CBD Capsules by Wildflower

Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Edibles, Product Review

This product is an essential part of the Wildflower CBD line. For me, their dose is high enough to be taken as a daily vitamin or in the event of lingering pain.

Capsules are an exceptionally accessible way to access CBD as a daily supplement. A capsule containing CBD can be organized right beside our daily zinc and Vitamin supplements without a second thought. When taking CBD daily we are attempting to treat an imbalance in our endocannabinoid system. But each of us is dealing with a very subjective imbalance, not everyone needs the same daily dose of any cannabinoid.

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With a more balanced endocannabinoid system, our body can have more of an ability to regulate inflammation, immunity, and anxiety. It is also a great daily supplement to promote joint and muscle health. Capsules are a convenient and low profile way to take CBD daily, and Wildflower capsules are a wonderful way to access pure, full-spectrum CBD.

Each Wildflower CBD capsule is vegan and features a cute little logo. One capsule contains 30mg of CBD and some hemp seed oil for good measure. Hemp seed oil is rich in Omega 3 & 6 as well as amino acids, all of which bolster the boost in the overall wellness of the CBD. At 30mg these capsules have a great baseline, even just one a day could show results for less severe cases of joint pain, insomnia, and anxiety.

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My experience with Wildflower capsules is nothing fancy, but it is noteworthy. A few weeks back I described an experience with a back spasm that just put me out. When I was treating it with CBD I took 2 capsules every 2 hours. Now, that is a lot of CBD. Precisely 60 mg every two hours. But when the capsules began to take effect I could feel the tension point in my back relax. When they wore off even a little bit I could feel the stiffness begin to take hold again. Before this experience, I didn’t have much interest in capsules outside of use as a daily supplement, but in this case, they were simply perfect.

Capsules are an essential part of the Wildflower CBD line. For me, their dose is high enough to be taken as a daily vitamin or in the event of lingering pain.

 

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Tangieland from Northwest Grown

Cannabis, Indica Cultivar, Product Review

Full body relaxation hybrid made by crossing cannabis cultivars Tangie and Candyland.

Being a budtender at a cannabis dispensary is a mixed bag. Many people come in and exclaim that it must be an amazing job to have, and in some ways it totally is. Actually, one of my favorite things about working in a recreational cannabis shop is the ability to talk directly to the growers. In the case of Northwest Grown, I had the opportunity to meet their team on multiple occasions while budtending. They were simply upstanding people and they were very stoked to tell me about their pheno hunting last Summer. So when I saw the Tangieland that the Northwest Grown team specifically. mentioned on the shelf at Smoking Crow I had to pick up an eighth.

Northwest Grown is a Mount Vernon based producer. Their cultivation team one third-generation grower from the coveted Emerald Triangle in California and a greenhouse tradesman with a degree in Horticulture. They grow with a tight eye on each crop, ensuring the plants are in the most comfortable environment for growing big, beautiful nuggets. Eighths are packaged in jars for peak freshness and each batch is tested at an accredited third-party lab. At their Northwestern Washington indoor facility, they grow in a coco medium without pesticides.

When it comes to the nugs, they’re densely packed and shaped like chunky fat pine trees. Buds are so drenched in trichomes it is like a blanket of white atop a forest green. Tufts of burnt orange pistils are evenly dispersed on each robust nugget. The aroma is just as strong with Tangie as the taste. I hit my Tangieland with a bong and experienced a deeply Tangie-focused flavor which is reminiscent of orange musk. The finish left a sweet lemon balm flavor on my palette. Immediately after the hit, I felt a jolt to my brain before a slow relaxation fell over my jaw and shoulders. Despite this gooey feeling in my muscles, I felt a steady focus permeate the high. The focus wasn’t pinpointed on any goal, however, but more of an airy grasp on reality. Tangieland was effective in helping me de-stress but it did have just the slightest anxious vibes.

 

Wildflower CBD Soap Review.

