.

What is “Language Nutrition”?

Words truly build our brains. Just like our bodies need nourishing foods and clean water, our brains NEED language. They need words to build strong, healthy connections. These connections grow stronger and stronger for children by hearing LOTS of words! Words that are given to them by caring people in the context of their day around things that have the most meaning to them. For example: meal time, riding in the car, playtime, nature, bath time and bedtime….just to name a few. The more meaningful words and conversations the more healthy and stronger connections we create to build our children’s brains. That’s brainology.

Brainology 101 Overview?

 Let’s go a little deeper into the term “language nutrition” and brainology. Now we have disclaimer alert- we not medical professionals, but we are educators, parents and community members and we’ve looked at the research behind the connections between early childhood and education. 

Here’s what we learned over the last 25 years as a result of research by various scholars in early childhood development in health/medicine, education, economics, 

• Early childhood is a critical period for developing language skills (listening, speaking and understanding) (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000)

• Language enables a child to communicate with others which builds both social and cognitive development which is a prerequisite of school readiness and literacy (Dickinson and Porche, 2011, Forget-Dubois et al., 2009, Hart and Risley, 1995, Rowe et al., 2012, Weisleder and Fernald, 2013).

• The basic architecture of the brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood.  (The Science of Early Childhood Development- Harvard)

• Babies are able to perceive and react to sound as early as at 24 weeks gestation and begin to learn language in utero by 35 weeks gestation, suggesting that newborn infants' brains are primed to learn language (Kisilevsky et al., 2009, Perani et al., 2011)

• Similar to the construction of a house, the building process begins with laying a foundation (The Science of Early Childhood Development- Harvard)

• Through this process, early experiences create a foundation for lifelong learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. (The Science of Early Childhood Development- Harvard)

 It starts with you. It continues with us.

 If you are a parent, talking with your child every day, throughout the day, is one of the most important gifts you can give to ensure healthy growth and development.  You are absolutely your child’s first and most important teacher. No one knows or can connect with your child better than you!

It’s in these day to day interactions that children receive the most powerful language nutrition.

Being intentional about using language as a tool to help children grow strong, healthy brains isn’t optional, but necessary for helping children prepare not only to read but to be able to communicate and connect as they develop.  Because as we mentioned, we know that the difference in early language exposure really is the beginning of the achievement gap and we can work as a community to proactively address this.

Talk First Stark is about leveraging the power of language to ensure that all families and community members have the tools they need to nourish the growing brains of our children. We know that whatever your role is, you are a powerful partner in impacting the life of a child.

Other Links Of Interest

The Power of Language Nutrition for Children’s Health and Academic Development

The Science of Early Childhood Development

How does nutrition affect the developing brain?

CDC’s Developmental Milestones

Don’t miss Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4 here.

You can find all our Health Matters Podcasts here: iTunes Google Play Stitcher 

Recently, NBC News released a report by Dr. Rudi Tanzi, from Massachusetts General Hospital. He has discovered inflammation kills millions of nerve cells, shutting down the area responsible for thinking and memory. Could this be link be a between nervous system inflammation and memory play a factor in Alzheimer’s Disease? If it is true, then treating inflammation could lead to a viable approach to addressing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. 

This link to neuroinflammation could lead to many new treatment options for patients that suffer from autoimmune diseases like alzheimer’s.

If you would like to learn more about how the mechanism of action of low-dose naltrexone mechanism may affect inflammation in the central nervous system through action on the microglial cells.

“We review the evidence that LDN may operate as a novel anti-inflammatory agent in the central nervous system, via action on microglial cells. These effects may be unique to low dosages of naltrexone and appear to be entirely independent from naltrexone’s better-known activity on opioid receptors.”

— Jarred Younger & Luke Parkitny & David McLain Clin Rheumatol (2014) 33:451–459

Learn more about low dose naltrexone and at our next public seminar.

A recent article published by NPR does a fantastic job of providing legitimacy to a therapy that has been very popular at our compounding pharmacy, low dose naltrexone (LDN). The volume of scientific information is expanding at an enormous pace, and as a result it is challenge to be aware of all the cutting edge therapies, so it is great when the press helps to raise awareness.

The good news is that the research is there, but often takes time to trickle into the mainstream standard of care. This NPR article relays the experience of living with chronic pain from the “other side" of the story, the non-research side, from the point of view of patients.

The article tells the history of LDN, why it's so promising, and the fact that ONLY compounding pharmacies have the ability to prepare this medication in custom dosage forms to meet patients needs.

