Following my recent posts reviewing a CBD product and then discussing the legalities in the USA and UK, I have been sent this video and article written by Sarah Hajibagheri of Sky News:
Cannabis to be classed as medicine in UK
There is real concern that the new regulations to be rolled out by the UK regulator could cause real confusion & give mixed messages for the general public regarding the safety and legality of cannabis based products.
I am very pleased to have a mention on the honey colony website as a reviewer of their Superior Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Formula. The other reviewers are Kristin of A Life Well Read, Heather of The MS Life and Kristin of Mini 2Z – all fellow members of Chronic Illness Bloggers network. 
My original review can be found here Review : Honey Colony Superior Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Formula for pain relief 
The Drug Enforcement Administration in the USA announced earlier this month that all extracts of marijuana, including CBD, are illegal under federal law (Rolling Stone article Inside DEA Ban on Marijuana Extracts). I understand that this has triggered great debate in many communities and that there are legal challenges being made to determine whether the DEA has authority to exceed the Controlled Substance Act. Many suppliers of CBD & hemp products are reporting that sales will cease by 14th January 2017.
I wonder where this leaves the situation in the UK, particularly as the reviewed honey colony product is produced and shipped from the USA. Having read various pieces, the law in the UK seems to me to at best be grey! This article published on politics.co.uk by journalist Deej Sullivan sets out to examine Uk laws, the introduction of the Psychoactive Substances Act, the Misuse of Drugs Act and the role of government & the Home Office with respect to enforcing said Acts. I admit that I am not a great deal clearer!
I continue to use my product (it may not be quite clear on the website that I no longer take Oxycontin – last New Year I down to approx 80mg daily – and that the spinal cord stimulator delivers an electric current to the nervous system not drugs Spinal cord Stimulation) – and still find that it helps with muscle and joint pain resulting from my EDS.
Claire x
Disclosure: “I have been given Honey Colony Superior Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Formula as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.”
For the last 6 weeks I have been trialing Superior Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Formula, an herbal supplement made by Honey Colony, a co-operative model based in USA that aims to empower the individual to be their own best health advocate. honey colony.com
Cannabidiol (CBD) can be extracted from the cannabis plant and taken for health benefits, but without the euphoric feelings usually associated with cannabis/marijuana. Honey Colony, who have a mission to empower the individual to be the best advocate for their own health whilst putting honesty back into the food supply, were looking for individuals experiencing chronic pain to assess the effects of CBD oil on their health and well being.
Agricultural production Pharmacological production
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Fibre Oil Food THC CBDs
Cannabis is made up of over 60 compounds, and the 2 in greatest numbers are CBD and THC. The compound that people will be most aware of by reputation if not name is the THC – this is the part that causes the user to experience the high we think of in recreational use! However it is possible to produce a plant that has higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC. As CBD has no component to cause psychotropic changes it is useful for medicinal purposes. Must know facts about CBD
Pharmacological reviews have claimed that CBD has the following properties
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22625422)
Honey Colony has developed an herbal supplement incorporating CBD which they state
This herbal extract is a combination of CBD oil and 6 other natural compounds
The Honey Colony site states “whole plants or mixtures of plants are more effective than than isolated compounds.”
Full details of the ingredients’ properties can be found here: https://www.honeycolony.com/shop/superior-cbd-oil/.
I have a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hypermobility type) which means that my body does not produce collagen in the normal way – normal tissues containing collagen stretch & rebound like an elastic band, whilst mine is more like chewing gum! It affects my joints, causing pain & dislocations, my circulation (Raynauds and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome – I pass out regularly!), my gut, my bladder & my nervous system. Cauda equina syndrome after a lumbar disc rupture many years ago has left me with chronic pain in my back, leg & foot.
I have struggled to gain any real pain relief in recent years and have taken a cocktail of drugs including the opiate Oxycontin (oxycodone), various antidepressants used for nerve pain and the gold standard for nerve pain, Lyrica (pregabalin). Last year I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted to help relieve the nerve pain and my hospital insisted that I wean myself off the Oxycontin. Whilst I’m pleased to be off the opiates, a downside has been a huge increase in my joint pain so having been asked to write a review for Honey Colony I felt quietly hopeful & excited!
The hemp formula arrived in the UK well packaged and in a bottle of good quality & appearance – dark brown to preserve the qualities of the formula from light damage, with a pipette dropper lid and a black & bronze label.
It is recommended that the product is taken 3 times a day, placing 4 drops under the tongue for 90 seconds – sublingual for fast absorption into the blood stream.
The product is a strange sludge colour, but please don’t let this put you off! I found the taste bitter at first but after several doses my taste buds had adjusted and I was able to detect the sweetness of the honey. For me this was a similar taste experience to that with oxynorm elixir! Unlike some other CBD oil products on the market which use olive or coconut oil, the Honey Colony Superior Rich Hemp formula does not contain a carrier and does not need warming to thin the consistency.