Cannabis, Product Review

With a continued growing interest in CBD, many beauty companies are finding ways to work the compound into their formulas. These companies aren’t just trying to cash in on the ‘Green Rush’ though, our skin and hair can actually benefit from the regular application of CBD hemp oil. Many studies and clinical trials suggest that CBD has a very real potential for encouraging abnormal cell death, can regulate the skin’s oil production, and is rich in nutrients like Vitamin E. This translates to positive results with conditions like eczema, acne, and all around skin health. What’s more is that this product doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. That means that the compounds won’t make their way to the endocannabinoid receptors in our brains, a process which creates that familiar high effect. It will be able to access the endocannabinoid receptors in our muscles, joints, and tissues, though, and that is where the beauty magic happens.

SOap

Wildflower CBD soap comes in bar form, is completely vegan, and is made with just five simple ingredients.  The product is meant to be used as an everyday body & face soap and can even be used in place of our shampoo. This all-natural soap is comprised of coconut oil, lye, full spectrum CBD oil, essential oils, and water; that’s it. Each bar is made up of less than 0.03% THC and 20mg of CBD to provide a daily microdose of our favorite non-psychoactive cannabinoid to the largest organ in our body. Grab one in the scent of your choice, they come in vanilla or lavender. The all-natural CBD soap can help treat acne, eczema, and even calm sunburnt skin.

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It was on purpose that I left this review for a month or so because I wanted to give a real-time review of how my skin reacted to this natural soap. In the last five years, my beauty regimen has changed drastically. No more makeup, no more chemicals, no more products in my bathroom that aren’t naturally made and mostly organic. Aside from the chemicals on the bottles that I have to look up to understand, many makeup and beauty products are littered with hormones. As someone who already struggles with anxiety and depression, I don’t really need more outside influences on my system. Since making this change I have found my mood and emotions more manageable, and this product fits into my natural regimen.

 

The Wildflower CBD soap checked off all of my sustainability boxes while also leaving my skin feeling moisturized and clean leaving me with a soothing lavender or vanilla aroma. When used on my hair, naturally thin and stick straight, my locks dried with more volume than usual but you’ll definitely want to use some conditioner for soft to the touch tresses. This product will definitely continue being a staple in our shower, it’s not only natural and vegan but it leaves my skin feeling nourished and fresh.

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With just 20 mg of CBD, their soap isn’t the most potent product in the Wildflower line, but it is one of the most noteworthy. That’s because it can help replace multiple chemical-ridden products that are lurking in all of our bathrooms. Grab a 3-pack at buywildflower.com, or check in with your local Bellingham dispensary to see if they have some in stock.

 

Aches CBD Vape Pen Review

Cannabis, Product Review

Summon relief immediately using Wildflower Aches CBD vape pens.

As legal cannabis markets continue to open up we see new varieties of consumer walk into dispensaries. With emerging demographics of cannabis users, we are seeing a constant rise in vape cartridge sales. The discretion of these products is ideal for many newer customers looking to inhale their cannabinoids. And like almost every cannabis company in Washington, Wildflower carries two formulas of vape pens. They have each flavor available in both a disposable and rechargeable option. The stand apart from their competitors because of the ability to microdose and the heavy influence of CBD rather than THC.

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The Aches vape pen from Wildflower is infused with CBD and other herbs to encourage a breakup of inflammation, inhibiting aches and pains. Aside from the discretion, vaping is more attractive to patients and recreational users because our lungs are a more direct line to our bloodstream than capsules or tincture. That means if we’re having a pain flare-up or simply want CBD right now, a vape pen would be the right choice. This vape pen doesn’t just have CBD, but as we mentioned above also three herbs from the mint family. Just one 5-second puff we get 2mg of CBD along with the stimulating aromatics of the added herbs.

