St. Joseph Joins Latest Trend in Alternative Medicine: CBD

Saint Joseph is joining a multiplicity of cities in one of today’s latest trends with the addition of a CBD American Shaman franchise. Housed in the Missouri Valley Trust Historic building, the store is decorated with remnants of St. Joseph’s past. Owners were careful not to remove or cover up the building’s original furniture and artifacts. Teller cages line the periphery of products, barbs and all, and customers can warm up next to the fireplace in rocking chairs built for the building’s 1859 opening. Among the many CBD products displayed are concentrated oils, soaps, bath bombs, and other aromatics intended for therapeutic use.

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is the only active ingredient in Hemp, possessing no psychoactive properties, and has recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of Lennox-Gastaut & Dravet Syndromes. Both conditions are characterized by early childhood seizures of high severity, which often decrease quality of life, and present serious barriers to normal daily living. A CBD medication, Epidiolex, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of these conditions because it decreases seizures and presents less severe side-effects than many conventional treatments. That is not to say that the side-effects are inconsequential, however, as it has been shown to potentially increase suicidal thoughts and ideation, promote sedation and general lethargy, cause insomnia, rash breakouts, decrease appetite, and elevate liver enzymes, which can irritate or worsen certain existing conditions.

CBD treatments should not be confused for Medical Marijuana treatments, as CBD must be obtained from Hemp containing less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive drug in Cannabis.

CBD has also been studied for potential use in medicating certain conditions which typically require drugs with more severe side effects: as an antipsychotic medication, and as a drug to aid smoking cessation. One study on rats even showed CBD to be a more effective antioxidant than Vitamins C or E.

Unfortunately, the human studies of CBD have typically been performed on such a small number of participants, often under 50 individuals, that its efficacy in treating these other conditions is entirely uncertain.

Upon approving Epidiolex, the only official CBD medication, for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut & Dravet Syndromes, the FDA stated, “Marketing unapproved products, with uncertain dosages and formulations can keep patients from accessing appropriate, recognized therapies to treat serious and even fatal diseases.”

In other words, CBD supplements are just that, supplements, which do not have to undergo controlled scientific trials and vetting analyses which medications are subject to. They usually don’t have labelled doses, because they haven’t been approved for any one medical use, and doses for different symptoms vary greatly, making it difficult for patients to appropriately treat their ailments. For example, 300mg of CBD is the standard dose for an anxiety, but many patients attempting to treat acne, inattentiveness, chronic pain, or smoking cessation have no clear guidelines for effective treatment.

In addition to vagueness, marketing on CBD supplements often claim bioavailability of 90% or more, yet these claims are not substantiated by any regulatory organization. When taken orally, Cannabidiol particles have a maximum bioavailability of 13-19%, and when inhaled, up to 45%. This means consumers have additional factors to consider in dosing and affording CBD medicinally.

Owner Kathleen Wade has used CBD treatments for years since she experienced debilitating after-effects from Lyme disease. “My husband and I contracted lyme disease from a tick bite, and it took about 3.5 years to be diagnosed,” eventually, “I could only get out of bed two days a week.” Mrs. Wade said when she tried CBD, “it was the nastiest thing that had ever been in my mouth,” but it brought her the relief she’d been waiting for. She also assures it wasn’t the line of products sold by American Shaman she first tried.
Kathleen hasn’t personally experienced any negative side effects of CBD, but cautions that patients don’t exceed a necessary therapeutic dose, as it increases risk of adverse effects. She also personally recommends the Cloud tincture line of products specifically to anyone concerned with gastrointestinal sensitivity. Those seeking to use CBD treatment should first consult a doctor familiar with their medical history, and determine if it is likely to agitate any existing conditions.

In addition to being a storefront, Mrs. Wade wants everyone to be comfortable in her store, “regardless of whether they buy anything, we want people to leave happier than when they came in.”

“We sell Kava, moisturizing lotions, deodorants, toothpaste, and organic soap from the Monastery in Clyde, Mo… if we can find something that makes everyone comfortable, we’d like to be a part of that.”

American Shaman will be open for First Fridays downtown this February with live music, cocktails, finger foods, local art on display. Owners hope to use their historic space for other events as well. So far, they’ve hosted Bridge clubs, book clubs, and a wedding in the open space behind the store.

“I’m hoping other artists will start approaching us for that space in the coming months.

I’d love to have your art up there. I don’t care if you’re 17 or 79, I want it to be fluid, something no one’s ever heard of before. I want it to be comfortable.”