I went into this trial with an open mind and without reading any other reviews for this or similar products. I haven’t used CBD products before so I am unable to draw comparisons between this product and other CBD products on the market. The immediate difference that I noticed was to my sleep. Like many chronic illness sufferers, my sleep is at best disturbed and at worst non-existent. The particular type of spinal cord stimulator that I have cannot be used overnight and so I have to switch it off. Without the oxycontin my nights have become worse from both the nerve pain and joint pain.
My nights have definitely been more settled following a final dose of CBD oil before going to bed – the muscle spasm around my joints is improved and I feel generally more relaxed. I can’t pretend that I suddenly sleep all night every night, but I think that during wakeful periods I am less stressed.
My pain in my joints & soft tissues is definitely helped by the CBD formula – the relaxed feelings come within about 30 minutes and last for several hours. This allows me to perform some of the moderate exercises that are essential to keep me moving & to ensure my mobility does not further deteriorate. The jury is still out with regards to the chronic nerve pain that I have in my back, leg & foot – I plan to continue monitoring this alongside the scs over coming months. The temperature has dropped in recent days and so my pain has worsened – this will be a really good test period for some improvement.
I am completely realistic after so many years with chronic pain and do not expect a “cure” but any relief is really welcome, so I am thrilled that I am able to feel more comfortable in my shoulders, hips and hands particularly.
Honey Colony products are available for shipping to the UK, but cannot be bought from suppliers here. So when calculating costs a shipping fee must be considered.
A 30 ml bottle of the Superior Cannabinoid rich hemp formula retails for $92.55, with a current conversion of £74.73 and various reductions are available for larger quantities (https://www.honeycolony.com/shop/superior-cbd-oil-3-pack/). 
The current postage on one 30ml bottle to the UK at Priority International rate is $48.75 or £39.36, or first class rate is $22.75 or £18.37. The exchange rate has altered since the Brexit vote in the UK and unfortunately for me makes the product and postage rate higher as the pound falls against the dollar!
The product does feel expensive, particularly as I am no longer physically fit enough to work and we rely upon disability benefits & are technically a low income household. However having now done a little research and value comparisons online with other products, I can see that other CBD oils claiming to be of a similar quality are comparable – it is difficult though as I may not be comparing like with like. My verdict is that for the results I achieved, this product does offer good value and I would purchase under different financial circumstances.
Honey Colony recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women consult a doctor prior to using the product.
It is possible for the consumption of CBD oil to result in a positive drugs test for THC – whilst this should be well below legal limits, it must be noted by the individual (in the same way that eating poppy seeds can result in a positive opiates test occasionally).
I have been impressed with the results that I have achieved using Honey Colony Superior Cannabinoid Hemp Formula health supplement whilst caring for my symptoms from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Whilst I have not eradicated all my pain, I have achieved a better sleeping pattern & have gained relief for my joint pain. When personal circumstances allow, I plan to continue using this product as part of a pain relieving programme.
DISCLAIMER: all opinions stated above are my own and based upon my own experience. I am not authorized to give medical advice and am no longer registered as a nurse. Please consult your doctor or seek medical advice before commencing any health supplements/medications.
I’ve just read this piece on Vice.com that will interest all UK chronic pain spoonies! The NHS is trialling a cannabis based vape pen manufactured by MediPen……the journalist who tried it may not have chronic pain and may have enjoyed blowing vapour over his colleague, but the fact that the NHS is doing trials will hopefully be able to give some credence to the benefits of this CBD device. In case you aren’t sure – CBD doesn’t have the psychoactive compounds normally associated with “weed”!
The full article can be found here:
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/medipen-trialled-in-nhs-vgtrn
I wonder, has anyone had results with chamomile or ginger tea?
I’m sitting here recharging – yes literally as the scs running a bit low on juice – watching the Olympics and downing Pimms. The divers and then the gymnasts, wow they are fit and so many of them have overcome injuries to be at the top of their game.
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This got me thinking about a lady whose work we admired in an art gallery recently and her story. She was an ordinary young housewife who had her family and set about bringing up her children and supporting her husband as a stay at home mum. Life felt pretty dark at times, although it should have been great, and now that wonderful thing hindsight has shown her and her husband that she probably had post natal depression for many years. During these difficult days she developed a painful nerve condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia – all the same awful nerve pain that is experienced with sciatica down the leg or nerve pain down the arm, but running through the side of the face. I know that I have written at length over the last year about nerve pain and just how hard it is to treat, but it really is the hardest thing to control and the trigeminal nerve is probably the hardest to symptom control. This would have led to a continuous cycle of pain and depression.