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Personally, the Aches vape pen has been a versatile godsend in my arsenal of cannabis products. It is the perfect thing for ‘right now’ as I’m dealing with a muscle flare up, gastrointestinal discomfort, or just a surge of anxiety. A few weeks ago I dealt with a pretty serious back spasm and the Aches pen was my first step to relief. For such an intense pain I started with a hit of the pen, applied my Cool Stick, took two capsules, and then hit the vape again. Since the edibles items take 20 minutes to an hour to kick in the pen was crucial to my relief. The back spasm didn’t subside for two days, but the vape pen held true for me as a very real portal to pain relief. Frankly, it is best used alongside both the topical and the edible products for the best results. All three products used together has been the most phenomenal relief for me to help with body pain, muscle soreness, and aching joints.

Two tokes on the Aches pen brings a refreshing flavor alongside mellow, relaxing results. Try using it alongside the Cool Stick and/or CBD Tincture for the best results.

 

Bellringer by Khush Kush

Cannabis, Indica Cultivar, Product Review

Hindu Skunk x Stardawg x Pre 98 Bubba

Last week when I was picking up some bud from Smoking Crow I was lucky enough to meet Meg from Khush Kush on a vendor day. Khush Kush is a tier 3 i502 processor, which means that they operate in a 10,000 square foot facility.  Even though they’re a larger processor they take time to ensure each nugget is well-grown, trimmed, and tested using absolutely no pesticides. It was also nice to have two relaxing varietals for sale at my favorite dispensary and I ended up choosing the Bellringer due to the intriguing back genetics.

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The bud is sold in a jar so not only is it fresh, but also a little bomb of aromatics the first few times it’s opened. Take a whiff of Bellringer and enjoy an abrupt bouquet of spiced calamus and lemon. Smoked out of a bong the flavor was akin to dried clove and musky cocoa. The buds are a vibrant lawn green with burnt orange pistils and a dense bulbous bud structure. This is definitely a cultivar that should be ground up and not finger ground as to not waste weight.

As mentioned I hit this review bowl out of a bong and felt it almost immediately directly behind my eyes. The pressure relief dripped like honey from behind my eyeballs and down my spine. There’s a space between my shoulders that aches after cleaning, chopping veggies, and climbing all weekend and the hit helped me to gently release that persistent ball of tension. This relief doesn’t come without side effects, however. Focus and thoughts diverge easily while high on Bellringer. It’s possible to become completely enthralled with Instagram or a news story when attention should be elsewhere after taking a hit of this Khush Kush flavor. For the anxious ones, take it easy for the first 10-20 minutes after inhaling to avoid catching anxious thoughts during the come up of this ‘indica’ strain from Washington.

Relieve aches, pains, and stress with Bellringer from Khush Kush.

 

Tropical Fruit CBD Tincture from Wildflower

Cannabis, Edibles, Product Review

A full review of Wildflower CBD+Wellness Tincture from what it’s made of down to the best uses for the full spectrum oil.

Tinctures and CBD oils are an exceptionally accessible product for those new to cannabis but looking to enjoy some of the benefits of the plant. In my time spent working in the industry, anyone who has approached me with no cannabis experience asks about CBD oil first. Each company seems to have their own flavor and sometimes supporting herbs for added benefits. The Wildflower line of CBD Tinctures is comprised of two flavors each an indicator of the dosage. This week we’re going to take a closer look at the 500mg Tropical Fruit flavored oil which is marketed as a CBD+Wellness Tincture.

What’s It Made Of?

As is the Wildflower way, the CBD Wellness oil is made with all natural ingredients right down to the flavoring. The tincture is made to utilize the naturally occurring miracles in nature to inspire wellness inside of us. Their recipe includes coconut oil, 500mg full spectrum CBD oil, milk thistle extract, and natural flavors. Each dropper will contain around 16 mg of CBD and the suggested dose is 1-2 full droppers.

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The first thing to note is that their CBD oil is full spectrum, which means that the flavonoids and other valuable compounds weren’t stripped away in the extraction process. Another key component of the tincture is the milk thistle, a little gift of a plant that inspires liver and kidney health. The active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Over at Wildflower, right here in Bellingham, they have concluded that this ‘liver tonic’ herb works very well with the inflammation-based work that CBD tends to do in the body.

