My story;
In 2015 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Little did I know I would develop a deep respect and love for the Cannabis plant. I absolutely have to attribute the cancer journey with what I now know about cannabis as medicine. I also have to thank my good friend for bringing me some capsules after surgery plus my deep connection to the natural world that laid the foundation for discovery and healing.
After my cancer surgery I was given some cannabis capsules for sleep and the pending chemo side effects. I resisted for several weeks – my experiences from the 80’s would haunt me and I felt it could be a slippery slope if I started using recreational drugs again. Right ?! I thought of Cannabis as a recreational substance only ! At that time (2015) I hadn’t even heard of topicals, or capsules – I rejected the whole notion so wasn’t really aware. A whole new era had dawned in the world of Cannabis use since my experience in the 80’s.
I was exhausted from not getting enough ~~dare I say any ~~ sleep and I knew enough about wellness that my body needed sleep if I was going to heal. Lack of sleep was chronic long before the Cancer because of the auto-immune diseases I had struggled with for about 25 years prior. Laying in bed for hours with aching joints and muscles unable to reach deep sleep. I will never forget my first 4-hour, continuous, dream filled sleep session. I had taken the cannabis capsules my friend had given me. Gonzo ! It was heaven. It wasn’t long before I learned how to make my own capsules. I could have a steady affordable supply on hand. That was the start of a deep connection to Cannabis plant medicine.
I should mention that I’d had a history of using prescription anti-depressants for sleep and pain. But they were not the solution for me. My mind just wasn’t sharp enough for my demanding administration job. I had brain fog all the time. I didn’t feel well or thriving at all. The pain never really went away. And I knew instinctively that the prescription drug was not good for my body. I didn’t feel aligned at all. The cannabis capsules worked really well for me. I didn’t have brain fog the next day. I got really good sleep which helped with the pain. More importantly, I was working with the basic nature of the plant. We have CBD receptors in the body. I was aligned with the plant medicine.
There was an adjustment period with the dose and time of day that I took the capsules. There is no one size fits all when using Cannabis. That’s really important to understand. There are some people who can’t tolerate Cannabis so you have to go slow and gentle unless you have a Cannabis wellness expert that can help you along the way. Also, if you are making your own products there is no way of knowing what the THC and CBD ratios or quantities are unless you send it to a lab. Add to that, your own body’s capacity and wisdom for the plant’s medicine. But I believe there is a way you can use Cannabis medicinally to support healing if you are thoughtful and have a respectful relationship to the plant. I also learned there are many ways in which you can use the Cannabis plant to regulate the psychoactive effects.
Once the cancer treatments stopped I ended up with painful side effects. My feet and achilles tendons especially. I went to a dispensary and found a topical. I will never forget that first moment I put it on my feet and ankles. I was using an over the counter pain cream. But this time, I applied the cannabis topical and within seconds the pain lessened – hugely ! it was remarkable. Better than the pharmacy brand. But ! like the capsules, I couldn’t sustain the cost so I figured I better figure out how to make it.
It’s been 5 years since the Cancer. I no longer need capsules for sleep. I use my homemade topical for all kinds of pain relief (chronic and acute) and night time support (massage).
At a certain point the relief from the chronic pain allowed me to get in touch with my body’s natural wisdom. It allowed me to explore what were the auto-immune triggers. It had helped me reconnect to my “nature”. Our bodies are designed to reach homeostasis and I feel that the capsules and topicals helped my body move into balance. I believe that’s what connecting to the natural world actually does. It speaks to us in deep ways. It’s a relationship that moves like the seasons. It’s not static. It’s dynamic and always ebbing and flowing, changing, evolving.
While it’s very exciting for the recreational users to have legalization in Canada it’s been difficult for the kitchen/witch creators such as myself. I can no longer share or sell my cannabis topical or edibles. The licensing process is very expensive and way beyond the scope of a small home-kitchen crafter. So, it’s my goal to create a downloadable series of e-books to share all that I’ve learned these past 5 years. I will share the wisdom I’ve gained from hours spent reading blogs on the internet, hours in the kitchen, and my own trial and error with using Cannabis to relieve my pain and as a sleep aid. If you grow your own plant or have access to the flowers or leaves you can make your own medicine !
E-books and videos coming soon.