She had never painted beforebut with encouragement started to put brush to paper and found a fantastic outlet for her pain and depression. Ov
er a period of years she developed her own very distinctive style – the gallery described it as Marmite, as people either love her work or hate it – and her work started to be noticed by art critics. Today she has exhibited in a top London gallery, her art sells for thousands and she is a leading figure in the Royal Institute of watercolour painters. Just think, this all started with what was effectively art therapy!
http://www.adrianhillfineart.com/ – link for the gallery in Holt for more information
Therapies that complement traditional medicine have long been recognised for their beneficial qualities in mental health, palliative care and cancer care. The use of art and specifically colouring is now becoming a regular therapy for symptom control. Adult colouring books are quite the rage! I have found that when the pain is not settling, sitting quietly with a picture to colour in really changes my mindset and thus my response to the pain. There is something about the different way in which you have to concentrate that slows down the mind and is calming. My girl, who does more than just colour, says that she finds painting and drawing relaxing. With art, it is possible to express thoughts and feelings that can’t be voiced. In the paintings of the artist described, it really is possible to see her battle with depression and pain in the dark outer edges of every painting – and yet the details of the actual pictures are bright and vibrant, depicting people living life to the full. Maybe some these actually picture activities that she would have liked to have done or places to have visited – even the slightly more risque elements to some of her work could be expressing a side to life never experienced. I wonder how many of us bloggers (not just those with an illness) use writing as a similar therapy – whether it is as a distraction from illness, a means to express ourselves in a way that we are unable to voice in everyday life or merely a way to escape from the stresses & strains of modern day life for a few minutes.
So to return to my original thoughts, it is possible to work and strive to overcome physical & emotional difficulties in order to produce a work of art, be that a physical painting, a novel or a perfectly executed high bars programme. 
But we mustn’t feel or be made to feel the lesser for failing to overcome our situations or to
produce wonderful artwork. We can take inspiration from others though and each find our own outlet.
So, I’ve finished charging, my battery is showing full, the Pimms is long gone……nearly forgot, we came away from that art gallery truly inspired, but also with a slightly lighter purse and a girl grinning from ear to ear as she carried oil paints home! I think I know how she plans to express herself over the remainder of the holidays!
Have you discovered Ness at the blog “The girl with the 5 lads”?? She writes some great pieces and I have just read her review of the Fay Farm Serendipity Lotion, which she highly recommends for use with chronic pain. High praise indeed as Ness is a qualified complementary therapist!
I’ve just read this great review by Kim on her blog Grace is Sufficient for another pain relief device that works by stimulating nerves – it functions in a different way from my implanted device, but sounds like it could be a really useful alternative to drugs.
A visit to the dentist got me thinking again about what our medication does to us. I am pleased to report that the dentist was very impressed when I opened my mouth – no not to speak , he made sure that didn’t happen – but to see a set of filling free gnashers! Quite a feat at my grand old age as my kids remind me. Forget the dodgy back, bendy limbs, loose joints, malfunctioning bladder and pain, because my teeth are still ok!
My dentist actually knew what Ehlers Danlos syndrome is and what a spinal cord stimulator is and I have to say, this impressed me. He knew that EDS can cause mucus membranes (the mouth lining), to be drier than normal and that the various drugs we all take for chronic pain can also cause oral problems. Of course he spoke to me about the importance of good mouth care, dental hygiene, flossing etc to keep my gums as healthy as possible, but it got me thinking about some other side effects of the drugs, particularly opiates.
In the heady days of my early career as a London staff nurse, when we both worked hard and played hard, I was introduced to red wine. I’d never really liked it before, but our medic friends Steve and Tina introduced us to a certain wine bar in Leicester Square – and Steve introduced Duncan to a single malt whisky club, least said about that the better!! The Cork & Bottle was a basement bistro style wine bar and was the only place in the early ’90s where a particular Aussie red wine was to be found. More than once the four of us drank them dry of our favourite and had to be thrown out when we outstayed our welcome. I have no idea if it is still there, but it holds some great memories.
After the drowsiness, one of the first side effects I noticed when I started my cocktail of drugs was a change in my taste buds. Particularly for red wine! I know, I know, as a responsible now unregistered nurse, I must tell you all that it is never wise to mix strong drugs with alcohol. All the packaging tells you so.
But at times when it feels like there are few pleasures left, a tipple is called for – except for when it starts to taste DISGUSTING! My favourite red wine tasted foul – bitter and sediment like really cheap, student wine. What on earth was going on?? Did I ever remember to tell my patients that favourite food and drink might become unpalatable? In my head and neck days it went without saying, but I’m not sure that I really understood just how much my mouth, and my eyes for that matter, would change due to drugs. A drier, sore mouth with taste buds that could no longer taste – sweet food became a no, no and savoury food never had enough flavour.
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Then we come to the eyes, more mucus membranes beneath the lids. I wear contact lenses and have done since I was 14, but in the last couple of years my eyes have become noticeably more dry and irritated after a shorter wearing time. My optician wasn’t surprised after he asked which drugs I took – at the time oxycodone, lyrica/pregabalin, mirtazepine and fluoxetine. These may seem like such small things, and really they are, but they just add to an already difficult situation.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Whilst I am still on various drugs and still suffer brain fog, I am finding that my taste is altering again. My mouth remains dry and at times my gums are sore, but I can drink and more importantly ENJOY a glass of red wine again!! Cheers…
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