How Do I Use It?

Something that I’ve learned in my time working with various cannabis-infused products is that they all serve their own purpose. I find tinctures and oils to be beneficial for me as a daily supplement taken straight, but that’s not all I’ve been using the Wildflower Wellness Tinctures for. With the change in weather and my uptick in using my fingers as I’m learning to boulder, my joints are really screaming at me lately. On days that the problem areas are throbbing a bit, I have been doubling my daily dose of oil from 2 droppers to 4.

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To get the most out of a dose it’s advised to take the supplement sublingually, or simply put, right under the tongue. I like to just let it sit there until it naturally dissolves back into my mouth. It’s easier to let the oil sit under your tongue with the delightfully luscious flavor of tropical fruit infused into the CBD tincture. After using these oils almost daily for about a month, my muscles are notably less sore and strained after workouts. The imminent pain in my neck and back also tends to feel more smoothed over throughout my day. Also, my skin, which is a place where liver issues tend to bubble to the surface, is luminous despite indulging in some dairy-filled foods.

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All in all, the Tropical Fruit Wildflower CBD+Wellness tincture is a delightful supplement to each day. The dosage is high enough to feel the effects of the cannabinoids and herbs and the flavor is delicious enough to leave under my tongue for 30+ seconds. I would definitely recommend this product for those interested in trying CBD.

 

Herb Spotlight: Milk Thistle for Liver Health

Herb Spotlight, Herbalism

The milk thistle is from the same family of plants as the artichoke, but unlike that tasty treat, it doesn’t have a large bulb-shaped flower. It is commonly known as holy thistle and Mary thistle. Based on folklore we have surmised that this plant got its name when three drops of milk from the Great Goddess’s breast dropped onto the leaf. As religion shifted the lore began to tell the tale using the Virgin Mary. It is commonly known as a powerful and nourishing liver herb as well as a protective herb in pagan herbalism.

Scientific Name: Silybum marianum

Magickal Stats: Elementally fire, ruled by Mars

Parts Used: Seeds

Improves Function Of:

  • Liver Restorative
  • Spleen Tonic
  • Vascular Tonic

Aides in Relieving Symptoms Of:

  • Inflammatory, infections, & degenerative liver disease
  • Swollen spleen
  • Asthma
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Varicose veins

Assists Spiritually With:

  • Protection
  • Fending off evil
  • Attract Good

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How Does It Work?

The main ingredient in milk thistle is Silymarin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. According to many sources, milk thistle has been used historically for liver disorders like cirrhosis and hepatitis. In the 2008 HALT-C study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that Hepatitis C patients who did use milk thistle had both milder and fewer symptoms of liver disease with a somewhat better quality of life. Milk thistle was also suggested as a factor in enhancing standard treatment for pneumonia.

What Do I Do With It?

Milk thistle is taken as an herbal supplement, found usually in capsules. It can also be made into a tea. It has shown to have very few side effects if any. Most people just cite gastrointestinal discomfort. Those with diabetes, heart condition, fibroid tumors, and endometriosis should consult their doctor before taking milk thistle internally.

Magickally it can be used in multiple ways. Simply place a bowl of milk thistle seeds in a room and restore the vitality. We can gather strength from growing milk thistle or carrying a seed in our pocket. Many witches suggest it can be used to expel demons, some also call spirits by boiling the seeds in water. Or divine questions by boiling water and adding thistle seeds before meditating on a question.

 

 

 

Experience Boundless Relief With CBD Cool Sticks

Cannabis, Product Review

As one of my most used Wildflower CBD products for muscle and tension relief, I had to review this peppermint-infused topical.

Since first trying the Wildflower CBD Cool Stick I have recommended it to at least 10 people in my waking life. As a former college athlete, a dedicated decade-long yoga practitioner, and amateur rock climber it could be said that I collect my fair share of aches and pains. Balms, salves, lotions, bath salts… I have almost tried them all. This Cool Stick is one of the most effective for my muscle tension, joint aches, & more.