Patients and providers can quickly read (or listen) to this news story and understand now low dose naltrexone works and it provides legitimacy in coming from a national news source such as NRP

Dr. Bruce Vrooman, an associate professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, was an author of a recent review of low-dose naltrexone research.

The full text of the NPR News story can be found here: In Tiny Doses, An Addiction Medication Moonlights As A Treatment For Chronic Pain

The compounding pharmacists can assist you with your questions about LDN, for more information contact the pharmacy here or call us at 330-339-4466.

Our next public information session on LDN will be October 3rd, 2019 at 6:30pm at the Hampton Inn Meeting Room 1299 West High Avenue New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.

Do you have experience with LDN you would like to share?

Most people who experience mental health problems recover fully, or can live with and manage them, especially if they get help early on.

But even though so many people are affected, there is a strong social stigma attached to mental ill health, and people with mental health problems can experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives.

We will talk with Chris Fogarty, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Mercy Medical Center about mental health initiatives in our community and reducing the stigma attached to mental health conditions.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  These are powerful words.  It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone.

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

Community Resources:

Mental Health First Aid Training

Mercy Medical Center Plain Chris Fogarty Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Dr. John Vraciu and Heidi Vraciu, Board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, joining us from Greater Canton Psychiatry.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It is sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or be overly active. This morning we will talk with Dr. Vraciu and Heidi about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorder.

American Academy of Pediatrics has a website with many excellent resources for parents on common questions and concerns including ADHD, parenting tips, child development, and more.

Pharmacists Paul White and Brad White discuss tips for a healthy immune system for the coming cold and flu season.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccines

The Centers for disease control estimates that for the 2017-2018 influenza season that vaccination prevented 7.1 million illnesses, 109,000 hospitalizations and 8000 deaths. The CDC recommends that children and adults should received their flu shots by the end of October. Vaccination is recommended before there is flu activity in the community. Statistically flu seasons are most likely to peak in January and February but can occur as early as October. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. You may experience side effects like soreness at the injection site or a mild temperature or malaise which is a sign of an immune response to the vaccine.

The CDC recommends the following patients get the influenza vaccine:

• All children aged 6 through 59 months;

• All persons aged ≥50 years;

• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (excluding isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

• Persons who are immunocompromised due to any cause (including but not limited to immunosuppression caused by medications or HIV infection);

• Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;

• Children and adolescents (aged 6 months through 18 years) who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;

• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

• American Indians/Alaska Natives; and

• Persons who are extremely obese (body mass index ≥40 for adults).

• Healthcare workers

• Caregivers

Pneumonia Vaccines

Older adults need two pneumonia vaccines separated by at least one year. Prevnar 13 (PCV13) provides coverage against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) provides protection against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. Side effects are mild and typically do not affect daily activities. Soreness at injection site is the most common.

CDC Recommends:

• You should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23, at least 1 year later.

• If you already received any doses of PPSV23, get the dose of PCV13 at least 1 year after the most recent PPSV23 dose.

Nutritional Recommendations

A strong immune system starts with both adequate rest and adequate nutrition. Pharmacist Brad White recommends the following supplements to support your immune system:

• Multivitamin

• Vitamin D

• B-Complex Vitamin

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

• CoEnzyme Q10

• Magnesium Chelate or Magnesium Glycinate

• Probiotic

This installment of Health Matters will talk with our friends from the Great Start for Great Futures Coalition about each of our roles in helping the children of Stark County realize their potential for a Great Future. We welcome Jen Griffing and Krista Allison to share their passion and vision for the youth in our community.

Talk First Stark - is a Stark County strategy geared towards families with children from prenatal to age 3. The initiative promotes the importance of language nutrition as the foundation for healthy growth during this critical time in a child's brain development. Progress made during the first 5 years of a child’s life is extremely predictive of future school successes and struggles. Kindergarten readiness predicts 3rd grade reading achievement, which predicts 8th grade math achievement, which predicts high school graduation, which predicts postsecondary attainment.

For more information about Talk First Stark visit http://www.edpartner.org

This is part of a series of four programs. Don’t miss Part 2, and Part 3 and Part 4 here.

You can find all our Health Matters Podcasts here: iTunes Google Play Stitcher

This week’s episode discusses skin cancer risks and how you can be proactive to protect yourself when you enjoy the sunshine this summer. Do you know what increases your risk for skin cancer? How many times a day do you need to reapply sunscreen? Learn from the experts at Mercy Medical Center for best practices to protect yourself from overexposure and sun damage.

