Yeah? OK! How? Why?

Welcome to the second newsletter for Wellness Agents. I hope you enjoyed Sarah’s contribution last month on Prana – a great read with some fabulous tips.

Now it’s my turn! I had a few ideas tucked away in my thought patterns but at the moment, I am being triggered because I am actually attempting to do my own research! 

I’ll answer the “why” first. Always have a questioning attitude with anything you hear, read or watch. Some people will come out with something that sounds so preposterous that your immediate inner response is to question their sanity. And yet, maybe something they said stays as a thought worm, and you feel the need to find out where that idea may have come from.

Somewhere out there in the psychology world, it is known that if a falsehood or something misleading is said often enough and by people we probably should question but actually trust – like the evening news – it then becomes believed to be the truth. But is it? 

I am in the process of preparing a talk for Wellness Agents on the use of CBD Oil and why someone would even consider taking it, and I am frustrated with what the “research” DOESN’T tell me!

Using CBD oil as an example, as the old TV advertisement used to say, “oils ain’t oils”. The questions I want answered for each study are:

• Is this oil whole plant (CBD and THC) – sometimes written as 1:1
• Is this product produced in a laboratory, hydroponic and grown indoors or do the plants see sunshine and have their roots in the ground?
• Are the plants organic?
• What is the best type of CBD oil for (this may be answered by the basis of the study)
  • Mental health and sleep issues
  • Arthritis and muscle pain
• What is the best dose, and time of day for taking the oil?
• When should the benefits become apparent (hours/days/weeks)?
• Will it cause me to fail a drug test for work? (a side but important issue)

These are all variables that have the potential to make a big difference to the user’s results so I see it as important information.

Naturally, whoever is promoting the product is going to validate their reasoning for doing it their way and that’s ok but I want to actually know the farming methods and how best to use it. 

I have a number of kinesiology clients who have found the use of CBD oil as a life changer (for the better) with their mental health and/or pain. I also have clients where CBD oil seemingly made no difference to their quality of life at all.

Is this then about the dosage, the type of oil itself, or that their metabolic problem has nothing to do with their endocannabinoid system (the ECS)? I seriously doubt anything is outside the ECS as it comes down to cell receptors that are spread throughout the body. Aren’t you glad you are not in my head? These are just some of the things I ponder and search for answers.

Of course, as a kinesiologist, I can help with both mental health and pain. But, because of my intent to provide true holistic care, I like to offer my clients other ways of thinking about the way they manage their health from their home. My belief is that kinesiology can help – a lot – but may not be enough to resolve an issue fast enough for the client, particularly if the issue is old and “embedded”.

In my last nursing job, I realised I needed to study CBD oil and its benefits for neurological problems. Back around 2018, I was the nursing component of a gerontology clinic. Health issues included Parkinson’s, post-stroke, MS, dementia and more. Here I found a cohort of (mainly) seniors who were taking themselves to the “farm gate” to buy their CBD oil. 

My studies in over 30 years as a Registered Nurse to that point had NEVER taken me in this direction so I found an online US-based course to learn what my patients already knew from firsthand experience. 

I was totally gob-smacked! How did I not know of the value of this herbal oil and the unnecessary fear around the whole word and world of cannabis? 

So, for you – what questions do you have on something that is niggling at you – something you want more information on?

How to “do your own research”!

One: Avoid Distractions

Anybody who gets on the internet knows how easy it is to be distracted. To start off, I write (pen and paper!) the questions or points I am looking to answer or verify. Writing down my points helps keep me on track – well sort of!

Two: Listen to Counterarguments

Once you start your search you are bound to have many “pages” in Google on the topic and this can feel overwhelming. The focus of what I am looking for governs who I read first. But it is always a good practice to read someone whom you would not usually choose to “listen” to so that you can “hear” the counterargument. And don’t forget YouTube, Bitchute and Rumble as places to hear talks. Bitchute and Rumble aren’t as censored as YouTube but there are amazing lectures and presentations on YouTube that have been really educational for me.

Three: Go to Reputable Sources

I look at .gov and .edu sites but also there are many contributions to look at and this is when your own discernment needs to kick in. It can be overwhelming and it may expose you to questions and answers you may not have even considered. 

If you are researching specific medication, start with www.nps.org.au. This is a website provided by the Australian Govt. I used it extensively when working as a Practice Nurse and it occasionally comes into my guidance during a kinesiology session. The instructions for accessing this site can be found in the Resource section of our website. 

Four: Dig Deeper than Page One

It is important to be aware that you may have to dig to the back pages of the search engine if you are looking for something to support the opposite argument. Unfortunately, so many topics are very arbitrary these days and it can be hard to find the opposing view in a positive light. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have scientists that give the product value. It could just mean it is deflecting from more traditional options.

One platform I can recommend is www.GreenMedInfo.com if you are looking up a health issue. As it is a private webpage, accessing “the science” does come with a fee but someone has put a lot of effort and time into developing the platform and I don’t mind paying so that I can access science papers that may not be available through the larger search engines.

Five: Visit Alternative Sources

In Australia, health food shops are a great resource. When I was nursing, I would point out to patients that pharmacies’ core business is about their medications – that is what they really know – and health food shops’ core business includes herbs, quality supplements and other products. 

Six: Discernment Around Word-of-Mouth

Word of mouth can be helpful but also has the potential for being biased by that person’s experience or information distortion over time. As I stated earlier, using CBD oil as an example, it has been a wonder herb for some and done seemingly nothing for others. 

Also, the problem with word of mouth in more recent times, is if you are seen to ask a question of what may be a contentious topic, you have the possibility of being branded at best a nutter for even questioning the topic. If you get a strong response from a health practitioner, that probably justifies further research! Well, that’s the way my mind works! Other ways I have heard from health professionals with the motivation to shut me down is “well, I trust the science” – yeah, but which science? 

Remember, the science is NEVER done. Science is about asking questions and the search for answers. As Robert F Kennedy pointed out, in a court of law that requires scientific evidence to be presented, both sides of the argument can come up with very convincing evidence to support their claim. This is where your discernment is required for you to take the best course of action for you. Remember, sadly, at one point in time, thalidomide was considered a good idea.

It’s a tough shift in reality that you need to take responsibility for your health choices. The world is a very complex place to navigate these days – and even exhausting. So, when you are doing your research, remember to take breaks, go outside into nature, be barefoot and ground yourself – and of course – remember to breathe!