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Wildflower was founded in Vancouver, B.C. in 2012 with the mission of building a gateway for people into the world of plant medicine. They use all natural ingredients including full-spectrum CBD extracts. We’re lucky to have a GMP-certified facility here in Bellingham, crafting the entire line of products locally. Now, let’s talk about this Cool Stick. Each CBD topical stick contains 300mg of full plant extract CBD, cooling menthol, peppermint, and other proprietary essential oils that are meant to have a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect.

What’s In This CBD Salve?

The white plastic container is sleek and unassuming, a perfect fit in almost any medicine cabinet. Unscrew the top and remove the protective plastic to be immediately invigorated by a wave of minty aromatics. This is where the real magic comes in, the stick has a dial at the bottom that allows us to push the topical stick up and use it with no contact to our fingers. It’s a seriously cool package and a major plus. No longer waste expensive balm on your fingers applying it to the problem area, just put the stick right on the pain and go. I tend to feel notable relief in about 5-10 minutes.

Wildflower Cool Stick

How Do I Use My Cool Stick?

Personally, I can’t seem to find the end of uses for my Wildflower Cool Stick. It helps me subside my neck tension before getting one of those wicked tension headaches that make evenings unmanageable. Rubbing it onto my sciatic nerve helps me stave off flare-ups enough to get some sleep on those rough days. But my favorite story about this topical CBD balm comes from our local rock climbing gym. I’m learning to boulder and there’s a point in that process where our muscles have grown but the tendons have yet to catch up. I was able to continue climbing and building those tendons after applying ample amounts of my Cool Stick to my forearms. Turned out not to be the smartest idea, however, and I strained those same tendons. Luckily, the Cool Stick worked for that too.

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Cool Sticks are a valuable tool in our holistic wellness toolbelt. I truly believe that used in combination with CBD capsules and/or vape cartridges, this product can help a myriad of issues from minor to chronic. Keep posted on the blog as I try and review all of the fantastic Wildflower CBD suite of products including soap, tincture, capsules, and vape pens.

 

How To Use Essential Oils At Home

Lifestyle

Anyone who has looked up healthy alternatives to household cleaners, beauty supplies and more has come across essential oils. Something that I love about essential oils is that they contain anywhere from 80-99% terpenes, the smelly little compounds that help provide influence in effect in the cannabis flower. Yeah, you heard me right! Essential oils, in my opinion, are the great bridge for cannabis to the rest of society.

Going out and buying tons of oils without knowing how to use them, however, is probably not the best idea for someone on a budget. In our house, we have essential oil recipes to replace homemade cleaners and a few styles of diffuser. I’ve compiled the ways I use my essential oils here in this lovely list. Do remember that without Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap, most of this wouldn’t be possible. If you’re looking for a gateway into making your own dish soap, body wash, face wash, and more; invest in a big ole bottle of  castile soap.

Vinegar-based Disinfectant

This is a tricky one since some people have a deep aversion to the aroma of vinegar. Even with essential oils added, the vinegar smell can be prominent. There are a few different recipes out there on the internet but most will use essential oils, Dr. Bronners, hot water, and vinegar. I like to keep mine labeled with the entire list of oils so anyone rifling through my cleaning supplies knows what they’re looking at.

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Laundry Refresher

Ever left the laundry in the washing machine too long and had it smell a little wonky? Instead of running the washer again I’ve been putting some tea tree essential oil onto my wool dryer balls and running them altogether. It’s a great way to save yourself time, energy, and water for those forgotten loads.

‘Febreze-style’ Spray

One day we were hanging out sitting on the carpet together and all of a sudden there it was. The aroma of pets was just hanging there around us, emanating from the floor. To combat the smell but keep the pets we cooked up some refreshing spray using tea tree, sage, & other oils alongside baking soda and water. It works like a charm!

Aromatherapy, Duh!