What is more fun than enjoying the out of doors in the summer? Well it certainly isn’t a visit to the emergency room as a result of an injury. This program is led by Dr. Mark Lamielle and provides great summer safety tips for outdoor activities, summer travel, staying hydrated, and maximizing your fun while minimizing your risks! Take this opportunity to check your medicine cabinet and make sure that you have the basic first aid items to treat those cuts and scrapes and make sure your items are in date. Must have on hand items include band-aids, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, pain relievers, and hydrogen peroxide.

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy covers a variety of services that we offer at your local independent pharmacy. The pharmacist fills a role that covers many aspects of health care. They link the patient to the prescriber and not only check for drug interactions and make sure that your prescription order is accurate, they also help solve problems with insurance billing, manufacturer recalls, and over the counter medication recommendations. Patients visit their pharmacist on average of 12 times a year, making the pharmacist the most accessible health care professional.

In addition to providing services like home delivery and special medication packaging to simplify medication administration, the Medicine Center also offers a Free Kids Vitamin program for kids in grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade. We have convenient pharmacy locations in Canton, Louisville, Minerva, and New Philadelphia, Ohio for you to take advantage of this service.

We also talk about an upcoming informational seminar that pharmacist Brad White will be hosting on September 5th, 2019 about the uses for Low Dose Naltrexone. Low Dose Naltrexone, or LDN, can be of benefit in a variety of autoimmune disorders and chronic pain treatment. You can register here for the seminar to learn more.

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy as we discuss National Stroke Awareness Month with Maria Griffin, CNP, Stroke Coordinator for Mercy Medical Center. Did you know that every 40 seconds someone in the United States suffers a stroke? Stop by the Medicine Center Pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked by one of our pharmacists.

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Studies show that somewhere between 25% and 45% of post menopausal woman find sex painful.  Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, regulates your reproductive system. Before menopause, estrogen helps maintain the thickness and elasticity of your vaginal tissues. However, as you age, your estrogen levels drop, causing changes in these tissues.  When vaginal tissue grows too thin, sexual activity can become painful.

Our topic today is women’s health with a focus on Mona Lisa Touch, a promising and exciting hormone free treatment.  

This Friday edition of Health Matters with The Medicine Center Pharmacy features your Pharmacist Paul White and sitting-in for Compounding-Pharmacist Brad White is Health Matters Radio Show Executive Producer Nancy Wharmby. Nicole Selinsky, Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietician from Mercy Medical Center

Seasonal Allergies have you down? Pharmacists Paul White and Brad White discuss Over the Counter treatments to help you beat the pollen. We also cover tips on how to save money at the pharmacy counter.

The Centers for Disease Control report a that a whopping 62 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. It’s no surprise that a sedentary lifestyle combined with increased food consumption lead to health risks among adults, teens and children. As the warmer months approach, many people focus on dieting and exercise to lose weight and getting in warm-weather shape. It’s also a great time to evaluate good food choices and really pay attention to what we put in our bodies. Today we’re going to talk about healthy eating habits,  learn tips on portion control and more. 

From Botox injections to tummy tucks, Americans are spending more than ever on plastic and reconstructive surgeries, according to an article published in USA today. What was once common only in wealthy social circles has become much more common in mainstream America because plastic and reconstructive procedures have been proven to be affordable and safe when provided by a reputable medical provider. However, plastic and reconstructive surgeries are commonly known as cosmetic luxuries, but they are often medically necessary – from removing skin cancer to addressing a cleft lip. Dr. Stephen Lopez, plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Aultman Medical Group shares more with us during this segment.

Opioid addiction has been a serious and growing issue in our country for years, and the face of the epidemic is usually of those who are addicted. However, there is another side of the opioid addiction crisis and substance disorders in general – the children of those who are addicted or who overdose. As the opioid crisis spreads, it has forced more children into foster care and exposed many to severe trauma. In this segment, we learn more from the experts at OhioGuidestone.

Hosts and Pharmacists Brad and Paul White talk with OhioGuidestone’s Hollie Spencer Truman.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and we are helping raise awareness and joining the effort to save lives. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States. Family history, ethnicity and race can put you at a higher risk for colorectal cancer, so screening is an important factor. Early detection is key, and in this program with talk with the cancer experts from Mercy Medical Center.

L-R: Medicine Center Pharmacy’s Nancy Wharmby, executive vice president and Paul White, R. Ph., discuss colon cancer awareness and treatment with Mercy Medical Center’s Angelina Barbato, cancer nurse navigator and Dr. Russell Ramey.