Submitted by Shoshana C. from Southern Illinois

67 is the new 47! I am Shoshana from Southern Illinois (350 miles south of Chicago in the Shawnee Hills). 

I went into peri-menopause at 36

And struggled for years with PMS and terrible mood swings, food cravings, and the dreaded hot flashes. I was on several types of antidepressants which were no help at all and made me feel worse. I took synthetic hormones to try to control the hot flashes but when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had to stop those.

Not sleeping well resulted in more mood swings, fatigue, over-eating, lack of libido

Loss of sleep (addicted to Ambien for 12 years) along with numerous other meds made me feel weird and trapped. For years I tried medications including Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin for mood swings and PMS. Also, stopping them was miserable due to side effects like irritability, brain shocks, restlessness, nausea, strange dreams, and flu-like symptoms. Ambien was a drug that if I didn't have it I would absolutely not sleep so I did whatever I could to make sure I had it. I would request refills in a stronger dose and then use half so I had enough to last. After the breast cancer diagnosis at age 60, I still didn't use cannabis because it wasn't legal and I wasn't willing to risk everything to try it.

My curiosity took over and I started searching for courses that would teach the science and rationale of the plant as it pertains to medical use.

I was terminated from my 10.5 year job as a certified physician assistant with 20 years of experience in primary care during the pandemic. Jobs were none existent at the time but about 2 months after the termination, I randomly sent my resume to a clinic near me. The owner asked how I felt about medical cannabis and wanted to know if I was willing to certify for that. Of course I said yes, though I had very little knowledge of the medical aspects of the plant.

Eventually, my curiosity took over and I started searching for courses that would teach the science and rationale of the plant as it pertains to medical use. I signed up with Dr. Mary Clifton - The Cannabinoid Protocol and got my Coaching certification. Then I came across the Cannabis Coaching Institute and signed up for the Cannabis Educator program. That was what really turned the tables for me. I learned so much in that program, it gave me the confidence to become a coach myself.

Since then, I have purchased numerous books from Dr. Bonni Goldstein to Dr. Dustin Sulak to gird myself with as much knowledge as possible so I can help others. I continue to certify medical Cannabis patients at the clinic where I work and also with Veriheal. I love the Cannabis Health Radio Podcast and Well with Cannabis Podcast with Emily Kyle. In fact, I was a guest on her podcast and that will be aired in July 2023. Also, the podcast Reveal Cannabis taught me so much.

Stigma, my gosh yes!!!! I was smoking weed from the age of 15 until I was 34. 

It became a spiritual struggle for me. I was a Mother and I felt I was jeopardizing everything by using weed. I was really struggling with stopping my use but just wasn't able to so I went to Jesus. I told him "If you are who you say you are, then take the desire from me to smoke". That was May 6, 1990. I stopped and didn't pick it up again until November 2020.

My husband continued to consume, though, and it became a pain point for me. My kids were learning about "Just say no" and "this is your brain on drugs" and I felt such conflict over that. We didn't see eye to eye and it affected our relationship. Of course, I threw him into the category of "pot head" "stoner" and "lazy" all the negatives. I didn't see then what I see now that he needed it for his mental health.

Once I dove into the history of the plant and saw it was actually part of the Pharmacopeia in the late 1800s, I was shocked. Doctors prescribed it as an opiate substitute for women suffering from hot flashes. I believe also that God gave us the plant for our health and point back to the scripture in Genesis 1:29, "I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food." There is absolutely no reason at all that I shouldn't use this plant in a way that's best for me to address my health concerns.

THC really helps me sleep and the CBD removes anxiety

My main intake is chocolate or gummies that are ~ 5-7 mg THC about an hour before bed for sleep support. I make them myself with flower I grow but unfortunately, the CBD is very low so I purchase CBD flower and take a couple of puffs in my dry herb vaporizer. I also have a CBD oil that I use in the morning to clear out the cobwebs in my head when needed.

I like to focus more on terpenes, but it is hard to find seeds that list terpenes. If possible, I focus on linalool, beta-caryophyllene and pinene for sleep and pain support. I have also made a cream/salve with shake and essential oils for pain and for my skin. I use a tincture I made when I need a fast result. I also make suppositories with FECO (made from my crop) to support vaginal health. When you go through menopause, things can get really uncomfortable in that area!

I was feeling like I was going to have to take Ambien forever just to sleep!

I had tried OTC sleep aids and had some success with essential oils, but Ambien was the drug of choice. Unfortunately, Ambien is known to cause problems with cognition and certainly dependency. I would feel like a zombie when I would wake up and really, I didn't know if I even got up in the night while taking it. I don't think I ever drove or ate, but who knows!!!

I am sleeping so much better and able to function more clearly than before Cannabis.

After starting bedtime cannabis gummies or chocolate, I sleep well. I am alert when I wake in the middle of the night, and I can usually fall back to sleep with no trouble. I wake in the morning feeling refreshed but if it is too much, then I use a little CBD oil to clear my head.

Cannabinoids have helped my terrible insomnia associated with menopause, while CBD and THC improved my depression and anxiety during this time.

This is Shoshana's personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

To work with a medical Cannabis professional, please visit our directory of coaches, educators, and medical professionals. Everyone's Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is different; good results start with the right approach. You don't have to figure it out on your own.

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Effective Cannabis Newsletter is a platform to educate on the vital role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in one's health. The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in or available through this newsletter is for general information purposes only. It is not medical advice; it is health awareness.