Of course, the most common way to enjoy the power of essential oils is with aromatherapy. I have two styles of diffusers. One is made of soapstone and uses a tea light to heat the oil infused water.  If you also have dogs and cats as roommates be sure to look up which oils are toxic to animals before diffusing.

 

These are my common and easy ways to use essential oils around the house. I add them in tons of products but these are where they are doing the most work for the product. How do you use essential oils in your house? Let me know in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

Picking The Perfect CBD Cultivar

Cannabinoids, Cannabis

Finally, CBD is getting the recognition that it deserves. Don’t get me wrong, every compound in this lovely plant is playing a role. We don’t even know everything that is going on yet in those little sticky pine trees. But as that research is done let’s take a look at what each CBD-rich cultivar has to offer us. We’re also going to take a shallow dive into the genetics that have combined to make our beautiful little squatty CBD-rich plants exist in the first place.

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I want to reiterate, as I always do, we’re each working with our own personal endocannabinoid system. It is for this reason that I’m not going to be ranking these in a listicle. Oh, I know Google and click-bait artists, you loves yourself some bullet pointed lists ranked to the best one. I just can’t, it doesn’t do this plant justice. What I have done is make a list of the three CBD cannabis strains that I always grab if they’re available at my favorite local dispensaries.

Harlequin

One of the benefits of having worked and lived in three different legal cannabis state’s industries is that I’ve met many versions and genetics of the ‘same’ plant. That being said, I’ve only met one Harlequin that was high THC and low CBD. These things do exist, I can’t ignore those genetics, although I simply believe they don’t have real Harlequin. However, all of the other beautiful, forest green buds with thick orange pistils of Harlequin I’ve smoked have been 1:1 CBD to THC.

When I purchase my high-THC cannabis flowers for the week I like to pick up one gram of a CBD strain. If possible, it’s Harlequin. Added to bowls of higher THC content it will smoothe over the edges of the high without diluting it. When blazed by itself it’s a nice, even almost undetectable effect. Because of the 1:1 ratio it’s also ideal for tinctures and topicals.

Charlotte’s Web

This cultivar is world-renowned at this point, and rightfully so. The Stanley brothers originally created and grew Charlotte’s Web for a little girl named Charlotte who suffered from a chronic seizure condition. The low-THC was meant to help reduce the psychoactive effects of the plant medicine while maintaining the powerful aspects of Cannabidiol (CBD). Because of this, I grow weary of anyone growing Charlotte’s Web without knowledge of The Stanley Brothers.

The most reliable way to get real Charlottes Web is directly through the official CW Hemp brand or verified retailer. The cultivar tests with about 18-20% CBD and 1 or less percent THC. It is wonderful for manipulating into tinctures or topicals. When ripping it in the bong expect very little noticeable effect. Instead take note when small aches and pains come back, or anxiety begins to be unmanageable again. This type of CBD cultivar is more noticeable when it wears off than when it kicks in.

 

Stanley-Brothers

The Stanley Brothers

 

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Sometimes this one will have a hint of lemon, or maybe a tinge of dirt in the aromatics. It also has sort of an awkward dark brown look to it, really isn’t the most attractive on the shelf. But it does have a deep, silky effect that is quite wonderful for my aches and pains from old sports injuries and new workout soreness. It will generally test like the Charlotte’s Web with 18-20% CBD and 2 or less percent THC. ACDC is a phenotype of Cannatonic, a CBD cultivar that actually gives me a bit of a headache. Those headaches are surprising now seeing as how I love me some ACDC from Eagletrees Farms. ACDC provides the same heavy CBD content of Charlotte’s Web but is more available to i502 growers. Having a gram of ACDC around is a necessity around my house, especially if there isn’t any Harlequin.

 

These three CBD cannabis plants grow flowers that simply agree with my anxious, depressed, overthinking modalities. Are there some cultivars that you love that I’ve missed? (CBD Revival, Sour Tsunami, Harle Tsu, etc.) Perhaps your experience with Cannatonic was different? let me know in the comments.